TO: OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
FROM: BLE/UTU MEDIA-PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
RE: PROPOSALS IN PRINCIPLE FOR NEW ORGANIZATION MEDIA/PUBLIC AFFAIRS ACTIVITIES
DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 1998
It is the unanimous recommendation of this committee, if a New Organization is created from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the United Transportation Union, that the Oversight Committee accepts and implements these recommendations.
Editorial Board
The New Organization should establish an Editorial Board to oversee all publications, both printed and electronic.
The Editorial Board shall include the top International Officers (e.g., international president, first vice-president, assistant president, general secretary-treasurer, national legislative representative) of the New Organization and the Editor(s) of the New Organization Newspaper and the Locomotive Engineers Journal, and others the International leadership deems appropriate.
The Editorial Board shall meet at least once a month to review upcoming editorial content and to set editorial, on-line services, and advertising policy.
Newspaper
The New Organization should publish a semimonthly newspaper combining the best of the UTU News and the Locomotive Engineer Newsletter.
The New Organization Newspaper should not be less than eight (8) pages per issue. It should continue to contain editorial content of interest to locomotive engineers, conductors and the other historical rail crafts, which are part of the New Organization, as well as information for bus operators, pilots and other transportation workers.
Editorial space will be provided in the New Organization Newspaper for information specific to Canadian interests as provided by the Canadian Office in English and French subject to review by the Editorial Board.
Magazine
The New Organization should continue to publish the Locomotive Engineers Journal and convert it to a for-profit publication with up to 12 issues printed annually.
The new, for-profit Locomotive Engineers Journal would actively seek a broad range of advertising in order to generate a new revenue stream and create merchandising opportunities. The Editorial Board would establish its advertising policy.
The magazine would preserve the core editorial content of the Locomotive Engineers Journal that is of interest to locomotive engineers, and add new editorial sections of interest to the other historical rail crafts and other transportation workers.
Based on its circulation among the full membership of the New Organization, the Locomotive Engineers Journal would be the largest rail-and-transportation oriented publication in North America.
On-Line Services
The New Organization should establish an On-Line Services department responsible for maintaining an in-house, state-of-the-art website and other online activities. The website would contain the best of the existing BLE and UTU websites and add other information, as it becomes available and practical.
The New Organization should place an emphasis on its website so that it evolves rapidly into a primary communications tool for its membership and a valuable information source to the transportation industry and public.
The New Organization should provide access to and maintain an electronic mailing list for use by its membership.
The New Organization's Public Affairs Department should continue to have direct access and jurisdiction over specific sections of the website subject to the direction of the Editorial Board.
Retiree Program & Membership Programs
The New Organization should retain the UTU's Retiree Program, rename and enhance it, and open its membership to all BLE retirees.
The New Organization should maintain all existing BLE and UTU external membership programs and services, including genealogical searches and scholarship programs.
The New Organization should recommend that the UTU Ladies Auxiliary and the Grand International Auxiliary of the BLE be combined.
Digital Technology & Video
The New Organization should use digital and other information technologies, including but not limited to video, CD-ROM, DVD, etc., for training and information resources for its membership.
Education &Training Department
The New Organization should continue and adequately fund an Education and Training Department.
The Education and Training Department will be responsible for the administration, development and delivery of Education and Training Programs to the New Organization's membership.
The Director of the Education and Training Department should be an individual with an appropriate background and training in the field.
The Public Affairs professionals of the New Organization should assist in producing education-and-training materials and aid in building effective programs whenever required.
The UTU custom motorcoach, Membership I, should continue to be actively used to deliver Education and Training programs to the membership where they work and live using state-of-the-art information technologies and training materials.
New Organization Identity
The Public Affairs Department of the New Organization should be responsible for the execution and implementation of a new logotype and identity program, subject to review by the Editorial Board.
Staffing
The Public Affairs Department of the New Organization should be comprised of the current public relations staffs of the BLE (two persons) and the UTU (three persons).
The Public Affairs Department should, therefore, consist of at least five (5) persons who will undertake all of the duties currently performed by the UTU and BLE public relations departments and any new ones assigned by the leadership of the New Organization.
The On-Line Services Department should be comprised of the BLE and UTU webmasters and others as deemed appropriate by the Editorial Board.
The Education and Training Department should be adequately staffed with professionals solely focused on delivering the highest quality programs for the membership.
Additional staffing requirements for each department will be considered and added at a later time if needed after the New Organization is created.
Respectfully submitted by,