The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a comprehensive training class for Local Division Secretary-Treasurers. The class is also open to General Committee of Adjustment and State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurers, as much of the material covered applies to their respective positions. This workshop will be held at the BLET National Division Headquarters in Independence, Ohio, on September 23-25, 2026.
Training sessions will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, September 23 and 24, 2026. An optional half-day session will be offered on Friday morning, September 25, for one-on-one assistance, discussion of individual issues, and general questions and answers. Hotel check-in and travel day is Tuesday, September 22, and hotel check-out and departure day is Friday, September 25. In addition to the in-person training, the class will also be available to remote participants in a hybrid format.
Secretary-Treasurers will receive training in several key areas, including the use of the UnionTrack/ENGAGE membership reporting system, OLMS compliance, trustee reporting, financial recordkeeping, Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements, Railroad Retirement Board reporting, insurance bonding, banking procedures, and other essential administrative responsibilities. The goal of the course is to provide Secretary-Treasurers with the knowledge and resources necessary to perform their duties efficiently and effectively.
All participants, whether attending in person or remotely, must register for the class at:
https://members.ble-t.org/EducationTraining/Register
Upon registration, participants will receive a confirmation email containing additional information. Members attending in person will be eligible for the special BLET hotel rate of $122.00 per night and will receive hotel reservation instructions in their confirmation email. Remote participants will receive Zoom access information. If you experience any difficulty with your hotel reservation, please contact BLET Special Representative Matthew Kronyak at [email protected] or (201) 978-6436.
Upon successful completion of the course, in-person attendees will qualify for a $110.00 per day stipend provided by the North American Railway Foundation (NARF). Stipends will be paid directly to the participant’s Local Division, General Committee of Adjustment, or State Legislative Board, as applicable.
The North American Railway Foundation (NARF) is a non-profit foundation established by the Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) to support rail labor through education, safety, technology, and the preservation of railroad history throughout the United States and Canada.
For additional information, please contact David P. Estes, National Secretary-Treasurer and E&T Department Head, at (216) 241-2630, ext. 227, or by email at [email protected].