ohio rural letter carrier ohio rural letter carrier may 2013.pdf · 2013-12-20 · the ohio rural...
TRANSCRIPT
IT’S SPRING! Time to come out of hiberna-
tion and take advantage of all the things com-
ing our way with the OHRLCA. Our spring
District meetings are underway and I hope
each of you is taking personal responsibility
to attend your meeting as this is where your
district leadership is determined as well as
the delegates nominated and approved for the
State Convention. It is a great time to dis-
cuss possible changes – (resolutions and con-
stitutional) that are needed and to act on them
as a district. The stewards and board mem-
bers will be there to share new pertinent in-
formation with you. Please take the time to
attend!
As was debuted in the last issue of this paper,
there will be a RETIREMENT SEMINAR held on Sunday, April
28, 2013 at the Newark Metropolitan Hotel with a morning session
for CSRS employees and an afternoon session for FERS employ-
ees. We have had a great response from the information in the last
issue of the paper but there is still room and spouses are welcome.
The speaker for the day is Joni Montroy of Key Retirement Solu-
tions who served as a USPS Human Resource Specialist. She is
endorsed by the NRLCA and gave the retirement presentations at
the 2012 NRLCA Convention in Buffalo, NY. If you are inter-
ested – please don’t wait, send your registration to Tom Gamble
NOW!
Mark your calendars right now for the 2013 OHRLCA
State Convention – JULY 14-16, 2013 at the Westlake Holiday
Inn. The January board meeting was held at the facility and it is
impressive. There is plenty of space for our meetings and we are
ready to “Rock ‘N Roll’. NRLCA President, Jeanette Dwyer, will
be our guest from the national office. Guest rooms are available
for $82.00 per night which includes two complimentary breakfast
buffets. The theme for the banquet on Monday evening is “Rock
‘n Roll”. We are asking the districts to again furnish a basket to be
raffled at the banquet with the proceeds going to PAC. Also, bring
your new or gently used items to be auctioned off for PAC. Our
business sessions will be full with action on proposed resolutions
and constitutional changes, the announcement of delegates se-
lected for the National Convention, and the election of Executive
Board members for the next year, etc. Of course there will be time
to catch up with old friends and to make new ones as well. This is
your association…..make plans now to attend and let your voice be
heard.
Are YOU an e-activist? Are you not sure what an e-
activist is? Here’s an explanation: As a member of the NRLCA,
each person is invited to regularly visit the NRLCA web page. On
the lower left of the HOME page is the invitation to become an e-
activist. When you enroll in the program, your information and
email address are registered with the legislative department of the
NRLCA and when there is an issue that needs to be responded to,
the individual will receive an email with details on the issue and
what response is desired from the individual. This is critically
important at this time due to the legislation that is being written
and proposed on 5 day delivery. It gives us, the carriers, the infor-
mation needed to contact our legis-
lators. We all need to take an ac-
tive role in protecting/ saving our
jobs and perhaps the US Postal
Service. Please check it out and
join the ranks. Be an e-activist!
PRESIDENT
JANNA
HIRSCHFELD
OHIO RURAL LETTER CARRIER OHIO RURAL LETTER CARRIER
The Ohio Rural Letter Carriers ’ Associat ion Off ic ial Publ icat ion
Volume 80 Issue Number 2 April/May 2013
In This Issue:
Page 1 President’s Report
Page 2 Officer Information /Steward Information
Page 3 State Convention
Page 4 Vice President Report/Cincinnati DR Report
Page 5 Northern Ohio DR Report
Page 6-7 Secretary/Treasurer’s Report
Page 8 Member of the Year Form
Page 9 Executive Committeeman
Page 10 In Memoriam
Page 11 Scholarship Form
Page 12 Scholarship Form
Page 14 Financial Position
Page 15 Auxiliary Page
Page 16 Upcoming Events
You May Have
Won A Prize
Please See This Page for Details!
Cynthia Saunders did not find her name in
the last issue.
