June/July - Ohrlca.org

The Ohio Rural Letter Carriers’ Association Official Publication
Volume 82 Issue Number 3
Article Taken From Omar Gonalez, APWU Western Region
Coordinator
No, I’m not writing to [Megan]
Brennan the 74th (and first female)
PMG. I’m directing this to you, Ben
Franklin.
Yes, I realize you were one of the
last
PMGs
of the British Crown. And
Floyd Edler
yes,
it
is
technically
Sam Osgood who
President
was the first PMG of the USA.
But Mr. Franklin sir, to millions of Americans you are considered our first PMG appointed by the Continental Congress
in 1775.
So I write to you about what they are doing to our wonderful American postal system. The system you helped establish
even when you were the Postmaster of Philly way back in 1753.
Making Money
As the founding father of our Postal Service you helped reorganize it giving personal attention to visiting the Post Offices.
You even posted a surplus!
Now, under the concocted notion the Postal Service is
broke the PMGs of today have taken a course of cutting services and deliberately delaying the mail. They do this despite
posting a $1.3 billion operating profit.
Your successor, retired PMG Donahue, went to Congress
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Pages 10-13
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President Report
Officer Information /Steward Information
Spotlight Page
In Memoriam
Vice President Report
Ohio Valley DR Report
Northern Ohio DR Report
Secretary/Treasurer Report/Minutes
Executive Committeeman Reports
Worship Corner
Auxiliary
Upcoming Events
June/July 2015
in 2012 to claim the Postal Service was on the “brink of default.” He set a crazed course of cutting personnel, service, and
ignoring rational calls to stop plans to deliberately delay our
nation’s mail.
Slashing Workers
Today’s PMGs have slashed the workforce needed to give
quality and full service to America. Unlike you, who only had
a Secretary/Comptroller, then 3 Surveyors, a Dead Letter Inspector and 26 post riders before Postal HQ was moved to DC
in 1800, today’s PMGs have increased their staff at HQ while
cutting operational staff to the bone at our postal facilities undermining service.
And unlike you with a salary of $1,000, today’s PMGs retire with golden parachutes of more than $4,000,000 yet they
don’t believe younger postal workers should be promised a government pension.
Dismantling Your Organization
As Chairman of the Committee of Investigation to establish a postal system, and as PMG, you planned and put into
operations our postal system.
Ordinances have since been adopted to codify postal laws/
regulations. The Post Office Act of 1792 allowed access to the
P.O. to the entire country and the privacy of mail. The P.O. Act
of 1845 lowered postage and encouraged communication.
By 1863 we had free delivery followed by RFD in 1896. We
evolved into the People’s Postal Service when in 1877 the US
Supreme Court ruled that the Post Office was not confined to
the instrumentalities that existed at the time the Constitution
was adopted.
The Postal Policy Act of 1958 declared that the Post Office was to unite more closely the American people. “The P.O.
is not a business enterprise conducted for profit or for raising
general funds. The Post Office is a public service!” You would
be proud that in 1982 postage stamps were declared a postal
product and not a tax. Tax payer money doesn’t go to operate
the P.O.!
But, I believe you would be saddened by the Postal Enhancement and Accountability Act of 2006 that is turning a
profitable service into a paper debt ridden mess. This law is
being used to destroy Motor Vehicle Services founded in 1914
and to dismantle the metro and sectional center systems that
gave rise to one of the most efficient code systems in the worldZIP.
Today’s PMGs call postal workers their most important
Continued On Page 6
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The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
June/July
Established in 1929 by H. I. Carpenter. Published in Salem, Ohio, six times a year. Entered as Non-Profit mail at the Post Office in
Youngstown, Ohio. Non-Profit Postage is paid in Youngstown, Ohio. Subscription Price—$10.00 per year. Contributions are opinions
expressed by the writers and do not reflect the opinions of the State Officers of the Ohio Rural Letter Carriers‘ Association or the Editor.
2014-2015 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
President Floyd Edler
1060 Schrake Rd., Chillicothe, OH 45601
Ph 740-775-5679 Cell 740-703-7002 [email protected]
Vice President Barb Pitts
Secretary/Treasurer Penny Koren
12914 Washingtonville Rd., Salem, OH 44460-9247
104 Clay Road SW, Dellroy, OH 44620-9757
Ph 330-533-6274 [email protected] Ph 330-735-2727 Fax 330-735-2535 [email protected]
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Joyce Bower
Diane Cox
7456 County Road 107, Gibsonburg, OH 43431-9531
4780 Stony Creek, Urbana OH 43078
Ph 419-849-2613 [email protected]
Ph 937-869-4724 [email protected]
*Provident Guild
Mark Funderburgh
Tim Barker
7450 North River Road, Springfield, OH 45502-9448
4395 Cook Rd., New London, OH 44851-9357
Ph 937-605-4067 [email protected]
Ph 419-901-0900 [email protected]
*PAC Co-Chairman
*National General Insurance Rep *PAC Co-Chairman
APPOINTED OFFICES
Editor Lori Todd
610 West State Street, Salem, OH 44460
Ph 234-567-4222 [email protected]
Chaplin Rita Beedy
5318 Springfield Urbana Pk., Urbana, OH 43078-9420
Ph 937-484-3671 [email protected]
ADRs, AREA STEWARDS AND LOCAL STEWARDS REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE DR
Area Steward assignments are subject to change. Please check the most current published list for the Area Steward assigned to your office. Area Stewards are certified to offer assistance ONLY in the offices in which they are certified by the NRLCA. Please do not contact
an Area Steward if your office is not listed as one of their assignments. If there is no Local or Area Steward assigned to your office, please
contact your District Representative or an Assistant District Representatives.
DELBERT HUTCHISSON
Northern Ohio District DR
P.O. Box 326, Fostoria, OH 44830-2767
Ph 419-435-3117 Fax 419-436-0376
[email protected]
SUSAN THAYER
Northern Ohio District ADR
PO Box 309, Liberty Center, OH 43532
Ph 419-906-2058 Fax 888-264-0769
[email protected]
CHRIS McCOY
Northern Ohio District ADR
P.O. Box 232, Newton Falls, Ohio 44444
Ph 330-469-7605
Email: [email protected]
AREA STEWARDS
Tana Humphrey (440-224-1276) – Northern Ohio District Offices
3434 Creek Road, Kingsville, Ohio 44048
Email: [email protected]
Andover, Austinburg, Bristolville, Brookfield, Burghill, Conneaut,
Cortland, Dorset, Farmdale, Fowler, Hubbard, Kingsville, Kinsman,
Pierpont, Rock Creek, Rome, Vienna, Williamsfield, Windsor, Willoughby
Jason M. Zedaker (419-367-2834) – Northern Ohio District Offices
P.O. Box 324, Stoney Ridge, Ohio 43463
Email: [email protected]
Bellevue, Bowling Green, Clyde, Fremont, Huron, North Baltimore,
ak Harbor, Perrysburg, Port Clinton, Rudolph, Sandusky, Sylvania,
Walbridge, Waterville, Vickery
CATHY FUNDERBURGH
Ohio Valley District DR
P.O. Box 96, Clifton, OH 45316
Ph 937-265-5477 Fax 937-528-2297
[email protected]
MIKE AITCHISON
Ohio Valley District ADR
P.O. Box 340, Plain City, OH 43064-8873
Ph 614-873-4114 Fax 614-873-6352 [email protected]
RANDY ANDERSON JR.
Ohio Valley District ADR
P.O. Box 795, Moundsville, WV 26041 Ph 304-810-4373
[email protected]
RANDY BURGER
Ohio Valley District ADR
P.O. Box 184, Pittsboro, IN 46167-0184 Ph 317-892-3893
AREA STEWARDS
Philip Burnside (419-310-3817) – Ohio Valley District Offices
8051 Township Road 165, Kenton, Ohio 43326
Email: [email protected]
Belle Center, Bellefontaine, De Graff, Delaware, Jackson Center, Kenton,
La Rue, Marion, Marysville, Milford Center, Mount Victory, North Lewisburg, Ostrander, Prospect, Richwood, Ridgeway, Rushsylvania, Russells
Point, Upper Sandusky
Dominic Crooks (513-602-4418) – Ohio Valley District Offices
P.O. Box 863, Mason, OH 45040
Batavia, Bethel, Blanchester, Cleves, Franklin, Harrison, Lebanon, Mason,
Middletown, Milford, Monroe, Moscow, New Richmond, Okeana, Oxford,
Waynesville, West Chester, Wilmington
Misty Gamerdinger (740-703-7199) – Ohio Valley District Offices
29 Main St. Hopetown, Chillicothe, OH 45601
Ashville, Athens, Canal Winchester, Chillicothe, Circleville, Greenfield.
