CLEVELAND, September 19 — Barry J. Faulker was elected by acclamation to serve as Chairman of the Tennessee State Legislative Board at the quadrennial meeting in Nashville, Tenn., September 6-9, 2011.
Brother Faulkner is a CSX locomotive engineer and member of BLET Division 41 (Nashville, Tenn.). He also serves his Division as Secretary-Treasurer and Legislative Representative. He joined the Brotherhood on August 1, 1978, and has held continuous membership ever since. He is also the mayor of Cross Plains, Tenn., the town where he lives.
Brother Rusty Jones, BLET Division 239 (Knoxville, Tenn.), was reelected by acclamation to continue serving as Secretary-Treasurer.
Elected by acclamation to their first terms were: 1st Vice Chairman J. Doug Ford, Division 239 (Knoxville, Tenn.); 2nd Vice Chairman Justin Wilcox, Division 781 (Erwin, Tenn.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Jason Lane, Division 205 (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
Chairman Faulkner fills the office vacated by Brother J.T. Little, who is retiring.
National President Dennis R. Pierce addressed the assembled delegates in Nashville and discussed various issues of importance on the national level, including contract negotiations.
“I congratulate Brother Faulkner and all members of the Tennessee State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “I have every confidence they will do an excellent job of representing our members in the proud state of Tennessee. Also, I extend thanks to outgoing Chairman J.T. Little for his many years of dedication to the Brotherhood. I wish him all the best during his hard-earned retirement.”
National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert and Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman also addressed the group.
Fellow State Legislative Board Chairmen Terry Todd (Arkansas) and Paul Piekarski (Illinois) also attended the meeting.
The delegates were honored by the attendance of special guest Paul Wingo and Don Moates, both retired National Vice Presidents of the BLET.
Larry James, BLET System Liaison CSXT and SENSE Safety Coordinator, was also in attendance.
Additional special guests included Tennessee State Senator Joe Haynes, Tennessee Democratic Party Vice Chairman Elisa Parker, and Tennessee State Representative and Tennessee AFL-CIO President Gary Moore.
Nine new Legislative Representatives were trained the day before the quadrennial meeting’s official open of business, successfully completing a workshop conducted by Ken Kroeger, Coordinator of the BLET Education & Training Department.
A highlight of the meeting came when all Legislative Representatives in attendance signed up to become BLET PAC Fund contributors. In addition, there were numerous BLET Division PAC Fund challenges from one Division to another, which was in response to outgoing Chairman Little’s challenge to increase PAC contributions within the state.