Busy Agenda Covered in November Meeting
A busy agenda for the present and future was in the scope for the regular Branch meeting for November. Three new applicants were accepted to the branch. Memories were shared regarding Henry Skowron, a past president of the branch who recently passed away. The current status of contract negotiations were reviewed, as the national union team continues to prepare for the possibility of arbitration. Workroom floor issues were updated and discussed, and members are encouraged to always look out for each other. We will have a scholarship sandwich sale after Thanksgiving. Members are warned that management has formed a task force to examine social media posts, and will aggressively go after carriers who post while on the clock. Open season for health care is approaching, health care options can be change, and FSA re-elections can be done from November 13 to December 11. Highlights of the NALC health plan were discussed. In congress, HR 82 (windfall elimination and government pension offset has 199 co-sponsors; Senate bill S 97, the sister bill to HR 82, is also gathering co-sponsors. HR5995 (retirement fairness act) has 17 co-sponsors in the House, but none yet from PA. Members are urges to contact their representatives to sign on to these important bills. The Berks Labor Council Christmas Party will be held on December 1 at the IBEW building from 5-7. The Christmas parade will be held on Saturday, December 16. Local election results were announced. The next retiree breakfast will be on November 16 at the Berkshire Family Restaurant. The annual George Cook adopt-a-family observance will not be held in person this year - as in the past couple years, we will work with Mary's Shelter and Veterans Making a Difference to direct our donations to appropriate families and veterans. Donations can be given to shop stewards or board members. An update on branch finances and investments was presented. Safety concerns were presented and discussed.
Scholarship Winners, Summer Review Highlight August Meeting
Scholarship winners and a review of summer activities and issues highlighted the regular August branch 258 meeting. 9 new members were admitted to the branch. Drawings were held among the received applications for the Beck and Bear scholarships. Aliye McDonough won the Beck and Emily Zigner won the Bear scholarship, and will receive $500 each. Janice Ciesla was presented with a flag to commemorate her recent retirement. Retirements trainings are being discussed - more information on dates for the training is forthcoming. 2 more congressional sponsors are needed to move the windfall elimination bill to the floor of the House of Representatives. The CCA buy back bill is also gaining sponsors. Members are encouraged to call their representatives to support these bills. The branch picnic was held last Sunday, August 6; all members in attendance reported a very positive experience, and we hope that we can grow the turnout and success of our picnic in the coming years. Financial matters were discussed, as the membership voted to invest a portion of our savings into higher yield accounts than a regular savings account. Members are reminded that the financial books are available to all members for review. $210 was collected for MDA at the picnic. The Berks Labor Council will hold a Reading anniversary parade will take place on October 1st; they will also hold a Christmas party. AFL-CIO night at the Reading Phillies is on Thursday, August 17 - free tickets are available. Carriers are reminded that shop stewards need to be informed immediately of any discipline received. Current issues on the floor in the offices were discussed.
Upcoming Events, Safety Among Topics Covered at July Meeting
Upcoming events and carrier safety were some of the covered topics in Branch 258's regular July meeting. The Branch picnic will be held on August 6 at the Pennwyn Motor Club. This fun event will be free to members and their immediate families, and will include catered food/drinks, games and activities; alcohol can be brought but will not be furnished by the branch. Memners are reminded that the deadline to sign up for the picnic is July 24. The August 17 retiree breakfast will be held at the Crossroads Family Restaurant, and the September 21 retiree breakfast will be held at the Exeter Family Restaurant. The Berks Labor Council golf tournament will be held on August 27 - both sponsored teams are filled. The USPS golf tournament will be held on October 9 - a flier will appear in the August Nalcaster, call Roy Kline for details. Current bills of interest in Congress include the Family Act, which is an expansion of the FMLA, and HR 3721, which would allow the USPS to deliver alcohol. The Beck and Bear scholorship application deadline is at the beginning of the August 9 meeting, as the recipients will be drawn during that meeting. Various safety and workroom floor issues were updated and discussed, and a report was given on the death of brother Eugene Gates, a Dallas carrier was was killed by heat illness while delivering his route in June.
Summer, the Air We Breathe, and Upcoming Activities Highlight June Meeting
Summer activities and current events were covered in detail at a busy June meeting. Five new members were accepted into the branch. Progress in National Agreement negotiations was reported. Safety issues were updated, including steps taken in response to the recent poor air quality. Carriers are strongly encouraged to know their rights in regard to safety issues, and to exercise them when prudent. A big thank you was given to all who involved in the successful NALC food drive in May, as over 102,000 pounds of food were collected. The executive board has discussed investing idle funds to grow them to benefit the branch as a whole - any investment decision will be brought to the body for approval. We will resume our branch picnic this year, which will be held on Sunday, August 6 at the Penwynn Motor Association. The annual Berks Labor Council golf tournament at Manor Golf Course will be held on Sunday, August 27 at 1:30; the branch will sponsor up to two teams (based on eligibility) and will also be a hole sponsor. The Beck and Bear scholarship applications are due on ; scholarships will be presented at the September meeting. Information and signups for the scholarships, golf tournament, and picnic are in the offices and in the Nalcaster. The labor council may participate in a city parade on October 1. The labor council supports HR 60, which supports union organizing. The next retiree breakfasts will be held on June 15 at Leesport and on July 20 at the breakfast hut, and lunch at Flanigan's on June 28th at noon. Grievance updates were given; carriers are strongly encouraged to know their rights, work the right way, and be in contact with a steward if there are any questions or situations that could lead to discipline, or if one feels mistreated by management.
A Baby Step Toward Normalization at In - Person May Meeting
Branch 258 welcomed some warmer weather as members gathered outside for a second consecutive in-person meeting. Updates were given on local negotiations, with ongoing progress in both the Reading installation and surrounding AO contracts, as President Ranalli and the negotiation team have incorporated the input of the members into talks. On the National scene, the latest Postal Record magazine has a lot of timely information on the implementation of the newly ratified National Agreement, as well as timely information on many other current issues. In Labor Concil news, the annual golf tournament will be held at Manor Golf Course on August 29 at 1:30PM; they will also host a "get out the vote" breakfast on Saturday, October 30 at 10:30AM. The Labor Council also awarded a scholarship to the daughter of Vice President Richie McDonough for her winning Union essay. In safety news, carriers are reminded as summer approached to stay hydrated and be mindful of the heat as the weather warms, and to be careful as they tire from the long hours that are being asked of them. The Branch discussed current issues related to forcing and overtime, and cariers are assured that Branch leaders are in regular conversation with management to do what they can for overburdened OTDL and forced non-OTDL carriers. Vice President McDonough reported that carriers who have taken EFEL leave for COVID related federal funding must fill out forms for the Department of Labor to approve releasing carrier compensation for these absences. Failure to fill out and submit these forms by the stated deadline will result in leave time or money being charged, so carriers are strongly encouraged to follow through on this procedure. Orders are being taken for a hoagie sale to benefit the Beck and Bear scholarships - money is due by May 19th, with delivery to offices on Friday, May 21st. Carriers can expect a new round of emphasis on Customer Connect, with stewards serving as the contact people in the process. Members wishing to submit material for the next issue of the Nalcaster must do so by Sunday, May 23. Also, we are continuing to collect email addresses for our developing contact list; members can give their address to Nalcaster editor Andy Gelsinger, to Ed Gensenrer, or to their steward. Also, any member who is not receiving newsletters can text or call Andy at 610-413-8158 with their mailing address as the list continues to be updated.
In Person Meetings Resume in the Fresh Air for an Outdoor April Meeting
After several months of cancellations, Branch 258 resumed meeting in person, as a regular April meeting was held outdoors. Despite difficulties with pandemic precautions and long carrier schedules, the Branch managed to conduct business, share needed information, and accomodate the needs of all in attendance. Seven applications for membership were reviewed and approved. Business handled by the executive board while regular meetings were not being held was reviewed and approved. Aspects of the new National Agreement were discussed with a question and answer period. Now that the National Agreement has been finalized, the Local Agreement negotiating period begins on April 29. Ideas and issues for the Reading installation and for the AO's were discussed. It was announced that we can expect a big push for advancing the Customer Connect program, as a result of the planned redistricting effort. The Central PA District will be eliminated, and Reading will become incorporated into the Philadelphia/Eastern PA District, which is currently scheduled to happen in May. In Labor Council news, a heroes picnic will be held on May 1st at First Energy Stadium. Also scheduled is the annual golf tournament, which will change venues this year to Manor Golf Course in Sinking Spring. The tournament will be held on Sunday, August 29th at 1:30 PM. On the political front, current bills of carrier interest were discussed, and carriers, especially in District 9 (of Representative Meuser) are encouraged to contact their Represewntatives' offices to support carrier friendly legislation. Regarding safety, carriers were encouraged to be mindful of their own needs and stay safe, especially as they tire during all of the extra hours that are being worked as this time. CCA's will participate in a safety presentation on Wednesday, April 21st at 8AM. The NALC national food drive has been postponed; however, during the first week of May there will be a "virtual" food drive where monetary donations will be taken AND matched by the NALC. Finally, our next meeting will be held on May 12 at the same location and time.
Officer Nominations Highlight October Meeting
Outdoor air was plentiful once again as Branch 258 held a socially distanced meeting once again at the pavilion behind the Victor Emmanuel club. Officer nominations were presented for the following positions and individuals: President - Fred Ranalli; Vice President - Richard McDonough; Recording Secretary - Paul Purcell; Treasurer - Jason Taylor; Sargent at Arms - Ed Gensemer; AFL-CIO Liason - Shron Unger; Trustee - Domonic Tuminello; Director of Communications - Andrew Gelsinger. All nominees were elected by acclimation. Since there is also no event scheduled for 2021 which requires elected delegates, there is no need to hold elections in November. In other news, 2021 carrier calendars are available and will be distributed at each office to Branch members. David Thornberg and Judy Snitzer were recognized in their retirements for their service. In health news, open season for health benefits and flexible spending accounts is from November 9 to December 14. Members were reminded that FSA must be renewed each year, while health care needs to be elected only if a change is desired. In Berks Labor council news, there will be no banquet held in 2021; instead, there will be an event held at a Reading Phillies game. All members were reminded and encouraged to vote in the upcoming elections, as both national and local positions are important for our livelihoods; also if anyone knows of members who aren't contributing to the Letter Carrier Political Fund, they should talk to them (while off the clock) about the importance of doing so. Regarding MDA, the mask sale has been cancelled due to lack of orders; we will instead hold an online auction at the end of the month for baskets and items that were originally earmarked for the bowl-a-thon which had to cancelled due to Covid. A hoagie sale will be held on November 13 to benefit our scholarship fund. The annual George Cook adopt-a-family celebration will not take place in the form of an in person party this year. The Branch instead agreed to send donations to Mary's Shelter and to Veterans making a Difference. Members will be able to donate money, or may choose from a wish list of needed items which will be made available. Safety issues were discussed, including an invitation to utilize EAP services as stress levels are unusually high due to the personal and professional impacts of the current pandemic. The National NALC approved the by laws changes which were approved by branch earlier in the year - these will be available to view shortly. Workroom floor issues regarding election mail and Covid protacols were discussed. Finally, although a final decision has not been made, the lack of an election and unpredictability of November weather will likely cause a cancellation of next month's meeting.
