CLEVELAND, June 21 — Pat S. Pfeifer of BLET Division 388 (North Platte, Neb.) was elected by acclamation to serve as Chairman of the Nebraska State Legislative Board at the Board’s triennial meeting on June 19, 2013.
Brother Pfeifer is a Union Pacific locomotive engineer who first joined the Brotherhood on September 1, 1997. He has been an active member of the Nebraska State Legislative Board for several years, having served as 2nd Vice Chairman from 2007 to 2010 and most recently as 1st Vice Chairman from 2010 to 2013.
Outgoing Chairman Randy D. Meek, Division 98 (Lincoln, Neb.), did not seek another term as he transitions into retirement over the next few years. Meek began serving as Chairman of the Nebraska State Legislative Board in 1996.
Also elected were: First Vice Chairman Erik S. Wood, Division 98 (Lincoln, Neb.); Second Vice Chairman Ron B. Ross Jr., Division 621 (Wymore, Neb.); Secretary-Treasurer Jeff T. Vogt, Division 98 (Lincoln, Neb.); Lance D. Flohr, Executive Committee, Division 622 (Alliance, Neb.); Mark Lafferty, Executive Committee, Division 88 (North Platte, Neb.); and John E. Sweeney, Auditing Committee, Division 183 (Omaha, Neb.). Brother Wood and Brother Vogt were elected by acclamation.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce represented the National Division at the meeting. President Pierce’s home state is Nebraska and his first union office was Local Chairman of Division 98 in Lincoln, Neb.
“Congratulations to the new chairman, Pat Pfeifer, and all officers of the Nebraska State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “I thank them for their willingness to serve the Brotherhood and I know they will do an excellent job representing the interests of our members in the proud state of Nebraska. Also, I wish to thank Randy Meek for faithfully serving the membership as Chairman of the Nebraska State Legislative Board for 17 years. Brother Meek should be proud of what was accomplished for the membership during his tenure as Chairman and I wish him nothing but the best as he plans for a well-deserved retirement.”
The delegates and officers of the Board presented Brother Meek with a commemorative watch as a token of gratitude for his many years of service to the Brotherhood.
Kent Confer, BLET Special Representative and Director of Organizing, attended the meeting and gave a presentation on mobilization and organizing. Confer is a member of Division 623 (McCook, Neb.). Brother Jim Wilmesher, Chairman of the Colorado State Legislative Board, was also in attendance as a special guest.
A Teamster representative from the Joint Council gave a presentation on effective communication. Barbara Anderson, Operating Practices Inspector for the Federal Railroad Administrator’s District Office in Council Bluffs, Iowa, was on hand to give a safety presentation.
The Nebraska State Legislative Board represents more than 1,600 locomotive engineers and trainmen from eight Divisions in the state.