Dennis J. Campagna, Vice President
James E. Conway, Vice President
Lynette A. Ross, Vice President
Gerald E. Wallin, Vice President

What we call the beginning is often the end and to make an end is to make a beginning.  The end is where we start from.

My four years as President of the National Association of Railroad Referees is just about over.  I suspect that is why John LaRocco, the Program Chair, entitled my opening remarks as farewell remarks.  I think this situation is best summarized by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.  Thirty-seven years ago when I heard my first case at the National Railroad Adjustment Board, the Beatles' song, Hello, Goodbye, was the No. 1 record.

You say yes, I say no.
You say stop, I say go....
You say goodbye and I say hello....
I don't know why you say goodbye,
I say hello.*

So hello and welcome to the annual meeting of the National Association of Railroad Referees.  The words from the Beatles' Hello, Goodbye sometimes seemed like an NMB refrain.

I say yes, they say no.
They say stop, I say go.
I don't know why they say stop, don't go.

NARR has six expressed aims and purposes:

1. To promote mutual exchange of ideas and information among its members concerning items of mutual interest;

2. To communicate with the National Mediation Board and other appropriate agencies, groups, and organizations to offer aid and assistance as is deemed appropriate in the promotion of railroad arbitration;

3. To be available to the NMB and other appropriate agencies, groups, and organizations to offer comments upon various suggestions and requests as they may solicit same;

4. To obtain and distribute to the membership information and documentation of interest to the professional pursuits of the members;

5. To engage in educational pursuits as may be appropriate; and

6. To  take other action to promote the interests of railroad arbitration as deemed appropriate by the Association to achieve the aims and purposes of the Association.

Your attendance here today helps NARR fulfill its aims and purposes.  We have been vigorously engaged in the exchange of ideas and information on our web page and in The NARRator, our monthly newsletter.  This has been accomplished through the dedication of Anna DuVal Smith.  She is not only the gatekeeper to our web page, she is the genius that created and maintains our information exchange.  We have communicated regularly with the NMB and the parties at Section III meetings.  We are grateful for our inclusion as observers in Section III meetings where we have been able to promote video conferencing and attempted to widen the pool of capable, ethical neutrals.  We have been available to the NMB, and we have taken action to promote the interests of railroad arbitration and will continue to do so.

We are especially grateful to the parties, to the carriers, to the National Railway Labor Conference, and to organizations who have supported our efforts to educate, communicate, and promote the interests of railroad arbitration.  We owe special thanks to Bob Allen and Ken Gradia, to Clint Miller and Paul Thompson, to Don Hahs and Pat Szymanski, and to Charlie McGraw who always encourage and support the work we do, and who also played a special role in designing today's program.

The Association has grown over the past four years and the joy and burden of that growth rests with Ann Kenis, Secretary-Treasurer.  She has welcomed you all here this morning at the registration desk, prepared your program, and arranged for your hotel.  We owe her special thanks.

Commissioner Joseph Eastman held the post of Transportation Coordinator in 1934, 70 years ago.  Testifying before the 73rd Congress discussing the world of railroad arbitration, he opined

The success of railroad arbitration will depend very largely upon the wisdom with which it is administered, both by the actual members of the Board and also by the parties which stand behind them, namely the carriers and the labor organizations.

In those 70 years since Eastman's prophetic caveat, over 200,000 awards have been handed down which reflect the wisdom of the neutrals and the parties behind them.  You cannot discuss the current common law of railroads without mentioning names of members of this organization or others in this room.  In our brief existence, 42,000 grievants received answers to their grievances -- minor disputes, yes, but major issues to every one of the grievants.  Carriers and organizations have relied on the integrity of NARR members to guarantee a safe and just work place.

The train is about to leave the station.  Our first stop will be the bargaining table where carriers and organizations are fashioning the topics for next year's bargaining rounds.  Clint Miller of the UTU and Ken Gradia of NRLC are familiar faces at our meetings.  They are joined by a new face, Pat Szymanski, Counsel to the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.  After a break, our second stop will be the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Issues in Railroad Labor Arbitration.  Lunch, you don't want to miss - not only because of the menu, but the speaker is Michel Picher, who will describe how our friends north of the border handle grievances, namely, how he single-handedly handles minor disputes.  Ken Gradia and Peter Meyers will be the afternoon conductors or engineers, if you prefer.  Tomorrow, we visit with the Board and discuss Last Chance Agreements.  May you not doze too deeply, lest you miss your stop -

You say goodbye, I say hello.

OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY AUTHORS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE POSITION OF NARR ON ANY ISSUE.