April 27, 2007: If you're having trouble finding your local officers this week, here's where they might be: Hoffa's Unity Conference, Inaugural Celebration, Golf Tournament, and Poker Tournament, all happening this week in Las Vegas.

The whole gala is paid for by your dues.

The Unity Conference starts on Sunday, April 29, and runs through Thursday, May 3. According to the IBT website, from Tuesday through Thursday meetings are only scheduled from 9:00 am to 11:00 am each day, apparently so that officers can participate in the poker and golf tournaments.

For a $1,300 fee (which is paid from dues money), officers can enter the James R. Hoffa Memorial Golf Tournament, held at the same time as the Unity Conference.

Officers who don't like to golf can enter the All In for Education Texas Hold 'Em Tournament. The entrance fee for the card game is also $1,300.

We know many local officers who go to attend some of the meetings held there. But the partying—while our union is fighting corporate extravagance—is out of place.