Mad About Membership

Mad About Membership
By Brian J. Wagner
Past NAPS President

As I have said many times at meetings and in past columns in The Postal Supervisor magazine, membership is the lifeblood of the NAPS organization. At the time of this writing, NAPS has over 20,000 potential new members. Unfortunately, sometimes recruiting new members is not as easy a task as we would like it to be. However, it doesn’t have to be if you are prepared. Here’s the scoop.

I recently did a follow-up call to a potential new NAPS member (recently promoted supervisor from the craft), asking if they had any questions about the Why Join NAPS brochure and the Don’t Go It Alone one-page insert I included with my recruitment letter.

This potential member was just as interested in what else NAPS had to offer, besides representing them in postal pay and benefits at the national level and locally during investigative interviews or OIG investigations.

I shared that, as a dues-paying member, the benefits of NAPS membership are tangible, but also intrinsic. I consider all NAPS benefits to be priceless. Over the phone, I reiterated the same benefits listed in my recruitment packet, but shared additional benefits, as well.

In the short time I had to talk, I took a couple of quick sips of my Kona coffee and shared the following NAPS benefits:

  • Monthly representation at the USPS/NAPS consultative meetings where NAPS addresses member workplace issues and other matters impacting EAS jobs and careers.
  • NAPS is heavily involved in pay consultations with the USPS, always seeking better pay and benefits for its members.
  • A monthly subscription to The Postal Supervisor.
  • A network of 270 local and state NAPS branches with whom to network. A network of approximately 29,000-plus NAPS members to call on for guidance and assistance to move up in your EAS postal career.
  • A team of national, state and local officers and advocates to call on for guidance, counsel, representation and to know your EAS rights.
  • Access to the “Members Only” section of the NAPS website filled with USPS policy letters that reflect the rights of EAS employees.
  • A legislative network with funding from NAPS’ Supervisors’ Political Action Committee (SPAC) used to influence congressional leaders to pass legislation that will provide a better workplace, postal pay and retirement benefits for all EAS employees.
  • A Disciplinary Defense Fund (DDF) that is second to none and free with membership if ever an EAS employee is subject to an adverse action or debt collection.
  • Many opportunities to attend branch meetings, training conferences and state and national conventions to learn more about NAPS, how to get more involved and to further under- stand your rights as an EAS employee.
  • NAPS scholarships for members’ children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  • Very reasonable membership dues for all the tangible and intrinsic benefits that come with NAPS membership.

Some nonmembers may be non-committal at first in joining NAPS because they are unaware of the benefits and value of membership. I encourage all NAPS members to use this information and tips, along with the ones I have shared in past columns, to enthusiastically promote and be “mad about membership,” with the goal to sponsor at least one new member in 2025.

Today’s takeaway: Benefits of NAPS membership are realistic, tangible and intrinsic in value. With all that NAPS has offer, it would not be unrealistic or maddening to think NAPS’ nonmember list would someday become nonexistent.

However, it would be maddening and unrealistic for me not to provide you with my ice-cream-flavor-of-the-month recommendation: Hawaiian Mud Pie.