Summer 2001
Volume 108 - No. 2

BLE Focus

Volunteer Spirit

Recognizing those who continue to give without expectation of a reward

In the following pages, we have profiled BLE members from various regions around the U.S. and Canada who perform volunteer work.

While this is not a comprehensive list, it represents some of the most dedicated volunteers in the ranks of BLE membership who continue to give without expectation of a reward. The activities of these members were brought to our attention through various sources within the BLE.

We realize there are many more active and retired BLE volunteers who have chosen to spend their time improving their communities and places of work than those listed on the following pages. However, because of space limitations, we could not profile them all.

All BLE members who perform volunteer work should be commended. With all that is wrong with our world, you are what is right. With more BLE members spending longer hours at work and away from home, it is difficult for many to find the free time to perform volunteer work. But as many of the BLE members profiled here will tell you, it's not a matter of finding time, but of making time. A small effort can bring great rewards.

The volunteers on the following pages all chose to use their craft of locomotive engineer to help out in a voluntary capacity. Whether it is giving time to Operation Lifesaver, building a memorial to railroad workers killed in the line of duty, helping disaster victims or just brightening fellow BLE members' days with a prayer, the craft of locomotive engineer affords many opportunities to do good in the community.

The members that we profile are just a few examples of the good that is being done by our members.

In the following pages, look for profiles of:

• George Last, page 9 - His efforts to provide safety training helped save the life of a Colorado firefighter.
• Alfred Keber, Paul Champagne, Bert Andrews and Joe Konkin, page 10 - These retired Canadian BLE members provide a key communications link during emergencies.
• Don Detweiler, page 11 - As a working locomotive engineer and now as a retiree, this Brother has logged many miles for Operation Lifesaver.
• Tom Fooshee, pages 12-13 - His volunteer efforts as a desert tracker have helped saved many a wayward traveler, and yielded unexpected benefits to the BLE and the National Transportation Safety Board.
• Freddie Pryor, pages 14-15 - Some BLE members will tell you his prayers are being answered.
• Doug Traff, page 15 - His volunteer efforts led to the construction of a memorial to railroad workers.

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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© 2001 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers