At 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 17, President Mac A. Fleming called the International Association meeting of Grand Lodge and System Officers to order. Following the invocation by General Chairman Mark Wimmer and opening remarks by President Fleming, BMWE Director of Arbitration Steve Powers gave a powerful speech on the subject of strategic organizing.

Later during the meeting, a resolution originating with the Western Regional Association and moved by General Chairman David Tanner and seconded by Executive Board Member and Assistant Chairman Louis Below, was passed unanimously. This resolution called upon President Fleming to "immediately appoint a blue-ribbon committee to expeditiously create a plan of action for the potential organization of certain sub-contracting forces" taking into account several concerns and "that this committee shall report in writing to the Grand Lodge Officers its conclusions on this important matter for such officers to consider, amend and possibly implement, accordingly."

Following Powers were BMWE Director of Information Systems Jim Superfisky, assisted by Zachariah Bobby, who discussed the BMWE’s grievance tracking and membership programs and BMWE Director of Government Affairs Jim Knight who discussed legislation currently pending in Washington, DC.

Discrimination and civil rights were the topics of the traditional educational program presented on the afternoon of May 17. The program was conducted by Mady Gilson, Esq. She is a member of a Washington, DC law firm that represents a variety of inernational, national and local unions and has done substantial arbitration and discrimination-related work nationwide, in industries invluding aviation, hotel and education. Gilson is a 1971 graduate of Brown University, a 1976 graduate of Antioch School of Law and has been a labor lawyer with Bredhoff & Kaiser since 1980. Gilson was followed by BMWE General Counsel William Bon who presented guidelines for discrimination cases. The entire program was videotaped and plans are being made to produce copies for distribution to local lodges as well as to be available on the BMWE’s website.

Before the closing of the afternoon session Assistant General Counsel Donald Griffin discussed the agreement reached on March 21 by the BMWE and most of the other rail unions with the Class 1 carriers (except for Canadian National) that ends the process of the forced "cram down" of collective bargaining agreements. (See May 2001 JOURNAL.)

Following the invocation on Friday morning, May 18, Secretary-Treasurer W. E. LaRue presented the BMWE’s annual financial report. A summary of this report appears on page 6 of this JOURNAL and the Secretary-Treasurer’s Overview on page 5 discusses the "fiduciary responsibility" of a secretary-treasurer in managing the financial affairs of any organization.

Following LaRue was Elise Bryant, a Senior Staff Associate at the George Meany Center for Labor Studies, who presented "Dr. Feelgood’s Guide to Stress Management." An excellent vocalist, Byrant incorporated several musical interludes into her presentation and received a standing ovation.

Following Vice President Gary Housch’s Canadian issues update, Secretary-Treasurer LaRue and Knight presented the BMWE’s annual Maintenance of Way Political League Awards. Those honored this year were:

Left to right, Jim Knight, Bill LaRue, Leon Fenhaus, Tony Wheeler, Mac Fleming, 
Robert Winter,  Randy Cook,  Mark Hemphill.

Highest Contributing Member & Full-time Officer or Appointee: Tony A. Wheeler

Highest Contributing Retiree: Willard A. House

Award accepted by Allied Eastern Federation General Chairman J. R. Cook.

Highest Contributing Local Lodge: Lodge 2414

Award accepted by AT&SF System Federation General Chairman Mark Hemphill.

Highest Contributing System: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe System Federation

Award accepted by AT&SF System Federation General Chairman Mark Hemphill.

Highest Contributing Region: Northwest

Award accepted by Northwest Region Chairman Leon R. Fenhaus.

During the good and welfare portion of the meeting a number of issues were discussed, including the Hallmark Hotel strike in Canada, the ratification of the national agreement and genetic testing.

Regarding the unprecedented genetic testing case that was won by the BMWE against Burlington Northern Santa Fe (see April and May 2001 JOURNALs), a resolution was moved by Secretary-Treasurer LaRue, seconded by General Chairman Bruce Glover, and passed unanimously resolving "that this International Association of the BMWE on the 18^th day of May, 2001 commend attorneys Harry Zanville and Charles Collins for their excellent work, and extend our heartfelt appreciation for their willingness to take up the cause of working people."

Two other resolutions, both relating to BMWE-designated FELA attorneys, were presented by the Northwest Regional Association to the IA for consideration.

Resolution No. 1 was moved by General Chairman Leon Fenhaus and seconded by Vice General Chairman R. D. Osler, calling for the Grand Lodge Officers to immediately adopt a policy for considering the removal of a "designated firm" from the BMWE’s legal aid list (see page 7 of this JOURNAL). This resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 2 was moved by General Chairman Fenhaus, seconded by Vice General Chairman Mark Weyrauch, and adopted by the IA, resolving that the "Grand Lodge Officers adopt guidelines as to how the 25% fee that BMWE Designated Law Firms charge is applied, and to provide a copy to all System Officers. Failing to develop these guidelines, President Fleming shall instruct and require all BMWE Designated Law Firms to provide him with a copy of how the 25% fee is applied by their firm. When this information is received, President Fleming will provide copies to all System Officers."