Branch Returns to Business as September Heralds a Resumption of Meetings
Branch 258 got back to business as regular meetings resumed in September, after several months of cancellations due to the Corona virus pandemic. There were several adjustments necessary in order to meet safety concerns, as the meeting was held outside to permit social distancing, and no food was served. Two new members were sworn in to the Branch, and updates were given on all current issues, from the workroom floor to the many changes which have taken place in offices recently (including those changes which were reversed or were planned, then stopped). Presentations were made to Kaila Wolfe, daughter of Darryl Shaak, and to Dan Greco for his son Jaden Greco (who was away at school), as the winners of the annual Beck and Bare scholarships. Fundraising, in the form of a sandwich sale, is in the works to begin in funding next year's scholarships. It was reported that a good time was had by all as several members participated in the annual Berks Labor Council golf tournament, which was held in August. Branch 258 wishes to thank Brad Snyder for his years of quality service in bringing us our Nalcaster newsletter, as he has decided to step back from this responsibility. Andy Gelsinger will begin a new appointment as Nalcaster editor. Members are reminded to report all accidents and injuries to a shop steward as quickly as possible to ensure the proper handling of any claims. MDA fundraising efforts have been somewhat limited by COVID, but we have been able to raise some funds through our annual MDA fantasy football league. Signups to purchase custom face masks for MDA are ongoing.
Holiday Activities Highlight Festive December Meeting
Holiday festivities highlighted December’s regular meeting of Branch 258. 1 new member was welcomed into the branch. President Ranalli and a few others met with representative Houlahan, thanked her for signing onto HR 3215, and shared information on the other bills in which letter carriers have interest. The USPS Fairness Act has now reached critical majority to pass to the House Floor for a vote, and an identical companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. We also continue to make progress in signups for the LCPF, and encourage all carriers to pitch in for this important effort. On the safety front, carriers are reminded to be careful, especially at this time of year when the days are shorter and the parcels are heavier. Also, never break a medical restriction, even if ordered to do so; refusal of a direct order is rarely ok, but can be done in the interest of safety. New carriers were reminded to carefully look at USPS life insurance offerings, as they are rarely offered, and to check out products of the Mutual Benefit Association. A big thank you to those who have contributed to the care package received by Doug Garipoli, who is stationed overseas on military assignment. Carriers with more than 440 hours of saved annual leave must use leave before January 5 or lose hours above 440. Penalty overtime exclusion is in effect, but CCA’s do not have to work over 11 and a half hours, even in December. CCA’s were informed that it is highly recommended that they request a shop steward to accompany them to any discussion with management that could result in discipline. Regarding the national contract negotiations, we are in the phase of selecting an arbitrator to preside over the process. This Sunday is the annual George Cook adopt-a-family celebration from 1pm – 4pm, at 20 Morgan Dr in Sinking Spring (the IBEW building). This year we will honor a family with a single mother with 3 children, as well as continuing to support Veterans Making a Difference. All carriers, families and friends are cordially invited to this event.
Elections, Winter Activities Highlight Busy November Meeting
November is election month in the US, and Branch 258 is no different as elections highlighted the regular November union meeting. From 20 nominees, the following 17 were elected to be delegates to the 2020 national convention in Honolulu: In other business, one new member was accepted into the branch. The United Labor council has announced that applications are being taken for the 2020 scholarship essay contest; two $500 scholarships will be awarded at the March 7 awards banquet, applications are due by December 31. On February 16 at 4PM, the branch will be holding a night at the Reading Royals; cost is $17; concessions will be specially priced at $1. In legislative news, Representatives Meuser and Houlahan have signed on to HR 2532, the USPS fairness act, and we are getting close to the needed co-sponsors to get this important legislation to a house vote. 2020 calendars have been handed out, and more are available for a $5 donation. Open season for healthcare has begun, and extends through December 8; members are encouraged to review their elections for health care, vision, and dental plans, and to participate in the FSA program. The plan comparison tool is available for members to compare plans. Safety procedures as the holiday season approaches were reviewed. The annual George Cook adopt-a-family celebration will be held on December 15 from 1PM to 4PM; we are in the process of choosing this year’s honorees; donations and referrals are being accepted for this event. Local election results were reviewed. Deluxe Restaurant will host the monthly retiree breakfasts for November 21 and December 19. Ideas and items are being collected for a care package to be sent to Doug Garipoli, who is currently deployed overseas. Money is due for union hooded sweatshirt orders. Members are encouraged to contribute to the Letter Carrier Political Fund; Branch 258 would love to add to their numbers of contributors from both active and retired letter carriers. The annual survivor pool winner, of 101 entrants, was Tim McMichael; $505 was raised for MDA in this event.
Food Drive Preparation in the Forefront as a Busy May Meeting Covers Many Items
Food drive preparation and a great many other items were covered in a busy May regular Branch meeting. Special guest Bart Ganster, who is running for Berks Sherriff, addressed the membership, highlighting proactive training, safety/security, and loyalty to labor values as key issues for which to support his candidacy.We are supporting the relaunch of the customer connect program - Tammy Jones has been appointed as the District Customer Connect Coordinator to this important program, which brings in new business to the Postal Service and supports our jobs. OJI training will be held in the near future - if anyone wants to become an on the job instructor, please contact Paul Purcell or Fred Ranalli. Michelle Schaeffer has stepped down as branch treasurer - we want to thank her for her years of excellent service to the branch. The safety captain program has relaunched, and thus far management appears to be supportive of this effort. Submissions for the next Nalcaster issue are due on May 26. HRes 33 and 54 currently have majorities in the House of Representatives; HRes 23 and 60 still need more support to achieve majorities. HR 2382, The USPS Fairness Act, has been introduced in an attempt to repeal the 2006 prefunding mandate for retiree healthcare. We have again sposored golfers and a hole for the annual Berks Labor Council Golf Tournament. The annual NALC food drive is this Saturday, May 12. Cards and bags are in every branch office to be delivered, and we anticipate a large uptick in food collection due to the bags. Media coverage has been good for this year, with TV, radio and newspaper highlighting the drive and the Helping Harvest (formerly Greater Berks) food bank. As always, volunteers will drive around the area and be available by phone to help carriers pick up food. Carriers are urged to seek out their shop steward if they receive any disciplinary action, or believe that they might receive discipline. The Beck and Bear scholarships will be awarded again this year, and there will again be two $500 awards given to graduating high school seniors going into a college or trade school. The most recent sandwich sale raised over $150 for the scholarship fund. MDA fun day will held on Sunday, June 9 at Captain's Cove from 1-3 PM. A MDA softball game involving Reading and Lancaster branches is in the works - more information will be provided when available. CCA issues were also brought up and discussed - the branch officers are glad to see newer carriers come to the meeting, and are thankful for the opportunity to talk about CCA issues and concerns. Shawn Paffhousen made a presentation regarding a picnic for the branch on September 8 of this year, which will be taken under further consideration.
Events Upcoming in the New Year Highlighted in January Meeting
A new year and new events highlighted the January meeting of NALC Branch 258. One new member was accepted into the branch. Arrangements have been made for upcoming trips to the Region 12 rap session in Atlantic City and the Congressional Breakfast in Washington, DC have been made for attending members. Current labor-management issues were updated, with a labor-management meeting upcoming. Food drive arrangements are ongoing, and we are hopeful of a very successful drive this week. Prime time bidding is underway. Safety concerns can be forwarded to Paul Purcell, as he has a district safety meeting upcoming. OWCP and work injury issues were updated, and members are reminded to stay within restrictions at home as well as work. Procedures to follow in making sure a case moves smoothly were reviewed. Jerome Kern was announced as Branch 258's new director of retirees, Jess Iezzi will be the new Steward in Reading Station, and Tammy Jones will be the new legislative liason for District 9. Saturday, March 9th will be date of the 40th and final Berks Labor Council St. Patrick's Day dinner, speaker TBA. The AFL-CIO scholarship essay competition is open, with a top award of $2000. Union night at the Reading Royals will be held on Saturday, February 2nd at 7PM. Four CCA's will be promoted to regular carrier positions on January 19. Submissions for the next Nalcaster are due on January 25. The George Cook memorial adopt-a-family celebration was a great time for all; nearly $6000 was raised to purchase needed items for the 3 families who were honored. The MDA Bowl-a-thon will be held on Sunday, March 10 from 1-3 PM. The next retiree breakfasts will be held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at a rotating location.
