LeagueofPostmasters

Join the League: THE Organization that is WORKING for YOU!

Words of wisdom from Former National Sec/Tres

Linda Rumney

Because I have been involved with League membership for some time, I am often asked the following question.

"WHY SHOULD I JOIN THE LEAGUE?"

There are many benefits that we as League members receive that we may take for granted or not even think about until we have a need for them.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS The League represents the "Voice of the Postmaster" in efforts to enhance the pay, benefits and working conditions of Postmasters. A registered lobbyist provides a direct line of communication with Congress on issues of concern to Postmasters, retirees and the US Postal Service.

SECURITY LEGAL SERVICES AND ADVERSE ACTION The League is the ONLY Postmaster organization that includes legal services as part of it's monthly membership dues. The League is the nation's premier advocate for protecting the jobs and rights of Postmasters. We can feel secure in the knowledge that we have the best legal representation available should the need arise. Adverse Action legal services benefit offers representation by an attorney before the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit at significantly discounted rates.

IMPROVED MANAGER'S PROCESS This program offers support for League members and their families to help them to cope with a wide range of medical, behavioral, psychological and addiction issues. A 24 helpline is available at 800-524-4771

LEAGUE PUBLICATIONS The Postmaster's Advocate, Advocate Express and in West Virginia, our award winning publication, Mountain League News.

POST OFFICE CONTINUANCE CONSULTANT The League employs Mario Principe who was a former discontinuance coordinator with the USPS to deal with Post Office closings.

A SENSE OF FAMILY AMONG YOUR FELLOW LEAGUE MEMBERS.

This is only a partial list of the benefits available through the League. The list could go on and on. If you have any questions concerning benefits or membership, contact any member of the Board .

Membership in the League is an honor and a privilege and we encourage every Postmaster, PMR and EAS employee to join.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POSTMASTERS

NEBRASKA BRANCH 2011-2012 OFFICERS

VICKI OZENBAUGH

President

515 Road 18

Ohiowa NE 68416-3029

H: 402-295-2505

C: 402-759-0411

O: 402-266-5171 / 402-773-4304

Exeter- 68351 - Sutton 68979

vozenbaugh@windstream.net

MICHELE STOLTENBERG

Executive Vice President

1000 W Edith St

Sargent, NE 68874-4141

H: 308-527-3451

C: 308-214-1013

O: 308-527-4100

Sargent NE 68874

stoltenberg@nctc.net

TRACY BONDEGARD

Secretary/Treasurer

4370 Road S

Oak NE 68964-8214

H: 402-225-5299

O: 402-228-3361

Beatrice NE 68310

riverviewt@hotmail.com

TOM RIGGS

Vice President

4580 N Pawnee Ave

Hastings, NE 68901-8306

H: 402-463-8097

C: 402-984-8549

O: 402-771-2528

Glenvil NE 68941

rplace@gtmc.net

KAREN MERRYMAN

Vice President

808 Road P

Geneva NE 68361

H: 402-759-4865

O: 402-724-2333

McCool Junction NE 68401

dkmerryman808@gmail.com

PEGGY ROIT

Vice President

608 Road 20

Ohiowa NE 68416

H: 402-295-2340

O: 402-295-2222

Ohiowa NE 68416

mproit@diodecom.net

BRUCE RITTER

Vice President

621 Bridger Rd

Lincoln NE 68521-3265

C: 402-770-1282

O: 402-989-5835 / 402-782-6745

Clatonia - 68328 - Bennet - 68317

ritterbk@windstream.net

BARBARA STESKAL

Membership Chairman

86762 478th Ave

Atkinson NE 68713

H: 402-925-2712

C: 402-340-5397

O: 402-273-4261

Long Pine NE 69217

TONY BALS

District Coordinator

720 W Piedmont St

Ravenna, NE 68869

H: 308-452-4079

C: 308-379-8472

O: 308-894-3804

Palmer Post Office

tjbls@charter.net

DAVE WEBER

Western Area II Coordinator

127 E Main St

Adrian, MO 64720-9998

E-Mail: dwweber@earthlink.net

O: (816) 297-2210

WILLIAM (BILL) KREJCI

National Legislative Relations

NE State Chair

P O Box 1

Marquette NE 68854-0001

H: 402-694-5619

O: 402-854-2598

Marquette NE 68854

wkrejci2@yahoo.com

SHIRLEY STOLTENBERG

Editor

807 N Collins St

Atkinson NE 68713-4889

H: 402-925-5507

C: 402-340-2579

pmstuart65@yahoo.com

CHARLOTTE ZIEG

Chaplain

401 Martin Ave

Beaver Crossing NE 68313

H: 402-532-5170

O: 402-532-2135

Beaver Crossing NE 68313

BEVERLY ZINK

Convention Chairman

90368 474th Ave

Naper NE 68755-3021

H: 402-775-2206

O: 402-832-5977

Naper NE 68755

zink@nntc.net

KS District Coordinator & Kansas President:

Judy Raney

PO Box 1113

Lawrence, KS 66044-1113

Office: (785) 843-8777

Home: (785) 841-0259

Email: judyraney@att.net

NEBRASKA RETIREE OFFICERS

GEORGIA SCHROPFER

Retiree President

P O Box 247

Fairmont NE 68354-0247

402-268-6261

CLEO PETERSON

Retiree Vice President

3532 Grahm Ave

Grand Island NE 68803

308-382-7313

pclpeterson@q.com

SHIRLEY STOLTENBERG

Retiree Secretary/Treasurer

807 N Collins St

Atkinson NE 68713-4889

402-925-5507

pmstuart65@yahoo.com

NEBRASKA AUXILIARY OFFICERS

CHARLENE WENDT

Auxiliary President

2540 Nancy Dr

Lincoln NE 68507-3371

402-325-0862

clwendt@neb.rr.com

GERALD (JERRY) ROEMER

Executive Vice President

1482 County Road M Blvd

Hooper NE 68031-2066

402-654-2272

mdandthe3ts@hughes.net

SHELLY RITTER

Vice President

621 Bridger Rd

Lincoln NE 68521-3265

H: 402-474-6780

sarsm@windstream.net

MARY KREJCI

Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer

1410 M Street

Aurora NE 68818-2139

402-694-5619

maryk@bankonheritage.com

RON SCHROPFER

Auxiliary Past President

P O Box 247

Fairmont NE 68354-0247

402-268-6261

LEROY PETERSON

Auxiliary Chaplain

3532 Grahm Ave

Grand Island NE 68803

308-382-7313

pclpeterson@q.com

Dear Leaguers,

As most of you know by now, the LEAGUE has taken the issues of Postmasters to Congress. After years of trying to work through the system, meeting and consulting with Postal Headquarters, we are seeking resolutions through Congress. You can read, on the LEAGUE website, copies of the letters that we sent to Postmaster General Jack Potter and to congressmen on key committees in the House and Senate. Going to Congress was not an easy decision to make, but the League felt that we had exhausted every other avenue to get relief and resolution for our issues.

Excitement was great at our Legislative Forum as the National Board revealed to attendees our plan to storm Congress and the Postmaster General with as many letters from Postmasters as we could muster. Your direct participation in this effort is the key to its success. These are Postmaster and, oftentimes, supervisor issues; in fact, we have the full support of Ted Keating and NAPS and Bob Rapoza and NAPUS. This is one of those occasions where we've all got to pull together. You've read the issues many times in the pages of our Advocate and on our website; long, long workweeks for Postmasters due to the neglect of the Postal Service in filling supervisor, PMR, clerk and carrier positions and to properly budget hours, the abusive, demeaning, threatening management styles prevalent in many Districts, will-sapping micromanagement, an out-of-touch and much manipulated NPA/PFP process and 2,700 unfilled Postmaster positions. While you may not be directly affected by all or any of these issues, you certainly know fellow Postmasters who have had their lives gravely impacted by one or more of the issues. That is why we are asking you, as concerned managers to take part in this great letter writing effort.

It is time to make big, positive changes for Postmasters and you can help make it happen! Imagine the impact on Congress if every Postmaster from California, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Florida, Maine and every other state wrote to Washington. That is a voice that can't be ignored. If you've been sitting on the fence grumbling about how bad things are for you and your fellow Postmasters, here is a chance for you to do something about it!

Letters to be written

Basically you will have two letters to craft; one to Postmaster General Potter and one to Congress.

Letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter. You need to send this letter directly to the Postmaster General. Attached to this email are two templates of letters that you can use to help create your own letter. You need to personalize this letter and not just send what is there for examples. Be respectful; remember, Mr. Potter is still the Postmaster General with huge challenges. Any letters that you write to Congress can be copied and included with your letter to the PMG. His address is:

Mr. Pat Donahoe

Postmaster General

US Postal Service RM 10022,

475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW

Washington DC 20260

Letter to Congress. You only have to craft one letter to Congress; however you should address it and send it to at least the two people listed below. On the LEAGUE website at:

www.postmasters.org

under the Legislation tab, you can see the letters that the National Board has sent

to the PMG and to Congress. There is also a sample letter there that you can use

as an example for your own letter. Again, personalize your letter. Your story, your

situation will mean much more than a form letter or card. Be relatively brief.

Don't appear to be whining and don't mention money. Address your letters to:

The Honorable Joseph I. Lieberman,Chairman

U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

706 Hart Senate Building

Washington D.C. 20510

And

The Honorable Edolphus Towns, Chairman

Oversight and Gov't Reform Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives

2232 Rayburn House Office Bldg

Washington DC 20515-3210

If you feel especially motivated, you can cc any or all of the committee members listed on the website. You should also strongly consider mailing a letter to your own congressman. His or her address can be found on the Legislative page under,

"Contact your Representative." In your letter to this person, you might list all of the Postmaster vacancies existing in her or his district.

This has to be a huge team effort. If you've never done anything before, now is the time to do it. Contact your fellow Postmasters and get them to right too! Some Branches have already started their efforts. Branch boards and Legislative Committees are already motivating their members to write. They're utilizing 3-digit meetings, their own broadcast emails, newsletters, websites and phone trees. Their spouses, many following the lead of Charlene Wendt our National Auxiliary President and her board, are writing their own letters as well. Our retirees have joined the cause, and our recent retirees have much to share about why they left the service when they did.

There is no such thing as writing too many letters. Every letter is very important, and we'll be using our own product; the U.S. Mail!

Respectfully,

Charley Mapa

Past President, National League of Postmasters

LEAGUE Members;

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend and that you are making plans for 2012. You never want to wish time away but repeating 2011 is not on my bucket list. We ended the year on a good note with a moratorium on post office closings and a unanimous decision from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on the RAOI (Post Office Closing Initiative) Advisory stating that it was an ill-advised plan. In fact, the Chairman stated that even though it was only an Advisory and not binding, the Postal Service could be breaking the law if they pursued this closing initiative.

Following the PRC's media release, a few from Congress weighed in on the results of the Advisory including Senator Collins from Maine. She mentioned that the PRC Advisory opinion confirmed what many from Congress have been saying all along regarding the closing of rural post offices. She went on to say that this is why legislation is needed and her bill addresses this issue.

On Friday www.savethepostoffice.com had a good article - RAOI Advisory Opinion: Transformative Moment or Bump in the Road. Click on this link to read the article http://www.savethepostoffice.com/raoi-advisory-opinion-transformative-moment-or-bump-road

What is clear is that we, and I do mean we, have started to get attention regarding small office closure when many thought it would never happen. What is also clear is we are at the crossroads of changing the direction the Postal Service is trying to go with rural Post Office closure. We can make the difference in the direction they take at this intersection. It is a voting year, and Congress will listen if our voice is loud enough, strong enough and makes good sense for America.

