Executive Board Chair Chuck Lum called the Aug. 10 Executive Board meeting at the 2024 National Convention to order at 8:36 a.m. Vice President Chuck Mulidore gave the invocation; President Ivan D. Butts led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Western Region Vice President Marilyn Walton and Rocky Mountain Area Myrna Pashinski were appointed sergeants-at-arms. Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Warden conducted the roll call; all board members were present.
Butts welcomed board members and said he was looking forward to a productive meeting. Mulidore said he was anticipating an interesting week and fruitful convention, as well as healthy contributions for SPAC.
Warden said he, too, looked forward to a productive board meeting and national convention and addressing future budgets. He noted the board has important business to consider in order to positively move the association forward.
Lum noted that, since the previous board meeting, he has been attending the consultative meetings and meetings in the Pacific Area concentrating on coaching and mentoring. He has focused on engaging the team and ensuring the correct business is being performed.
Lum has been receiving calls regarding challenges throughout the country, including TACS performed by supervisors and supervisors being told not to put in for T-Time. The selection process seems to be a major issue regarding promotions; they appear not to be based on merit.
Also raised were poor craft staffing at delivery units, a lack of integrity in reporting and a lack of training. Lum said he wants to identify these issues and possibly develop a strategy to further mentor and support members in the field.
Fellow board members mentioned other issues, such as a lack of dignity and respect on Zoom meetings, which appear to be occurring more often. It’s also occurring on group texts where individuals are being demeaned. In one area, the carrier union is telling the members to walk slowly while delivering mail.
There also is a lack of response from the areas on issues. S&DCs management issues are chaotic; there is no structure. Board members asked what the structure is for oversight (supervision) and complement of S&DCs.
NAPS Parliamentarian Bruce Bishop addressed the board; this is his fifth NAPS convention. He reviewed parliamentary procedure and said the convention would follow “Robert’s Rules of Order.”
Bishop explained the purpose of a “point of personal privilege.” He noted the procedure is used extremely often, but not correctly. He said if any board members had questions, they should feel free to approach him.
NAPS Legal Counsel Bruce Moyer and Attorney Andrew Freeman for the NAPS v. USPS lawsuit gave the board an update in executive session.
NAPS Disciplinary Defense Fund (DDF) Provider Al Lum met with the board. He said the DDF currently has six contractors—four attorneys and two former postal employees, one of whom is a retired Labor Relations manager and the other a former Humans Resources manager.
NAPS is handling 19 cases involving postmasters, which says a great deal about NAPS’ DDF. Credit card cases have decreased since March 2024, which Lum credits to postal symposiums not being held. He noted the Inspection Service is especially involved in reviewing credit card usage.
Lum informed the board the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has put out a new filing system. In July, the Judicial Office, where debt collections are heard, also put out a new system. Currently there are issues with the new systems, including cases not being listed in chronological order.
NAPS advocates have been given the option to email cases and documentation to him. He stressed not to take photos of paperwork unless they are converted into a legible PDF file; also, do not take photos of documents.
Questions and clarifications were asked regarding dual cases, referred to as mixed cases (MSPB and EEO). NAPS does not handle mixed cases. Lum said debt collection employees can be held accountable; one cannot hold an employee accountable for settling grievances. There is no statute or policy pertaining to this.
2024 cases:
MSPB, 75—70%; DCA, 24 22%; and ELM 650, 8—8%.
DDF, 107—63 closed, 44 pending. Average cost per case—$2,981.02. Total FY24 costs—$155,013.
FY23 DDF, 76—69 closed, 7 pending. Average cost per case—$2,579.88. TotalFY23 costs—$185,751.50.
2024 MSPB, 75 cases—3 lost, 3 4%; 5 won, 7%; 32 pending, 43%; 4 withdrawn, 4 5%; 31 settled, 41%.
2024 DCA, 24 cases—12 won, 50%; 3 settled, 12%; 9 pending, 38%.
2024 ELM 650, 8 cases—2 settled, 25%; 3 pending, 38%; 3 lost, 37%.
Lum reported that the major charges are performance (35 cases), finance (29 cases) and attendance (12 cases). The top four NAPS areas having cases filed are New York (15), Texas (14), Capitol-Atlantic (13) and Pacific (11). The area with the least number of cases is the North Central Area (1).
Central Region Vice President Craig Johnson made a motion, seconded by Southeast Area Vice President Bobby Bock, to accept as written the spring 2024 Executive Board Meeting minutes as previously sent to the board, published in The Postal Supervisor and placed on the NAPS website. The motion passed.
Mulidore and NAPS Director of Legislative & Political Affairs Bob Levi provided a SPAC/legislative update. They noted the NAPS legislative agenda basically is the same for LTS as the 118th Congress still is in session:
Mulidore told the board he continually is asked why NAPS puts so much emphasis on the postal police bill. “We made it a special issue as crime is up,” he explained. “It’s an anti-crime issue that will not cost the government any money.” Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) has said he can’t push the bill any further as it has to go through the Judiciary Committee. He recommended trying to push the Senate version, S. 3356, saying he possibly could place H.R. 3005 on another bill as a rider.
The pre-convention Midsummer Night’s gift raffle raised $5,890 for SPAC, which includes in-kind contributions. SPAC contributions for the first six months of 2024 totaled just over $14,000. Mulidore said he expects to have great SPAC results during the convention.
The August consultative meeting with the Postal Service was held with Bruce Nicholson, James Timmons and Paulita Wimbush, USPS Office of Policies & Programs. The responses will be published in The Postal Supervisor when available.
Warden gave his report on NAPS investments, assets and balance sheet:
As of June 30, 2024, NAPS Property Inc. (NPI) had $81,684 in cash on the balance sheet. There was $38,003 in outstanding liabilities (security deposits, prepaid rents and accrued expenses), leaving $43,681 unencumbered.
