Newsletter October 2005

A Note from the Branch President

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
At the October general monthly meeting the Branch will hold nominations for Shop Stewards, Branch Officers and Convention Delegates. If you are interested in running for any position, now is the time to throw your hat into the ring. If there are any contested positions, an election will follow to determine the winners for the 2006 term. In addition, I will be appointing an Election Committee to oversee the election. If you are interested and not running for a contested position, please attend the next meeting and volunteer when called upon.
I have been in contact with the representatives of the United Concordia Dental Plan trying to find a solution to the enrollment numbers. We are trying to get clearance from the Plan Administrator to allow us to roll out the Plan without getting the required prior enrollment quotas. Our hope is that when crunch time comes maybe we will get enough members to make the Plan float. I will keep you updated on any developments.
Steve Lipski 

Next Meeting October 19

The next regular monthly meeting of the Branch will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 8 PM, at the American Legion Hall, 502 Colonial Ave., North Woodbury. The regular monthly meetings of the Branch are held on the third Wednesday of each month, 8 pm, except during the months of July and August. 

Branch Officer & Shop Stewards Meetings Wednesday, October 12

The Branch Board of Officers and Executive Board meetings are Held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. The Board of Officers at 7:30 p.m., and the Executive Board at 8 p.m. The next meeting of the Board of Officers and Executive Board will be on Wednesday, October 12, 7:30 and 8 p.m. respectively. 

Attendance Prize Now At $25

Val Apartin, a Branch member working out of the Marlton office, was the winner of the $100 attendance prize drawn at the September 21 regular monthly meeting. The prize now stands at $25 and will accumulate at $25 per meeting up to a maximum of $250 until a Branch member’s name is called who is in attendance at a regular meeting of the Branch.

NALC Health Benefit Plan Rates For 2006

Welcome New Branch Members

Notice of Nominations and Election of Branch Officers, Shop Stewards and Convention Delegates – Wednesday, October 19

This is to provide official notice that nominations for the election of Branch Officers, Shop Stewards and Convention Delegates for the term 2006 thru 2007 shall take place at the regular monthly meeting of the Branch on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 9 pm.
Elections shall be by secret mail ballot of the eligible Branch membership held as soon as possible after nominations at the October regular monthly meeting. Nominations shall be made from the meeting room floor or in writing to the Branch Recording Secretary, mailed or presented to him/her prior to or at the October 19 regular Branch meeting. Each eligible member of the Branch nominated for office shall accept or reject nominations in person or in writing prior to the adjournment of the October 19 regular monthly Branch meeting. Failure to accept nomination for Branch office prior to adjournment of the October 19 regular Branch meeting will invalidate the nomination. Shop Stewards shall be nominated by an eligible Branch member from the office at which the nominee is employed to represent the Branch membership. Installation of Branch Officers, Shop Stewards and Convention Delegates shall take place at the regular monthly meeting of the Branch in January. Offices up for election include that of the Branch President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Assistant Recording Secretary, Trustees’ Chairman, (4) Trustees, Health Benefits Representative, Housing Chairperson, Sgt. at Arms, (38) Shop Stewards and approximately (36) Convention Delegates. The number of Convention Delegates to be compensated for their attendance at a State or National Convention, provided they meet the eligibility requirements for such compensation, shall not exceed three (3) percent of the total Branch membership. 

Mailing And Return Of Branch Election Ballots

Branch election ballots will be prepared and mailed out by the Branch Election Committee on Wednesday, November 2 for completion and return to the Election Committee by Wednesday, December 14. The results of the election will be announced by the Election Committee at the regular monthly meeting of the Branch on Wednesday, December 21. 

Dates to Remember

Postal Reform

“Letter carriers want Postal Reform, but we wont accept reform designed to reduce pay and benefits of postal employees or to undermine our collective bargaining rights”: Bill Young, NALC President. 

OWCP Officer

Branch Expense Report for June – August

Dispute Resolution Settlements – Riverton

Grievant to be paid thirteen (13) hours straight pay. Management will cease and desist further action. (COIN 4C-C 04184511)
Grievant will be paid forty (40) hours straight pay. Management will cease and desist further action. (COIN 4C-C 04184513) 

NALC Years of Service Lapel Pins Received

Norm Spence, Branch Membership Chairman, has announced the receipt of and will present NALC Years of Service Lapel Pins to the following members of the Branch at the October 19 regular monthly meeting . Congratulations, Frank, Ken, Tom and Bill:

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

EAP is a 24-hour, 7-day a week free help line. It is there for all postal employees. EAP can help you with any number of issues, and the help line is not just for job-related matters. EAP covers family, health or workplace issues, etc. The list is endless. The help line is 1-800-EAP-4-You, or you can log on by way of the internet at www.EAP4You.com. EAP is there to help, and it is completely confidential. Branch 908 EAP Representative is Paul Poniatowski, and he can be reached at: 1-609-941-1982. 

Branch Appointments

Due to the resignation of the following Branch Officers and Shop Stewards President Lipski has announced the appointment of the following:
Paul Poniatowski – has been appointed to the positions of Shop Steward, Runnemede, Branch Trustee and EAP Representative due to the resignation of Fred Mendel, Shop Steward Runnemede, and Mike McKiernan, Branch Trustee.
April Gibbons – Has been appointed Shop Steward at Marlton due to the resignation of Mary Hackett. 

Thank You Branch 908

“Thank you Branch 908 for the donation you made to the Postal Employees Relief Fund in memory of my mother.” (The Connelly family).
“Thank you for your recent donation made in the memory of Leon Wolbert. Your gift makes it possible for us to continue to provide hospice care to anyone, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.” (South Jersey Healthcare Hospice) 

Branch Benefits

2010 NALC National Convention

The NALC Executive Committee has announced that the 2010 National Convention will be held in Anaheim, CA, not far from Disneyland.
The 2006 convention is being held in Las Vegas, and the 2008 convention will be held in Boston.