BLET to host Secretary-Treasurer Class in June 2015
CLEVELAND, April 2 — The BLET’s Education and Training Department is hosting an expanded Secretary-Treasurer Training Class at its new Training Center in Cleveland from June 1-4, 2015.
All Division Secretary-Treasurers, Division Presidents, State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurers and General Committee of Adjustment Secretary-Treasurers are invited to attend. Attendance is limited to the first 25 who register and those who are interested should register as soon as possible. You must register for the workshop online through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st.
The workshop will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 1, with an orientation and introduction session followed by full-day sessions from Tuesday, June 2, through Thursday, June 4. Thursday’s class will conclude at 6 p.m. and will be followed by an informal banquet at 6:30 p.m. Hotel check-out and travel day will be on Friday, June 5. The training will take place in the Training Center at BLET National Division headquarters (1370 Ontario St., Cleveland, Ohio).
Secretary-Treasurers will receive training in a number of areas, including how to use the BLET National Division’s web-based system for membership reporting, OLMS tax compliance tips, Division Trustee reporting, and computer skills (Word, Excel, Search Engines, etc.). During the almost four day session, members will also learn proper record keeping techniques, minute-taking, and methods for filing various Department of Labor and Railroad Retirement reports. The class will also focus on filing Internal Revenue Service Federal tax reports such as CT-1, 941, W-2, W-3, and W-4. It will also focus on essential items such as 990 authorizations, bonding, check registers, banking, and other related items. S-T’s will also receive training on tools that make their jobs easier. A goal for instructors is to do everything they can to make the S-T’s job as easy as it can be.
Workshop instructors and guest speakers will include: Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President; Stephen J. Bruno, National Secretary-Treasurer; James P. Louis, VP and Department Head of Education and Training; Megan Mead, Special Representative and Liaison for Short Term Disability; Jason Wright: Special Representative and Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Dr. Elaine Reese, Director of the Compliance Department (taxes); Louise Reich, Director of the Record Department and Walt Schmidt, Director of Online Services.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $129 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation (NARF). The stipends will be paid directly to the S-T of the Division, GCA, or SLB.
NARF is a non-profit foundation formed by the Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) to support rail history, education, safety and technology in the United States and Canada. With initial funding and continued Board of Directors stewardship coming from the BR&CF, NARF has supported many non-political projects throughout the United States and Canada over the past 19 years. The primary focus of these efforts has been in support of organized rail labor — giving back to all of the men and women of the railroad community across North America.
Attendees must register for the workshop online no later than April 20th through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st.
After registering online, workshop attendees will receive an e-mail confirmation that will include hotel registration information. The BLET National Division pays the costs of books and equipment, while Secretary-Treasurers who attend are responsible for their own transportation costs as well as their room and board.
For more information, please contact Jason Wright at (216) 296-4447 or wright@ble-t.org.
Thursday, April 02, 2015
bentley@ble-t.org