Page 2 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
OHRLCA STEWARD SYSTEM
2012-2013 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President Janna Hirschfeld
00577 Southland Rd., New Bremen, OH 45869-9715
Ph 419-629-3830 Cell 419-235-6561
Fax 419-629-0012 [email protected]
Vice President Tom Gamble Secretary/Treasurer Penny Koren PO Box 9, New Middletown, OH 44442-0009 104 Clay Road SW, Dellroy, OH 44620-9757
Ph 330-207-0830 Fax 330-788-5948 [email protected] Ph 330-735-2727 Fax 330-735-2535 [email protected]
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Floyd Edler Barb Pitts 1060 Schrake Rd., Chillicothe, OH 45601 12914 Washingtonville Rd., Salem, OH 44460-9247
Ph 740-775-5679 Cell 740-703-7002 [email protected] Ph 330-533-6274 [email protected] * GMAC Insurance Rep
Joyce Bower Carla Dedden 7456 County Road 107, Gibsonburg, OH 43431-9531 742 Wards Corner Road, Loveland, OH 45140-8740
Ph 419-849-2613 [email protected] Ph 513-683-4664 Fax 513-683-4605 [email protected]
*Provident Guild
APPOINTED OFFICES
Editor Lori Todd PAC Chairman Mike Aitchison 610 West State Street, Salem, OH 44460 P.O. Box 340, Plain City, OH 43064-8873
Ph 234-567-4222 [email protected] Ph 614-873-4114 Fax 614-873-6352 [email protected]
Established in 1929 by H. I. Carpenter. Published in Salem, Ohio, six times a year. Entered as Non-Profit mail at the Post Office in Youngstown, Ohio. Non-Profit Postage is paid in Youngstown, Ohio. Subscription Price—$10.00 per year. Contributions are opinions expressed by the writers and do not reflect the opinions of the State Officers
of the Ohio Rural Letter Carriers‘ Association or the Editor.
DELBERT HUTCHISSON Northern Ohio District DR
P.O. Box 326, Fostoria, OH 44830-2767
Ph 419-435-3117 Fax 419-436-0376
SUSAN THAYER
Northern Ohio District ADR
PO Box 309, Liberty Center, OH 43532
Ph 567-264-4520 Fax 567-264-4521
MICHAEL WALLIS
Northern Ohio District ADR
PO Box 2, Atwater, OH 44201
Ph 330-699-4445 Fax 330-699-4470
AREA STEWARDS
Tana Humphrey (440-224-1276) – Northern Ohio District Offices
3434 Creek Road, Kingsville, Ohio 44048
e-mail [email protected]
Andover, Austinburg, Bristolville, Brookfield, Burghill, Conneaut, Cort-
land, Dorset, Farmdale, Fowler, Hubbard, Kingsville, Kinsman, Pier-
pont, Rock Creek, Rome, Vienna, Williamsfield, Windsor, Willoughby
Chris McCoy (330-898-2370) – Northern Ohio District Offices
5404 State Route 303, Newton Falls, Ohio 44444
e-mail [email protected]
Burton, Chesterland, Diamond, Garrettsville, Hiram, Huntsburg,
Leavittsburg, Lowellville, Mantua, Masury, Middlefield, Mineral Ridge,
Newton Falls, North Jackson, Orwell, Southington, Warren, West Farm-
ington, Windham
CATHY FUNDERBURGH
Cincinnati District DR
P.O. Box 96, Clifton, OH 45316
Ph 937-265-5477 Fax 937-528-2297 [email protected]
MIKE AITCHISON
Cincinnati District ADR
P.O. Box 340, Plain City, OH 43064-8873
Ph 614-873-4114 Fax 614-873-6352
RANDY ANDERSON JR.
Cincinnati District ADR
P.O. Box 795, Moundsville, WV 26041
Ph 304-810-4373
RANDY BURGER
Cincinnati District ADR
P.O. Box 184, Pittsboro, IN 46167-0184
Ph 317-892-3893
AREA STEWARDS
Michael J. Sikyta (614-855-3767) – Cincinnati District Offices
6162 Tettlin Field Drive, New Albany, Ohio 43054
e-mail [email protected] Fax 614-855-3767 Ashville, Baltimore, Canal Winchester, Carroll, Circleville, Frankfort, Groveport, Jeffersonville, Johnstown, Kingston, Lockbourne, Logan, Millersport, New Hol-
land, Rushville, Somerset, South Solon, Stoutsville, Thornville, Williamsport
Philip Burnside (419-310-3817) – Cincinnati District Offices
8051 Township Road 165, Kenton, Ohio 43326
e-mail [email protected] Belle Center, Bellefontaine, De Graff, Huntsville, Jackson Center, Kenton, La Rue, Milford Center, Mount Victory, North Lewisburg, Ostrander, Prospect,
Quincy, Richwood, Ridgeway, Rushsylvania,
Russells Point, West Liberty, Woodstock
Page 3 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
2013 OHIO RURAL LETTER CARRIERS’ ANNUAL CONVENTION
July 12 8:30 am State Board meeting
July 13 District Secretary Training
July 14 8:30 am Registration begins
8:30 am Worship Service
9:30 am Opening Ceremonies
11:45 - 1:00 pm Welcome Reception
1:00-5:00 pm Convention continues with Nominations,
Speakers Committee Meetings
July 15 Report of the National Delegate Election
Comm. Speakers, Report of Time & Place
Comm., Evening Banquet w/ Member of
the Year and PAC activities.
