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Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!
By Jimmy Warden
NAPS Secretary/Treasurer

Happy anniversary to two key requests made by members and implemented. In the April 2023 issue of The Postal Supervisor, we announced two changes to our membership recruiting program. The first, which long was asked for, was eliminating the need to enter a new member’s full Social Security number on Form 1187.

Because identity theft always is a concern, many potential members did not want to list their full Social Security number and, as a result, did not join NAPS. Effective April 2023, we require only the last four digits of a person’s Social Security number.

Also announced one year ago in the April 2023 issue was the new QR code that can be used to join NAPS. Anyone who wishes to join NAPS need only to scan the code and it will open an online Form 1187. A new member simply needs to fill in the information (including sponsor information if they have one), then hit submit.

The form will be sent directly to NAPS Headquarters via email. And a copy will be sent to the new member at the email address they listed on the form. It’s that easy!

This process also gives NAPS Headquarters a good, clear copy of the 1187. HRSSC only can accept a good, clear copy. If not submitting an 1187 by using the QR code, but, instead, scanning a copy and emailing to JOIN@naps.org, please ensure you are scanning a clear, legible original. Do not scan copies as they lose their clarity.

Definitely do not take a photo of an 1187 and submit it; the form will be rejected. Of course, you always can mail the original copy to NAPS Headquarters. The branch should keep a copy and send us the original.

Often, a branch keeps the original and sends us a faded copy. It will not be accepted! I know I sound repetitious, as I spoke of this in previous columns, but it still is occurring.

I want to congratulate all the NAPS membership recruiters. The January DCO increased by 188 members. That is incredible! The January DCO usually drops in membership numbers as many retire at the end of December or in early January. To have a 188-member increase is amazing! The January DCO stands at 26,034 active members and 1,454 associate members, for a total membership of 27,488.

One concern that comes up this time of the year is new associate members. For a retiree to remain a NAPS member once they retire from the Postal Service, they must submit Form 1187-A. A member who retires is not automatically rolled over to associate status; Form 1187-A must be submitted.

If the form is submitted to the branch, the branch must submit the form to NAPS Headquarters. If not, the retiree will not be an associate member. Every year, we receive registrations for LTS and every other year for the national convention. When membership is verified, we always receive registration for nonmembers.

This also occurs when some members send in requests to serve on a convention committee. When membership is verified, our records indicate they are not a member. In most cases, the individual has completed an 1187-A and submitted it to the branch, but the branch did not submit the form to NAPS Headquarters.

This very easily can be verified by the branch as all associate members appear on your DCO. All branches need to verify their DCO associate members. We have had many situations where branch officers, including the president, failed to submit an 1187-A.

Remember, dues for associate members are collected by NAPS Headquarters with each DCO. The associate member should pay dues directly to the branch, which usually collects dues on a yearly basis.

I always end my column with, “Increasing membership demonstrates leadership.” All of our membership recruiters have proven this. Thank you for all you do.

Stay safe!