Farewell, Brother Bradford

The BLE bid farewell to J.E. "Jim" Bradford on January 1 as he left his position as a Special Representative to pursue a career with the Consolidated Associations of Railroad Employees.

Brother Bradford served two stints as a Special Rep, the most recent from 1993 to 1998. He first joined the BLE on Dec. 1, 1973, and retains his membership in Houston's Division 366.

Special Reps serve as liaisons between the International Division and local divisions. Bradford's territory was Zone 4, which included the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas.

"I want to thank Brother Bradford for his years of service to the Brotherhood," said BLE President Clarence Monin. "He will be missed."

At a meeting of the BLE Special Reps in January, Bradford was presented with a commemorative plaque by BLE Vice-President Bill Walpert, on behalf of himself, the Education & Training Department, the other Special Reps, and the entire Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

"A Special Rep's job is 90 percent Education and Training," said Walpert, who is Director of the BLE's Education & Training Department. "Bradford was highly skilled in those areas. He was a great asset to the Brotherhood."

Effective April 1, Bradford will be replaced by Ken Kroeger, a member of the BLE National Mobilization Team and Local Chairman of BLE Division 28 in Tucson, Ariz.

From left: BLE Special Representative John Tolman; Vice-President Bill Walpert; Special Rep Ron Dean; former Special Rep Jim Bradford; Special Rep W.L. "Sonny" Hamm; Special Rep Tommy Miller; and Coordinator of the Education & Training Department Larry James.

BLE Calendar

JUNE 20-24 BLE Southeastern Meeting Association

Convention Chairman Darvin Faust welcomes everyone to Biloxi, Miss., for the 72nd annual SMA. Hotel reservations can be made by calling the newly-constructed Beau Rivage at (888) 567-6667. Write Brother Faust for convention details at: 709 Burke St., Saraland, AL 36571; or call (334) 679-4818.

JULY 5-8 BLE International Western Convention

Chairman Allan McGunigal announced that Calgary, Alberta will be the host city for the 1999 IWC. Guests will stay at the Holiday Inn Downtown, and can make reservations by calling (800) 661-9378. For details, write: 8989 Macleod Trail South, Suite 309, Calgary, Alberta, T2H 0M2, Canada; or call (403) 640-4115; or fax (403) 640-4140.

AUGUST 9-13 BLE Southwestern Convention Meeting

The 64th annual SWCM will be held at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans, La. Chairman Bill Morris will welcome early arrivals on August 8, but registration and the annual golf tournament will begin on August 9. General sessions for the BLE and GIA will be held on August 10-12 and the final business meeting is on August 13. The Fairmont Hotel is adjacent to the French Quarter, and reservations can be made by calling (800) 527-4727 (U.S. only) or (504) 529-7111.

AUGUST 17-21 BLE Eastern Union Meeting Association

Recently confirmed for August 17-21, 1999, at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center in Hershey, Pa. Hotel registration and other details to follow. Write Arrangements Chairman John Rupp at: 333 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; or call (717) 766-5723.