Last day to file Delegate Credentials July 16 Election of State Officers, Final Law and
Resolution Committee reports,
Unfinished Business.
Complete Convention Program will appear in the
June/July 2013 issue of the paper.
2013 OHRLCA State Convention Advance Registration Form (You may also register upon arrival)
Mail completed form to: Penny Koren , 104 Clay Road SW, Dellroy OH 44620-9757 Please Print
Name ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Check one: ___ Association Delegate ___ Association Guest ___ Auxiliary Delegate ___ Auxiliary Guest
Spouse’s Name_______________________________________________________________________________________
Check one: ___ Association Delegate ___ Association Guest ___ Auxiliary Delegate ___ Auxiliary Guest
Junior Delegate* Name_________________________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _______________________________________________________________________________________
District ________ Phone Number_____________________Post Office________________County_____________________
*PLEASE NOTE
Due to liability concerns, Junior GUESTS will no longer be allowed to participate in Junior functions. Only children and
grandchildren of attending NRLCA members are eligible.
Convention Hotel
Westlake Holiday Inn
Call 440-871-6000 or
Toll Free: 1-800-762-7416 for reservations Ask for "Ohio Rural Letter Carrier’s" code ORP.
Room Rates $82.00/night
$159.00/night suite (king bed with pullout couch)
Includes 2 complimentary buffet breakfasts per room
Deadline for reservations is 6/17/13 After June 17th—$91.00/night no breakfast included
Accommodations include:
-Coffee Maker
-Hair Dryer
-Iron/Ironing Board
-Free Wireless Internet
-Business Center
-Indoor Pool
-Fitness Center
-Onsite Restaurant/Lounge
More hotel information at www.holidayinn.com
“OHIO RURAL LETTER
CARRIERS’ ASSOCIATION”
2013 STATE CONVENTION JULY 14-16 Make Your Plans Now to Attend
JEANETTE P. DWYER, PRESIDENT
NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION
Jeanette P. Dwyer, of Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, was re-elected President of
the National Rural Letter Carriers' Associa-
tion at the 108th National Convention in Buf-falo, New York, on August 17, 2012. She
previously served as President from 2011-2012, Vice Presi-dent from 2008-2011, and as Executive Committeeman from
2002-2008. She continues to have the strong support of Larry, her hus-
band of 43 years. They have one son, Andy, and a 10 year
old grandson, Bobby.
Page 4 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
Just a reminder: Open enrollment for RCA insurance programs including Health and Life
Insurance is March 1st- April 30th. During this open enrollment, there will be no health ques-tions or exams. See what the NRLCA has to
offer you by calling: 1-877-817-4801. These benefits were ob-tained for our RCA's that had no other avenue for coverage. Part time employees don't generally have any protections offered to them in most employment situations. Don't rely on the opinions of others, check out these programs to see if they will benefit you. In addition to those programs there is a Dental Plan and an Accident Benefit Plan available for any member whether full or part time. There may have been changes to these plans since you were last made aware, so again call: 1-877-817-4801 or you may check them out online at: www.RC-Benefits.com to get more informa-tion and enroll. Remember you only have until April 30th to enroll and avoid any health questions or exams.
