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Let's Get Back to Work!

Let’s Get Back to Work!
By Chuck Mulidore
NAPS Executive Vice President

Wow! For the nearly 1,200 delegates who attended the 68th NAPS National Convention in New Orleans at the incredible Hyatt Regency Hotel, it truly was an amazing week. As your reelected executive vice president, I can only say I am humbled by the faith shown in me by our members. Thank you so much for the privilege of continuing to serve you at NAPS Headquarters. I will work hard to reward your confidence in me.

Kudos to Tomica Duplessis and the members of NAPS Branch 73 for their hard work in making this a memorable event. Their dedication, commitment and vision gave NAPS a convention that long will be remembered. Thank you, New Orleans!

One of the great things about a national convention is seeing so many friends and making new ones. Each convention is unique, yet some things never change! Those of us who are convention veterans always are happy to see first-timers. This year, over 200 members came to a NAPS national convention for the first time; that’s remarkable!

These first-timers got to see debates over many resolutions—some adopted, some not. But, regardless, NAPS members come together every two years to determine the future of the organization. That really is the true strength of NAPS—it is owned and operated by its members! And in true NAPS and “Big Easy” fashion, after the debates finally are settled and all the votes taken, we celebrate like no other group.

A special thank-you to the National Auxiliary and President Laurie Butts who provide so much help and support to NAPS. Without the assistance of our great Auxiliary, NAPS could not do what we do so well—represent our members!

Many thanks, as well, to the generosity of NAPS members at the convention who contributed over $41,000 to SPAC, the Supervisors’ Political Action Committee, to help support our legislative efforts on Capitol Hill. This is a huge year for NAPS as we endeavor to support those candidates in the midterm elections who support NAPS issues, as well as the Postal Service.

Now the work begins anew. Your resident officers team at NAPS Headquarters always will put your interests first because NAPS belongs to you—the members. And our job is to work for you! Every decision, first and foremost, must be about how it impacts our members—whether we are discussing an issue involving the NAPS budget, the lawsuit vs. the USPS or pay consultations with the Postal Service.

Let’s remember that NAPS was born on Sept. 7, 1908, when a group of 50 supervisors gathered in Louisville, KY, to unify around the goal of improving the pay and working conditions of all supervisors. That struggle continues to this very day, but we can take heart in the fact that our first president, L.E. Palmer of Pittsburgh, would be proud of the organization created that day in Louisville.

However, he probably would be dismayed to learn that many of the same struggles that brought folks together to create NAPS in the first place remain today. Our challenge is to continue the legacy begun in September 1908 to keep NAPS strong, viable and growing long into the future.

You’ve got our commitment; I know we have yours. Let’s get back to work!