Taking the education and training of its members to new heights, the BLE held its first Extended Local Chairman Workshop of 1999 on the road in St. Louis, Mo.
All previous Workshops were held on the Campus of the George Meany Center in Silver Spring, Md. Leaders of the BLE Education & Training Dept. decided to take the show on the road in 1999 after receiving input from members in the Midwestern and Western United States.
"This was like a house call for us," said Bill Walpert, BLE Vice-President and Director of the Education & Training Dept. "We took the Workshop on the road to make things more convenient for our members."
For its first-ever Extended Local Chairman Workshop held away from the George Meany Center's campus in Silver Spring, Md., the BLE Education & Training Department set up this mobile computer laboratory. Here, members receive hands-on training as part of the Workshop's computer curriculum. Seated, from left: Jim Reichley, Div. 273; Mike LittleJohn, Div. 107; C.R. Jones, Div. 724; Jim Baublit, Div. 548; Vice-President & Director of Education & Training Bill Walpert; Ron Jennings, Div. 155; Bill Mayberry, Div. 155; George Meany Center Adjunct Faculty Member Don Spatz; and Jack Russell, Div. 444. Standing, from left: Coordinator of the Education & Training Dept. Larry James; and Duane Myers, Div. 447.
The campus of the Meany Center is ideal for the Workshop, as it has both a computer lab and housing in one location. Finding a location on the road that fulfilled both of these requirements proved difficult.
"It took a lot of preparation and planning to hold it on the road," said Larry James, Coordinator of the Education & Training Dept. "We were able to set up an on-site, mobile computer lab to allow local chairmen to research and develop their grievance and claim cases."
The six-day Workshop provided the 25 attendees with hands-on training in computer use, writing and editing, union leadership skills, and culminated with a simulated discipline hearing.
Guest instructors from the George Meany Center made the trip to St. Louis for the workshop. In addition, James, Walpert and Vice-President Rick Radek each instructed various classes.
St. Louis marked another milestone for the Workshop. It was the first time all local chairmen of any General Committee had successfully completed the training.
All local chairmen from Stephen Speagle's Norfolk Souther-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment have completed the course. In addition, all local chairmen under Springfield Terminal (D&H) General Chairman Mike Twombly's jurisdiction have completed the training.
"We improve each class based on the feedback from previous classes," James said. "This class had a high level of input and participation."
The next class is tentatively scheduled for Phoenix, Ariz., in the fall of 1999.
From left: Dave Grimm, Div. 191, and Jack Russell, Div. 444, plot their team's defense during a breakout session as they prepare for the simulated disciplinary hearing.
The simulated disciplinary hearing lasted for several hours. It was recorded live during the morning and key portions of the hearing were reviewed via video tape in the afternoon.
Ed Roliczek of BLE Division 273, right, receives his diploma from Vice-President Bill Walpert.
Clockwise, from far left: Kevin Peek, Div. 456; Jim Baublit, Div. 548; Bill Mayberry, Div. 155; Jim Lenahan, Div. 263; and Dave Grimm, Div. 191.
Local chairmen at the workshop spent time comparing notes for their leadership skills teamwork assignment. From left: Scott Langston, Div. 537; Grant Wylie, Div. 537; Jerry Elmore, Div. 120; and Ed Roliczek, Div. 273.
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