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Brotherhood's Relief and Compensation Fund
Winter 2006 Newsletter
| Fall 2006 | Summer 2006 | Spring 2006 | The Highball |
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A
message from your president
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 reflects a record amount of “Held Out of Service” claims paid to members. Almost all – yes, almost all – dues received this year from members were returned to members. That is a good thing. It means that the Fund has been here to help members through a difficult financial time when their carrier has disciplined them for eligible occurrences. Major carriers have intensified the assessment of discipline significantly. CSX and KCS remain the highest-discipline railroads for our members. The UP has just introduced a new discipline program that increases the potential for being “Held Out of Service” for longer periods. Even the BNSF, traditionally a low discipline carrier, has metered out stern discipline for what was formerly considered minor rules violations. The degree of discipline assessed by carriers for rules infractions has escalated. We are seeing more members dismissed where a lesser amount of discipline was customary. What is also unusual is that these dismissals are often assessed to our members who have had perfect or near perfect employment records with their carriers. I mentioned that the increase in the number and amount of benefits paid is a good thing because we are here to help. Another good thing is that membership in the Fund is growing. We continue to accept applications from railroad employees working for high discipline carriers. They now realize the value of a BR&CF membership. Although not every application will be approved for membership, we do our best to include as many as possible. Occasionally we receive criticism from an applicant who has been declined membership in the Organization; however, when we review applications we must base our decisions on what is right for the entire membership. Membership in the Fund is a privilege, not a right. The Fund remains financially healthy and strong. We measure our success by what we return to our members and the railroad labor community. We have had a very successful year. J. M. Robb International President
Next Year’s Annual Meeting is Scheduled for April 21, 2007 The BR&CF has been providing benefits to its members for 94 years – Coming Soon to your Mailbox ... Deadline for Receipt of Scholarship Applications in the BR&CF Office ... Direct Dues Payers to Receive Monthly Payment Coupon Booklets
The BR&CF Officers, Directors and Staff Join Together in Wishing Our Members and Their Families a Joyous Holiday Season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Next Year’s Annual Meeting is Scheduled for April 21, 2007
Call us now to make your hotel reservations!
You might be wondering why we’re reminding you of the next Annual Meeting when Old Man Winter hasn’t even arrived yet.
The Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet and Corral in the neighboring community of Carlisle will be held on April 18-22, 2007, the same weekend as the BR&CF’s Annual Meeting. This is a world-renowned event that brings a huge influx of collector car enthusiasts into the area.
In anticipation of this event, which makes it difficult to find hotel accommodations, the BR&CF has reserved a block of rooms at a local hotel. You may reserve one of these rooms by calling the BR&CF office. Since you will be responsible for your own expenses, you should be prepared to provide a credit card number to hold the room.
There are a number of attractions in the Harrisburg area that may entice you to extend your visit. These include the Gettysburg Battlefields, the Strasburg Railroad and the National Civil War Museum. We are located just 15 minutes from Hershey and 45 minutes from the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. You may even want to visit the car swap and corral in Carlisle.
Kindly give us a call and notify us if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. Seating requirements will need to be set up in advance, making it necessary to have an accurate count of attendees.
The BR&CF has been providing benefits to its members for 94 years – nearly a century of dedicated service!
Terminal President Appointments
Effective July 1, 2006 R. Dwayne Scurry Terminal #103 Savannah, Georgia
Effective December 1, 2006 Raymond S. Gatto Terminal #110 Harrisburg, PA
COMING SOON TO YOUR MAILBOX . . . THE 2007 BR&CF WALL CALENDAR!
The tradition continues! We’re proud to announce that the 2007 BR&CF wall calendar will be mailed to all active members in November. Your copy should arrive around the time Old St. Nick makes his annual holiday visit.
The calendar features photos that were submitted by our own BR&CF members and selected as winners in this year’s photo contest. The pictures are identified by location and photo credits are included.
If you have recently joined the BR&CF, your calendar may not have been sent out with the initial mailing. You will receive yours in the not-too-distant future.
We again thank the winners and all members who participated in the contest. Watch for the announcement of the 2007 Photo Contest in the Spring issue of the “Highball,” and send us your photo entries. Your work could be featured in the next BR&CF wall calendar!
Last Reminder – Deadline for Receipt of Scholarship Applications in the BR&CF Office is March 1, 2007
The 2007 Luther G. Smith Scholarship Program is well underway with applications already being received in the BR&CF office.
Don’t let your child miss out on the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile program. Complete and mail us the Scholarship Application Request Form on the back of this newsletter or call the BR&CF office today at 1-800-233-7080 to request an application. You may also e-mail us at brcf@brcf.org. Be sure to provide the sponsoring member’s name and member identification number as well as the mailing address where the application should be sent.
Details on the 2007 Luther G. Smith Scholarship Program were provided in the Fall issue of the “Highball.” If you no longer have your copy, you may view it on the BR&CF website at www.brcf.org. The details are also outlined in the application packet.
It is the BR&CF’s goal that every eligible student will submit an application in a timely manner so that they may participate in this program. Each year we stress the importance and finality of this deadline, yet we still receive some late applications. Please note that applications received after March 1, 2007 will not be considered.
Since the Spring issue of the “Highball” will not be mailed to the membership until February, this will be your only reminder of the March 1, 2007 deadline for the Scholarship Program. We all know how easy it is to procrastinate at this busy time of year, and then . . . we forget! Why not take a few minutes right now to request an application for your child?
Our members who are employees of the below-listed railroads can have their BR&CF dues automatically deducted from their paychecks:
CSX Union Pacific Norfolk Southern Burlington Northern Santa Fe
The BR&CF also offers a “pre-authorized” method of dues payments, wherein we could automatically draw a check from your personal checking account for the amount required to cover your dues payment.
You may call the BR&CF Principal Office to sign up for these convenient and worry-free methods of paying your dues or you can print the appropriate forms by visiting the BR&CF website at www.brcf.org. Just click on Forms and then select Payroll Deduction Authorization Forms.
The BR&CF Pays Tribute to These Longstanding Members
Direct Dues Payers to Receive Monthly Payment Coupon Booklets in November
If you pay your dues directly each month with a coupon, you should expect to receive your monthly payment coupon booklet for 2007 in the very near future. If you do not receive yours by mid-December, please give us a call.
In order to keep your membership “In Good and Regular Standing,” we remind you that your dues payment must reach us no later than the last work day of the month prior to the month for which the payment is owed.
For example, if your dues are currently paid through the month of December 2006, payment for the month of January 2007 must be received in our office on or before December 29, 2006, the last working day of December. See Article VII of your BR&CF Constitution.
January 15, 2007
January 22, 2007
March 1, 2007
March 1, 2007
April 11, 2007
April 16, 2007
April 21, 2007
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August 01, 2007
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