Convention Review, Busy Upcoming Schedule Highlighted at August Meeting
Highlights of the recent NALC Biennial convention, and previews for a busy fall upcoming schedule were the focal points of a busy August meeting. The new CCA conversion memorandum was read and discussed. Some information from convention seminars was shared and discussed with the membership. National awards presented to Branch 258 at the National Convention were shared with the membership. Current issues and suggestions regarding OWCP claims and treatment were discussed. The Beck and Bear scholarship winners were drawn: Julia Wolf and Taylor Miller will receive the scholarships at the September meeting. In MDA news, the muscle walk will be held on September 23 at Cedar Creek Park in Allentown. The fantasy football league is taking signups, and the elimination pool will also be held again this year - signups are due on Thursday, September 6. September 9 will be the 2nd annual wine and beer festival. The next Beck and Bear sandwich sale will be held on Friday, August 24. In safety news, we should expect to see people observing work behaviors on the street, due to the high number of accidents in our district. All carriers are urged to work safely at all times regardless of any pressures to hurry, especially in regards to identifying and dealing with heat related symptoms. Prospects are good at this time to get sponsorship for bags to use in the 2019 food drive. We have a new EAP consultant, and members were informed of how this benefit is available to all. In political news, concerns over the national budget were discussed, and House Resolution 993, keeping the Postal Service as a public institution not subject to privatization was detailed. Members are encouraged to contact their representatives to co-sponsor H.Res> 993, and to register and vote. The BCTV labor program for this month will focus on tariffs. A Berks Labor Council meet the candidates night will be held on August 20. A big thank you to all members who have signed up for the LCPF, and encourage all other members to do so. Videos from the national convention are available at the national website, and YouTube links will also be made available on this website. Branch 258 will contribute an article for the upcoming Labor Day insert of the Reading Eagle newspaper. Current workroom floor and CCA issues were discussed, including recent dispute resolutions from the national level. The arbitration for our local MOU is pending, and a response is expcted by the end of the month.
Variety of Topics Covered in Regular June Meeting
A variety of topics and events, both past and future, were discussed in the regular June meting of NALC Branch 258. 3 new members were accepted into the branch, with 2 members earmarked to make regular before the end of the month. CCA's are encouraged to make their benefits elections in a timely manner after making regular, as last minute submissions may not allow time to fix any problems that may arise. A big thank you to all of our members who participated in the annual national food drive last month, which netted approximately 36,000 pounds of food for the Greater Berks Food Bank. While the total fell short of some of our better totals in past years, all efforts and help are appreciated, and plans are in the works to improve our outcome next year. In national union news, Branch 258 member Bill Lodek has been named to the Mutual Benefit Association national committee, which will represent MBA at the upcoming national convention in Detroit. On the political front, members are encouraged to register and vote, and to represent your personal and professional interests at the polling booth. Branch 258 now has 168 members (43.5%) giving to the Letter Carrier Political Fund, and we are looking for everyone to contribute. Nalcaster editor Brad Snyder would like to hear about any member who has not received their Nalcaster; everyone is reminded that all are invited to make submissions for publication in our newsletter. In upcoming events, a skeet shoot will be held on Saturday, August 11 - interested people should contact president Fred Ranalli for more information. Our deck party at the Reading Fightin Phils will be on Sunday, July 1st, which includes a 2 and a half hour buffet and game, and costs $26 - please get in your last minute ticket requests. This game will also feature a post game showing of "The Sandlot," which fans can watch from the stands or field, as well as bring your dog to the game day. This Friday is the next hoagie sale for the Beck and Bear scholarship fund; orders are due tonight, and the scholarships will be awarded at the August meeting. In safety news, safety teams are being sent out by the district for spot checks, due to the high number of recent accidents across the district - be sure to curb your wheels and maintain good safety habits at all times. Branch 258 safety rep will attend a training to teach our local job trainers to teach the carrier position in the same way across the district. Issues regarding current workroom atmosphere and grievances were discussed - make sure to record your hours and check them against your pay stub to ensure that you are getting paid for all of the time that you have worked.
Summer Weather and Related Topics Highlight May Meeting
Better weather and hotter temperatures signaled summer issues and activities, which were the main topics at the May regular meeting of Branch 258. 5 new members were accepted into the branch. The annual NALC national food drive will be held this Saturday, May 12; final arrangements were discussed. Safety was discussed, with specific incidents highlighted where more dogs are outside and disruptive to delivery. Also, district safety representatives will be doing street observations in the next few weeks. Carriers are reminded to stay hydrated at all times for their own health and safety. Carriers should keep track of hours worked, as there have been incidents in the district of carrier clock rings being inappropriately altered by management. A labor/management meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss current workplace issues with the new postmaster. May 25 is the deadline to submit items for inclusion in the next Nalcaster. In political news, Branch 258 has moved up to number one in the nation in a branch of our size (300-500 members) for percentage of carriers in the LCPF. Next week is the primary elections for Pennsylvania; members are encouraged to exercise their right to register and vote. Sunday, June 3rd is the Labor Council golf tournament; members of Branch 258 will again participate this year. Sunday, July 1st is Brach 258 night at the Fightin Phils; game time is 5:05; tickets are $26 and include an all you can eat buffet and deck party. Prayers are requested for the health of Todd Evangelista's son Kyle who suffered multiple injuries after being hit by a car, and for the family of Chris Zezenski, who unexpectedly passed away last month.
State Representative Candidate Visit Highlights April Meeting
Branch 258 previewed the spring and summer schedule as warmer weather kicked off the regular April meeting. The meeting was opened with a message from State representative candidate Trish Wertz. She spoke of supporting unions, service, and anti-partisanship, and fielded questions from the membership regarding a broad range of issues and her candidacy. Six new members were accepted into the branch. In MDA news, parents of carriers are now eligible for some MBA insurance products. Beck and Bear scholarship sandwich sale orders are due tonight, and sandwiches will be distributed this Friday, April 13. A big thanks goes out to all participants and contributors to the March MDA Bowl-A-Thon. $1620 was raised for MDA, and members are encouraged to support businesses who helped us; these businesses are listed in the latest Nalcaster. The annual food drive is on May 12, and 2018 food drive t-shirts are available for purchase for $13 (small upcharge for XXL and XXXL), and come in several colors. Orders are due on Friday, April 20. Branch 258 is hosting a night at the Reading Phightin Phils on Sunday, July 1. Game time is 5:05. Tickets are $26, and include an all you can eat buffet in the deck area. In safety news, accidents are up in the district, so more attention will be paid to street behaviors. This week is dog bite prevention week; Branch 258 member Paul Purcell was featured in a Reading Eagle article focusing on contact with dogs on the job. The new mentor program is being unveiled, where a regular will be paired up with CCA's to provide guidance and tips on the job. BCTV will host a program focusing on the NALC food drive; this will be hosted by Rich McDonough on April 18. Branch 258 will sponsor a hole and two groups of golfers for the annual labor council golf tournament to be held on Sunday, June 3 at Willow Hollow. In political news, budgetary battles continue to focus on attacking benefits and retirements of federal employees. All members are urged to sign up for the letter carrier political fund, to register and vote. Brad Snyder continues to update the address list for the Nalcaster; anyone not receiving one can contact Brad. Members can also submit articles to be published in the Nalcaster. New postmaster Dan Shuman will take over his post in Reading on Monday, April 16.
Busy Schedule Reviewed and Previewed at May Meeting
A busy schedule for the Branch 258 was both reviewed and previewed for members at the regular monthly May meeting. One new member was accepted into the branch. In the CCA report, new regulars were reminded that they have only 60 days after making regular to do healthcare elections, and to let the branch know when you are making regular so we can help you make the most of your benefits when you convert to regular. Nalcaster submissions are due on May 25 to be pubished in the next issue - members are reminded that anyone can make a submission to be published in our monthly newsletter - contact editor Brad Snyder for details. On the political front, members residing in District 6, represent by Representative Costello are urged to contact him to support HR 31. Also, primary elections are to held next Tuesday, May 16 - get out to vote to make your voice heard in the democratic process. The Berks Lbor council supports Dennis Hess for re-election to the position of Berks Coroner. Branch 258 is pleased to announced the resumption of our annual picnic, which, for various issues, had been skipped for a couple years. The picnic will be held on Sunday, August 6 at 1PM at a cost of $15/person. The location is at the PenWynn, and catering will be provided by Mission BBQ. On the MDA front, our annual MDA bowl-a-thon was held on May 7, and raised $1478. In a new event, Branch 258 plans to host a beer and wine fest for Mda on September 24. This will be held at Oakbrook Brewing, and more details will follow. In scholarship news, we will repeat our summer sandwich sales to fund the Branch 258 Beck and Bear scholarships; we intend to again offer subs from Franks Pizza, which have been very popular in past events. The NALC 25th annual food drive will be held this Saturday, May 13th. All organizational plans are in place to again have a seccessful event and to add to 2 Mllion+ pounds of food that have collected for the previous 24 years. Ongoing workroom floor issues were discussed, and members were encouraged to do their job in a consistent and professional manner in spite of the apparent hyperdisciplinary recent attitude in management. Finally, a postal retirement seminar will be conducted on Sunday, June 11 at at 5PM, at the IBEW building on 20 Morgan Drive in Sinking Spring. All postal employees and significant others are invited to this informative presentation which will be conducted by David Napodano and Geary Wertz. If interested members cannot attend on this date, you can contact us for information on similar presentations to be held at Lancaster on Thursday, May 25 and in Allentown on Tuesday, May 23rd. Finally, please keep branch president Fred Ranalli in your prayers as his mother and father both struggle with health issues - understand that during this time President Ranalli may redirect questions or opportunities for help to other capable officers to help and guide the membership as he navigates this difficult time.
Rap Session Review Highlights March Meeting
An informative March meeting was highlighted with new information gained in the past few weeks. One new member was accepted into the branch. March 24 is the deadline for submissions to the next issue of the Nalcaster. In political news, on House resolution 15 (6 day delivery) , 28 (door delivery), and 31 (service standards), Reps Dent and Smucker have not yet co-sponsored this bills. Reps Costello and Cartwright have also not yet co-sponsored HRes 31. Preparations are under way for the May 13 NALC food drive; we will be using the cards again this year, as sufficient sponsorship could not be acquired for bags. This will be the 25th year of the food drive. In safety news, the installation is doing well but needs to keep improving. Several members reported on the recent region 12 rap session, including information on the ongoing contract negotiations, political updates, national training, OWCP, electronic systems and inappropriate disciplines, social media, and scanner issues. The Beck and Bear scholarship funds received $200 in proceeds from the recent sandwich sale. Our annual MDA bowl-a-thon will be held on April 23; bowlers, sponsors and door prize donations are needed. Proposals for a potential branch picnic to be held this year were discussed.