While we are discussing protections, I thought I might pose a question to you. But first I must preface this question with a little foundation from whence it came. I was reading a Rural Car-rier blog the other day and saw a comment that went something like this: “ I just received a letter from the union asking me to con-tribute to PAC, I don't know why this is necessary?” Then of course there was the usual dialogue about how it is reprehensible to pay for the attention of our representatives in Congress. I have to tell you that I openly groaned after reading this. How is it possi-ble, with everything that has been brought out by the media, for anyone working in the Postal Service, to not understand that we are under threat of losing the Post Office as we know it and that our only salvation is through the intervention of Congress? Maybe they are not sure whether PAC and it's political activities are actu-ally worthwhile. If that is the case, then I can attest to you that I have sat across from a Congresswoman at a luncheon (the ticket paid for by PAC), where she admitted that she never cosponsored any bills, yet after quite a bit of dialogue and dispelling some mis-information, she agreed to cosponsor a 6 day protection bill. La-dies and Gentlemen nothing, yes nothing, will ever be more effec-tive than a face to face meeting with Congressional leaders and this is just one of the things that PAC affords us! Now here is my question: If we don't support PAC and lobby the Congress directly, what is the next best alternative? Will that alternative counteract the lobbying that is going on by the entities that want to privatize the Postal Service and take away your contractual protections? Maybe if we just ask nicely... UPS, Fedex, DSL, Pitney Bose, and other private companies, will stop lobbying with millions of dol-lars to make mail delivery part of the open market and private en-terprise. Maybe Postal Headquarters will just give up and honor the Constitution and our Labor Agreements. Or maybe, we could all play a part in fighting to protect the American People, our cus-tomers, and the service we provide. I've heard people complain about the losses due to mail count volumes...I have experienced it myself, but I can't help but wonder what kind of losses we will experience if the Post Office is privatized? A $10.00 raffle ticket sure seems like a small price to pay to get the attention of those that can stop it.
Take action today: protect yourself, your life, your health and your future.
Yours in Unity and in Service, Tom Gamble
What Has The Union
Done For Me? The Cincinnati District counted
almost 96% of the 1720 routes and at the
writing of this article the final numbers will
not be in for a few more weeks. The pre-
liminary numbers are showing that raw
letters down 13%; DPS down 3.7%; flats
down 16%; accountables down 12.8%; par-
cels up 4.1%; scans up 18%; markups up
10%; loading time up 1.4%; letters col-
lected up 1%; carrier pickups/events up
7.9%; prepaid parcels up 8.4%. If the phone calls are a good indi-
cator then a lot of the carriers either stayed the same or lost an
hour or two. Some routes lost more but that was due in part to hav-
ing a hotly contested political race in September’s count, having an
LLV recently placed on their route, or going on DPS for the first
time. In order for the Postal Service to break even for the two mail
counts they had to average a four hour loss in pay reduction per
route.
Mike Aitchison inspected the City Gate plant in Colum-
bus, and I was in the Dayton as well as the two Cincinnati plants.
Stewards were in the Northern Ohio plants as well. On Friday eve-
ning, March 1st all plants in the Cincinnati District were advancing
mail meaning that they were processing Monday mail - letters and
flats. We all know that the Monday after mail count ended was the
first week of the month. Just like in February, this week was no
different in heavy mail volume. The mail was not in the plants. We
chased down leads as to where mail may have been hidden. For
instances, a picture is in this paper shows that a USPS trailer was
hidden in a remote location. Turns out, it had been bought by the
owner and was being used for storage since a fork lift had ruined
the back doors. As in the past, calls were received that they were
turning away trucks at the plants because someone heard from
another person who had some relative working there. However, in
the investigation no one could produce a name of a person so we
could verify that the person worked at the plant. Our National offi-
cer, Steve Traylor, even called the Eastern area about this issue.
So what does it mean when the stewards say that they
are in the plants? We check all the trailers on the lot and surround-
ing streets looking for a clip on the latch which would indicate that
there is mail in that trailer. If by some chance we find one then
management is made to open it up. Most trailers have their cargo
doors left open. The closed cargo doors were opened to ensure that
they were empty. Everyone thinks that it takes truck loads for a
day’s worth of mail. Truth is: only one trailer. Once we are in the
plants, we walk around looking at every floor, corner, elevators,
tunnels, empty equipment, what is being processed on the ma-
chines, APCs, BMCs, cardboard boxes, wire cages, skids, trays,
tubs, loading docks, trailers that are backed up to the loading
docks, and the list goes on and on. We are looking at what type of
mail is in those containers; what color codes are on the container
as well as looking for delivery dates. We find management and ask
them questions and we talk to the mail handlers and clerks as they
will tell you everything. We are asking questions: Is this a light,
normal, heavy day? How has the mail flow been? Have you been
getting any over time? What color codes are you working today? Is
there any hidden mail? How much delayed mail is in the plant?
The stewards receive the daily condition reports as well as the
Continued On Page 10
Vice President Tom Gamble
Protecting Your Life,
Your Health and
Your Future!
