CLEVELAND, July 6 — General Chairman Matt O. Wilson was reelected by acclamation at the BNSF/MRL General Committee’s triennial meetings in Las Vegas on July 2. Brother Wilson is a Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotive engineer and a member of BLET Division 104 (Spokane, Wash.). He has been a BLET member since July 1, 1980.
Also reelected by acclamation were: 1st Vice Chairman Steve J. Bratka (Division 98, Lincoln, Neb.); 2nd Vice Chairman Edward G. Laprath (Division 392, Havre, Mont.); 3rd Vice Chairman Kenton J. Psota (Division 623, McCook, Neb.); and Secretary-Treasurer James H. Nelson (Division 644, Galesburg, Ill.).
The following alternates were also elected by acclamation: 1st Alternate Vice Chairman Matt Brandt (Division 727, Sterling, Colo.); 2nd Alternate Gary Larson (Division 518, Seattle); and 3rd Alternate Tom Podrovitz (Division 644, Galesburg, Ill.). Brother Lynn Fitterer (Division 195, Forsyth, Mont.) was elected to serve as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
The meeting began on June 28 and concluded following the election of officers, which took place the morning of July 2. The 45 delegates in attendance considered a number of issues during the triennial convention.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce addressed the delegates and discussed the business of the National Division. President Pierce is a former General Chairman of the BNSF/MRL GCA. General Chairman Wilson followed Brother Pierce as General Chairman when Pierce was promoted to the Advisory Board on April 8, 2008.
“I congratulate these Brothers on a job well done,” President Pierce said. “The delegates’ decision to elect these Brothers by acclamation is a testament to the officers’ hard work and dedication. From my time with the Committee, I know that there has always been room for all points of view within the BNSF/MRL GCA. But when it comes down to the big decisions, the Committee continually pulls together and acts with unity and brotherhood as they move forward.”
Additional representatives from the National Division included: National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert; Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman; and Vice President Steve Speagle, who is the Vice President assigned to the BNSF/MRL GCA.
Fellow BNSF General Chairman P.J. Williams (former ATSF) and R.C. Gibbons (Former STL-SF) were also in attendance, along with Montana State Legislative Board Chairman Craig Gilchrist.
The BLET Education and Training Department also conducted a one-day workshop for Local Chairman. Vice President Speagle reported that several newly-elected Local Chairman were delegates to the convention, and that they thoroughly enjoyed workshop while gaining a great deal of valuable knowledge and experience.
Brother Wilson became a full time Vice General Chairman for the BNSF/MRL GCA in 1999, moving his family from Spokane, Wash., to Ft. Worth, Texas, to serve the Brotherhood. He was elected by acclamation as 1st Vice General Chairman in 2001, 2004 and 2007 before elevating to the position of General Chairman following the promotion of Dennis R. Pierce to the Advisory Board on April 8, 2008.
The BNSF/MRL GCofA is the BLET’s largest General Committee, representing 3,500 members from 45 separate BLET Divisions on three railroads.