Impending Storm Causes Efficient Coverage of Issues in Focused February Meeting
A less than rosy weather forecast sharpened the focus on current issues as the Branch moved efficiently through the regular February meeting. Members are invited to write submissions to the Nalcaster, as it is the newsletter for all of our branch, and we would like to keep momentum created by some good contributions that have appeared in the last few months. The annual Berks Labor Council St. Patrick's Day Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 18 at the Crown Plaza - cash bar begins at 6PM and dinner is at 7PM. Members are invited to come and enjoy this event, which will be paid (in whole or in part) by the branch. Discount tickets are available at Santander Arena for the Wednesday April 26 Price is Right stage show and the Sunday March 26 Harlem Globetrotter show. On the political front. members are encouraged to contact their representatives to support House Resolutions 15 (6 day delivery), 28 (door delivery), and 52 (service standard). Regarding safety, representatives from all levels will visit Reading in conjunction with the 1767 program which is ongoing. Safety updates were also discussed. A hoagie sale to benefit the Beck and Bear scholarship funds will be held on Friday, March 24, at a cost of $7; last day to order will be Wednesday the 24th. The annual MDA bowl a thon will be held on Sunday, April 23 from 1-3PM. Cost will be $20 for 2 hours of bowling, soda and pizza, and all are invited to attend.
Variety of Topics Covered in January Meeting
Job bidding, safety, and upcoming events were some of the many topics covered in an informative January regular meeting of NALC Branch 258. 2 carriers were accepted into the branch as new members. The AFL-CIO essay scholarship entries are due on January 31; two categories are available: graduating high school seniors and post secondary. The annual St. Patricks Day dinner will be held at the Crowne Plaza hotel this year on March 18. On the political front, legislation on door delivery, service standards, and 6 day delivery has been reintroduced as H.Res 28, 31, and 15. All are encouraged to contact their congressional representatives in support of these resolutions. In health and safety, members are reminded and strongly encouraged to report injuries right away to the office and to union representation so that any resultant claim will be processed properly. Brother Tumminello gave a trustee report. Current safety issues, programs, and directives were discussed. The 2016 annual adopt-a-family celebration was a great success, with an experience that was fun and meaningful. Our MDA total amount raised for 2016 was over $3000, which qualified the branch for bronze status at the national level. Friday, February 10th is a tentative date for our next scholarship sandwich sale. Dave Napadano in the new Region 12 Business Agent; he has been appointed to the position after the retirement of Bill Luccini. The Region 12 rap session in Atlantic City will be held on February 26-28 at Bally's casino.
Air of Holiday Celebration Permeates Festive December Meeting
Branch 258's annual George Cook Adopt-A-Family celebration will be held this Sunday, December 18 from 1PM to 4PM at the electical workers building in Shillington (on Morgan Drive behind the food bank). All members, family and friends are cordially invited to share in the festivities as two families, as well as area veterans will be honored. Donations will contiue to be accepted through the party day. Open season is now ongoing for health care and FSA elections. Four carriers were accepted as new members to the branch. On the political fromt, members are encouraged to get their local representatives on board with current legislation, especially new representative Lloyd Smucker with HR's 12, 28, and 54. Sign ups are being taken for the annual region 12 rap session in Atlantic City on February 26-28, 2017. Safety issues in light of the new 1767 program and upcoming winter weather was discussed. Labor - management updates were given. A big thank you was given to Branch 258 Director of Retirees Dale Conrad, who will resign his position. Dale has served the branch well for many years in this capacity, and we wish him the best. Sally Urban was elected at a previous meeting to fill this position going forward.
9 New Members Accepted at Informative November Meeting
The November meeting of Branch 258 kicked off with 9 new members accepted into the branch, with those in attendence being sworn into Branch 258. Adopt-A-Famliy donations to date were announced, with large donations given by retiree Patsy Potuto and former National Executive Vice President Tim O'Malley. Keep up the good work, as more donations are needed and appreciated for next month's event, which will be held on December 18 at 1:00 at the IBEW building on Morgan Drive in Sinking Spring. On the political front, election process and results were discussed. Highlights from the PA State Association Convention held in October were given by president Ranalli, including discussions on legislative updates, the new NALC cell phone app, the Letter Carrier Political Fund (branch 258, at 26.8%, has the second highest LCPF number in the state. Open season for health care benefits and flexible spending accounts will be from 11/14 to 12/12. The OPM.gov plan comparison tool can be used to compare health care options, as members are encouraged to utilize the NALC health plan as the best plan available. There will be a health fair on November 16 at the Gus Yatron facility, with branch 258 representative Bill Lodek there to answer questions. In MDA news, Lancaster Branch will hold their bowl-a-thon on November 20 - cost is $10 for bowling and refreshments. All are invited, and are asked to let Jason Taylor know if interested. The Beck and Bare scholarship awards were presented to Alexis Fenstermacher and Alex Snitzer. Rich McDonough reported that 2 new regulars should be made shortly, on spoke to the body on the importance of unity of our union brothers and sisters at every level.
National Convention, Wealth of Information Reviewed at Busy September Meeting
Information was relayed on a variety of topics and activities in an informative September meeting of Branch 258. One new application for membership was read and accepted. The Beck and Bear scholarships will be drawn at the October meeting; there are three applicants this year. On the MDA front, approximately $750 was raised at the MDA Reading Lancaster softball day in Ephrata. In addition, our football fund raising efforts also raised approximately $1250 for MDA. This month, the MDA muscle walk in Allentown will be held on September 25; please consider sponsoring a walker at this annual event. Branch 258 received recognition at the NALC national convention for being a bronze level fund raiser for MDA. The National Convention was reviewed by perspectives of several of the delegates who were there, from guest speakers to informational classes to the NALC app which can now be downloaded on both iphone and android. In Berks labor council news, political walks have begun and are ongoing, members who wish to be politically active are invited to participate in walks or phone banking. All members are also encouraged to vote. October 11 is last day to register to vote in the upcoming elections. Veterans are encouraged to sign up for the national NALC veterans group, which continues to grow in numbers. Life insurance open season for FEGLI, and options from the union's MBA were discussed. Proper procedures for steps to take when injured at work were reviewed. September 23 is the deadline to submit articles or photos for the upcoming Nalcaster, which will come out in October. Safety updates were reviewed, including updated seat belt procedures for mounted delivery. Preliminary plans for next years food drive were discussed - we will make every attempt to get sponsors to acquire and use begs next year. Workroom floor updates were shared. President Ranalli and Bill Lodek performed a skit demonstrating the effectiveness of our union and the Letter Carrier Political Fund; which all members are encouraged to contribute to this important fund.
Fall Activities Announced at August Meeting
A busy fall schedule has begun to be unveiled as several activities were announced at the August regular Branch meeting. The National NALC convention in Los Angeles will be held from August 13-20, and president Ranalli thank all of the delegates who plan to attend, and pointed out that this trip is an educational experience for all delegates to learn information and skills that will be brought home and benefit every member of the branch. Several fun activities that will also benefit MDA were announced. A charity softball game will be held on August 28; practice for interested participants will be held on Sunday, August 21. This game will involve members of Reading and Lancaster branches. The third annual MDA fantasy football season will kick off with drafts on Sunday, August 28. The MDA football suicide pool will also be held again this year. Also, branch 258 will also participate once again in the annual MDA muscle walk, scheduled by MDA this year on Sunday, September 25 in Allentown. Members who are interested in participating or sponsoring participants in these activities can get information from their shop steward, on this website, or speak to Jason Taylor. Branch 258 is proud to offer the Beck and Bear scholarships again this year. Up to three awards of $200 will be awarded this year. Complete information can be found on this website or in the latest Nalcaster. $180 was raised in the latest Hoagie sale, thank you to everyone who enjoyed another tasty sandwich from Frank's Pizza. In other matters, the membership and officers raised and discussed current areas of concern, including safety and workroom floor issues, as well as updates from the CCAs. Finally, it was announced that DJ Mauger will be the new shop steward in Wyomissing - congratulations and thanks go out to DJ as he embarks on this new level of service to the carriers of this Branch.
Agendas on National and Local Levels Discussed at June Meeting
Political, safety, national and local agendas were all covered during a busy June meeting of Branch 258. 2 new members were accepted into the branch. Bill Lodek gave a report on workers comp paperwork deadlines, and related issues were discussed. The United Labor Council golf tournament was held on Sunday, June 5, with a good showing and much fun for all golfers. The Labor Day newspaper insert will come out on September 4, even though there will be no parade held this year. Branch 258 will put an ad in this publication. Sharon Unger discussed the Labor Council recommendations for the upcoming election races. In fund raising news, the May sandwich sale raised $200 for our scholarship fund. We intend to hold sandwich sales monthly over the summer to fund our scholarships, which will be awarded in October. on the political front, members are encouraged to sign up foe the NALC e-activist program, and to contribute to the LCPF. The national union is forming a veterans group, and carriers who are veterans are invited to join. The annual Congressional Breakfast for Pennsylvania was held last month, with strategies given for the NALC political agenda. Representative Ryan Costello has signed on for the legislation supported by letter carriers. A political walk will be held on Columbus day, volunteers are appreciated (details still to come). Safety in and around vehicles was discussed. The recent district safety committee meting was reported upon. Branch 258 will purchase a full page in the 2016 PA State NALC convention book. Vice president McDonough discussed our new postmaster who has come to Reading.
Springtime Hits Reading with Discussion, Updates, Plans In May Meeting
Branch 258's regular meeting was a mix of discussions on a variety of fronts. Several new applications for membership were introduced and accepted. 3 members of Branch 258's executive board are attending the annual congressional breakfast, and will report at the June meeting. Final preparations for the food drive this Saturday, May 14, were presented and discussed. In safety news, the Animal Rescue League is presenting a dog safety talk to various offices this week, which has been well received by carriers thus far. General dog safety issues were also shared. Vehicle safety issues were brought up and discussed. CCA issues on the workroom floor were clarified. Orders for hood sweaters have arrived and are ready for pickup. Sign up sheets have been posted for our May 20 sandwich sale to benefit the Beck and Bear Scholarship fund. Cost is $7. Our annual deck picnic party at the Reading Fightin Phils will be on Sunday, June 12. Cost is $25, and includes game tickets and an all you can eat buffet. An update on progress with grievances was given.