Advisory Board January Activity

By action of the delegates at the Fifth Quinquennial Convention, summaries of BLE Advisory Board members' activities are published monthly:
International President Clarence V. MoninInternational Office: General supervision of BLE activities, meetings; BLE advisory board mtg.; Rail Labor Division, TTD, AFL-CIO, Washington; Rail Safety Advisory Committee mtgs.; BLE-UTU talks; AFL-CIO executive council mtgs.
First Vice-President & Alternate President Edward DubroskiInternational Office. Assisted president supervising BLE activities; Conrail, CSX, NS mtg.; Metro North mtg.; TTD mtg.; National Wage Talks & division mtgs., Atlanta; UP Safety conference, Dallas; KCS mtg.
General Secretary-Treasurer Russell W. BennettInternational Office: Supervision of BLE and BLE Building Assn.; Financial depts.; Records Dept.; BLE Job Bank.
Vice-President Paul T. SorrowInternational Office, Assisted president and first vice-president in performing duties in connection with Chief of Staff position; BLE-UTU negotiations, D.C.; Assist CSX-East GCofA; Negotiations on CSX/NS/CSX, mtgs. w/ C. Roy, K. Pfeifer, Conway; CN-IC merger, Chicago; NS-North single agreement negotiations.
Vice-President Joseph A. Cassidy Jr. Congressional reception w/ Congressman P.T. King; Mtg. w/ NMB Executive Director Steven Crable; Mtgs. w/ members of NMB; SEPTA mtg.; PATH contract negotiations; BLE-UTU joint drafting committee; Duluth, Missabe, & Iron Range mtg.; Mtg. w/ Norfolk Southern local chairmen, St. Louis; Mtg. w/ local chairmen on Missouri & North Arkansas.
Vice-President & U.S. Nat'l Legislative Representative Leroy D. JonesWashington D.C. Office; Holiday; TTD/Rail Div. mtgs.; Receptions; Schumer (D-NY), Beckley (D-NV); Nat'l Press Club Roundtable; AFL-CIO legislative mtg.; High Speed Rail Assoc. mtg.; Mtg. w/ AAR Exec VP C. Dettman; Bill Loftus, Shorline & Regional RR Assoc.; BLE/UTU drafting committee; Mtg. w/ Amtrak Pres. George Warrington; Senator Conrad (D-ND); Democratic Governors' Assoc. luncheon; Cong. Sawyer (D-OH); DSCC roundtable; FRA RSAC mtgs.; Mtg. w/ Gov. Carnahan (D-MO), Duke McVey, President, Missouri AFL-CIO.
Vice-President James L. McCoy UP-SP merger mtgs., San Antonio hub, Dallas/Ft. Worth hub; ICRR conference call; BLE-MidSouth Rail Section 6 negotiations; UP Town Hall meetings, Smithdale, Texas; KCS-BLE mtgs.; Routine office duties, correspondence.
Vice-President William C. WalpertInternational Office; BLE Education & Training Dept.; Internal Organizing, Mobilizing & Strategic Planning Dept.; Publications Committee; Public Relations Dept.; BLE Safety Task Force; BLE Special Reps.; Special Rep mtg.; Mtg. w/ Shortline Assoc. in D.C.; Visit potential simulator site; Mtgs. w/ PR firm, D.C.; Local Chairman's Workshop, St. Louis.
Vice-President Edward W. Rodzwicz Finance docket 33388; Holiday; SBA 894, selection of arbitrators; CR/CSX eastern & western seniority districts; Allegheny Ludlum RR, mtg. w/ GC White; South Buffalo RR, codification of CBA; SBA 894, Awards 1646, 1649; Assignments under direction of President; CR property; BLE Finance Committee, Peat Marwick.
Vice-President Don M. Hahs General office duties; Ft. Worth Hub notice; San Antonio Hub agreement; UP-SP system; BNSF system; MRL; National Wage/Rule mtgs., Atlanta; Special Board, KC Hub seniority issue; Town Hall Meeting, San Antionio Hub; Ft. Worth hub negotiations.
Vice-President Richard K. Radek International Office; BLE Decertification Helpline services; Director of Arbitration Dept; National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB); Arbitration assistance, GTW; RSAC engineer certification working group; Part 240.409 proceedings, EQAL 97-65, 97-03, 97-05; NRAB executive session, arbitration postponed; BLE-UTU mtgs., General Chairmen's mtg., Draft Cmte. mtg.; PLB 5193, AVR grievance mediation; NICRC, Metra, general claims, grievance assistance; PLB screening docket; Various NRAB arbitrations, adoption.
Vice-President & Canadian Director Gilles HalléOttawa Office; Holiday; Mtg. w/ Michel Marcoux; Mtg. w/ CN Rail General Manager; Mtg. w/ Via Rail; Arbitration; Mtg. w/ GC Brad Wood; BLE-UTU drafting committee; Mtg. w/ R. Dyon, D. Arnold & P. Wojtowiez; Mtg. w/ Jim Shields.
Vice-President & Canadian National Legislative Representative T. George HuckerOttawa Office; Canadian National Legislative Board; Mtg. w/ Standing Cmte. On Transport; Opening of BLE Training Centre; BLE General Chairmen's Assoc. mtg.; Mtg. w/ T. Burtch, Transport Canada; CP Rail negotiations; Mtg. w/ VIA Rail; National Legislative Board Executive Cmte. mtgs.; Holidays.

BLE Publications Committee:
Clarence V. Monin, International President
Edward Dubroski, First Vice-President & Alternate President
Russell W. Bennett, General Secretary-Treasurer
Leroy D. Jones, Vice-President & U.S. National Legislative Representative
William C. Walpert, Vice-President & Editor

John Bentley Jr., Associate Editor
Contact us: (216) 241-2630

THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER NEWSLETTER
is published monthly by the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
1370 Ontario Street, Mezzanine,
Cleveland, OH 44113-1702.

Since 1863, a Tradition of Forward Thinking

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