2^nd Quarter 2010

           There certainly are a lot of changes forthcoming.  Five day delivery, changes in our national officers, the national convention and ongoing legislative.  We must all do our part to stop the five day delivery.  If the postmaster general gets his way and we go to 5-day delivery, it is not out of the question for him to ask Congress to change from not delivering mail on Saturdays to Tuesday.  Once the law is changed from 6-day delivery to 5-day delivery, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to stop the postmaster general from asking for four day delivery.  If you do not believe that UPS, FedEx and other delivery companies are already making plans to take up the slack for 5-day delivery I have some great ocean front property in Lubbock I would like to sell you.  I will even throw in a house where you can sit and watch the waves hit the sandy beach.  The house has a couple of big windows you can look out of.  Once 5-day delivery has been approved, you can be assured that the next step will be the loss of who can put mail in your mail box.  To some of you this seems so far fetched; it is just out of the question that it will ever happen.  Magazine publishers are already making arrangement for alternate delivery on Saturdays.  Things are getting down to the crunch.  You need to become involved and involved now. 

          This national convention is right around the corner.  It will be a time for celebration.  A time to visit with old friends and a time to make new friends.  The nomination for national officers will take place at this convention.  We will be losing some old friends to retirement.  Times they are a changing.  We have to keep up with these changing times.  This convention, I believe, will result in plans being made for us fighting back against the postmaster general’s request for 5-day delivery.   Some of these plans are going to require resources.  Some of those resources will be money.  It will also require us to give of our time.  During our recent legislative trip to DC, I had the honor of visiting with Congressman Neugebauer and Congressman Conaway’s legislative aids with Ron Eudy and Tom Jones.  Keith Deason let me tag along with him when he met with Congressman Thornberry.  All three are Republicans.  As such we usually have a difficult time in getting their support on matters that affect unions.  The 5-day delivery affects everyone.  Keeping 6-day delivery is definitely something we can convince all three congressmen to support.   The more people we get to call, write and visit their offices the better off we are.  Before we are finished with this issue, they will all know the importance of 6-day delivery and how important the exclusive use of the mail box is.  This cannot be done without you, your family and friends support.  It is time for each and every one of us to get involved.   This is the most important issue that we will face in the foreseeable future.  Do not sit back and let someone else do this job. 

          I know you are told this a lot, but let me tell you again - you look good.  I hope to see all of you in Anaheim.

Eddie

 1st. Quarter 2010

             It has been an interesting year so far.  The weather has been somewhat of a problem.  Hopefully, with the beginning of spring, we are going to start seeing more acceptable weather – and shorts.  Making short pants part of the postal uniform was one of the good ideas the post office had.  Do any of you remember the long socks we had to wear?  We had such a distinctive tan line.  I always felt we were the envy of all “short” wearing people.  That thought made me feel better walking around with that funny tan line.  I used to tell people I would let them touch my legs only with the written permission of their wives or girlfriend.  I might make an exception in your case.  If I don’t, do not take it personally, I allow whistling.

            The busy part of the year is about to begin.  Next month we are having our District 3 Meeting.  We are again going to have the meeting in Childress, TX.  The meeting will be held at 10:00 AM on 18 April 2010.   I thought we should make the meeting at a later time, so people would have more time to get there.  We have the meeting in Childress because of its central location.  The meeting will be held at the South Plains Electric Building, 1900 Avenue C NW.  Ken Claxton will represent the NBA’s office.  He will update us on what is going on at the National level.  Our training class will be on the National Reassessment Process (NRP).  I am sure all of us have on-the-job injuries in our offices.  I hope this class will be of assistance.  President Morris will be there to represent the TSALC.  He will update us on the political affairs and will address what is going on in the TSALC.   

