BLE Focus

Spring 2001
Volume 108 - No. 1

BLE Focus

Convention Insider

Every five years, BLE members meet to decide the organization's future - and the future is now

Every five years, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers holds its International Convention. These days are a significant time in the history of the BLE because the decisions that are made deeply impact the future of this organization.

In 2001, every International Division Delegate elected in last year's division election of officers will be requested to be in attendance at the Seventh Quinquennial Convention. The convention will be held at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., between September 24 and 29, 2001.

Prior to the Convention

Many things happen in the time leading up to the convention and much is expected of the delegates in this time period.

In mid-January, all divisions were notified of the dates and location of the Seventh Quinquennial Convention. Currently, the International Division (I.D.) is in the process of gathering election results from divisions. That process will be complete, or nearly complete, by March, as divisions continue to send in their election results and protested elections are resolved.

The next major convention event will be the publication of delegates' names and division numbers in the April edition of the Locomotive Engineer Newsletter. Later in April, registration and information materials will be sent out to all I.D. Delegates of record. This packet not only will include a registration form, but also information about travel arrangements, hotel information, and general information about what to expect as a delegate.

Several BLE members already have contacted the Fontainebleau to register and have been referred back to the I.D. There is a reason for this. The BLE has a block of rooms primarily for delegates, I.D. officers, convention committee members and I.D. staff and representatives. It is very important that BLE and GIA delegates be given an opportunity to be in the BLE room block. Visitors are welcome to attend the convention, but rooms will be provided to delegates first. Rooms left over in the BLE block will be available to visitors. For this reason, there will be no registration with the hotel directly for a room in the BLE block.

There will be three methods of registering for the Seventh Quinquennial Convention, which includes hotel registration. The first is through the Delegate's Page in the Members Area of the BLE Website. Only delegates will be allowed in that page. The second method is by government mail. The third is by fax. No telephone registrations will be accepted. Registration information will be stored in a database, which will be forwarded to the hotel for room assignments. Registration will not begin until April, which still is five months before the convention, in order to allow for an accurate list of delegates to be completed, so that all delegates have an equal opportunity to register promptly.

Once delegates have registered, the next item of importance is travel. As with the 1996 convention, the BLE is making arrangements with a travel agent who will attempt to find the most reasonable fares to Miami. A toll-free number will be provided when available. There will be an official convention carrier, which will provide further discounts for travel. Delegates are free to use the BLE travel agent or to make their own arrangements.

The official convention airport is Miami, Fla. Shuttles will be provided for transportation of delegates between the airport and the Fontainebleau, free of charge. Delegates should watch for signs in the baggage area. Again, the delegates are free to purchase tickets to alternate destinations; but if delegates choose to do so, transportation to and from the hotel will be at their own expense.

The best day for delegates to arrive at the convention is Sunday, September 23. Delegates should try to get there as early in the afternoon as possible. Hotel check-in is 3 p.m., but some rooms may be available before then. Delegates may schedule their arrival prior to

Sunday, but bear in mind that the BLE room block is significantly smaller, and first-come, first-served is the rule.

Once delegates check-in at the hotel, they should proceed to the Grand Gallerie, where they will sign in and receive their BLE Delegate's packet. They will receive their seat assignments at that time also, which are chosen by random drawing. BLE sign-in will be on Sunday, September 23, and also Monday morning for late arrivals. Sign-in may also be held for a limited time on Saturday, September 22, for early arrivals.

Photo caption: Grand Chief Engineer Perry S. Heath addresses delegates at the First Quadrennial Convention in 1966.

Continued on Page 5

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