Review of Rap Session, Preview of Upcoming Events Highlight March Meeting
Review of the recent rap session and preview of upcoming events were the buzz at the March regular meeting of Brance 258. President Ranalli gave a presentation reviewing the recent Region 12 held in Atlantic City. Issues regarding the beginning of collective bargaining, the upcoming elections were covered, with an emphasis toward legislative goals of the national union, and plans to works with representatives on both sides of the aisle to have our voices heard in congress. OWCP, workroom floor, and CCA issues were also discussed and presented. Two new members were accepted into the branch. The MDA bowl-a-thon will be held on this Sunday, March 13 from 1-3PM. Food, fun, door prizes, silent auctions will available to all. In Labor council news, a Labor Day parade will be held this year, and Branch 258 plans to participate as we have in previous years. Posters will be ordered for the 2016 NALC food drive in May - carriers with businesses on their route are encouraged to find places to have posters to get the word out to fight hunger. The St. Patrick's Day dinner will be held on Saturday, March 19 at 7 PM (doors open at 6), at the new Doubletree Hotel, 701 Penn Street in Reading. Joe Sestak will be the speaker. June 5 will be AFL-CIO night at the Reading Phillies - tickets will be available soon. Donations of water will be accepted for the people of Flint, Michigan at the American Legion building. Submissions for the next branch newsletter are due on March 25. In political news, March 28 is the last day to register for voting in the next election. Primaries are scheduled for April 26. Labor management updates and issues were discussed.
Past, Present and Future all Featured at January Meeting
Happy and sad memories were the buzz at the regular Branch 258 January meeting. Branch 258 sends their prayers and remembrances for the passing of Bob Cavanna, whose funeral was attended by many carriers and retirees earlier today. On a happier note, the 2015 George Cook adopt-a-family celebration was reviewed as a special and enjoyable event once again, as 3 three families were honored. One new member was accepted into the branch. On health and welfare news, members are reminded to report work injuries and fill out a CA-1 to protect their rights as an injured worker. The annual Berks Labor Council has scheduled the annual St. Patrick's day dinner for Saturday, March 19 at 7:00 PM. The annual MDA bowl-a-thon will be held on Sunday, March 20 from 12 - 2 PM. We are looking for bowlers, lane sponsors, and prize donations. Plans will soon be under way for the national NALC food drive in May. The annual region 12 rap session will be held from February 20-22; we will leave on Sunday at 9AM. Tim McMichael was honored with his 25 year award for his service to the branch and the postal service. Recent labor management issues were reviewed and discussed. Route adjustments will go into effect for several zones in the next couple of weeks. The CCA's are inviting everyone to an event being held at 7:30 on February 12 at Colonial Berks lanes for bowling, pool, and fellowship.
Holiday Celebration Plans Featured at Festive December Meeting
Holiday celebrations plans highlighted a well attended December meeting of Branch 258. This meeting had our new schedule of eating before the formal start of the meeting, and it was agreed that this practice will continue. The Region 12 Rap Session will be held on February 21 - 23 at Atlantic City, NJ. The annual George Cook Memorial Adopt-A-Family event will be held at the IBEW building at 20 Morgan Drive, Sinking Spring, (behind the Greater Berks Food Bank building. The celebration will held on December 20 from 1-5 PM, and will help 3 families selected by our committee. Members are encouraged to support this event with their donations, and to come out for a fun and special afternoon. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to come early and help with set-up will be appreciated. The annual MDA bowl-a-thon will be held at Colonial Berks Lanes on March 13 from 12-2 PM. Branch 258 member Robert Cavanna was recognized in the December Postal record for actions taken to help a customer on his route. Open season for health care ends on December 14, members are encouraged to make any health care elections as soon as possible, as traffic on the website will increase as the deadline approaches. House resolutions 12, 28, and 54 are currently on the floor in Congress; Congressman Costello has signed on as a co-sponsor for these resolutions, which the NALC supports. Members are encouraged to contact their congressmen to support bills that support letter carriers, and to participate in the E-Activist and LCPF programs. Safety issue updates were discussed, including two recent rollaway incidents in the district. New vans will start to arrive at the installation early next year, questions and concerns were fielded. Recent CCA promotions to regular positions were announced, and there is hope for more promotions in the near future, as there more upcoming retirements.
Branch Elections Held at Early November Meeting
Branch 258 held elections for delegates to the 2016 National and State conventions at a full November meeting, which was held a day earlier due to the Veterans Day holiday. 16 delegates were elected for the 2016 NALC National Convention in Los Angeles. Delegates were also elected for the 2016 PA State association convention in State College. A variety of other topics, large and small, were covered on this night. Food will now be available before and during the meeting, instead of only after the meeting, as a dinner time of 9PM or later seemed extreme. Open season for health care is November 10 to December 10; this is the time to make changes in health, dental, and eye coverage. There will also be a health fair held at the Gus Yatron facility on Wednesday, November 18 from 7 to 11 AM, with a possible afternoon/evening session as well. Questions and answers were discussed regarding health care, and members are encouraged to compare plans on the plan comparison tool, and to consider participating in the NALC plan. Open season to sign up for a flexible spending account for 2016 is from November to December. Members are reminded that current choices for health care remain in effect if no action is taken, but a new election is required to participate in FSA each year. Two new members were voted into the branch. Any submissions for the December Nalcaster should be given to Brad Snyder by November 20. Branch officers and stewards were voted by the membership to receive raises of $5 per month for stewards and $10 for officers. Rich McDonough will host the next BCTV community program on November 18, which will focus on the educational system and the lack of a state budget. The NALC is holding a new drive to increase participation in the NALC e-activist network, and members are encouraged to sign up if not already an e-activist. CCA concerns were presented and discussed, as well as carrier workday concerns. Contractual raises for all employees will go into effect next week. The George Cook memorial adopt-a-family program for 2015 will tentatively be scheduled for Sunday, December 20 from 1-5; members are asked to donate for this worthy event. We are also taking referrals for a family or families to help this year. The annual MDA bowl-a-thon is scheduled for Sunday, March 13, 2016. Veterans in attendance at the meeting were recognized and thanked for their service. Safety checks for the ongoing contest will be held, please observe all safe work practices. Transitions to new equipment and technology were discussed.
Route Adjustment Tips Headline Busy September Meeting
Branch representative Rich McDonough gave a specific presentation on the route adjustment process to highlight our regular September meeting, including a question and answer period. Carriers were informed of important facts to look for and responses to management actions in walks, consultations and adjustments to protect and justify their routes. Carrier and management responsibilities were explained, and tips for dealing with the process given. In fundraising for the branch 258 scholarship fund, a hoagie sale will be held on Friday, September 25 - previous sales over the summer have been well received. In MDA fund-raising, our two football pools raised a total of $775 between the suicide and fantasy leagues. New member Kevin Brown was accepted into the branch. On the health front, any employee who is hurt on the job should immediately fill out a form CA-1 instead of waiting, as this would create doubt as to the validity of the injury. CIGNA health is being bought out, but will remain the net work of the NALC health plan through the 2016 season. The NALC plan continues to be the service of choice for our members, both in network and services. CCA's are reminded that hold downs are available for bid. In retiree news, retiree life expectancy continues to rise - retirement planning should include saving for more years of life. 10 more members have becomes e-activists - as many as possible are needed to make our views known to congress and to protect our careers. Voter registration in Pennsylvania is now available online; all members are encouraged to register and become politically aware. Members of the branch have arranged a meeting with representative Ryan Costello to exchange our views on carrier - important legislation. In safety related news, a walk through will be held at the GMF - carriers are encouraged, as always, to work the right way, as the safety contest will soon be under way. Anthony Gresoi, as the only applicant, has won one of our branch scholarships - the funds for the other will be rolled over to 2016. Scanner issues were discussed with recommendations for responses to management actions to scanner data. The November regular meeting was voted upon and officially changed from Wednesday, November 11 to Tuesday, November 10, due to conflict with the Veteren's Day holiday.
Ongoing Topics and a Fall Preview Highlight August Meeting
As Summer winds down, our August meeting of Branch 258 covered both ongoing and upcoming topics as we start to gear up for a busy Fall season. The Labor Council will hold a picnic instead of a parade this year, at First Energy Stadium - cost is $5. The Labor Day newspaper insert will appear on Sunday, August 30; Branch 258 has contributed to the insert. Raffle tickets are available for the helping hands food pantry, at $10 apiece or 3 for $25; first prize is $5000. The winner of the Ron Lorah scholarship has been announced, and is Briena Driesbach, a daughter of a steelworker from the local 6996. There was no applicant for the Ted Bricker scholarship. The deadline for application to our branch scholarships, the Beck and Bear, will be extended to September 9. In political news, Congress is on break, but we are making an effort meet with Representative Ron Costello. Registering to vote and voting continue to important to make our voices heard. The fund that we have known as COLCPE is being re-named the "Letter Carrier Political Fund." Jerome Kern reported that he will step down as political liason and sargeant at arms next month. President Ranalli will appoint Ed Gensemer to train and fill these roles for the remainder of Jerome's term. In CCA news, schedule changes for CCA's will include an increase from 6 to 8 carriers on Sundays, and daily schedule updates. In MDA news, our second annual fantasy football season will kick off with the draft on August 30, donation is $35/team. We will also hold a survivor style league to benefit MDA, at a cost of $10/ entry. After signing up you will receive a website link to enter. In further MDA news, we will not participate in this year's fill the satchel event, due to difficulties with having solid locations. Locally "on the floor," carriers are cautioned to make sure they are delivering correctly, as the new scanners alert management when they are out of route or sitting for a length of time. Scanners can also receive text messages, as well as other abilities that were discussed. The postmaster will run a safety contest based on observations of carriers, where points will be assessed for safety mistakes and subtracted for correcting those mistakes. In the JARAP process, several zones are being walked; carriers are reminded that management should meet with 3 days after a walk where times can be discussed, and to continue checking their workhour workload reports to maintain accurate information. Issues and information from the National Rap session in Houston were highlighted by Rich McDonough and Fred Ranalli. Fred also gave a presentation on government activities with retirement funds and how it affects both current and retired employees. The next two retiree breakfasts will be held at the Exeter Resteraunt; they are on the thirs Thursday of the month at 9:00. Thoughts and prayers go out to Sally Urban, who continues to battle medical issues.