            In May we will be going to DC to lobby Congress.  Then comes the National Convention in August – Disneyland.  I haven’t been to Disneyland since I was 20.  I mean to tell you that was a long time ago.  This will be Fred Rolando’s first convention as our National President.  Everyone I have spoken to has given President Rolando very high praise for both his skills and his distinctive mannerism.  There are very hard times before us.  The NBA School in Houston had one resounding theme.  We all must become e-activists and we all must contribute to COLCPE.  This is somewhat like preaching to the choir.  However, you are the leaders of your branch.  I passed out both e-activist sheets and COLCPE forms at our February meeting.  In March we discussed the list of names shown on our monthly newsletters and that there were people in attendance whose names were not on the list.  We attempt to get new activists every month.  Maybe there is someone out there that has found a good way to get people to become activists.  If you have a good idea that works, share it with us.  I am retired, but I still contribute.  Many retirees do.  Your next contract is going to be a very important one.  Health benefits, cost of livings and pay raises are all at stake.  President Rolando will put on the same point-by-point defense and it will be backed up with research from expert witnesses.  We must all do our part.  Why everybody is not 100 percent behind this action is surprising to me – to a lot of us.  Please, do what you can to get as many as you can on board.

            I hope to see you in Childress.  If there is anything I can do to assist you, do not hesitate to call me.

Eddie

4^th Quarter 2009

          The end of each year brings with it a close in a chapter in our lives.  However, it also brings with the beginning of a new chapter.  2009 was a good year.  It brought the end of several national officers’ careers – President Young retired, together with several business agents, including our own – Gene Goodwin.  President Young took us to new heights and left us with many accomplishments.  We all owe President Young our deep appreciation for everything he has done.  He, as did his predecessors, left us in good hands.  President Rolando possesses the skills, abilities and endurance necessary to lead this great union to even higher heights.  His presidency has already set a new tone.   I believe he is destined for great things.

          It seems as if I have been a friend of Gene’s forever, although it has only been about 15 years.  He was never the best looking business agent, but he was still is a friend.  He never failed to support Branch 2589.  He spent many hours yelling at me over the phone and even more hours in Lubbock defending both my actions and the members of our branch.  I assure you, defending some of my actions was not the easiest thing to do.  There are many of you that I would not have had the privilege and honor to have met and work with if it was not for Gene.  If there was one thing I learned in my many years in the Navy and with the union, it is that everyone can be replaced.  We sometimes hate the change, but change is good.  I worked with Kathy many years and she not only is doing a great job as the new business agent, she has and will continue to take Region 10 to new levels of excellence.  Besides, she is a lot better looking than Gene, and she is not near as grumpy.

          I do hope everyone had a great Christmas.  I want to steal this idea from my friend Ron Eudy.  Many of us have spent time in the military.  I was recently in an airport in Dallas waiting for a plane.  Someone connected with the USO at DFW came through the terminal and stated to all in our terminal that a group of military personnel returning from Iraq would be going through the level above us and asked us to welcome them home by applauding.  There was not one person in the terminal that did not walk to the middle of the floor and stand and applaud.  This applause continued until every single person left the terminal.  I could not help but think, this was a far cry from returning veterans from Vietnam, but I was very proud to be a part of it.  We need to thank every veteran for what they have done for this country.  We also need to thank their families for the sacrifices they are making.  It’s hard as hell to get along on the pay that military people get, and it‘s hard to get along without the spouse. If there is someway you can help a veteran or their family, I strongly encourage you to do so.

          We have a lot to accomplish this year.  The political arena is going to be a real hot bed.  We need to all be involved.  It is difficult for us in District 3, because we are heavily Republican.  That does not mean we have to give up.  We still have to contact our elected officials and let them know how we feel.  Things have improved.  In 2009 every congressman in District 11, 13 and 19 saw us when we went to DC.  There have been years when none of them took the time to meet with us.  Together we can make a difference.  

I  hope all of you had a very merry Christmas and that 2010 is your year.  I look forward to seeing you throughout the year.

Eddie

3^rd Quarter 2009

          I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of District 3 for allowing me to represent our district for another 2 years.   I appreciate everyone’s support.  I would also like to welcome the new members to the TSALC board and congratulate those that were re-elected.  It is always a challenge to serve as a representative for the great state of Texas.  This will be another challenging two years.  However, we are all up to the task. 

