National 2nd Vice President/

Assistant National Legislative Representative

Diane D. Shifflett

2007 - 2010

 

Contact information

 
 

 

 

 

I am from the little town of Shenandoah, Virginia, located in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Danny, my husband of 12 years, is an engineer for Norfolk Southern, and serves as the Legislative Representative for his Division 217.  We have three children: Hailey, 11 years old; Natalie, 10 years old; and Justin, 8 years old.  In addition to my work for the Auxiliary, I run a Dog Rescue, which opened in 2000, mostly for English bull dogs and sheep dogs, and groom dogs for the elderly and disabled members of our community who cannot afford it.  As a coach for our local swim team, my schedule stays pretty full.

 

In 2004, Danny had a rear end collision in dark territory.  He suffered a traumatic brain injury (before we had a term for that), when a piece of steel broke off the locomotive and went into his head.  Danny was off for a year, and the financial hardship put on our family was devastating.  At the time his Local Chairman had retired, so the investigation was handled by Kevin Peek from Division 456.  During the grueling and downright mistreatment of Danny and even me during the fight over Danny’s job, Kevin told me about the Auxiliary and the work they did.  In my excitement to find other spouses who would understand what I had gone through, I got in touch with the Auxiliary and joined as a Member at Large.

 

Since that time, I have found a new passion in learning about safety issues that affect railroad workers in Virginia and throughout the nation.  I began with the issue of Remote Control and was able to get three anti-remote control resolutions passed in several Virginia counties.  Because we live close to Washington, D.C., I have been called on a number of times to represent the Auxiliary in assisting the BLET.  Danny and I have been asked to attend:  the Amtrak Rally on the Transportation Labor’s Day of Action; lobbying the Senate rail safety bill, S. 1889, with various State Legislative Board Chairmen; and, at the request of Herb Harris, State Legislative Board Chairman for D.C., we worked the BLET and Auxiliary tables, talking with railroad workers at the BLET Expo held at Union Station this past November 2007.

 

In May of 2006, I was appointed the Virginia State Legislative Representative.  In December of 2007, I was appointed to fill the vacancy of 2nd Vice President and Assistant National Legislative Representative, to work with Sereena Hogan, Vice President/NLR on legislative issues important to BLET and Auxiliary members.  Most recently, my husband and I were asked to be a member of the Page County Democratic Committee.  As such we will do our best to attend as many events with the candidates to stress the importance of rail safety, expansion of passenger rail, and other issues, as they come up. 

 

I often say, “it only takes one person to make a difference,” and I believe it with all my heart.  I hope our members will also believe and help the Auxiliary to address the tough issues.  Most of all we need to be there for each other.

 

If there is anything I can do to help you, please feel free to contact me.  You can access my contact information by clicking on the link above.