Forum could not have been scheduled at a better time. Congress is just coming back from their break, the iron is hot, and Postmasters have a place to gather. We have a lineup of excellent speakers. Joining us will be Gerald Connolly, the Congressman who sent a letter to the PRC advising them of the genuine concern there was with the Postal Service's plan to close 3600 offices. This letter, which Representative Connolly generated, had more than 80 fellow Congressmen's signatures on it. The Postmaster General also will address our general session. We will have the new PRC Commissioner, Robert Taub, who was part of the recent PRC Advisory. Prior to being appointed to the PRC Commissioner, Taub was Special Assistant to then Representative John McHugh, who was worked tirelessly for Post Office legislation and is a true friend of Postmasters. Inspector General David Williams, who just finished an audit on small office optimization, and Senator Bernard Sanders from Vermont, who was instrumental in working out the current moratorium on post office closure, will also be joining us at Forum.

Time is running out on getting your hotel reservation at the block price. Go to our website today, www.postmasters.org, reserve those rooms and complete your registration. Information, training, networking and a visit to the hill awaits you at the 42nd annual Forum in Washington DC January 29-31.

See you there!

National League of Postmasters Legislative White Paper

Forum 2010 Legislative Issues

Postmaster Hours and Post Office Management Practices.

January 28, 2010

As is well known, the Postal Service is facing difficult financial times. The economy has had a damaging effect on the Postal Service, and there will not be much relief until next year.

No one knows this better than America's Postmasters. Postmasters are on the front lines and see and feel the effects of the recession on operating budgets and employee complements more than anyone. Throughout this crisis, Postmasters have responded heroically to the challenge.

Shifting Hours. In FY 09, the Postal Service cut over a million work hours. While some of those hours are hours saved because mail volume is down, the vast majority of the time has not been driven out of the system, as claimed by the Postal Service. In fact, many of the so-called work hour savings are actually hours shifted to the backs of Postmasters who must not only perform their job, but also perform much of the job of clerks and carriers. Over the last several years, the Postal Service has failed, by design, to adequately staff post offices, or the Postal Service has deliberately failed to budget sufficient work hours to adequately operate a post office. The result has been that either the Postmasters took up the slack, or the system crumbled.

For example, instead of having five or six clerks or carriers work two to six additional hours per week, that 10 to 36 hours of work has been shifted from those clerks or carriers who get paid by the hour to the one person who does not get paid by the hourthe Postmaster. The result, as this example shows, are six (sometimes seven) day work weeks, that range from 50 hours to 76 hours per week for Postmasters. Critically, instead of being occasional occurrences, this practice has become standard operating procedure, month in and month out, throughout the country.

Additionally, in those offices that are supposed to have supervisors, the Postal Service initiated a freeze on the hiring of supervisors. In some cases, this left Postmasters little choice but to do two or more jobs where supervisor vacancies opened up or existed. In other cases, where extra hours by supervisors were needed, those extra hours were denied by upper level management, since supervisors are entitled to be paid for all hours worked. Again, the Postmaster had to make the time up, since the work did not disappear and service had to be maintained.

For the past 3 or 4 years, this has become an increasingly popular strategy in thePostal Service. During this same time period, the Postal Service also willfully shifted work from other employees to Postmasters. As the Postal Service eliminated or reduced different functional groups in districts, such as Finance, Human Resources, and Training and Development, Postmasters had to take up the slack as best they could, because there is no one else to do so. Although Postmasters are accustomed to regularly and routinely working extra hours each week, when needed, the situation has escalated to where it is not unusual for many Postmasters to work fifty, sixty or seventy hours a week, week after week, month after endless month.