Hillsboro, Jackson, Kingston, Leesburg, Logan, Minford, Mount Sterling,
Portsmouth, Stoutsville, Washington Court House, Wellston, Wheelersburg,
West Union
Page 3
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
June/July
Candy L. Walls
Candy L Walls of the Galloway post office retired after 27 years as a regular rural carrier. She started her career on 11/3/1983
as an RCR. After becoming a RCA, she bid on RR6 at the Galloway post office and became a regular carrier on 12/30/1989.
Since then she has been a regular on routes 4 and 3. Last year RR3 was converted to RR93 after the territory was changed and
the Westland Annex took over our office. A retirement party was held on April 15, 2015 by her co workers at the annex. Candy
retired on April 30, 2015. She is the mother of two sons, Roy and Brian Walls and grandmother to Olivia Walls. Candy is building
a house in Port Charlotte, Florida with her fiance, Dallas Thames. She will spend her leisure time biking, boating, swimming,
and enjoying life and the sunshine.
REVISED BOARD POLICY
Ohio Members That Attended Mid-States In Branson,
Missouri: (left to right) front row: Joyce Bower, Barb Pitts,
Floyd Edler, Penny Koren, back row: Mark Funderburgh,
Cathy Funderburgh, Mike Aitchison, Tom Gamble, Delbert
Hutchisson, Susan Thayer.
State Convention
July 5, 1997
Those members of the Auditing and Election Committees that come in a day early to perform their functions,
will receive a day’s room charges. Since some committee
members are doubling up in rooms, those committee members not receiving a room allowance will be given a day’s
per diem. Any Committee member commuting, will be
paid per diem rather than the room charges. Revised May
14, 2011
The member(s) of Committees that are required to
report to the State Convention a day early, will receive
a day’s room charges fee reimbursement. and per diem.
Revised June 11, 2013 The member (s) of the Audit,
Election, Constitution and Resolution Committee will
receive a $100 stipend, all committee members will receive one ((1) day’s per diem. No committee member will
receive more than one (1) days per diem during the State
Convention. Revised April 13, 2014.
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The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
June/July
In Memoriam
Amziah A. Hough, 80, of Salem went home to be
with his Lord and Savior at 7:15 PM Wednesday, April 22,
2015 at home with his family at his side.
Amzi was born May 12, 1934 on East High Street in Lisbon, a son of the late William Amziah and Ann Elizabeth
(Tullis) Hough.
He grew up in Lisbon and was a 1954 graduate of David
Anderson High School. After graduation he worked for the
Park Avenue Market, the Thomas & Sons Pottery, the Lisbon
Post Office, and the East Palestine Post Office for 17 years, retiring in 1989 after 33 years of service as a Rural Carrier.
He was a 25-year member and past president of the Lisbon
Lions Club, a member of the Monday Night Bowling League,
Monday Golf League and the Lisbon Booster Club. He loved
to golf, bowl, play cards, and bingo as well as hut and fish.
He was inducted into the Lisbon David Anderson High School
Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
He leaves his wife of 59 years Shirley J. (Hamilton) Hough
as well as his children Wendy (Charles) Backus of Rockledge,
FL, Jeffrey (Susan) Hough of Columbiana, Kevin Hough, and
Amy (Robert) Rupert both of Salem; a sister Nancy Hough
of Lisbon, brothers William of Victoria, TX, and David of
Cleveland, TN as well as eleven grandchildren and thirteen
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by by a brother Donald, sisters
Loretta Mullen, and Evelyn Cunningham.
Notice of Election of National Convention Delegates:
A secret ballot election for the Delegates of the
OHRLCA to the 2015 NRLCA National Convention to
be held in Reno NV on August 18 – 21, 2015 is being conducted by mail. The Ballots should be received in home by
May 26, 2015. Any eligible member who has not received
a ballot or any member who spoils a ballot may request a
new ballot by contacting Election Chairperson Patsy Anderson at 740-658-3666. Only the replacement ballot will
be counted.
ATTENTION
OHRLCA MEMBERS
Please Go To ohrlca.org To Register Your
Email Address If You Wish To Receive Future
Legislative Updates And Important Notices
Richard “Dick” Dean Harrison, 86, of
Scio,
Ohio went to be with the Lord on March
25, 2015 while remaining at home in the
care of his family, aided by Tuscarawas
County Community Hospice. Richard
was a life-long resident of Scio. He was
born October 20, 1928 to Byron William
Harrison and Susan Crawford Harrison.
He graduated from Scio High School in
1946. He was preceded in death by his
parents, and his brothers Byron of Scio in
1931, Gene F. of Sugarcreek in 1982 and
Robert of Cadiz in 1994.
Surviving is his wife of 66 years, Mary Jean Simmons
Harrison of the home. They were married October 15, 1948 in
Scio United Methodist Church by Rev. Herbert Shiltz. Richard
is also survived by one son Donald Dean Harrison and wife
Elizabeth “Betty” Donohue Harrison of West Lafayette, two
grandchildren Jean Ann Harrison Bowman and husband Alva
Gregory Bowman of Port Orange, Florida and Byron William
Harrison and partner Brian Klinksiek of London, England;
one great grandson Alva William “Will” Bowman of Port Orange, Florida; one nephew James Harrison and wife Nancy of
Sugarcreek.
Richard was a member of the Scio Presbyterian Church
where he was active over the years as Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon, Elder and Trustee. He was a rural mail carrier
for 20 years and a member of the Rural Mail Carrier’s Association. He was also very active in the Dining Fork Ruritan Club
of Scio for over 41 years serving as past President, Treasurer,
Chaplain and on the Board of Directors. He attended several
State Ruritan and National Ruritan conventions. In 2002 he
was recognized as Dining Fork Ruritan of the year and in 2013
he received the Dining Fork Ruritan Citizen of the year. He
was a past member of the Scio VFD, Scio Village Council and
the Knights of Pythia. Richard was a stock car enthusiast and
an avid NASCAR fan.
Richard’s other employment included West End Motors,
Harrison-Haun Motors, Schreiner Ford, Scio Motor Company, Harrison Auto Sales, Roger’s Sales and Service and Scio
Pottery Co. A WWII veteran, he served in the US Army from
July 9, 1946 to November 13, 1947 and subsequently in the US
Army Reserves from 1949-1960. He was also a member of the
Scio American Legion Post #482.
Memorial contributions may be made to Scio Presbyterian
Church, PO Box 363, Scio 43988 or Community Hospice of
Tusc. Co., 716 Commercial Ave. SW, New Philadelphia, 44663
Page 5
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
SPRING HAS
SPRUNG
Is that the right saying, it doesn’t
sound quite right, but no matter, the
warmer weather is a blessing. I’m sure
all you rural carriers are glad to be
done with the layers of winter clothes
for something much lighter. It is good
Barb Pitts
to wake up to the sunshine ( some days)
Vice President
and look forward to the birds singing.
By now you are probably into your new evaluations, if you
changed at all. I certainly hope that all is going well in your
prospective offices. I have been greeting a lot of new RCA’s at
orientations in Akron. We sure would like to see the retention
rate for all those we have talked to all over the state. If you
have new RCA’S in your office, please, be kind to them and
help them out, remember, you were new once, too. Sometime
it only takes a little encouragement from other carriers to help
them over the hump. Do your part!!
I hope by this time all of you who want to get a national
delegate ballot in, have done so. The National delegate name
draw will be April 28 2015 at 7:00p.m. at secretary Penny Koren’s home, 104 Clay Rd. SW, Dellroy, Ohio.
Time is flying by and May will be here sooner than we
think. The beginning of the month will see most of your board
off to Branson, Missouri, for Mid States conference, May
1-3. Then on May 16, your president and I along with Mark
Funderburgh, the legislative representative, and Joyce Bower,
Grasstop co-ordinator will be going to Washington DC for the
Legislative Seminar given by the National board. I am looking forward to this, as it will be a new experience for me and
will give me a better understanding of whom in Congress is
on the postal side of the fence. The next big event, of course,
will be the state convention June 7-9, 2015, at Crowne Plaza
Cincinnati. David Heather, Director of Steward Operations,
will be our National speaker. This is where all elected delegates at their district meetings will vote on the state officers.
