Department Profile

Left to right: Bob Broka, Cindy Gasper, Kim Nunes and Louise Demetzky

If members are what truly drive the BLE, then the Record Department is the fuel that keeps the engine running smoothly.

The Record Department "does everything regarding membership," according to the Director of Records Bob Broka. Considering only four people work in this hectic department, they handle a tremendous amount of work.

Members of the department receive and audit the International dues and summary membership reports issued by the division secretary-treasurers. They use these reports to maintain the membership database, a computerized file system that contains information about members from initiation to retirement.

The database contains each member's assigned reference number; current railroad employer; original and current division number and location; birthdate; address; membership pins awarded; mailing address, BLE PAC fund and insurance status; division transfers; and BLE offices held.

"We really don't have that much contact with the general membership, but through our contact with the secretary-treasurers, we serve the membership by accurately maintaining dues records," said auditor Louise Demetzky.

Two department members, Demetzky and Cindy Gasper, audit the reports daily for membership and dues information. They make sure that both of these are accurate and also deal with changes in membership status, corresponding with secretary-treasurers about discrepancies in the reports. Reports are balanced to both membership and money. It is an accounting procedure that keeps these two women busy each and every month.

"We try to make the S-Ts job as easy as possible because we understand that for most of them this job is only a sideline," Gasper said.

Their correspondence with the S-Ts is often short and to the point. The efficient communication is the key to smooth operations in the Record Department. "The letters need to be cut and dry otherwise they would be 10 pages long, and we don't want to take up too much of their time," Demetzky said.

According to Broka, "Communications is the key. In order to do our job, we need to communicate with the Secretary-Treasurers about the reports they send us and vice versa."

Broka has been with the BLE for nearly 30 years. His responsibilities include overseeing the monthly dues reports and remittances, membership changes and officer changes. He also deals with any problems that may occur within the department. Prior to beginning his tenure with the BLE, Broka attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where one of his fraternity brothers was former Vice-President Dan Qualye. Bob can, however, spell "potato."

"Everything that comes in - all the dues for the general fund that the BLE uses to operate - has to be accurately accounted for each and every month," Broka says.

"We have a great group of people in this department. We work hard and have fun," he said. "With the work we do every month under the pressure of deadlines, you have to be willing to 'let your hair down' on occasion. These kids -Kimmer (Kim), Weezer (Louise), and Sinbad (Cindy) - truly do a great job."

Bob's secretary, Kim Nunes, was not even born when Broka started working at the BLE nearly thirty years ago. While her title is that of Bob's secretary, she also does a variety of other jobs - maintaining the membership database, handling the mail, making the daily deposit and maintaining the officer directory.

"The toughest part of my job is keeping the up with the daily volume of mail our department receives. At times, its overwhelming," says Kim.

While each department member has their own specific job, each is capable of handling any job in the department, Broka said.

General Secretary-Treasurer Russ Bennett oversees the department. Bennett said the department clearly demonstrates the team effort concept. He can depend on them to accomplish a task, even if it means doing extra work, he said.

"These individuals have a sense of pride about their jobs and it makes me proud and privileged to have them as part of my staff," said Bennett. "It is a real pleasure to have intelligent and capable individuals working for you. Their talents help us handle the work for our members. They handle one pressure deadline and go right into the next one."

Being able to stay on top of the reams of information necessary to serve BLE members makes the Record Department a real asset to the Brotherhood.

© 1999 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers