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Spring Forward

Spring Forward
By Brian J. Wagner
NAPS President

NAPS completed another successful Legislative Training Seminar (LTS), where our 2019 legislative message was “Pushing Forward.” I want to thank everyone who attended LTS to push our NAPS legislative agenda, especially our Legislative Team—Executive Vice President Ivan D. Butts, Legal and Legislative Counsel Bruce Moyer and Director of Legislative & Political Affairs Bob Levi—for an outstanding job. I encourage members to keep the momentum going and spring forward into action for the rest of the year. Here’s the scoop!

When you think spring forward, it may remind you of daylight saving time and the associated loss of an hour’s sleep in the spring. However, spring forward is a wakeup call to NAPS members to be active participants for the rest of 2019. You can spring forward in many ways. First, make donations to our Supervisors’ Political Action Committee (SPAC). You can do this as a continuous contributor or with a one-time donation. Whatever action you take, you are pushing our legislative agenda forward.

Second, our NAPS state convention season has begun to bloom this spring. Get involved by attending. State conventions provide opportunities for members to actively enrich the value of NAPS and the livelihoods of its members. Besides making their voices heard on the convention floor, members also can volunteer to be on state convention committees. It’s at state conventions where members gain additional experience, which can lead to an appointment to a future NAPS national convention committee.

Third, attend NAPS training. At some state conventions, training is provided. Topics may include leadership, advocacy, retirement, postal career development or the duties and responsibilities of a branch officer, to name just a few. It’s this double dose of both state convention attendance and training opportunities that just may spring you forward into a local, state or national leadership role as a NAPS officer. Even if a state
convention is not offering official training, there are separate regional and area training seminars scheduled in 2019.

Fourth, the saying goes, “Charity starts at home.” Therefore, be charitable with your time and get involved with your local NAPS branch. Attend meetings, volunteer for a committee or organize a branch activity. I encourage you to spring into action with your home NAPS branch.

Fifth, stay informed. Read The Postal Supervisor and visit the NAPS website at www.naps.org. Such communications will provide you with valuable information related to SPAC, state conventions, NAPS training, member benefits, Executive Board and consultative minutes, not to mention articles from national officers and members. If your branch has its own NAPS newsletter, read it, too.

The push forward started with LTS. Let that momentum put a spring in your step forward to participate in additional NAPS activities. It’s time to spring on everyone my April ice cream flavor-of-the-month recommendation: dark chocolate brownie.