President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Committeeman. Come and do your part as an association member and
vote for your officers. If you have never come to a convention,
it is something to see how your state runs and the procedures
that must be followed. If you are new to the association, you
don’t always have to come for the whole time, come for a day if
you can, it will be worth your time. I know if you are an RCA
and your regular comes to the convention, it is definitely hard
to get off, but maybe you can work something out to get one of
the days off, or those of you who are close to Cincinnati, come
on Sunday. It is doable if you have the desire to come. After
our state convention it is off to Reno, Nevada in August for the
National convention. Most of us have been looking forward to
going there since we have heard the place come up at National.
However, you know the rules, you must be in attendance for all
sessions to get your delegate pay, so plan to go a few days before or stay a few days after to see the sights. Lake Tahoe isn’t
that far and Vegas is about four hours by car. Enjoy!!
Hope to see you all soon. Have a safe and happy spring.
Barb Pitts, Vice-president
June/July
Veterans!!!
Calling All US Veterans. Ohio Rural Letter Carriers
are setting up a branch of the National Armed Forces Veterans Club. We need to have all our honorably discharged
veterans join with us and make this a strong chapter here
in Ohio.
There will be special functions, meals and benefits
to take part in, as a member of the club. One benefit is a
scholarship fund that can be won by a veteran’s child or
grandchild. We will be very anxious to have you visit with
us at this years State Convention in Cincinnati or by mail
at the address listed below. Simply give us your: name,
home address and phone number, the office you work or
worked in, and your branch of service. All carriers and
auxiliary are welcome.
Please contact: Tom Gamble, PO Box 9, New Middletown, Ohio 44442-0009
Congratulations Retirees
Penelope Albright Thomas Alexander Penny Alford Joseph Baker Pauline Beckett Diana Bell Anita Black Richard Blunk John Clark Dennis Clemmons Janice Daniels Donna Evans James Fisher Linda Gardner Deborah Guseman Joel Harris Larry Honsberge Cynthia Huff Ronald Johnson Jeffrey Lenhart Cynthia Manson Ernest Matthews Barbara McClendon Paul Minsterman Vicki Premore Helen Roberts Frederick Schultz Robert Seymour Robert Shover Diane Sickinger Cynthia Squires Donald Stayrock Michael Storer Diana Tabor Cardington
Shreve
Circleville
Pedro
St Clairsville
Waynesville
North Bend
Hiram
Holland
Mason
Norwalk
Seaman
Mount Gilead
Circleville
Baltimore
Findlay
Woodville
Hamilton
Shadyside
Lima
Massillon
Alliance
Milford
Newark
Russells Point
Ashtabula
Genoa
Willoughby
Nelsonville
New Philadelphia
Hinckley
Eaton
Peebles
Niles
Page 6
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
HOSTILE
WORK
PLACE????
The Joint Statement on Violence
And Behavior in The Workplace acknowledges that every employee at every level of the Postal Service should
Cathy Funderburgh be treated at all times with dignity, reOhio Valley District spect and fairness and that there is no
Representative
excuse for and will be no tolerance of
violence or any threats of violence, intimidation, harassment, or bullying by anyone at any level of
the Postal Service. This was signed on February 14, 1992 by all
of the Unions including the League of Postmasters with the
goal of making the workroom floor a safer, more harmonious
and a productive place. With that being said, unfortunately we
have a few employees in the Postal Service that like to disrespect, belittle, threaten, or intimidate.
There are three types of a hostile workplace involving:
#1 management towards the carrier, #2 the carrier towards
management and #3 co-workers who do not get along. You
can’t file a grievance against a fellow co-worker but you can
file one against management for allowing it to continue on the
workroom floor. In Case #3 you need to bring it to management attention and if they do nothing about it then file your
grievance. Just remember that no one said you have to invite
your fellow co-workers home for Thanksgiving dinner but it
should at least be civil on the workroom floor. In case #2, if
you are the one doing the screaming, bullying or threatening
someone in the office then you can be walked off the workroom floor and face possible discipline including removal.
The most common case the stewards hear is case #1 in which
management is creating a hostile workplace. We acknowledge
that management has the right as your boss to give you directions and inform you of new office procedures. It doesn’t mean
we have to like their instructions but they are the boss and
generally we must follow their orders. (You can always grieve it
later) For example, management is not creating a hostile work
place if they inform you that a week from now your starting
time will be pushed back an hour due to being unable to get the
mail worked. (For the record, management does have the right
to set your schedule) A hostile work place would be if management stated that since you filed that grievance asking to be paid
for waiting time then I am going to show you who is the boss
around here. I will make your starting time an hour later and if
you file another grievance then I will make it 10:00 A.M. What
management can’t do is yell, scream, threaten you such as “my
way or the highway”, make snide remarks, or belittle you in any
way. There is no excuse for this type of behavior from management and the NRLCA will not tolerate this type of behavior.
To win your case, the steward will need documentation such as
date, time, location, who said what and if anyone heard what
was said. Carriers do not be afraid to get involve if you see
someone being treated badly. Write those statements. You, as
the carrier, must file a grievance as the steward can’t do it for
you. Once you have filed then the steward will investigate your
grievance. If management retaliates then file another grievance.
June/July
A paper trail needs to be created and this in returns strengthens
your case.
.
Every spring I think about a city carrier that lived on my
route and his untimely death due to a suicide. He was constantly picked on and harassed by his fellow co-workers and management did nothing. (These carriers picked on everyone in the
office.) It got to the point that it became too much and he never
did or said anything to anyone. Most mornings he greeted me
with a smile but there were mornings you could tell he wasn’t
happy. One day he did not report to work and management
found him dead of an apparent suicide. He left a note in which
he referenced the postal service. Don’t let this be you. Stand up
for yourself and file that grievance.
For a stronger Union,
Cathy Funderburgh
President Report (Continued from Page 1)
asset while they disrupt their work and home lives with insane
staffing plans that don’t work time and again. All this they do
while deliberately delaying the mail.
Rest in peace
So Mr. Franklin, I’m sorry if I disturbed your peace. We
will continue to fight to preserve the postal system you founded
and what I ask from you now is for you and Saint Peter to say
a prayer for us that we might prevail.
Floyd Edler
President
Page 7
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
POOR
LEADERSHIP =
POOR
WORKER
I’m sorry to say that in most industry and business the worker is at the
bottom of the company business model
Delbert Hutchisson and the USPS is no different.
Northern Ohio
For the purpose of my analysis
District
let’s
start out at the top. Most in our
Representative
company would say that Megan Brennan the new Post Master General is at the top. In reality the top
of the USPS is the Board of Governors. The BOG of the USPS
is comparable to a board of directors of a private corporation.
The Board includes nine governors who are appointed by the
President with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The nine governors select the PMG, who becomes a member of the Board, and those 10 select the deputy PMG, who
also serves on the Board. The PMG serves at the pleasure of
the Board for an indefinite term. The deputy PMG serves at the
pleasure of the Board and the PMG.
The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 created the 9 member Board of Governors serving a term limit of 9 years. The
term limits changed from 9 years to 7 years following the passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of
2006. Not more than five of the nine members may belong to
the same political party.
The Board directs the exercise of the powers of the Postal
Service, directs and controls its expenditures, reviews its practices, conducts long-range planning and sets policies on all postal
matters. The Board takes up matters such as service standards
and capital investments. It also approves officer compensation.
Guess what, we do not have a full board. At the end of
2014, the USPS Board of Governors anticipated that its numbers would drop below the required six members for a quorum,
issued a resolution. The resolution created a temporary Emergency Committee to act and exercise certain powers in absence
of the board. The Board of Governors only has five members
James Bilbray (D), Louis Giuliano (R), Ellen Williams (R),
PMG Megan Brennan, and Deputy PMG Ronald Stroman.
The Senate still needs to confirm (or not) Mickey Barnett,
David Bennett, Stephen Crawford, Victoria Kennedy, and
James Miller III to the Board of Governors. It’s unfortunate
that American nominations to serve in any capacity of the government must wait for years to be confirmed. Before you say,
that is wrong and politics is bad, lets us review one of the nominees. James Miller III has a long history of trying to undermine
the USPS and professing its privatization.