Cincinnati DR Cathy
Funderburgh
Page 5 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
Since 1863, the US Postal Service has been delivering mail to homes and businesses in cities. In 1896, USPS extended delivery services to rural locations. Based on a review of legislative history, it appears that six-day delivery was not legally required until 1981 when Congress statutorily required six-day delivery. While no six-day delivery requirement
appears to be continued in appropriations legislation for 1982, a six-day delivery requirement was placed in appropriations legisla-tion for 1983. The Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 1983 (P.L. 97-377; 96 Stat. 1830) required the Postal Service to “continue six-day delivery of mail and rural delivery of mail….at the 1982 level.” Since 1984 Congress annually has placed lan-guage in appropriations legislation requiring the Postal Service to provide “six-day delivery”. However, throughout the Service’s history, there have been many calls to reduce the number of deliv-ery days to reduce costs and help solve revenue short falls. In fact the Postal Service has been advocating the elimination of six-day delivery for 60 years.
1957 PMG Summerfield proposed elimination of Sat-urday delivery.
1962 PMG Day estimated $100 million savings if Sat-urday mail delivery were halted.
1975 PMG Bailer proposed eliminating Saturday deliv-ery to help close a 1.5 billion dollar deficit.
1977 The Commission on Postal Service, recom-mended the elimination of Saturday delivery to save $400 million a year.
1980 President Reagan’s budget director James Clark, chaired a special task force on the Postal service and proposed the reduction in mail service to 5-day delivery. The forecast savings was estimated at $588 million with $1 billion annual savings in future years.
In spite of the projected cost and fuel savings, the task force stopped short of endorsing a reduction in delivery service, saying “the potential cost reduction is extremely attractive; but it is clear that the risk to service and future postal revenue are high.”
1987 USPS reports a net loss of $223 million for the
fiscal year and seeks congressional permission to eliminate Satur-day delivery.
1992 PMG Runyon, proposed cuts in home delivery from six-day to four days a week.
2001 USPS considers ending Saturday delivery but released a statement that, “it would not be cost effective at this time to eliminate Saturday service”.
2003 President Bush’s commission on Postal Service, reported elimination of Saturday delivery would save up to $1.9 billion annually. However, adamantly rejected any action that would reduce delivery days to five.
2008 USPS Report on Universal Postal Service and the Monopoly, projected a net annual savings of $3.5 billion if Satur-day delivery were eliminated.
2008 Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Universal Service Obligation Report, rebuffed the above report claiming that the USPS study did not factor in possible loss of sales volume. The PRC projected a savings of $1.93 billion if Saturday delivery were eliminated. The PRC later adjusted their findings down to $1.74 billion, and added a cautionary note, that “ the methodology to estimate lost revenue resulting from a lesser delivery schedule suffers from material flaws.”
2009-2013 Eliminating Saturday, eliminating Saturday, eliminating Saturday, etc. etc. etc……I think you get the picture.
History has proven that every time the Postal service suf-fers a budget short fall it proposes the elimination of Saturday de-livery. They then present bogus statistics or biased commissioned studies to support their position for 5-day delivery. Can we ever trust the numbers?
In 2011, the USPS was preparing its case to the PRC on its Network Rationalization Plan (fewer plants, fewer Post Offices, fewer employees, fewer delivery days). The Postal Service com-missioned market research to determine how much the revised service standards and slower first class mail would affect mail vol-umes and revenues. The marketing firm was opinion Research Corp., a “leader in global market research”. This is the same com-pany the postal Service used for market research on the Five-Day Delivery Advisory Opinion. The Postal Service agreed to pay
Ohio Rural Letter Carrier
Rock and Roll Night Monday, July 15, 2013 State Convention - Westlake, Ohio
Following Banquet
District Basket Auction - 50/50 Drawing - Reverse Raffle Prizes: $1,000 Cash, Kindle, Tom Tom GPS, Cornhole Board Set and Much More!
Winner Need Not Be Present Tickets $25.00 each (Buy 4 Get 5th One FREE)
Make checks out to NRLCA PAC Send Coupon Below For Reverse Raffle Tickets To: Mike Aitchison, 7805 Lafeyette PC Rd., Plain City, OH 43064-8873
Name ____________________________________________ _____ Phone ____________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Northern Ohio District Representative
Delbert Hutchisson
Continued On Page 14
History Repeats Itself!
Page 6 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
Membership:
As of March 12, 2013 the Membership Analysis
prepared by the National Office has Ohio‘s total
membership at 4167. Ohio has again experienced
an increase in membership. As per the recent
NRLCA/USPS contract, only RCAs will be hired
as relief carriers. Recently hired RCAs have
joined the union, which accounts for the increase
in members. Recruitment letters have been sent
to new hires and non-members to join the
NRLCA. If you know of a non-member encour-
age them to become a member.