New Venue Highlights June Meeting
Transition was the word of the day as our June meeting was held at our new location on Front Street, at the site of the former Bellco Credit Union. The building is now owned by the United Steelworkers, who are very welcoming to their brothers and sisters from Unions in the area, and the officers of 258 look forward to the opening of this new chapter in the life our of our branch. Two Reading Fightin Phils games are on the schedule for tis month: the first is for the annual AFL-CIO night on June 11, and free general admission tickets are available. The second is for our annual deck party benefiting MDA on Friday, June 19. Tickets are $24 covering full buffet and game tickets, and are available from Jason Taylor (or speak to your shop steward). Members were encouraged to contact congress at 1-855-712-8441 to speak against a destructive fast-tracked trade agreement which will ship good jobs overseas. The united Labor Council golf tournament was held last weekend with a fun time by all. Labor Council will not hold a Labor Day Parade this year, and will instead have a picnic at First Energy Stadium. Branch 258 will sponsor a quarter page ad in the Labor Day ad book, as we have in past years. We are doing another hoagie sale from Frank's Pizza to benefit our scholarship fund; feedbsck from the last sale was excellent; money is due on Monday, June 15, and sandwiches will be delivered to stations on Friday, June 19. Upcoming fundraisers for MDA, including fantasy and eliminator football contests, will be held this fall. $1190 was raised in the May MDA muscle walk; thank you to all participants and sponsors. Branch representatives reported on the May Congressional breakfast, where we met with Rep. Costello to share our positions on key legislation. Members are encouraged to call their representatives in support of House Resolutions 12, 28 , and 54, which would strengthen the postal service. National President Rolando also spoke at the breakfast and appears hopeful of improved relations with the new Postmaster General, as well as working in concert with our union counterparts in the postal service and major mailers with a stake in the health of the USPS. Issues and fact sheets are available at www.NALC.org to become informed on national issues that affect our daily life on the job. On the safety front, heat related illness, dog warning cards, hydration, and OSHA oversight was discussed. New scanners and technologies were discussed, with questions and concerns addressed. A big thank you to all carriers for another successful food drive, where we collected approximately 54,000 pounds of food for the Greater Berks Food Bank. CCA issues of scheduling and upcoming contract negotiation strategies were discussed. There are changes in management personnel with the postmaster moving on, so union leadership is working with new management to determine future goals and relationships. Route changes and CDRAP updates were given. A big thank you to Todd Evangelista was given for his long time contributions to our Union and our Branch. Todd retired this month and is transitioning his responsibilities producing our newsletter to assistant editor Brad Snyder. Best wishes to Todd, who has been second to none in his dedication to service on the job for his customers and in brotherhood to fellow union members.
Wall to Wall Topics Covered in February Meeting
New members Waldo Alvarado and Lessette Ortiz were sworn in as new members to kick off a full February meeting of Branch 258. In labor council news, the Ted Bricker and Ron Lorah scholarships are available through the labor council to all Branch 258 families. The Bricker scholarship is for $250 and the Lorah is for $500 (vocational) or $750 (academic), with an application deadline of July 31. The annual St. Patrick's Day dinner will be held on March 14; Branch 258 voted to sponsor a table worth of tickets and a program page for this event. The chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party will be the guest speaker. Important positions are up for grabs in local elections this year, as the Mayor of Reading and 3 judgeships are being contested. Branch 258 awarded the Beck and Baer scholarships to Nick Steiger and Charlie Miller - congratulations and good luck to these deserving winners in furthering their educations. The picnic committee reported a recommendation to hold this year's picnic at Cacoosing meadows, and to use Fies catering. On the legislative front, we are recommending support for House Resolutions 784 (reversing changes made in 2011), 12 (preserve 6 day delivery), 28 (preserve door delivery), 54 (protect service standards). New Branch 258 are available for sale for $35-$40; ordering deadline is February 25. A safety presentation was given regarding rollaway runaways, with do and dont's also covered regarding general vehicle safety. New vehicles and uniforms are being developed and tested nationwide, with input being used from both management and labor. We will again participate in the MDA muscle walk to be held on April 19 at the PPL center in Allentown from 10AM to 1PM; walkers and sponsors are welcome to this event. Also benefitting MDA is a hoagie sale slated for April - details to follow. Branch 258 will hold our annual night at the Reading Phillies on Friday, June 19 - tickets are $24 and include the deck party buffet and bleacher seats. The fightns' aill play the Portland Sea Dogs at 7:05. In further Postal business, route adjustments and information gathering are ongoing for the CARAP process - members are encouraged to check the work hour workload reports posted at the offices for accuracy. Items covered at the most recent labor/management meeting were updated and discussed. President Ranalli also talked about the potential for moving our branch office and meetings to a new location - the current building is being sold and the board feels that a move may be a good decision for both fit and timing.
Holiday Celebration Plans Highlight December Meeting
Talk of the holidays was the keynote topic in a festive December regular meeting. Our annual George Cook Memorial Adopt-A-family celebration will be held on Sunday, December 21 from 4-8pm, with volunteers also invites to help with set-up and decorations at 1pm. This year we will help 2 families, each with a single mother of 2, as well as a local veteran. There is also still time to make contributions for this event. A variety of other updates and announcements were made at this busy meeting. The AFL-CIO essay scholarship contest is currently accepting applications, which are due by January 31, 2015. 3 awards ($2000, $1000, and $500) are being granted for 2 entrant categories: 1)2015 graduating seniors and 2)all postsecondary students. In other scholarship news, Branch 258 will once again award our Beck and Baer scholarships due to fundraising efforts made in the past several months. Two awards for $300 each are available, and applications are due by January 14, 2015. Members are reminded that Lindsay Eyecare offers a discounted price program for union members. Members of the MALC health plan can enjoy added savings at CVS above the normal discount card rate by calling 1-800-933-NALC and obtaining a white CVS/NALC extra care card. In CCA news, progress is being made toward resolving the ongoing uniform allowance issue, and we hope that this is resolved soon. There will also be a special meeting on Tuesday, Decmber 16 at 9am with the postmaster for CCA's to discuss any ongoing needs and concerns. CCA's and unassiigned regulars are reminded to get holddown bids to management by 10am on Mondays. CHRAP was discussed with an emphasis on checking the workload/workhour report for accuracy of data. On the saftey front, the District will have a safety team in the Reading area next month, and carriers are reminded to continue working properly and safely at all times. Sign ups are being taken for the annaul region 12 rap session at Bally's in Atlantic City on February 22 - 24, 2015. You must have attended at least 8 of our regular meetings in the past year to be eligible for this trip. Congratulations are in order for 5 of our members who will receive million mile awards next month, and for 12 former CCA's who were promoted to career regular carrier positions on November 29. Finally, a special mention was given to Bob Cavanna, who was honored by the borough of Wyomissing for calling 911 for a customer which he determined to be in need. This call probably saved the customer's life, and is another wonderful example of the connection that we have to the people and communities that we serve.
Open Season and Health Care Presented at November Meeting
Our regular meeting held on November 12 was kicked off with a presentation highlighting our NALC health plan. Branch health plan rep Bill Lodek also demonstrated to members the use of a plan comparison tool that anyone can access via the department of labor website, where the NALC plan compares favorably to any other plan choice available. Open season for health care is ongoing until December 10. There will also be a health fair at the GMF on November 19 from 6-9am and 4-7pm. Also shown on the large screen was a video of national president Fred Rolando presenting local president Ranalli the branch service award in recognition of our George Cook Memorial Adopt-A-Family program. President Ranalli's moving speech accepting the award was also played. This year's adopt-a-family celebration will take place on Sunday, December 21 at 4pm. On December 14 from 4-7 a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration will be held for the new location of the Greater Berks Food Bank. Food pantry volunteers are also needed on November 26. The Labor Council Christmas party will be held on December 5. A national day of action will be held on November 14 targeting Postmaster General Donahoe in protesting planned closings of mail facilities, as well as lowering of service standards in 2015. Updates on the new CDRAP route adjustments were given, as this will be an ongoing process to likely continue for at least a year. Updates on branch wide conversions of CCA's to career positions were given. The 2015 Region 12 rap session will take place at Bally's in Atlantic City on February 22-24, 2015. Sign ups will take place at the December regular meeting. On the safety front, winter issues are on the horizon; carriers were also reminded to always have their satchel with them while carrying, and issues regarding darkness were reviewed. Congratulations and a thank you are in order for the branch as we raised over $3000 for MDA in our various activities during the past 3 months. Finally, it was announced that Branch 258 will award $300 each for the Beck and Baer scholarships for 2014; applications will be available shortly, and will be due by the January regular meeting.
Variety of Updates Covered in Busy October Meeting
A variety of topics, from elections to contract administration to fund raising, was covered at a busy October regular Branch meeting. On the election front, the national midterm elections are coming up, and we encourage everyone to vote for candidates who will support carrier issues, including Tom Wolf and Manon Trivedi. The Labor council will be on the workers in Berks program to talk about election issues, and are schduling phone banking. Labor walks will also be held on October 11 and 25, and on November 1. Elections are also ongoing for national NALC offices - ballots have been mailed to all members, with instructions and deadlines that were reviewed. Locally, branch officers were nominated for the ensuing terms, including: Fred Ranalli, President; Richard McDonough, Vice President; Paul Purcell, Secretary; Domonic Tuminello, Trustee; Sharon Unger, AFL-CIO Rep; Jerome Kern, Sergeant at Arms; Bill Lodek, Health Plan Rep; Todd Evangelista, Editor; Michele Schaeffer, Treasurer, Andrew Gelsinger, Director of Archives. Congratulations to all of the nominees, who were all elected by acclimation. In fundraising, our fill the satchel event raised $409 for MDA - thank you to all donors and participants. Our annual MDA Bowl-A-Thon will be October 19, we are looking for a good turnout and hope to continue to get participants and sponsors. Fred Ranalli and Rich McDonough accepted a special award for Branch 258 from the National NALC President. This Branch Service award recognized the years of service for our adopt a family tradition (now named the George Cook Christmas Family Adoption Program). Donations and referrals of potential families will begin in the coming month. The new joint route evaluation process was discussed; employees are encouraged to review the carrier wirkhour/workload report for accuracy, as these should now be posted daily and are an integral part of the process. Regarding CCA's, issues with uniform allowance were discussed, and an update on e-reassigns, vacancy filling, and promotions were given.