Let’s look at Mr. Millers’ background in government service. From 1985-1988 he was Director of the U.S. Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and a member of President
Ronald Regans’ cabinet. His job in chief was to establish and
administer President Regans’ program of regulatory reform.
Otherwise known as deregulating government agencies like the
USPS and the American Telegraph and Telephone Company.
Does anyone remember where the “Ma Bell’s” went? Deregulation of the phone company led to 800 long distance carrier’s
June/July
competing for market share over night. One of Mr. Millers’
primary objectives as Ronald Regans’ Budget Director was to
privatize the USPS and in 1988 he professed his plan in writing
to the Cato Institute by referring to his 1985 paper on the same
topic.
As we fast forward to the more recent past in 2003 and
Millers’ “first” appointment to the Board of Governors by President George Bush. Yes, Mr. Miller already served a complete
term (2003-2012) and one additional year allowed by law until
a successor was confirmed. In 2005 he was elected Chairman
of the Board, and was reelected chairman in 2006 and 2007.
President Obama in 2012 nominated James Miller III to serve
a second term on the BOG of the USPS.
Millers’ nomination and past nominations are offensive to
all mail carriers and USPS employee’s alike. His nominations
are tantamount to the fox guarding the hen house. I’m amazed
how Mr. Miller has been allowed to conceal his true motives.
At his confirmation hearing in 2003 Mr. Miller tried to concede that a decade earlier, he expressed strong support for privatizing the USPS, and repealing its monopoly. However, his
statements as a governor have not reflected his past views at his
April 2003 Senate Confirmation hearing, Mr. Miller testified
that he intended to take a “fresh” assessment of the USPS. He
recognized the institutions change and that indeed the USPS
changed since the time when he expressed his criticism of it.
This new tempered view disappeared quickly as Mr. Miller submitted an “academic paper” to a congressional House
meeting in 2011 that suggested repealing the postal monopoly
and contracting out postal jobs to low-wage labor as a solution
to the Postal Services’ problem.
As we fast forward to the present time and President
Obamas’ appointment of Miller to the BOG for a second term.
It looks like we’re trying to “get the band back together”. The
group members are all here trying to get confirmed by the Senate. If you think the threat of privatization is over, remember
outside forces have been trying for 60 years to accomplish just
that end. Mr. Millers’ appointment to the BOG with his anti-labor ideology is continued proof of this timeless fight.
Let’s be clear, there is no reason to privatize the USPS and
the future is bright. For the month of January 2015, the Postal
Service reported a $195 million operating profit. For the fiscal
year to date, USPS now has a $1.325 billion operating profit!
The $195 million operating profit reflects a $73 million increase over 2014 and $440 million higher operating profit than
the Postal Service forecasted. The operating profit does not include retiree health benefits pre-funding or changes in workers
compensation accounting estimates.
First-Class Mail volume was up 1.4%, Shipping and packages volume was up by 5.4%, and Standard Mail volume was
down 3.3% (all compared to the same time last year).
First-Class Mail revenue was up by 5.5%, shipping and
packages revenue was up by 5.4% and Standard Mail revenue
was up by 0.3%.
President Obama the Board of Governors have term limits
for good reason. Please let the “privatize the USPS” band of
miss fits retire from the BOG.
We’re all good here!
Thank you kindly,
Delbert K. Hutchisson
Page 8
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Ohio Membership: As of April
22, 2015 the National Membership
Analysis has Ohio‘s total membership
at 4,281 an increase of 86 members in
a 12-month period. Ohio has recruited
over 400 new members, however over
half have chose to become a CCA or
leave the USPS.The NRLCA RAFT
Program has compensated each member who has recruited a non-member
Penny Koren
Secretary/Treasurer who remains on the rolls three (3)
months. “Thank You” to all who have
participated in the Recruit a Friend Today Program, you have
increased Ohio’s membership.
National Convention: Ohio’s voting strength at the National Convention is based on Ohio’s total membership as of
June 30,2015, divided by 100, minus the associate members
(13). At present Ohio is entitled to 43 delegates to the National
Convention, this is the exact number of delegates Ohio had at
the 2014 National Convention.
The ballot to elect the delegates to the 2015 National Convention should arrive in your mailbox on or about May 20,
2015. Remember to read the voting instructions and follow the
instructions completely. Members who have not paid dues for
three (3) pay periods, are no longer member in good standing,
and will not receive a ballot to vote for delegates to the National Convention.
Recent or Soon to be Retiree: The 1187 dues withholding
form you signed as a carrier expires within 90 days of your
retirement. Your benefits as a member will cease. You will not
be permitted to participate in union supported insurance plans.
You will no longer receive the State and National Publications.
You will no longer receive information on what changes will
affect your retirement annuity. You will receive a letter and an
1187-R authorization for dues withholdings from your annuity
for $7.33 per month. Please protect your benefits by remaining
a member.
Cash Dues Members: The cash dues collection for the
2015-2016-membership year, beginning July 1st, has begun.
For those of you that use the cash method of dues payment,
National has taken a strong position on the constitutional provision that dues are to be paid before the start of the membership year. Thus, there will no longer be a grace period after
July 1st for those who have not paid their cash dues. If your
cash dues have not been paid by July 1, 2015 you will not be
a member in good standing and thus will not be permitted to
be a delegate to the State or National Convention. To avoid
being removed as a member in good standing a dues withholding option is available to all classes of membership. A notice
along with a dues withholding form was sent to all previous
cash paying members. If you did not receive it and want one,
please contact me.
Members on OWCP or LWOP: Members receiving Workers’ Compensation, or if you are a member on LWOP, your
dues withholdings are not being withheld from your pay; which
means you are not paying dues. After 3 pay periods, you are
no longer considered a member in good standing. If you are
not a member in good standing you are not entitled to vote
in any elections or hold office in the Association. If you were
not a member in good standing at the time of nomination you
June/July
cannot be a delegate to the State or National Conventions. You
may be entitled to reinstate your membership using the cash
dues method, contact me for additional information.
National Delegate Ballot: The procedure for handling
the election of Delegates to the National Convention; the election committee will retrieve the ballots; the membership status
of each member voting will be verified. It is at this point only
members in good standing for 2015 will have their vote counted.
Member who is not in good standing will not receive the
National or State Publications.
Fall Booster Meeting: November 15, 2015 at the Doubletree Worthington, 175 Hutchison Ave, Columbus, Ohio. Watch
your state paper and the ohrlca.org web site for the agenda.
I hope you plan to attend the 2015 State Convention at the
Crowne Plaza Blue Ash, 5901 Pfeiffer Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bring your family and enjoy the beautiful facility and the
unity of the Ohio Rural Letter Carriers.
Monday April 13
Homewood Suites, Polaris, Ohio
Present was President Edler, Vice President Pitts, Secretary-Treasurer Koren, Committeemen Bower, Funderburgh,
Cox and Barker.
10:50 AM
Vouchers: The entire Board reviewed and approved all the
vouchers submitted by the State Board Members for payment.
The vouchers were completed on each officer’s computer and
placed in drop box for viewing. The vouchers were printed and
approved by all the board members.
Minutes: The minutes of January 20 – 21, 2015 were
opened in drop box and reviewed. Vice President Pitts made a
motion to approve the minutes, the motion passed.
Treasurer Report: The Association’s Detailed Financial
Position was opened in drop box and reviewed.
Budget:The budget was reviewed and no adjustments were
needed.
Vice President Pitts made a motion to accept the Financial
and Membership reports, the motion passed.
Membership: The Association’s membership is 4269
members. This is an increase of 83 members since April 2014.
Grass Tops: There have been no new grassroots contacts.
Equipment: New scanners that were previously approved
have been ordered. The scanners are for scanning the ballots
for election of delegate to the National Convention. The software is to be downloaded onto two (2) of the computers so as
to decrease the time used to count the votes. Vice President
Pitts made a motion to purchase the adobe software for the
Secretary-Secretary’s computer, the motion passed.
As approved during the January Board meeting the Two
(2) flagpoles, stands, and a collapsible stand were purchased
and added to inventory.
Legislative: HR 12 and HR 11, S 49 and S 54 were discussed. Legislative was passed that will hurt the Rural Carriers.
