Gaining Knowledge and Building a Network at the Secretary-Treasurers Conference

More than 50 pilots from 28 pilot groups came together March 17–18 for ALPA’s annual Secretary-Treasurers Conference at the Association’s offices in McLean, Va.

Capt. Wes Clapper, ALPA’s vice president–finance/treasurer, and Capt. Sean Creed, then the union’s vice president–administration/secretary, hosted both master executive council (MEC) and local executive council (LEC) officers, with a mix of veterans and those filling the role for the first time in attendance.

The secretary-treasurer position (or, for some pilot groups, separate secretary and treasurer positions) has a myriad of administrative, meeting planning, and financial/budgetary responsibilities, and the conference aimed to provide attendees with the knowledge and network for success.

“Your pilots handed you the keys to their dues dollars,” said Capt. Wendy Morse, ALPA’s first vice president, stressing the need to be responsible with those funds. “The events this week have one purpose—to make sure you have what you need to serve your pilot group well and connect you with a network of ALPA colleagues,” she emphasized.

“The key activities this week are to meet other secretary-treasurers, learn about ALPA policies and processes and your responsibilities, and participate in hands-on training on the systems you’ll be using,” Clapper added.

Presentations, Discussions, and Breakouts

Along with the Association’s national officers, ALPA staff representing various departments gave presentations on relevant topics and the support and resources available to secretary-treasurers.

Secretary-specific topics included a review of the responsibilities for keeping member rosters up to date and the reports that are available; planning for, preparing, and helping run an MEC or LEC meeting; and an overview of the online membership portal for new hires.

Creed highlighted the need for structure and consistency, noting, “Have a process and stick to it.”

Regarding the treasurer position, attendees were introduced to ALPA’s dues structure and the Association’s financial health; reviewed the various ways the union can assist and support pilot groups; received information about the budgeting process and available assistance; and learned about Association polices and processes in a number of areas, including flight pay loss, spending and reimbursement, purchasing swag, travel and hotels, and more.

The conference also included daily breakout sessions that provided the elected officers with hands-on training for using tools important to the position as well as the opportunity to meet face to face with many of the staff available to support them.

Day in the Life of an ALPA Secretary-Treasurer

Clapper also moderated a perennial favorite panel, the “Day in the Life of an ALPA Secretary-Treasurer,” which consisted of veteran officers Capt. Mathias Lundblad (Hawaiian), Capt. Nick Reed (Delta), and Capt. Mathieu Lalancette (Air Canada).

The trio shared their background, including why they first started volunteering, and provided firsthand insight into the challenges and rewards of the position, their thoughts on recent policy changes that affect their work, and advice for brand-new secretary-treasurers.

Reed preached patience to the group. “I’ve never regretted waiting to find an answer,” he explained. “There’s no expense emergency, so take the time to do the research and do things the right way.” He reinforced the importance of networking with those in the room, especially when they’re unsure about something. “We all have the same issues,” he said. “Someone in this room probably already has a solution.”

Gaining Practical Insight

F/O Laurence Charette (Porter), her LEC’s secretary-treasurer, gained insights into both the position and ALPA in general as an elected officer with one of the Association’s newest pilot groups.

“As part of a pilot group that recently joined ALPA, attending the Secretary-Treasurers Conference has been a great opportunity to learn about my new role and better understand the support available, as well as the structure of the Association,” she observed. “I’m impressed by the resources offered and feel very welcomed and supported by the staff.”

Regarding the conference, Charette noted, “The breakout sessions provided practical insight into the tools we’ll be using day to day, and meeting other pilots has been especially valuable in gaining perspective on this role. Being able to connect with them and learn from their experiences makes the conference both informative and inspiring. My biggest takeaway is that help will always be available when needed, whether it’s through the staff or fellow pilots.”