2020 LTS—Engaged Minds
BY Ivan D. Butts
NAPS Executive Vice President
I have only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it.
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.
But it’s up to me
to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it.
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
but eternity is in it.
I learned of this poem, “God’s Minute,” from the late Rep. Elijah Cummings. The author is anonymous, but it often was recited by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, a Baptist minister who is credited with laying the intellectual foundations of the Civil Rights Movement.
The poem continues to inspire me to serve to the best of my ability. As we head into the final weeks before our 2020 Legislative Training Seminar (LTS), I would like to make a plea for your support and participation. Unlike any other LTS, we are endeavoring to enter uncharted waters about which we often speak, but rarely toward which we venture.
We will continue to thank and urge our legislative leaders to support the many resolutions and bills that would help improve the working conditions of NAPS members:
Your NAPS Legislative Team will offer our internal ratings of these various resolutions and bills to ensure we take the most critical issues affecting EAS employees to the Hill next month.
We also have been working with some of our legislative champions to introduce legislation that—finally—would address the deficiencies identified in Section 1004 of Title 39—the section of postal law that specifies how the EAS consultative process is conducted. It has been a tremendous honor for me to sit with legislators and finally talk about tangible ways to fix this 40-plus-year-old legislation. We hope to have legislation on this issue to take to the Hill during LTS.
Another issue still being developed concerns what NAPS believes is the National Labor Relations Board’s due diligence to give NAPS due process in NLRB decisions that impact the Postal Service’s EAS employees. It is the responsibility of USPS leaders to make these necessary objections, but they have failed to do so.
There is much work to do; we need your help to do it. There still is time, so register and plan to be with us as we go to the Hill during LTS 2020.
I leave you with these words from Israelmore Ayivor, an inspirational writer and speaker. I hope you are encouraged to continue with firm resolve to run this race to the finish:
“Don’t just exist; do something meaningful with your life. Discover a problem and fix it.
“Don’t just fit in; make it a point to brighten your corner. Decide to resolve your challenges.
“Don’t just manage; go the extra mile and win your race. Never give up the fight. You will win.
“Don’t just be able; always make sure you are available. Be present to make a change.
“Don’t just be alive; once you have arrived, find the reason why and make that reason accomplished.
“Don’t just wish; be passionate about what you wish to see happen. Rise up and make it happen.
“Don’t just create; create to change; change to improve; improve to increase. Aspire to inspire.
“Don’t just be making a living; make a life and leave an indelible footstep wherever you step.
“I want to meet you and many others on the top. Don’t be left out!”
In solidarity …
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