The board will continue to support the USPS and 6-day delivery. Flyers will be handed out at Post Offices on April 15th (tax
day) to customers encouraging the customers to phone their
congressional representatives to maintain 6-day delivery and to
Continued On Page 8
Page 9
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Minutes (Continued from Page 8)
stop post office / plant closings and consolidations.
PAC: The tickets for the reverse raffle were sold at each
district meeting. Over half of the tickets have been sold. Donations of prizes continue to be received for the reverse raffle
and silent auction.
National Steward Reports: Ohio Valley DR Funderburgh
e-mailed her activity report and was available for question or
concern over the telephone. Northern Ohio DR Hutchisson
was on annual leave.
National General Insurance: Committeeman Barker reported that Ohio had 37 quotes an increase of 118% for the
year.
The National General Insurance will continue to be presented to all new hires during orientations.
Provident Guild: Provident guild applications were passed
out at each district meeting
Two (2) drawings will be held at the State Convention one
for non-members and one for new members. The $2.00 sign up
fee will be waived for all new provident members who sign up
during the State Convention.
Diane made a motion to purchase a Vera temp touch less
thermometer to be given to non-members who would sign up
for provident guild, the motion passed.
Board Policy: The board policy was reviewed. Committeeman Funderburgh made a motion to change the board policy
to read;
the member (s) of Committees that are required to report
to the State Convention a day early will receive a day’s room fee
reimbursement. The member (s) of the Audit, Election, Constitution and Resolution Committee will receive a $100 stipend,
all committee members will receive one ((1) day’s per diem.
No committee member will receive more than one (1) days per
diem during the State Convention. The motion passed.
5:00 PM
Auxiliary Secretary-Treasurer, Diana Hausfeld and Vice
President Ed Cox joined the meeting to discuss future Auxiliary and Junior Meeting Rooms during State Meetings. It was
agreed that the Auxiliary would give written notice of their
attendance at State Meetings. The Association will continue
to reserve meeting space for the Auxiliary and Juniors upon
receiving written notice of the Auxiliary attendance. The Auxiliary agreed not to cancel Association’s contracted meeting
rooms. The Auxiliary announced that the Auxiliary and Juniors do not participate in Fall Statewide Meetings.
5:30 PM Committeeman Bower made a motion to adjourn
for dinner, the motion passed.
6:30 PM Resume Meeting
State Convention: The Board Member assignments for the
State Convention were reviewed. Several Vendors have requested to have exhibits at the state convention. Meeting room assignments were reviewed. Committeeman Funderburgh made
a motion to purchase individual Member of the Year award,
the motion passed. President Edler made a motion to obtain
Tom McDermitt for parliamentarian for the State Convention
and to compensate his fees, the motion passed.
Mid-States Conference: The arrangements for attending
the Mid-States Conference were discussed. Six (6) of the Board
June/July
Members will attend the conference.
Legislative Seminar: Committeeman Barker made a motion to compensate wage, mileage and 2 days per diem for Vice
President Pitts, Grass Tops Chairman Bower and PAC Chairman Funderburgh to attend the legislative Seminar in Washington DC May 16 - 20, 2015, the motion passed.
Booster Meeting: November 15, 2015 The Board has decided to include a FERS Retirement Seminar at the Booster
Meeting.
Committeeman Cox made a motion to obtain Joni Montroy to present the retirement Seminar and to compensate her
fees, the motion passed.
8:10 PM Adjourn
Committeeman Funderburgh made a motion to adjourn
until Tuesday morning 9:00AM, the motion passed.
9:00 AM Tuesday April 14, 2015 Meeting resumes.
Editors Report: The State Paper issue was reviewed and
the next issue of the State Paper to go out in May. The state
paper articles are due April 30th
11:30 AM
The Board left the facility to tour the Quest Center hoping
to obtain a larger facility for the booster meeting.
12:00 Noon
The board met with the Quest Sales Manager and toured
the meeting center.
1:00 PM
The Board Meeting resumed. The Quest Center and Doubletree Worthington meeting room size and cost were compared. Secretary/Treasurer made a motion to have the Booster
Meeting on November 15, 2015 at the Doubletree Worthington, the motion passed.
Committeeman Funderburgh made a motion to adjourn
3:30 PM, the motion passed.
Next Board Meeting
June 5, 2015
Crowne Plaza Blue Ash
5901 Pfeiffer Rd
Cincinnati OH
Submitted by:
Secretary-Treasurer Koren
Your President Floyd Edler hard at work. Handing out
information and making the public aware.
Page 10
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
June/July
What did I
forget?
Newly Elected Local Stewards: Left to right front row. Darlene
Stewart, Ellen Krantz, Serena Brown. Left to right second row.
Randy Childers, Christine Putz.
MELISSA ALFORD
JOHN ALLEN
BETHANN AMBROZY
WILLIAM ANTRICAN III
KRISTIN ANTRICAN III
RAYMOND BIBB
BRIAN BLACKBURN
MATTHEW BLALOCK
JOHNNIE BOOKER JR
ERIN BOONIE
RONALD BOWMAN JR
BRITTANY BRUNTY
AMELIA BRUTON
CHRISTINE BUOB
ALYSSA BUTCHER I
WILLIAM CAIN
MICHELLE CASADA
JUN CHEN
RICO CLARK
CHRISTINA COFFEE
JLYSE COOK
ROBIN CORDIAL
DANAE COX
SAMANTHA CRADDOCK
JOHN CROWLEY
DEBORAH DARRAH
JAIME DAVIS
HANNAH DEARING
MELANIE DELBRUGGE
JON DILLARD
CHRISTOPHER DOBSON
SHAUNA DULANEY
AMANDA DUNBURG
MADILYN ENGLEBERT
JENNIFER EVANS
HEIDI FATZINGER
NICOLE FENSKE
KEVIN FERGUSON
KIMBERLY FETTER
JACQUELINE FUNSTON
TRUDY GALLION
SARAH GARDINER
LEE GERHARDSTEIN
BRANDON GILLS
SURETY GOLDEN
NANCY GRIESHOP
ANNETTE GROFF
MASON HALL
NYREE HANEY
OMAR HARRIS
BROOKE HASTINGS
HEATHER HEJDUK
SCOTT HELTON
KRISTIN HILL
MISTY HILL
SARA HILYARD
CHASE HINSON
JUSTIN HODGE
GEANINE HOWARD PEEBLES
LINDA HURST
BRIAN JAMES
TONI JARVIS
WENDY JENDRUSIK
CORY JESSIE
JESSICA JOHNSON
VARITA JOHNSON
TIMOTHY JOYCE
STEPHAN KOVAR
BENJAMIN LANDRY
JUSTIN LAW
THADDEUS LAWSON
AMANDA LEGGETT
CONNER LOUDNER
BAMBI MANION
CONNIE MARCUM
SHELBY MCMANUS
HOLLY MILLER
ROCKY MOORE
Have you ever packed your luggage and felt that you forgot something. This happens to me frequently.
I am new to taking a medication daily
and found myself at Cincinnati for a
Board Meeting and forgot to take my
Joyce Bower
medication with me. Now what am I
Executive
going to do?
Committeeman
I have Rural Carrier Insurance and
receive my meds from Caremark. I found a nearby CVS Drug
Store. The Pharmacist was very helpful in telling me that I
may be able to get a bridge supply. I needed to call Caremark
and explain my situation and was able to get a bridge supply.
This is a supply of medication to get one by, while away from
home. The supply is deducted from your next order.
I hope this information is useful if you find yourself in this
situation. Hopefully you will not make the same mistake I did.