National Convention Review Highlights August Meeting
A review of the NALC national convention by our branch delegates highlighted an informative August meeting for Branch 258. An excellent class given by national officer Ron Watson was highlighted in detail with a strong message to be involved with COLCPE and e-activist. In addition, reports were given for many classes attended, covering topics including retirement planning, political activism, publications, websites, communication with co-workers and public, CSRS/FERS, OWCP, NALC health plan, end of life planning, postal banking, safety, MOU's, grievances, CCA's, the workroom floorVideos shown highlighting the history of the NALC were described, with an emphasis on using today to benefit every member in the future. The convention floor process and content of resolutions was given. Appearances by Senator Bernie Sanders and Ed Schultz at general sessions were highlighted. The delegates also participated in a march and protest to Staples for their damaging venture with the USPS. Elections for national officers were contested for many positions,and members will receive ballots for voting. The officers and board are endorsing the slate of candidates headed by incumbant national President Frederic Rolando and executive Vice President Timothy O'Mally. On the local level, we have a number of activities coming up in the next couple of months. 153 hoagies were sold to begin funding for the Beck and Baer scholarships. Fantasy football MDA deadline for signups and money is August 29. Volunteers are being recruited for the MDA Bowl-A-Thon for various tasks. The annual Labor Day parade is being held on September 1, and we hope to see members and their families there. Sign-ups are beginning for the MDA fill the satchel event to be held on September 14 from 9AM to 11AM. The Labor council is selling cash drawing tickets to benefit the helping hands food pantry and fund the Ron Lorah and Ted Bricker scholarships - tickets are available from Sharon Unger. Members are encouraged to call their congressional representatives to support HR711, and to support Manon Trivedi in his run for Congress. Safety updates and initiatives were reported. Plans to increase local activities and benefits for retirees are being initiated by the branch, look for more information soon. Literature and information available from the convention are available.
Fundraising for MDA, Ongoing Updates for Various Issues Covered at Light July Meeting
Applications were read and accepted for 4 new members. The scholarship committee reported that a hoagie sale will be conducted on Friday, August 15 to raise funds to finance our scholarships. Forms will be sent to all offices, and any volunteers to make sandwiches would be appreciated. In regards to MDA fundraising, 3 activities are in the works: the annual bowl-a-thon, which is tentatively being scheduled for October 19; our 2nd fill the satchel, which is tentatively the second week in September, and our second year of MDA fantasy football leagues, with more details to follow. New Branch 258 t-shirts are available, at a cost of $16 per shirt for sizes up to XL, and $2 extra per size for larger sizes. On the political front, 6 day delivery has been renewed in the annual congressional appropriations bill. Safety regarding potentially dangerous situations was discussed, as well as plans for future safety talks. Overtime and forcing issues were brought up and discussed. Joe Hohman was honored with a commemorative watch for his 30 years of service.
Variety of Topics and Activities Covered at June Meeting
Regarding upcoming activities, tickets are available for both Reading Fightin Phils outings, which take place on June 12 and June 26. A reminder was announced that Lindsey Eyecare has a program available for discounts in care for union members. The 27th annual Labor Day parade will be held on September 1st, and we will sponsor an ad in the publicity for this event. NALC insurance and NALC Mutual Benefit Association information is available for all members; MBA has a special program for CCA's that can aid in saving for retirement, which can be used to supplement programs currently available to career employees. A presentation was made by the scholarship committee with ideas for funding our annual Beck and Baer scholarships. Legislation is in the works which would be damaging to the postal service; members are encouraged to sign up for e-activist membership to get regular updates on line. We are also encouraging all carriers to spread the word about the importance of continuing 6 day delivery. We received a report from the national union office listing 18 carriers who are 50 year members of the union - we will plan an event to honor these individuals. The address for the branch has changed to PO Box 12584, Reading, PA 19612, to accommodate our new presence at the 13th street office. Safety in stormy weather was discussed, as well as a reminder to carriers to not put oneself in danger. Documentation for sick leave was discussed with different types and appropriateness covered. Issues regarding scanning were discussed. An extension on grievances has been announced by the national office due to the upcoming national convention.
Summer Activities, Congrats to New Regulars Included in May Meeting
Information for new regulars, the food drive and summer activities highlighted a busy May meeting for branch 258. A reminder for employees for changing their online password was provided. Bill Lodek gave an update with examples of how the NALC health plan helps our members above and beyond other plan options for carriers. Free tickets are available for AFL-CIO night at the Reading Fightin Phils on Thursday, June 12 vs the New Britain Rock Cats. The Branch will also host a night at the Fightin Phils on June 26 which includes all you can eat plus a fun ball game - contact Jason Taylor for tickets, which are $23 each. The United Labor Council Golf Tournament will be held June 1st, with the branch sponsoring $300 worth of entry fees for those who have made the required meetings. The primary elections are approaching, and everyone is encouraged to exercise their civic right to support working friendly candidates. Jerome Kern gave a legislative update, including continued encouragement to support Manon Trivedi for Congress, as well as reporting a failed attempt by Darrell Issa to bring another damaging bill to the floor. CCA's that were recently converted to regular were congratulated by the members, with president Ranalli encouraging the new regulars to continue making our union strong. Implications for daily work practices were discussed. New regulars will also be involved in a meeting which will highlight benefit and employment changes which will require decisions on the career track. A big thank you was given to all the members for their work on the food drive. Approximately 52,000 pounds of food have been collected to date. We would like to obtain sponsors to reacquire the paper bags to distribute for next year, as the impact of using the bags was obvious. Members were reminded to work safely at all times, and that spot checks are being made on routes for safe driving and delivery. A committee, headed by Aaron O'Brien will be established to work on ideas for funding our scholarships.
Visits by Trivedi, Luccini create a buzz at April Meeting
Our regularly scheduled April meeting was highlighted by visits from special guests. Manon Trivedi, who is running for the House of Representatives seat which will be vacated by Rep. Jim Gerlach, kicked off the meeting by talking about his background, commitment to our veterens, and to the working class which continues to be under attack by many on Capitol Hill. He also spent some time discussing ideas for vitalization in the Reading area. For more information on Mr. Trivedi's views and campaign, click here. Following this presentation, National Business Agent William Luccini gave a presentation detailing the current activities and goals of the NALC on the national level. Also highlighted were the upcoming national Convention in Philadelphia, encouragement to work safely, and CCA and personnel issues. An active question and answer session followed. In addition to these special presentations, the usual business of the branch was conducted. Jerome Kern reported an update on current legislation, with a reminder to sign up e-activist and COLCPE; it is easy to do and helps to protect our jobs. Raffle tickets are available to support the helping hands food pantry. Our participation in the recent MDA muscle walk raised $878, which was the highest amount in the corporate division of the walk. Upcoming MDA events for this year will include the bowl-a-thon, jersey raffle and fill the satchel events. Food drive posters are available in both English and Spanish. Safety team updates were given, including reporting on an increased focus on safety observations, and preparation for summer specific safety issues. The bottom line is to not put oneself in danger - it is a carriers prerogative to determine whether they feel unsafe. President Ranalli reported that the board has decided to officially name our annual Christmas celebration the George Cook adopt-a-family program. Dave Napadano from the NBA office also spoke regarding CCA issues and the promotion process and the need to function together as a union.
Extra Training Available for Carriers at March Meeting
Carriers attending our regularly scheduled March meeting were given some pre-meeting training, as presentations were made regarding filling out forms 3996 and 1571, as well as what to do when hurt on the job. Informational handouts given at these presentations will appear shortly at the appropriate areas of this website. The meeting also included a variety of information. The Labor Council St. Patrick's Day dinner will be held this Saturday with PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale slated as the guest speaker. The Labor council also encourages opposition in the state government to House Bills 1507 and 1860, which are so-called "right to work" bills. These bills have misleading titles as they actually attack unions and the working class. You can call your State House representative at 877-972-4473 in regard to these bills. The Hoffman Industries lockout has now exceeded 3 years - please be supportive of our union brethren in their struggle. In further political news, Senate bill S1486 has passed out of committee and awaits action by the full senate - carriers are strongly encouraged to oppose this action, and the NALC has made available a sheet of talking points for your communication with Senators (Casey and Toomy for our state) which can be read here. Two MDA fundraisers are coming up - a muscle walk on April 6 and a night at the Reading Phillies on June 26. Walkers and sponsors are welcome for the muscle walk, and a flier for the game is forthcoming. Issues regarding sick leave and scanning were discussed, as well as safety reminders for carriers to follow. Food drive preparations are ongoing, with posters to arrive soon (we will have some posters in Spanish this year). A flier will be circulated for food drive t-shirts for this year, with logos from both last year and this year. It was also reported that CCA conversions should start to happen soon. Ideas were solicited regarding the funding of our branch scholarships moving forward in the current and future years.
Rap Session Issues Among Highlights of February Meeting
A brutal storm forecast for later in the night did not deter many of our membership from turning out for our regularly scheduled February meeting. Several applications for membership were read and approved as we continue efforts to get new hirees involved with our union and branch. Several topics were covered, including the announcement that the Ted Bricker and Ron Lorah scholarship applications for 2014 are now available, with a submission deadline of July 31. The annual Labor Council St. Patrick's Day dinner will be held on March 15, with a guest speaker believed to be the state labor council President. In legislative news, US Senate bill S1486 has now passed markup, and may reach the Senate floor for a vote. This is a highly destructive bill which we vehemently oppose, and carriers are strongly encouraged to call their Senators with opposition to this bill. This will also be a busy election year, with State representative Gerlach retiring as well as a Gubernatorial election on tap. We will schedule voluteers for phone banking and/or canvassing later in the year. Finally, state bill 1507 is a right to work, anti union bill to oppose through our state representatives. President Ranalli gave a detailed report covering issues discussed in the regional rap session held earlier this week. He also passed along the annual retirees report, which included 7 deaths in the branch in 2013. We will not be getting the paper bags for the food drive, and may use plastic bags if sponsors for their purchase become available. A food drive meeting was held recently where we received support from local management for our efforts. On the MDA front, the annual bowl-a-thon will be held in the fall this year. We will again have an MDA night at the Reading Phillies, with a date to be chosen from several options given. We will participate in an MDA "muscle walk" on April 6, and anyone is welcome to participate or to sponsor a participant. Discussions regarding safety, equipment, workroom floor issues, and the ongoing difficult winter occurred.
