Spring 2001
Volume 108 - No. 1
Spring 2001
Volume 108 - No. 1
BLE Focus
The Convention
The first official event of the convention will be the BLE/GIA Reception, which will be held in the Fontaine Room on Sunday evening. It is a good place for delegates, observers and other guests to break the ice, socialize, meet new friends, and meet I.D. officers, staff and representatives.
Also held on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and occasionally Wednesday evenings, while not an official convention function, are the various delegate caucuses. Caucuses are grouped by regions - Canadian, Western, Eastern, and Southeastern - that correspond to the general chairmen's associations found in Section 50 - Standing Rules of the Constitution and Bylaws. There also is a Legislative caucus for those delegates who are legislative chairmen or representatives.
While the I.D. has no involvement in caucuses, they are, nevertheless, an extremely important delegate function. Each caucus interviews candidates for office and attempts to come to a consensus on supporting those who meet its best interests. Furthermore, caucuses also consider support for resolutions that are before the convention.
In addition to electing officers for five-year terms, the other primary responsibility of convention delegates is the consideration of resolutions to amend the Constitution and Bylaws or policy of the I.D. In fact, deliberation over resolutions takes up the lion's share of convention time. As an aside, BLE International Conventions are not like corporate conventions or even conventions of some other unions. BLE delegates work long, hard hours. Delegates are either in convention assembled, at a caucus meeting, eating or sleeping. There is a lot of work to be done, and not a lot of time to do it.
© 2001 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers