PPPOV

(Past President Point Of View)

Since I can’t give a President’s article this year I’ll just start a new series of articles based on what I learned last year as President. It’ll be kind of like commenting on National and State Chapter happenings and situations without any responsibility to get directly involved. Unless of course, President Lynn tells me to (which she already has). So my first article in this series will deal with the NAPUS 2008 Leadership/Legislative Conference recently completed in Washington, DC.

 I have stated before that if you only go to one NAPUS national meeting, you should attend the Leadership/Legislative Conference. At this annual event you get all the training to be both an effective state officer and an advocate for your position as Postmaster to your Congressional Representative. The sight-seeing isn’t that bad either. Postal Headquarters provides speakers and training which also adds to the value of your attending the conference.

 This year was different in that postal reform has been in place for a full year now (passed in December of 2006). Last year’s conference was a celebration of the legislative milestone with all groups (NAPUS, League, NAPS, Postal HQ, Unions, and Congress) speculating how the new law would be implemented. The celebration did not last for long. The new Postal Rate Commission (PRC) realized just what Congress had tasked it to do and the scope is far reaching. The PRC has oversight over the Postal Service and since last year have had to create an organizational structure which has oversight of both postal operations and rates and fees. The net result for Postmasters is another group we have to make sure knows how NAPUS members feel about issues that affects both active members and retirees. I personally like the fact that Postal HQ is now just like us; they are accountable for the decisions they make affecting service and personnel.

 At this years’ conference Dan Blair, PRC Chairman, spoke to us about the resulting “tension between the PRC and Postal HQ” (sound familiar?) and that “there should be” such tension. Chairman Blair stated that “universal service is vitally important” to the US because the “USPS is a critical infrastructure.” And my favorite quote from his speech, “you (Postmasters) are the leaders of the organization.” To me, this last quote was a recognition by Chairman Blair that he and the PRC know that Postmasters are a main source of info on field operations and we will be consulted on major issues which come before the PRC.

 Postmaster General Jack Potter also spoke to the conference this year and I must say his message was a lot better this year than last year. He showed us a video (DVD) which was short but to the point about FY 07 performance. He asked for a show of hands of how many of us had seen the video. No hands went up. He then said he had directed that the video be shown in all Districts and he had a few phone calls to make when he got back to his office. The point of the video was that, in the face of declining volume and revenue, we had the lessened impact of a national economic recession on our organization and were positioned to take advantage of expected economic growth. Historically, the Postal Service has always been one of the first businesses to feel the effects of an economic slowdown, but always the first to feel the effects of an economic up turn. Of course the trick for Postmasters is to survive the pressures to manage to your workload. PMG Potter told us to “respond by getting better” to these difficult economic times. He also said “be proud, you are doing a great job.” My favorite quote from PMG Potter was “don’t focus on single piece failures, concentrate on overall success.” This does not mean to overlook chronic or repeat failures by employees, but to look at your processes. For example, if you are called on a telecom for a one piece failure of DCPMR, and your office has only had about four prior failures over the last month, and your office averages over eighty pieces a day, then one wouldn’t think of the failures but should “concentrate on the overall success” of DCPMR in your office. 

 All-in-all, the NAPUS Leadership/Legislative Conference was great. I personally enjoy the politics of the postal community. The management associations, Postal HQ, unions, mailing associations, Congress, and now the PRC all represent various views of how the Postal Service should be run. One moment all are in agreement and the next moment are opposed to one another’s position on issues that affect the Postal Service. PRC Chairman Dan Blair said it best; ”there should be such tension.”  Make plans now to attend next year’s conference and see for yourself, but don’t forget about Tri-State Convention at Pigeon Forge, TN, May 31 to June 4, 2008.   

 RKF

GET ON THE BUS TO SAINT LOUIS FOR NAPUS NATIONAL CONVENTION, AUGUST 22 - 27, 2008

On January 12th the Alabama NAPUS Executive Board voted for the Chapter to arrange for a bus (or buses) to transport Alabama NAPUS National Convention attendees to Saint Louis, MO. Reservations for the bus will be on a first come basis and will require a $50.00 fare (yes, $50.00 for round trip). The bus will leave a day prior (Friday) to the Convention so that we may sight-see Saint Louis on Saturday. Bus fare includes round trip and the sight-seeing trip. The Executive Board's intent is to make the trip to National Convention as affordable as possible since the NAPUS National Executive Board has offered free registration for any NAPUS member (active, retiree, or associate) who has never attended a National Convention before (a first-timer). TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER!!!! Hotel rates are reasonable, around $110.00 per night, tax included (see your latest Gazette for hotel info). So..... secure your bus reservation by sending $50.00, check or money order (USPS only), payable to AL NAPUS, to:

Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Remember that you have 5 days convention leave  to use for both your State Convention or the National Convention. A NAPUS National Convention is the most enriching event that you as a Postmaster can attend. Don't wait, send in your registration for National Convention today (form is in your most recent issue of the Gazette) and then send in your bus reservation to Jerry at the above address.

GET ON THE BUS!!!