This additional workload is taking a tremendous toll on many Postmasters. A recent League survey shows that 60% of FLSA Exempt Postmasters are working 50 or more hours a week. This same survey reports that 45% of Postmasters are working 2 or more weekends a month. These Postmasters are men and women trying to raise families and play active roles in their churches, schools, communities, and other local

organizations. Their overloaded workweek is negatively impacting their families, personal lives, and health. Ultimately it is affecting the postal service.

The survey reports that almost 73% of Postmasters state their health is directly suffering from their workload, including bouts of depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, ulcers and other problems.

Inefficient and Ineffective Post Office Management Practices by Upper Level Management.

In many districts the working climate for Postmasters is destructive. Every facet of a Postmaster's day and operation is micromanaged. Chasing numbers has cultivateda climate where verbal abuse and threats from senior managers are now in vogue. Not long ago, a high-ranking manager was quoted as saying "those non-performing supervisors should be taken out and executed." Management associations complained about this inappropriate comment. Our complaint was ignored; nothing was done.

Many Postmasters live in fear of their district leaders and are reluctant to speak up on important district issues. Often, small office Postmasters , who are entitled to overtime pay and not represented by unions, refuse to claim those overtime hours because of intimidation from senior managers who do not want overtime to appear on district reports. That is not only morally wrong, it is illegal. Postmasters are even being "disciplined" for the inadvertent errors of their employees. A Postmaster who employs one hundred mail carriers may be suspended if one of his carriers fails to scan even one collection box.

Another pressing issue is that Postmasters have been saddled with a pay for performance program that is largely ineffective. It is supposed to be a motivator; it is anything but. This is not a bonus program; it is the only avenue through which a Postmaster can get a raise. Last year, because of the manipulation of the program andrevenue goals being set artificially high, tens of thousands of hardworking Postmasters were termed "non-contributors" and received no raise while practically every other postal and federal employee received something. If management is going to be honest and respectful of its employees, it should say that there will be no increases, regardlessof pay for performance results, and not "fix" the system so that everyone fails. That is neither honest nor respectful.

Finally, the Postal Service has failed the American people, especially those in rural communities, by not filling Postmaster positions in smaller post offices. In many cases, these offices have been staffed by temporary personnel for more than two years.Sometimes a series of managers have been cycled through such post offices, placing the Post Offices generally under management that is neither as trained nor as experienced as the Postmaster, and generally does not know the community as well as the Postmaster. This deprives communities of the Postmasters they deserve, and the service and continuity a Postmaster would provide. This is costing the Postal Service millions of dollars in lost efficiency each year.

For over two hundred years the Postal Service has faithfully filled Postmaster positions in these offices, but now, in 2010, it is failing to do so. The dedicated employees managing these offices deserve better from the Postal Service as do the American people in the communities these post offices serve. This may not be a pretty picture, but it is an accurate one. Granted, the financial state of the Postal Service is not good. But that is because, as the Postal Service's Inspector General has pointed out, the Postal Service has overpaid $75 Billion into the Federal Treasury for the CSRS pension obligations. In any case, the state of the PostalService cannot be used as an excuse to treat people poorly. Postmasters are among the Postal Service's most loyal and dedicated employees. Over the years they have worked under adverse conditions with very little complaint. The National League of Postmasters has taken every issue recounted above to Postal Service Headquarters in efforts to get relief for, or resolution to them. The Postal Service has repeatedly refusedto even hear our voices.

Coming to Congress is not an easy move for Postmasters. That choice was not made lightly. But in view of the Postal Service's refusal to consider their issuesmuch less positively resolve themCongressional oversight must be exercised.

Congress should open an investigation into these issues and hold hearings. Ultimately Congress should instruct the Postal Service to cease shifting workload from supervisors, clerks, and carriers to Postmasters and get them to realize that such actions are not a long term solution to anything. In doing so, Congress should instruct the Postal Service to institute and follow standards for senior management interaction, cease frivolous disciplinary action, and put into place a reasonable and less complicated pay for performance system for Postmasters.

Finally, the Postal Service should immediately fill all Postmaster vacancies. The increase in efficiency will be notable.