Delegates for 2014 National Convention Nominated at October Meeting
A busy October meeting covered several items of business for the branch as well as items of information for the members. Nominations were held for a trustee position, with Jason Taylor being elected by acclimation. Also, nominations were held for delegates to the 2014 NALC national convention to be held in Philadelphia. An election to determine our delegates from the list of nominees will be held at the November regular branch meeting. The branch is again selling hoodies and zips, as there has been increasing demand for these items since the last sale. We were also considering dry fit polos, but could not find a ready supplier for American made items, so will likely not offer this item during the current sale. Jerome Kern gave a presentation on Doug Graybill, and discussed his work with the homeless, which we could support this year as part of the branch's annual adopt-a-family celebration. Open season for health care is from 11/11 to 12/9/13, with the NALC plan now having three options to choose from.
Wide Range of Topics Covered at September Meeting
Wide and varied topics were covered as Branch 258 held its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 11. The annual Labor Day parade was a success once again, with over 20 carriers marching along with many of their families. Former Branch president George Cook was the Grand Marshall. The branch also did well with volunteering and raising funds for MDA, our national charity. 22 people participated in our fantasy football leagues and ten in our fill the satchel day, netting a total of nearly $900. The new LMOU regarding promotions into job vacancies was explained. President Ranalli reported that there is interest from both labor and management to resume the safety captain program to prevent accidents and injuries in the workforce. He also reported on our current efforts to continue reestablishing our financial footing as a branch. A motion was amended to increase union dues by $1 per pay, as dues have not increased for approximately ten years, and there is a need to have the added funds moving forward. The motion carried, and the new dues will be reflected in pay checks early next year. Rick Shollenberger, Daniel Rosario, and George Cook were names brought up to the body as those to keep in their thoughts and prayers as they struggle with health and life issues. Jerome Kern gave an update on progress in communications with local representatives, as well as on S316, HR630, HR961, and H Res 30, which address needs supported by carriers. An update on labor management relations as related to grievance movement, starting times, and safety was given.
Scholarship Drawing Winners Highlight June Meeting
At our June meeting, the names of the two scholarship winners were determined for the Beck and Baer scholarships, given annually by the Branch. The winner of the Beck scholarship is Katelyn Purcell, and the Baer scholarship will go to Leaha Crowe (as always, alternates were also drawn in case they are needed). Congratulations to the scholarship winners and good luck in their educational pursuits. On the legislative front, it has been reported that Representative Gerlach has signed on to co-sponser HR 961, which is a very good step in supporting letter carrier jobs, but much work needs to be done in order to convince all of our representatives in the area of the Branch to support carrier friendly legislation in both the House and Senate. We urge all carriers to continue calling and writing their reps to accomplish this goal. The unfortunate announcement was made that this year's Branch picnic will be cancelled, for a combinations of reasons having to do with both finances and venue. We hope to resume our picnic next year. It was decided to return the time for our regular meetings to 7:30 due to later work schedules. Ongoing issues with forced overtime, grievances, scheduling, and route adjustments were discussed. Finally, it was established that June 21 will be the deadline to commit to going to the PA State association convention in Pittsburgh. The Branch announced that interested delegates should be aware that the Branch will only pay for 3 people, but any delegates who are willing to pay their way for the Convention are welcome to join us.
Candidate for Judge Visits May Meeting
Our regular May meeting began with a visit from Madelyn Fudeman, who is a candidate for Judge at the upcoming election on May 21. She highlighted her background and qualifications for judge, with an emphasis on her breadth of experience over several areas of law practice. Her presentation was well received, with a question and answer period and endorsement as a quality candidate. The meeting continued with a call to participate in a "We the People" petition launched on the White House website by Rep Peter DeFazio of Oregon. This petition signing campaign urges president Obama to support postal friendly legislation (I have copied a step by step process to sign the petition from a recent NALC e-activist email which you can jump to by clicking here). A report was heard regarding 3 members who attended the annual Congressional Breakfast held this week. We were able to meet with Rep Joseph Pitts and give our views on the needs of the postal service, with some encouragement that an ongoing dialogue can be achieved. Our health report included a reminder on steps to take to ensure proper handling of injuries at the workplace. Preparations for the upcoming food drive were reviewed, and upcoming events announced. Discussion took place on the need to be financially sound in the planning of this year's picnic, with the body approving the plan of the board discussing the matter and deciding the best combination of menu and price to the members. A review took place on the aftermath of the recent route inspections, and a detailed report was given by president Ranalli on the new local agreement which resulted from negotiations held in April, with questions and clarifications given.
Busy Agenda Discussed at April Meeting
Our regular April meeting was held on the 10th at the still new meeting time of 7:00. A broad range of topics and activities was discussed, highlighted by the successful MDA Bowl-A-Thon held last Sunday the 5th, which raised over $3500 for our official NALC national charity. Upcoming events, including the May 11 food drive, May 31 night at the Fightin Phils and our summer picnic, were discussed. Applications for the Ronald Lorah and Ted Bricker scholarships are now available and will be accepted until the deadline of July 31. Jerome Kern reported that while all members who supported the recent day of action for 6 day delivery and contacted their congressional representatives helped to bring about the recent 6 day language that has thwarted the PMG's attempts to defy congress, this is a temporary win and we need to keep fighting for bills and action to ensure permanent 6 day delivery for our customers. Bill Lodek described a difficult medical insurance situation recent handled by the NALC health plan as another example of the type of customer service available through the NALC plan which is not available anywhere else. President Ranalli reported that this month is singularly busy for the union leadership, as negotiations for the new local contracts must be completed by the end of the month for not only the Reading installation, but also for all of AO's in the branch; in addition, fallout from the recent unilateral route inspections was discussed.
March Meeting Visited by Candidate for Judgeship
Our regular March Meeting was highlighted by a visit from Eleni Dimitriou Geishauser, candidate for Judge. She addressed the gathered carriers with an overview of her background in the law and in Reading/Berks, as well as her qualifications for the post to which she aspires. The presentation was well received and Ms. Dimitriou Geishauser was endorsed by the branch as a quality candidate to support.
Other items at our regular meeting included announcements regarding the upcoming day of action rally on March 24 to preserve 6 day delivery, updates on the upcoming bowl-a-thon and food drive, scholorship opportunities, an appearance by our National Business agent and PA State Association president with Branch vice president Rich McDonough on BCTV, and updates on the ongoing route inspections in the Reading zones. Special thank yous were given to all of the carriers who supported the sandwich sale benefiting the Rich Power family during their difficult time, and to all of the carriers in the 19604, 19605, and 19610 zones for their conduct and professionalism during route inspections. Thanks were also expressed to Branch President Ranalli for his ongoing efforts during a singularly busy time for our branch and its officers.
Other items at our regular meeting included announcements regarding the upcoming day of action rally on March 24 to preserve 6 day delivery, updates on the upcoming bowl-a-thon and food drive, scholorship opportunities, an appearance by our National Business agent and PA State Association president with Branch vice president Rich McDonough on BCTV, and updates on the ongoing route inspections in the Reading zones. Special thank yous were given to all of the carriers who supported the sandwich sale benefiting the Rich Power family during their difficult time, and to all of the carriers in the 19604, 19605, and 19610 zones for their conduct and professionalism during route inspections. Thanks were also expressed to Branch President Ranalli for his ongoing efforts during a singularly busy time for our branch and its officers.
Route Inspection Training, PMG Announcement Highlight February Meeting
The regular February meeting of Branch 258 was held at the Knights of Columbus hall at 850 Weiser Street. Due to the volume of information to be covered, the meeting started early after refreshments were available at 6:15. Topics addressed at the regular business meeting included the information received from the NALC national staff at a rap session in Las Vegas help this past week. National President Rolando discussed the Union's heavy opposition to the Postmaster General's intention to force a change to 5 day delivery, and urged all carriers to lobby congress to galvanize support in maintaining 6 day delivery. We discussed what we can do at the local level, including not only contacting representatives ourselves, but also encouraging friends and loved ones to do the same. We can also encourage more participation an contributing to COLCPE, and raising overall awareness of those around us of the importance of six day delivery.
After the regular meeting, a lengthy route inspection training was conducted, detailing how to's, expectations and tips for carriers in their participation of route inspections.
After the regular meeting, a lengthy route inspection training was conducted, detailing how to's, expectations and tips for carriers in their participation of route inspections.
Outgoing Board Members Recognized
Outgoing board members Bob McLean and Leo Breton were recognized and honored for their longtime service to Branch 258 at our regular January meeting. Bob has volunteered to relinquish his position on the board, aiding us in its reorganization, while continuing to help in an ongoing capacity. Leo has retired from his position after many years of service as treasurer, and had been the longest serving officer in our local. Please take the opportunity to thank Bob and Leo for their long term commitment to helping our union and all letter carriers.
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New Slate of Officers Installed At January Meeting
Our regular January Union meeting was highlighted by the installation of our new slate of officers for the coming year. The installation was conducted by outgoing president George Cook. Topping the list of incoming officers are president Fred Ranalli and vice president Richard McDonough. Among items discussed at the meeting was an idea to change the starting time for meetings to 7:00 PM. This was voted upon and passed, and will be changed in our bylaws by the board and National Union according to procedure.
Branch Officers Nominated and Elected For The Ensuing Year
During the regular November Branch 258 meeting, nominations for officers were made and accepted for the coming year. All nominated individuals were then elected by acclimation, which eliminated the need to hold elections at this time. Nominations were also accepted for delegates to the 2013 PA State Association Convention, to be held in September of next year. Congratulations to the following individuals and best wishes for a successful year:
- President - Fred Ranalli
- Vice President - Rich McDonough
- Treasurer - Michele Schaeffer
- Financial Secretary - This position was eliminated, with duties combined into the Treasurer position
- Recording Secretary - Paul Purcell
- Trustee - Dominic Tumminello
- Trustee - Dave Dry
- AO Rep/Trustee - Blaine Martin
- Health Rep - Bill Lodek
- AFL-CIO Rep - Sharon Unger
- Sergeant at Arms - Jerome Kern
- NALCaster Editor - Todd Evangelista
- Director of Archives - Andy Gelsinger