Committeeman
Joyce Bower
LUCRETIA MOORE
DAUD MUSAH
JEAN MYERS
CASPER MYERS
CHRISTOPHER NOBBE
MELISSA OFFENBACHER
LEONARD ORAY
LISA OURS
MATTHEW OYER
KIMBERLY PADAVICK
DYLAN PALMER
STEPHANIE PALMER
SUSAN PARKER
LEROY PHIPPS
SAMUEL PITTS
LORI PRIMM
RACHAEL QUIJANO
TRICIA RADER
TRICIA RIVERA
DOMINIICA RIVERA
NIKOLAUS ROE
DANIEL ROSS
MISTY ROSS
AMY SALVITO
TAMMY SCARBERRY
MICHAEL SCHAEFFER I
VICKI SCHWARCK
ROBERT SEVER
DANIEL SPLEHA
MARIANNE SPOONER
TIFFANY STEELE
NICOLE STEIGERWALD
JULIE STEVENS
MAEGHEN STIMPER
MICHAEL SULLIVAN
BELINDA THOMAS
ERIC THOMPSON
COREY TURNER SR
MELISSA TWISS
MARSHA VANCULIN
ALECIA VASQUEZ
MICHELLE WALE
MIRIAM WARNER
JUDY WEIKLE
KATHY WELDE
JESSICA WELLS
TRACEY WILLIAMS
CHRISTINE WILLIAMS
CLARA WOLGAMOTT
RICHARD WOODRUFF II
FRANCES WYSZYNSKI
ROBERT YAKIMOW
KYLE BOECKER
VARSANAR MYERS
DAVID FOLTZ
KIMBERLY COOK
LISA WEBB
MARCY VANLIEU
DARREL JOHNSON
TYLER CHESONIS
JUSTIN DAVIS
DAPHNE BROWN
TIMOTHY NORTON
STEVEN CONWAY
MEGAN GARNO
JACENDA DOHME
MICHELLE ILES
CHARLES MCDOWELL
HARRY WOLFE
FREDRICK HENSLEY
BRAIN ROOT
ZACHARY BASTIAN
SUZETTE GOODIN
ELIZABETH WAGGONER
HALEN OLIVER
TERESA VANCUREN
KAREN KIENER
Page 11
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Well congress has reconvened and
the house of representatives has already
passed a bill that is detrimental to our
current and retired carriers. The house
voted to reduce the interest rate on the
TSP G-fund from the 5.43 % down to
a menial .01%. If I figured right I am
receiving one penny for every dollar
I now have in the “safe” fund in my
TSP. This is down right thievery. This
Mark Funderburgh
bill also includes measures to allow the
Executive
Committeeman
postal service to go lower the number
of delivery days. If we don’t stand up
for our rights and contact our congressmen and let our voices
be heard they will give away the farm, so to speak. Congress is
slowly “chipping away” at our livelihood. They couldn’t get it
done altogether so now they are dismantling our postal service,
one processing plant at a time, slowing mail delivery times and
upsetting our customers that we provide service to everyday.
Let’s tell congress to put the service back in the postal service.
We still have some other bills that we can correct this serious injustice that has been given to us by our congressmen.
There is HR-12, and HR-49, both of these bills keep six-day
delivery and maintain service standards back to June of 2012.
My reflection on the mail count is one of mixed emotions.
Relief and anxiety, relief it’s over and I don’t have management
watching over my every move, and anxiety of just how much
time I didn’t get for various functions. Just in the DPS letters
we have to keep track of inverted letters, look out for any piece
over 6& 1/8 “ for credit as a flat, any forwards for snowbirds
and recent moves, deceased, etc., any first class parcels. There
was just so much to keep track of and I am sure I left some time
out there on the street.
During all of the time we were being observed during mail
count, there were still carriers giving away time by working off
the clock, and we wonder why management is coming after
the rural craft for working under their evaluations every day.
It’s not my job to police the rural craft for management. I am
a rural carrier not a supervisor/postmaster. I deliver mail to
my customers and that is it. It is not my job to distribute mail
to carriers, or call my RCA when I am sick, or find a replacement for me when I filled out a 3971 for vacation. Or make out
the schedule for the rural carriers in my office. All of those are
management’s responsibility. If management is going against
the contract we need to hold them accountable and file grievances, the more we give them the more they will take.
When I return to the office, after being off for union duties
or vacation, and I find out management had a city carrier deliver my mail while I was gone I immediately file a grievance with
my steward and if there are vacancies in the substitute craft I
file a grievance to hire more RCA’s. If management is going to
try and deny me leave for anything I will be filing a grievance
and if they do not follow up with the settle.
When we receive our new RCA’s, first we need to remember what our first few weeks were like and how we struggled
with the job, and then we need to get them involved with the
union. If we have a district meeting soon after they are hired
we should just tell them that they are going and we are buying
their meal for the first time and pick them up on our way to
the meeting. I am sure that they will learn something and be
June/July
back the next time to share in the companionship of this great
association.
If we feel management has gone against the contract, we
need to file a grievance. If we continue to allow management
to do things and not file, we are essentially giving away the
farm bit by bit. Every time we settle managements problems
and work off the clock to lower our evaluations, or not hold
them accountable for hiring replacements for our routes we are
giving away the farm. I can’t stress it enough we need to take a
stand from this point forward. Enough is enough.
If we have a suggestion for our association now is the time
to submit them by filling out the resolution and constitution
changes that were in the last issue and at the district meetings.
These need to be submitted to our state secretary by 6/2/2015.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. OHIO lets get some grease
for our wheels and submit some changes to national. Let our
national board hear our voices loud and clear, stop giving away
everything and start taking back some provisions for the carriers.
Hope to see everyone at the state convention June 7-9 in
Cincinnati and remember to bring lot’s of cash for numerous
opportunities for some great articles of merchandise.
Committeeman Funderburgh
PAC
As of March 31, 2015 we have maintained third place
just behind Fla. and Texas in the aggregate category and are
currently 7th in the per capita. Help us out by filling out a receipt any time you purchase clothing from us at a meeting or
convention this helps spread out the wealth. Any $25 donation
gets your name in the national paper, if you did not know that
already.
Hopefully everyone was at their district meeting and heard
about the reverse raffle that is going on after the banquet on
Monday night of the state convention. We have a lot of nice
prizes for the raffle and when we get to 500 tickets sold (as
of march 31st we have 243 tickets sold) we are planning on
awarding a prize for every 20 numbers drawn. The top prize of
$1000.00
You can always mail your request for tickets to Tim Barker
or myself with a check made out to NRLCA-PAC there was a
form in last issue for doing that or you can get our address from
inside the front cover.
Also on Monday night we have the auction and we have
obtained Jay Kurtz, the auctioneer who has been to the last
three years and is always entertaining. As you can see we will be
having fun, after the work is completed for the association, so
come on down to the Crown plaza and join us for a good time
with some laughter and great comedy where Shrek will defeat
Spiderman (hopefully) in a wrestling match. GO GREEN!!!!!!
Hope to meet many new friends and acquaintances at the
state convention this year.
Update: on April 7th, I mailed in to national almost
$10,000 from all the receipts from district meetings and that
was enough to overtake Texas and Florida for first, providing
they don’t send $4000.00 in to national in the month of April.
Thank you to the great state of Ohio for all of your donations
so far.
PAC CO-CHAIR
MARK FUNDERBURGH
Page 12
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
With the spring district meetings
coming to an end and State Convention
around the corner, I can’t help thinking
about the wealth of talent we are blessed with in this state association. I am
looking forward to seeing all the unique
baskets the districts will be bringing to
auction for PAC.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the benefits
of membership in the Rural Carriers’
Diane Cox
Provident Guild. The Provident Guild
Executive
is a Fraternal NON-Profit Death BeneCommitteeman
fit Plan created by rural carriers for rural carriers, right here in the state of Ohio. Membership is open
to all Regular, Substitute, RCR, RCA, and PTF rural carriers
and their spouses, who are under 56 years of age. Annual dues
are from $10 to $50 depending on your age at the time of your
application. Additionally, you may choose any classification
as long as you are under the maximum age limit for that class.
Your benefits do not decrease as you grow older. The class you
choose remains in effect as long as you pay your annual dues.
Available
Annual
Maximum
Immediate
If You
Dues
Benefit
Relief Payment
Are
Class
30% Max.
Under 56
$10
$1,000
$300
Under 50
$15
$1,500
$450
Under 45
$20
$2,000
$600
Under 40
$30
$3,000
$900
Under 35
$40
$4,000
$1,200
Or
$50
$5,000
$1,500
The Provident Guild President and Provident Guild Secretary/Treasurer are bonded in sufficient amount to cover the
funds in their hands at ay time.
Contact any Provident Guild Officer, State Association Officer or Auxiliary Officer for details. You can secure an application from them, or write:
Diana Hausfeld, P.O. Box 105, Minster, Ohio 45865-00105,
Phone 419-501-2213, or email [email protected].
DID YOU KNOW??
