Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

CLEVELAND, May 12 Registration is now open for the 70th annual International Western Convention, slated for July 13-17, 2010, in beautiful Bismarck-Mandan, N.D. The 2010 IWC is hosted by Co-Chairmen Mike Muscha and Ron Huff and the members of BLET Division 671 and Division 746.

Guests will stay at the Radisson Hotel Bismarck and reservations can be made by calling (701) 255-6000. 

On-site registration will open on July 13 and continue through July 15. The annual IWC golf outing will take place on July 14 at the challenging Hawktree golf course, a 7,085-yard par 72 course. 

For the non-golfers, the IWC arrangements committee is planning a spouses trip to the Old Governors mansion, the state capital and heritage center on July 14. 

At the end of the day, everyone is invited to attend the welcome reception the evening of July 14. 

Members can still register the morning of July 15 when the convention kicks off with opening ceremonies. The afternoon includes closed meetings for the BLET and the BLET Auxiliary. Guests will enjoy dinner on the evening of July 15 along the Lewis & Clark Riverboat tour.

A number of valuable educational opportunities will be made available on July 16, including workshops for BLET Secretary-Treasurers and Legislative Representations, and there will be a special arbitration workshop will be held for Local Chairmen. The IWC will also offer a workshop on mobilization.

All members will benefit from presentations regarding radiation handling and electronic evidence/event recorders. 

People not attending the workshops will enjoy a trip to the Mandan railroad museum, which includes a hobo lunch. There is also a trip scheduled to Fort Lincoln State Park, home of the famous General George Custer house and the home of Custers 7th Calvary.

The closing banquet is slated for the evening of July 16.

Registration forms for the IWC and for the IWC golf outing are currently available on the BLET National Division website at: 
http://www.ble-t.org/info/meetings/iwc

Early registration is encouraged. Those who register by June15 will receive a $30 discount on registration fees, and the first 250 to register will receive a free 2010 IWC commemorative t-shirt. 

The 2010 IWC Planning Committee members from Divisions 671 and 746 are putting together a great agenda for the 70th International Western Convention, Chairman Mike Muscha said. Please join us for four days of educational opportunities and fun activities. 

For more information, contact Mike Muscha (701-437-3881 or loceng671e@mlgc.com) or Ron Huff (701-355-0576 or trainhuff2@bis.midco.net).