Find Your Branch

Thank You

Thank You
By Jimmy Warden
NAPS Secretary/Treasurer

I must start by thanking New Orleans Branch 73 President Tomica Duplessis and her fellow members for the outstanding job they did in hosting our 68th National Convention in the great, historic city of New Orleans. They truly brought hometown hospitality to the convention for everyone to experience.

I know this convention will be talked about for many years to come. Thank you, Tomica and Branch 73! You truly made this an experience we never will forget.

Thank you to all the delegates who attended the convention. I am humbled, honored and privileged that you showed me your confidence, trust and faith by reelecting me NAPS secretary/treasurer. I meant what I said at the convention: This is a loan. You lent me your vote and I have two years to repay that loan. NAPS cannot be about any one person; it is about the members!

There are two people I want to acknowledge for thinking outside the box and doing something very special at our convention. Their hearts truly are in the right place; their actions touched the lives of many. First is Capitol-Atlantic Area Vice President Troy Griffin.

While Troy was visiting Bourbon Street, he saw a young girl playing drums on two plastic buckets. Her mom was standing next to her in hopes passersby would offer donations. Troy brought them and a younger brother to our convention and had her play her drums during his nomination speech.

She touched the hearts of all the delegates; donations were collected and given to the family. Thank you also to Branch 73 as they are working to help this single parent get hired by the Postal Service. It truly was a beautiful thing you did, Troy! God bless.

The second person I want to acknowledge is Bob Bradford, whom we all know as “Texas Bob.” He approached me on Thursday at the convention and said the backpacks I passed out as my campaign giveaway were very nice, but would I mind if some NAPS members donated their backpacks to a local school?

I immediately said, “By all means! That’s a great idea.” Bob made an announcement asking anyone who would like to donate their backpack to bring them to the front of the room and Branch 73 would deliver them to a local school.

Many delegates donated their backpacks. Thank you! And thank you to my campaign chairs Tom Hughes and Tu Tu who donated a case of backpacks. Troy and Bob, your actions helped many who are not as fortunate as we are. Thank you, my brothers! For me, these moments were a highlight of the convention.

Last, but not least, I want to thank our convention planner Sheri Davies, editor Karen Young, photographers Dave Scavone and Bob Stevens, as well as the NAPS Headquarters staff and everyone who volunteered and served on a committee. They were the be-hind-the-scenes folks who also helped made our convention so successful. Committee members: You greatly helped give our association direction moving forward into the future.

One year ago when I first was elected NAPS secretary/treasurer, I ended my first column with “Moving forward—never forget!” I still believe this. We must never forget what we have experienced, but we must never be stagnant in representing the members of the National Association of Postal Supervisors.

You have reelected the team of Butts, Mulidore and Warden—BMW. Your team is committed to doing just that!

Moving forward—never forget!