          The changing of the guard is a trying time.  For the last 12 years Gene Goodwin has been the NBA for Region 10.  I appreciate everything that he has done for me during those 11 years.  Without his endorsement I would have never become a local business agent/advocate and would have missed out on some very challenging and rewarding times.  I made some good friends and enjoyed what he allowed me to be a part of.   Now, I will admit that we did not always see eye to eye, however, he and his staff were always there when I needed help.  I wish him smooth sailing and following seas.  It would probably be beneficial to him if he would stay off horses, but, as we all know, he is going to do what he wants.

          I extend to Kathy Baldwin, our new Business Agent, and all my best wishes.  She has been an integral part of Region 10 for many years.  Not once during my 9 years as President of Lubbock, as an activist, or a as steward, did she fail to respond to any of my requests for help.  Her responses were always done with the utmost professionalism.  She spent a lot of time in Lubbock helping our branch with problems.  She will take Region 10 to the next level.  I am sorry I will not be part of her administration.  Congratulations Kathy!

          These next few years are going to be some of the most challenging years we have had in some time.  I know I could be preaching to the choir, but its time for all of us to step up.  In the West Texas political area, it seems like there is little we can do.  We have Republican congressmen who do not support most of the legislation that is important to us.  As they keep getting elected, we seem to grow complacent – what can we do?   Well, there are things we can do.  Form legislative committees, send your congressmen e-mail, call them on the phone, go visit them, let them know that we and all we know are going to hold them accountable for their actions.  Taking the first step is the hardest, - take that step. 

          We have got to get more of our fellow carriers to contribute to COLCPE.  We are in an uphill battle.  Our jobs are at stake.  Our future and the future of the postal service are at stake.  I am retired, but I am still involved.  If you are not a member of the activist and do not contribute to COLPCE, it is time that you become a member and start contributing.  The stakes have never been higher.  We have new leadership at the national and regional levels.  They need all the help they can get.

          Believe it or not, the one thing I miss about the postal service is management.  In 43 years of marriage, I will openly admit, I have not won a single fight.  The same is not true with my disagreements with management.  Standing up to management is the first step in winning an argument.  One of the very first things I learned as a union steward was that their are two sides to every story.  Management can get you in a room and give you their side of a situation and paint you a picture that makes you believe every single word that comes out of their mouths.  However, once you get the union’s side or the grievant side, the picture they painted is a little cloudier.  It always gets me, when management tells you that the post office is broke and has no money and then you turn on the TV and find that the post office is sponsoring a televised football game – like the super bowl.  Or they send postmasters and supervisors to Fort Worth every week.  I know you have to get the word out in order for people to know about your product, and you have to get managers trained.  Since being retired I have come across many people who are a little critical of postal employees.  Some of them I agree with – like the ones that do not like to stand in long lines at a post office to mail letters or packages.  These people I agree with.  The post office knows when rush times are, so why don’t they staff accordingly?  I can’t answer that question.  Others have pointed out that UPS and Fed-Ex employees seem to move faster than letter carriers.  That one I can handle.  All of you have to carry the route the same way every day.  You want to impress your manager and run your route, then go at it.  I can assure you that the manager that pushes you to skip breaks and lunch and run your route is going to be nowhere in sight when you fall in a hole, trip over a bike or a sidewalk, run into a tree limb or fall off a porch.  They are going to be the one that tells you that the safety rules are there for a reason.  Give management a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay, but protect yourselves.  Having a fake knee, as my granddaughter calls it, is no fun.  It may make my real knee look pretty, but it sure was no fun getting it.  I am not going to tell you that carrying mail is not going to wear out various parts of your body, but I will tell you that I believe walking at the same pace each and every day is easier on your body.  Become involved.   Did I tell you that you look good – well you do?  

          If I can help you, please do not hesitate to call me.  See you at Kathy’s school in Austin. 

  Eddie