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 One Beltway Center |
President's MessageNovember 25, 2009 Dear Leaguers, Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away. Some of you may already be traveling to be with family and friends. Others of you are already preparing pies, cakes, cookies, and thawing out the turkey or goose or prime rib or veggie roast. This is an important American Holiday! Its tradition dates from before the founding of our nation; it is truly, an American Holiday. Earlier this week I saw it referred to by some funky generic term that I just didn’t get. In fact, the name was so memorable that I’ve forgotten it. It may have been something like Family Memory Day or Family Togetherness Day. Whatever, nothing says it quite like Thanksgiving. Personally, this is a very special day for me. It does get me to think about those things for which I’m thankful. I’m of course thankful for my wife, my kids and grandkids, my family and many friends. I’m thankful for my job, a great staff, a nice place to live and plenty to eat. I’m thankful for a tremendous memory that allows me to savor all of the things throughout my lifetime for which I can be thankful. I am thankful for trying times, challenges and trying people. They’ve helped me to be even more thankful for the pleasant things in life and they’ve helped me to grow stronger. I am thankful for my Faith, for it is through that Faith that I can express true Thanksgiving to my creator. I wish each of you a blessed Thanksgiving Day! Legislative Forum The League's Legislative Forum is approaching faster than you think! Before you know it, the end of January will be here and the Forum will begin! This, to many Leaguers, is a favorite event. What a great opportunity for you to return, if this is not your first Forum, to see again your friends, your fellow Leaguers, to take care of important business and to fellowship with Leaguers from all over the country! If you've never been, you will be in for a real experience. You'll have a chance to walk the Halls of Congress, perhaps the most powerful halls in the world, to exercise your rights as Americans to influence your legislators. We are currently putting together training workshops on subjects that you can use immediately in your jobs. Another great event that we take great pride in at our Forum is our laying of the League Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers to honor our veterans. Postmaster General Jack Potter has promised to speak to us on Monday morning at our General Session. This is a wonderful chance for you to make a vacation out of it and plan to see some of the many historic sites in your nation's capital. Lots of Leaguers use this as a teaching experience by bringing their children and grandchildren to get a close up view of how their government operates. Congress, the White House, Mount Vernon the Smithsonian Museums (all free); they're all here and you won't want to miss them! So, before you get too caught up in all the busy-ness of the Holiday Season, take a few moments to go to the League website at www.postmasters.org to register for the Legislative Forum. Remember to reserve your room at the Crystal Gateway Marriot while you are on the website! Laterals Several weeks ago I suggested to Pat Donahoe that, before we start to fill Postmaster vacancies, the right thing to do would be to allow Postmasters to ask for laterals. He agreed that convenience laterals should be granted and that he would pass the word on down through the Area VPs regarding that matter. I have learned that some areas are now allowing laterals (Great Lakes Area). If you or a fellow Postmaster desire such a lateral, now is the time to ask. This can be done outside eCareers, but you need to ask now. If you are told that your district or area is not allowing laterals and you have been denied, send me your name, your current office and level, and the name of the office vacancy you’d like to fill and send that information to me. Mr. Donahoe told us that he will take those names and do what he can to facilitate laterals. Three Digit Meeting While some may resist doing 3-digit meetings during the Christmas Holiday season, this is still a good time to get people together. Many 3-digit areas host a Christmas party or dinner. This can be as easy as calling a good restaurant, reserving a banquet room and sending out invitations to Postmasters, OICs, PMRs and clerks to attend the dinner. While not a formal hands on training session, these dinners work to build camaraderie and expose people to the good things of the League. A little effort in this area can yield very positive rewards. Adverse Action Training There is still time and a few slots open for Adverse Action Counselors and candidates to attend our Adverse Action Counselor training on the Friday and Saturday leading into Forum. If you have a desire to serve as a counselor, or you know a Postmaster who you think has what it takes to be a good counselor, send an e-mail to our Executive Director, Frank Augustosky at faugustosky@postmasters.org to request an application. Our Adverse Action Attorney John Difalco and our Lead counselors have put together what is likely our best training ever to prepare our dedicated Postmasters to represent their fellows in time of need. Food Banks A recent news article recounted the fact that food banks are running perilously low on food to help feed folks coming in for food. Plenty of our fellow Americans have fallen on tough times and are in great need of food. All of our bank and auto industry bailouts and other stimulus money packages don't seem to have done much for this basic human need. You, as Postmasters, can take the lead in making a difference by holding food drives in your post offices. Many of our customers are more than generous during this season of giving. All it takes to hold a drive is to contact your local food bank to see what types of food they'd like you to collect, let your customers know you are collecting and start collecting. It takes very little effort, but it can make a very big difference in your communities. Your post office is a natural center of your community. The Postal Service could use a little lightening up and this is the perfect season to do it! Happy Thanksgiving, Charley Mapa President National League of Postmasters 703-329-4550 |
League EventsJuly 18 - July 22, 2010 National League of Postmasters Convention Town and Country |
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