(Sept/Oct 2008)
What Has NAPUS Done for Me?
It's the question that separates.
Sometimes meant more as a statement than a question, it divides the active
from the not-so-active members of our Postmasters' organization. It seeks
to justify a lack of involvement for some, a claim of dissatisfaction for
others. A core group of members who have done so much on behalf of those
who are too busy or disinterested to lend a hand have traditionally spent
a great deal of time and energy explaining themselves on this question I
do not intend to excuse or explain anything here, except to say that the
facts speak for themselves. Battling against the rising tide, NAPUS has been
working very hard to maintain and improve our quality of work life NAPUS has
always been - and remains - far and away the best thing Postmasters have going
for them, especially during these unprecedented times of unrealistic expectations,
unfair treatment, and (for many) unbearable stress. I challenge every member
of NAPUS, as well as Postmasters, OICs and others who are not yet members of
NAPUS, to help me prepare an answer to the above question for those who will
ask it in the future.
What has NAPUS done for you? NAPUS
has called you to action.
None among us can deny that the job we signed up
for and swore to perform to the best of our abilities has been
redefined for us before our eyes. Would we have in fact taken
this job, had we known then what we know now? Do our hopes and
expectations for the future resemble those we held earlier on
in our careers? Or are we now scaling back our aspirations, hunkering
down to weather the relentless storm of constant crisis, operating
daily in survival mode, simply trying to hold on for one more
day? If your answer to any part of that last question is yes,
or you know someone for whom it is, then you and I have work
to do. We cannot allow this government service agency to which
we've devoted our working lives to throw us and our fellow front
line managers under the bus. What has NAPUS done for you and
me? NAPUS has called us to action. And NAPUS will have done us
a huge favor if we will only answer that call. We are our own
best hope.
We must stand up together now and demand fairness How exactly do we do that?
We show the people we work for that we are not only devoted to getting the
job done for our customers, but that we are steadfastly devoted to one another
and our shared interests. We send clear messages, starting with a physical
demonstration of our commitment.
1. Plan now to attend the following three meetings. First,
an informal get-together with your fellow Postmasters, OICs
and PMRs from your county for supper one night
this fall. The topics of discussion will include, among other
things, our upcoming spring conferences, during
which we will bring together people from neighboring NC NAPUS
districts, building strength by increased participation, and
turning commonly held concerns into momentum. Finally, we will
command the attention of upper postal management with a record
turnout at our action-packed NC NAPUS state convention in
Atlantic Beach in June
.
2. Complete a confidential survey. How better
to demonstrate our views and concerns than through data generated
by a simple and straightforward survey of Postmasters and OICs?
I plan to post on our website very soon a confidential survey
to be printed out, filled in and mailed to NC NAPUS. With real
data based on the actual responses of Postmasters to key questions,
we'll have a baseline from which to move forward in our relationship
with District and Area management.
3. Say or do something to help. Let your voice
be heard. Show your concern by doing something to help others
cope. Write down some notes on what you are going through,
how you're feeling. Consider sharing your thoughts with others
through our NC NAPUS website or as a letter to the editor of
the Tar Heel Postmaster. At the very least, call a neighboring
post office. Talk to your counterpart there about how things
are going.
Help each other.
Then, make plans with that neighbor to share the good feelings you both get
from that experience with a larger group of your fellow Postmasters and OICs
at supper (see #1 above). And don't stop there. Call your
NC NAPUS county chairperson, District Director, or other officials and volunteer
to help in some way. There's so much to do - and we need you. The next time
someone asks what NAPUS has done for them; I'm going to forego the usual laundry
list of hard work and changes we as a group have brought about for our membership.
I'm going to say instead that we're all in this together, and therefore the
best thing NAPUS can do for us is to convince everyone to help out by joining
in. NAPUS is calling us to action. Shall we deny the efforts of our organization,
question its value to all of us, or will we answer the call of our fellow Postmasters
when they need us most?
Drew
(Vice President)
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NCNAPUS strives to serve
its members with due diligence in the course of chapter
goals. To this end, a number of activities, events and
a publication assist members in their personal pursuits:
• a bimonthly newsletter, the Tar Heel Postmaster is published,
• a website is maintained and updated,
• NCNAPUS district meetings are held to assist Postmasters,
• two Learning Conferences are scheduled each year,
• an annual State Convention is held,
• the Leadership Conference is held annually,
• the Southern Officers Conference is held annually-all members are encouraged
to attend,
• a National Convention is held annually
• Postmaster Representation is provided to all members .
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