1. PROVIDENT GUILD is a non-profit, fraternal organization, created and operated by rural carriers, for our membership and auxiliary members to give their survivors an amount of
READY CASH for those days when routine procedures of the
courts and legal action tie up our estates after death.
2. The GUILD is NOT AN INSURANCE. Rather, it is
a Frater- nal Death Fund that guarantees you at least 30 times
your annual dues and, depending on the number of claims in
any given year, can pay up to 90 times your annual dues, as along
June/July
as you are a current dues paying member.
3. There are no physical examinations - No assessments—
No commissions - No high salaries.
4. This low cost protection does not decrease, nor can it be
can- celed when you reach age 65.
5. You can become a GUILD member until your reach age
56. When you reach that age, you can not enter the program
BUT you do remain in it as long as you pay your GUILD dues
annually.
6. Claims are to be filed within 60 days after death with the
Sec- retary/Treasurer except all death claims for the fiscal year
end- ing midnight June 30th must be filed in the Secretary/ Treasurer’s office not later than midnight July 30th next fol- lowing
close of the fiscal year. In the event a death claim is filed after the
July 30th deadline, no benefits will be paid.
7. If death occurs in JUNE, the Provident Guild Secretary/
Treasurer must be contacted IMMEDIATELY.
8. IT NEED NOT BE HANDLED BY A LAWYER.
9. Upon receipt of the blue claim form and the death certificate of a current dues paying member, an IMMEDIATE
RELIEF CHECK for 30% of the maximum payment is mailed
to the beneficiary. The balance or the settlement is mailed in
August, following our board meeting that is held during the
NRLCA convention.
10. Your GUILD dues are payable in advance. The Secretary/ Treasurer will mail you a dues notice during the month
of May for the following fiscal year. These are then payable by
June 30th.
11. Members joining later in the year pay only a portion of
the full years dues. The fiscal year runs from July 1st to the next
June 20th.
Those who become members during July, August
and September pay full dues.
Those who become members during October, November and December, pay 75%.
Those who become members during January, February and March, pay 50%.
Those joining in April, May and June, pay only 25%.
When joining during these months, the next year’s full
dues need to be included.
12. The entrance fee of $2.00 is payable when joining during
any part of the year.
I am continuing my incentive for new members by paying
the $2.00 entrance fee. For those of you that are not already
members, I encourage you to join as soon as you can. I would be
happy to assist anyone with their application. Plan to attend the
State Convention and enter a giveaway drawing for members
and also for new sign-ups. Hope to see you all in Blue Ash!
Committeeperson Diane Cox
Page 13
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Even though an LLV was added
to my route and my evaluated time decreased I’m still so glad that it is finally over. The stress, uneven mail flow,
and negotiations with managers can be
overwhelming making it 3 long weeks.
I can only hope that the evaluated compensation system (the time standards
project) being conducted right now will
relieve much of the stress that comes
with mail count. I am sure there will always be areas or items
of discussion during mail count, but overall the time standards
project should eliminate most of the grey area we seem to have
from office to office and state to state. It should be a more uniformed mail count not only office to office and state to state,
but for the whole country. This is a very large task; evaluating
everything we do as rural carriers on a daily basis. Not only us
here in the great state of Ohio, but throughout the whole country. There are many different situations and conditions that
need to be considered, such as the heat in Florida, the snow in
Ohio, the rain in Seattle, etc. This is a long, slow process but in
the end I believe it will be best for our craft.
Hopefully everyone attended their spring district meetings
and signed up to be a delegate at our 2015 Ohio state convention
at the Crown Plaza (5901 Pfeiffer Rd Cincinnati, OH 44592;
phone number: (513)-793-4560) being held June 7-9, 2015.On
Saturday night we will be having a corn-hole tournament with
all donations going to PAC. We have a lot of business on our
agenda, but as always Monday night will be a great banquet
dinner with an awesome reverse raffle for your enjoyment with
many great raffle prizes and auction items also. Plus, I hear that
Spiderman and Shrek will be going head to head in a wrestling
match; that should be enough to bring you and your family to
Cincinnati. If not how about all the other attractions in the area
such as Kings Island, The Underground Railroad Museum,
and golf, just to name a few. If that still isn’t enough how about
voicing your ideas or concerns and voting on the issues that
effect you as an Ohio rural carrier, and most important voting
for the people that will be running for our state board. Yes, you
vote and decide who will run our Ohio union.
Folks, we need everyone to get motivated about our union
here in Ohio. Our new 114th Congress will be making legislative changes that will affect our financial future as rural carriers.
For example, they are still trying to end six day a week delivery, they are planning on closing over 80 more mail processing
plants throughout the country in April, a proposed health benefits program that is ran by government officials with a large
portion of the premium paid for by you, the employee, and
a bill to base federal employee’s annuities on the highest five
years of salary, instead of the current highest 3 years. These
again are just a few of the troubles we face this year.
It is time to join hands, stand up and fight for our jobs, benefits, wages and our communities. After all we, the American
people, own the USPS not the House and Senate in Washington D.C.
OHIO Union Proud,
Tim Barker
June/July
OHIO RURAL LETTER CARRIERS’
ANNUAL CONVENTION
2015 CONVENTION RULES
1.
A Delegate speaking from the floor shall rise, address the Chair and obtain recognition from the Presiding Officer. The Delegate shall then give
their name and the District they represent.
2. No Delegate shall speak twice on the same question, except by majority consent. No Delegate shall be recog-nized to speak a second time on
the same question if a Delegate who has not spoken asks for the floor.
Non-delegates may be recognized to speak if no Delegate asks for the
floor.
3. Debate shall be limited to two (2) minutes to each speaker. Debate on
any question shall be limited to twenty-five (25) minutes. No extension of
time shall be allowed a speaker to debate a question, except by unanimous
con-sent.
4. A report by a Chairman of a Committee shall be deemed moved for
adoption by such Chairman. No second to the motion to adopt will be
required, as the approval of the report by other Committee members shall
constitute an appropriate second. Following debate on the motion to
adopt, the Presiding Officer shall call for a vote of Ayes and Nays.
5. Each proposal to amend the CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS shall
be considered separately. After debate on the issue, the Presiding Officer
shall call for a vote of Ayes and Nays to adopt the proposal.
6. The Convention will only address Constitution Amendments and signed
Resolutions that have been received in the Secretary-Treasurer’s office 5
days prior to the opening session and reported out by the Constitution or
Resolu-tions Committees. Constitution Amendment or Resolution submitted after the deadline may be considered under New Business if the
Convention suspends the rules, by a majority vote. Any one submitting
changes after the deadline must supply copies at their expense.
7. In considering the RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT, the Courtesy Resolutions may be approved as a Unit. Other Resolutions shall be
considered separately. In accord with Rule *4 above, upon the reading of
the Reso-lution by the Chairman of the Committee, it shall be deemed
to have been moved for adoption and is properly before the delegates for
appropriate action. If there are no objections to a Resolution within a
reasonable time, it shall be considered adopted at the fall of the gavel.
If there is an objection to a Resolution, it shall be passed over and acted
upon after completion of the reading of the full Committee Report. Following debate on each Resolution, including amendments, the Presiding
Officer shall call for a vote of Ayes and Nays on the motion to adopt. This
procedure precludes any motion to strike or reject a Resolution and any
such motion would be considered out of order.
8. In accord with Article VI, Section 3, Paragraph F, which states in part
“that where a District is represented by less than a full delegation, the
delegates present may vote the entire district vote”, such voting shall be
done by one of the following methods:
a. The district delegates may caucus and agree by democratic procedures to cast all the District votes for the same candidate or issue; (In
this instance, any delegate may claim their own vote), or,
b. The delegates may choose to divide the District votes by the number
of delegates and distribute that num-ber to each delegate. Any fractional vote shall be forfeited unless:
1) The delegates agree to allow the person in charge of the delegation to vote the remaining votes at his/her discretion; or
2) The delegates choose to apply the Unit Rule to such votes.
10. As per Article XII, Parliamentary authority for the Conduct of Business
shall be “Roberts Rules of Order”.
11. No campaign signs are to be posted inside the convention-meeting hall.
12. All candidates for State Executive Board Position shall have 5 minutes to
speak and/or answer questions from the convention body.
13. When there is only one nominee for an office and nominations have been
closed, the President or Secretary-Treasurer shall declare the nominee is
elected.