LocalWorks, currently occupying Suite 305 (7,250 square feet), expanded as of March 1 into Suite 105, which is an additional 6,090 square feet. Like the agreement for Suite 305, the expansion also is a license agreement with profit-sharing. It is assumed to be low risk, but also has no defined income model.
In FY24 (June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024), profit-sharing with NPI totaled $55,490, which averages $4,624/month. The first payment was $1,987 and gradually increased each month, until it peaked in March at $6,287; payments dropped slightly in April, $6,070, and May, $5,561.
The current cash projections assume continued vacancies on the 2nd floor, as well as suite 350. NAPS currently has not contracted with a broker to lease out the vacancies. The overall pace of leasing activity remains slow.
The cash forecast for the fiscal year assumes contributions of $32,500/month from the landlord to cover the building operating expenses; however, to the extent vacancies are leased out and/or LocalWorks becomes more profitable, these contributions may decrease.
Results for NAPS web and social media were reported:
As of July 25, there were 4,311 followers on Facebook (up from 4,035 in October 2023, 6.40%). Posts continue to garner an average of approximately 300-1,000 views; the most engaging posts get about 1,000-4,000 views organically. The competition for organic views on Facebook’s timeline remains intense. Every year, NAPS’ page competes with many organizations, individuals and pages to appear on people’s timelines while scrolling through the platform. To expand reach, boosting posts can be an affordable option. It is a cost-effective approach that can increase the number of people who see an organization’s posts. Most of NAPS’ web traffic from social media continues to come from Facebook (90%+); it’s still very important to be on the other platforms for visibility (Instagram and LinkedIn). LinkedIn, especially, is growing at a rapid rate organically (without paid ads).
NAPS website traffic—number of users—for January-June 2024 SPLY was relatively flat; the number of overall page views increased 7.5%.
Email remains a significant factor in boosting website traffic and readership. The news pages and magazine articles regularly published online and distributed through email also are among the most popular pages.
Reposting printed Postal Supervisor articles on the website is crucial because it offers current and potential association members an additional means of accessing information. Furthermore, it provides the website with consistent and fresh content, which is essential for Google and search purposes.
Recommendations for online content include creating an ongoing content plan for publishing more original news and other types of original content/messaging on the website that would speak directly to members and prospective members. It is recommended to develop a yearly plan that is broken down quarterly.
While the magazine articles are popular, it is worth asking if there is other information NAPS would want available to its audience in other/newer formats. This approach could help expand messaging, increase website traffic and further attract potential members. Additionally, digital communication easily can be tracked.
Regarding membership, as of the June 2024 DCO (reflecting DCO membership through PPs 12 and 13), NAPS had 28,382 members (26,947 active and 1,435 associate; 95% and 5%, respectively). Total membership from a year ago (PPs 12 and 13 2023), was 26,510 (25,054 active and 1,456 associate); an overall total increase over SPLY of 1,872 members, or 7%.
As of the June 2024 DCO, the total number of active nonmembers was 20,595. This number is based on the USPS payroll files of nonmember EAS employees, which now includes postmasters. Based on current membership totals, there are approximately 44% nonmembers.
NAPS continues to encourage membership growth by providing new-member sponsors a $25 NAPS check and offering the “High-Five Club,” where a member could receive an additional $25 check.
Local and state branches continue to receive their NAPS Non-Member and Change Summary reports, along with their DCO and Mail Address reports monthly. NAPS also encourages review of the bi-weekly EAS Promotion Report and monthly Postmaster Promotion Report. NAPS asks it members to contact any individual listed as a nonmember and inform them of the benefits of joining NAPS.
Per a board motion regarding expiring contracts, there will two contracts expiring before the end of 2024: Labor Relations Administration Group, expiring Dec. 31, 2024; and Bruce Moyer, expiring Oct. 31, 2024. New contracts will be presented at the 2024 fall board meeting. One current contract to discuss concerns ConferenceDirect to manage the 2026 NAPS National Convention.
The following motions and recommendations were submitted by the board:
Motion—Submitted by Bobby Bock, seconded by Craig Johnson, that:
“NAPS accepts the contract with ConferenceDirect to manage the 70th National Convention in 2026.”
Voting “yes” were Butts, Mulidore, Warden, Roma, R. Green, Johnson, Elizondo, Walton, Austin, Perez, Dallojacono, Laster, Trayer, Moreno, Mooney, McCartney, Bock, Studdard, S. Green, Davis, Valuet and Pashinski. Voting “no” was Griffin.
The motion passed, 22-1.
Recommendation—submitted by Craig Johnson, seconded by Kevin Trayer, that:
As a point of personal privilege, Pioneer Area Vice President Ed Laster Sr. thanked everyone for their prayers and messages while he was dealing with medical issues.
Under new business, Northeast Region Vice President Tommy Roma reported on an issue with the newly revised SWCs: The Postal Service has changed the verbiage, which, he said, has negatively changed the process. Roma will be having a Zoom meeting with Postal Headquarters on this.
Bock requested that, for future fall board meetings, Executive Board members arrive Saturday and leave Wednesday instead of arriving Sunday and leaving Thursday. This would allow those still working to save a day of annual leave.
The dates of the 2024 fall board meeting are Oct. 20-24. Board training will be scheduled, if needed.
For the good of the association, Butts thanked everyone for getting the business of the association done. He also ensured the board they would be doing the work of the association and said he is looking toward a productive national convention. A number of presentations will be held during the convention, he said, so be ready.
Lum led the closing prayer and adjourned the meeting at 4:37 p.m.
Categories: The Postal Supervisor
