Spring 2000
Volume 107 - No. 1
Spring 2000
Volume 107 - No. 1
Election 2000 is very important to our BLE-GIA family.
You no doubt have already noticed in the February 2000 issue of the
Locomotive Engineer Newsletter and the Winter 1999 Locomotive Engineers
Journal that the BLE Advisory Board has unanimously endorsed Vice President
Al Gore for president. The GIA Advisory Board also unanimously endorsed
Gore at our annual meeting May 4 in Little Rock, Ark.
Because this election is so important to us, we ask all local auxiliaries, members-at-large and BLE spouses to assist us as we launch a vigorous campaign to get out the vote.
This campaign will involve getting in touch with our entire BLE-GIA family. You may do this by e-mail, mail, phone, fax or in person. If you find that some are not registered to vote, please take the proper steps to see that they register and that they vote. By getting our family out to vote in November, we can indeed show our "ballot-box-power."
To avoid long lines on election day, you may choose to vote by absentee ballot. Also, check whether or not you state allows you to vote on the Internet.
Most of us either love or hate politics. There is no in between. We
seem to either enjoy it of we don't. As the political world seems to grow
uglier and uglier with personal attacks, insults and on-going investigations,
many would-be voters are so turned off that they do not bother to vote.
This is a sad situation when we as a people live in a nation founded on
freedom of choice.
I have been interested in politics for most of my life. In 1981, at the GIA Third Quinquennial Convention in Cleveland, I introduced a resolution creating the GIA legislative program, and as a result, the office of 2nd Vice President was extended to include Legislative Representative. I served as the first GIA legislative representative. My interest in politics goes back to my childhood. I grew up in a politically active family. My father, grandfather and brother-in-law, all sought and/or held political office in my home state of Missouri.
Regardless of whether you like or dislike politics, you must not fail to exercise your freedom to vote. Failing to vote does not help anyone. So we urge you to help us show our "ballot-box-power" by volunteering to assist us in our campaign to get out the vote November 2000.
While the GIA is actively working on our "ballot-box-power" campaign, we also have other political concerns. Early this year, I asked International 2nd Vice President/Legislative Representative Mabel Grotzinger to furnish all local auxiliaries and members-at-large with our legislative agenda for 2000. We hope you are actively working on this agenda. Our legislative program serves as a messenger for the U.S. Congress. Therefore, participation from our BLE-GIA family is vital to our success on matters of concern to us.
As we advance into the 21st century, we find that Congress brings with
it a considerable amount of unfinished business. Let's elect responsible
people that will produce results. Use your "ballot-box-power"
- vote in November! ·
© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers