North Central Area Training Seminar Was a Success!

North Central Area Training Seminar Was a Success!
By Dan Mooney
NAPS North Central Area Vice President

You may recall that, at the past national convention, Resolution #35 was approved. This resolution limited NAPS area vice presidents from using their training funds outside their representative area.

This resolution has restricted area vice presidents from pooling their training funds and having a popular regional training seminar. Well, I used that opportunity to host a North Central Area Training seminar open to all NAPS members across the country.

The training seminar was at the InterContinental Minneapolis on Nov. 7 and 8. The seminar attracted over 90 people from 16 states and over 30 branches, mainly from the Central Region, as well as Executive Board members Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore, Central Region Vice President Craig Johnson, Eastern Region Vice President Richard Green and Capitol-Atlantic Area Vice President Troy Griffin.

It was great to see many familiar faces along with a few new first-timer faces! The timing of the event was perfect — FY25 USPS fiscal results were finalized and a handful of vendors were there to showcase their 2026 PSHB programs with the new open season beginning two days after the event.

The first day, host Minnesota/North Dakota District Manager Angela Bye welcomed attendees and gave an update on the agency. Mike Calvey from Postal Service Headquarters gave a presentation on FY25 NPA results and answered questions.

Karla Kirby from USPS Headquarters gave a great presentation on the upcoming 2026 open season and the various options available for NAPS members. Her Q&A was very beneficial to those in attendance.

Next up was the local USPS Inspection Service whose representatives talked about the new digital collection box locks and security issues facing the USPS.

Mulidore discussed and explained the new pay package and provided the latest on the lawsuit and congressional news. He also provided a valuable Q&A period for members to interact.

All in all, a great first day was had. We retired to the top floor “altitude room” with 180-degree windows overlooking Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and downtown Minneapolis for a spectacular “meet and greet” for the evening. Members feasted on a full barbecue and pasta buffets.

Day two was a full day of more food with a hot breakfast, hot lunch and many breakouts. Special thanks to Past President Brian Wagner and Central Region Vice President Craig Johnson who were excellent presenters!

Wagner provided breakouts for “650 Basic Representation” and “650 Advanced Representation,” along with “Involuntary Reassignment” training. Johnson provided breakout sessions outlining branch officer “Roles and Responsibilities of the President and Vice President,” along with branch officer “Roles and Responsibilities of the Secretary and Treasurer.”

I provided PS Form 1723 training. You would be surprised how many do not know the requirements surrounding this form.

NAPS Executive Board members present along with Wagner gathered at the end for a panel discussion to answer questions from the attendees. I also would like to thank Auxiliary members Pat Crowe, Mary Caruso and Sherry Mattfield who worked throughout the two days providing registration, setting up the SPAC table and SPAC ticket sales support. Thanks to their support, along with the many in-kind gifts brought by members, we were able to raise thousands of dollars for SPAC.

It was a lot of work setting up the North Central Area Training Seminar, but, looking back, it was a prime opportunity to back-fill the void left by Resolution #35 — an opportunity I was proud to fulfill.

Stay on the high road; the view and the people are better!