14. Write in votes shall not be considered valid.
15. While on the convention meeting hall floor, all electronic devices are to be
operated in such a manner that would not be disruptive to an individual
or the body as a whole.
Page 14
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Worship
Corner
Hi! Rita Beedy here,
Freedom....noun
*the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants
without hindrance or restraint.
“we do have some freedom of choice”
*the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
“the shark thrashed its way to freedom”
*synonyms:liberty, liberation, release, deliverance, delivery, discharge;
...
As I sit to write this article I have a bit of writer’s block.
The last thing I want to do is preach at folks, but I do love the
Scriptures, and love to talk about Them!! I really want to be
an encouragement to my fellow carriers and our retirees. So
I won’t preach, but share what a few of my favorite ones are
on freedom.
These are a couple of my favorites because they speak of
my freedom in The Lord.
*Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he
has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery
of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,..
*2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
These two speak to me as a rural mail carrier.. reminding me to not be a slave to a mean spirit (ahem..to.. ahem...
June/July
co-workers..not that I ever am... ahem...) But to be kind and
treat others the way I want to be treated, and to serve humbly
and with love....
*Galatians 5:1 [ Freedom in Christ ] It is for freedom
that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let
yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (anger, in
my case..)
*Galatians 5:13 [ Life by the Spirit ] You, my brothers
and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly
in love.
I was very upset one day at work, and shared it with
friends at church I, asked them to keep me in prayer so I
wouldn’t ‘embarrass Jesus’ and would let the anger go; they
reminded me that it would NOT be a good thing for the
Chaplin to ‘go postal’.... we joke, and are made jokes of for,
and with, that term, but really, I don’t want to ever allow myself to go there, or even give the appearance of....
Ahh, these... These remind me Whose I am, and I can
always ask The Lord to make me kind, humble, loving.....
*Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may
approach God with freedom and confidence.
*James 2:12 Speak and act as those who are going to be
judged by the law that gives freedom,
There is no better place besides home to apply these
than my work place!!
Let’s remember those who fought for our freedoms, who
are still fighting for them, and live to honor them, military,
and committee members!
Blessings,
With love and prayers,
Rita
(p.s. I think the block is gone....)
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!
Make Reservations At Crowne Plaza by May 22nd!
Buffet Lunch Available Monday and Tuesday!
OHRLCA BANQUET
RESERVATIONS
FOR MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 6:30-8:00 p.m.
RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY JUNE 1, 2015
(No Banquet Tickets Sold At Convention.)
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO OHRLCA $17.50 PER PERSON
MAIL TO: Barb Pitts, 12914 Washingtonville Road, Salem, Ohio 44460
NAME: _______________________________ District _____ Number of Tickets ______ Total Amount Enclosed __________
MENU: Roast Beef topped with Au Jus or Brown Gravy, Stuffed Chicken with White Cream Sauce, Baked Potatoes, Caribbean
Blend (Broccoli, Green Beans, Red Pepper and Yellow Carrots), Tossed Mixed Romaine Blend with Assorted Toppings and Dressings, Redskin Potato Salad, Cream Cole Slaw, Fresh Fuit Display, Crisp Vegetable Crudites, Ice Tea, Coffee and Hot Tea.
Page 15
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Auxiliary Officers
PRESIDENT
PAUL ORTZ
11696 Youngstown Pitts Rd.
New Middletown, OH 44442
Phone 330-542-9496
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT
ED COX
4780 Stony Creek
Urbana, OH 43078
Phone 937-206-2537 [email protected]
SECRETARY/TREASURER
DIANA HAUSFELD
P. O. Box 105
Minster, OH 45865-0105
Phone 419-628-2433
[email protected]
Provident Guild Rep.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN
Ray Mull, Chairman
9235 Wayne Trace Rd.
Camden, OH 45311
Phone 513-543-3766
[email protected]
Project Chairman
Sandy Schwartz, Secretary
10 Eastmoor Court
New Bremen, OH 45869-1101
Phone 419-305-3800
[email protected]
Jodie Burke, Board Member
4822 Delevan Dr.
Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Phone 216–382-3031
[email protected]
JUNIOR SPONSOR
Pat Singelyn
18991 Munn Rd.
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
Phone 330-562-8886
[email protected]
JUNIORS 2014-2015
President: Riley Hausfeld
4860 Loramie Swanders Rd.,
Minster, OH 45865
VP: Abby Hausfeld
33 Oakwood Drive, Minster, OH 45865
Secretary : Samantha Fernandez
1997 Riverview Dr., Defiance, OH 43512
Treasurer: Morgan Todd
610 West State Street, Salem, OH 44460
June/July
Convention Time
Hello Friends,
It seems like I just wrote my last article, time sure goes fast.
We are really getting into spring now, new flowers coming up
and the birds are singing, building nests and getting ready for a
successful year.
Here’s hoping our members are getting ready for a successPaul Ortz
ful State Convention in Cincinnati and then later our National
Auxiliary President
Convention in Reno.
Shelia Reardon Gilman will be with us in Cincinnati so let’s
come and give her a warm Ohio welcome. I hope you all plan to attend and bring your
children and grandchildren with you, they will have a good time with Pat Singelyn our
Junior Sponsor. She always has very interesting things planned for the Juniors. I want to
thank her for all she does for the Juniors.
I’m asking you to think of ways we can get more people to come to our meetings
and be involved.
The percentage of carriers and reliefs that come to the meetings is very low. This
is how you learn about your job and put more money in your pocket. Learn and read
everything you can.
Our project this year is Program of Miracles. Alzheimer’s Research, and lately their
has been some good news coming from the research dept.
You have been very generous with our projects and I thank you for that, let’s continue hoping to find a cure soon
Please come and be involved and hope you enjoy the convention.
Sincerely,
Paul Ortz
Happy Memorial Day!
See Everyone At The State Convention!
A PROGRAM OF MIRACLES
Humanitarian Project: Alzheimer’s Research
Motto: “Hope for a Cure”
Symbol: Mirror
Americanism: Volunteerism
Safety: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
Songs: “Heavenly Sunshine”
“Precious Memories”
Flower: Forget Me Not
Inspiration: “Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it”
David Star Jordan
Page 16
The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Upcoming
Events
Constitution Changes
and Resolutions
Due in Secretary-Treasurer’s Office
June 2, 2015
Members
Send Address Changes to:
Ohio Rural Letter Carriers Association
104 Clay Road SW
Dellroy, OH 44620-9757
June/July
Non-Profit
U. S. Postage
PAID
Permit #225
Youngstown, OH
Pre-Convention Board Meeting
June 5-6, 2015, 11:00 AM
Crowne Plaza Cincinnati
5901 Pfeiffer Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
2015 State Convention
June 7-9, 2015
Crowne Plaza Cincinnati
5901 Pfeiffer Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
513-793-4500
Post Convention Board Meeting
June 10, 2015, 9:00 AM
Crowne Plaza Cincinnati
5901 Pfeiffer Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
National Convention
August 18-21, 2015
Peppermill Convention Center
2702 S Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada 89502
Fall Booster/Retirement Seminar
November 15, 2015
Doubletree Worthington
175 Hutchison Avenue
Columbus, Ohio
DEADLINE for the August/September issue is July 12, 2015. Please
have all articles to Editor Lori Todd by that date. [email protected].
If a hearing impaired member needs a sign language interpreter for
a state wide meeting, please advise our state secretary Penny Koren
two weeks prior to meeting date.
Happy Fourth Of July!
Official Notice of Annual Meeting
2015 Annual State Convention
June 7-9, 2015
Crowne Plaza Cincinnati
Sunday June 7th – Registration, Opening Session, Nominations of State Officers (Nominations remain open till election
on Tuesday Afternoon).
Vacancies to be filled: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, 4-year Committeeman and any Committeeman
position that may become vacant at the Convention. Positions to be appointed will be state editor and state chaplain.
Monday, June 8th – National Officers Address. Last day to file Delegate Credentials by 5:00PM. Report of the National
Delegate Election Committee, Report of Time and Place Committee, Selection of 2017 Convention city, Banquet in the evening. PAC Reverse Raffle for $1000 and other valuable items.
Tuesday, June 9th – Election of State Officers, Report of Law and Resolution Committees, Unfinished Business
Only the duly elected delegates from each District Organization may vote for the candidate for office.