DISTRICT MEETINGS
District Spring Meetings will be held between March 23
and April 23, 2013. I hope that every member will plan to attend
his / her District meeting. A notice of your district meeting will
mailed to you with date, location, and time of meeting. The infor-
mation is also posted in events on ohrlca.org.
During your district meeting district officers are nomi-
nated and elected and delegates representing your district are
nominated and elected to the Ohio State Convention. "According
to our State Constitution both of these elections are to be by secret
ballot." The election of delegates from your district will represent
your interests on actions taken at the State Convention. If you wish
to be a delegate to the State Convention from your District and
cannot attend the meeting, send a written request to your District
Secretary requesting your name to be nominated for the elections
of district members as delegate to the State Convention. Names
cannot be added to the delegate list after the district meeting has
ended.
STATE CONVENTION The State Convention will be held July 14 - 16, 2013, at
the Westlake Holiday Inn, 1100 Crocker Rd, Westlake OH. Plan to
attend the State Convention, come and exercise your Union Rights.
Listen to the concerns of fellow members, stand and speak, let
your voice be heard on the issues. Attend the State Convention as a
delegate and vote on the issues. How do you become a delegate to
the State Convention? Be nominated during your District Meeting.
Constitution Changes and Resolutions Remember to send all proposed Constitution changes and
Resolutions to the State Secretary-Treasurer. The proper forms to
submit submissions were published in the February/March State
Paper and on ohrlca.org. The deadline for submissions is five days
prior to the opening of the Convention. The Secretary/Treasurer
must receive all signed and dated submissions by July 9, 2013.
NATIONAL CONVENTION
August 13 – 16, 2013, St Louis, Missouri
NATIONAL DELEGATE NOMINATING BALLOT The National Magazine’s February, March, April and
May issues will have the nominating ballot for delegates to the
National Convention included. If you desire to have your name
placed on the ballot for consideration as a delegate to the National
Convention, or you want to nominate someone else, fill out the
nominating ballot and mail it to my office. The National Conven-
tion Nominating Ballot must be received, by US Mail, in the State
Secretary-Treasurer’s office no later than May 31, 2013. Upon
receipt of the nominating ballot, a confirmation notice will be sent
to the nominee. IF THE NOMINEE DOES NOT RECEIVE A
CONFIRMATION NOTICE, PLEASE CONTACT - Penny Ko-
ren, Secretary-Treasurer, 104 Clay Rd SW, Dellroy, OH 44620-
9757 or (330-735-2727).
Two members of the Election Committee will pull the
nominee names. They will be placed on the ballot in the order in
which they are drawn. The ballot draw will be June 4, 2013 at Sec-
retary-Treasurer Penny Koren's residence, 104 Clay Rd SW, Dell-
roy OH 44620 at 7:00 pm. This event is open to all members.
Health Care Reform and W-2 – Box 12, Code DD Have you questioned the dollar figure reported in Box 12,
Code DD, on your 2012 W-2 form? This figure is the cost of em-
ployer-sponsored health care coverage. The amount reported with
Code DD is not taxable to you. A provision of the Affordable
Care Act requires employers of over 250 employees to report this
amount. The dollar figure represents both the amount paid by the
employer and the employee for health care coverage. It does not
represent monies paid for dental or vision coverage. It does not
reflect out of pocket expenses and does not report a retiree’s health
care coverage. The dollar amount inW-2 Box 12, Code DD, will
also be used to verify that individuals have health care insurance.
Beginning in 2018, an excise tax will be levied on insurers for so
called “Cadillac” health care plans. These are health insurance
plans that have annual premiums over $10,200 for individuals or
$27,500 for a family. The excise tax will be payable for the pre-
mium amount above these values and will be adjusted for inflation
in following years. Insured workers do not pay this tax.
Spring has arrived, days are longer, and the sun and rain
showers will wake sleeping flowers from the ground. Take time to
stop and enjoy the wonders of the rebirth of spring.
Penny Koren
Monday January 28, 2013
Holiday Inn
1100 Crocker Rd. Westlake, Ohio Present was President Hirschfeld, Vice President Gamble,
Secretary-Treasurer Koren, Committeemen Pitts, Bower, Dedden.
Also attending was Pac Chairman Aitchisson and Northern Ohio
District Representative Hutchisson, members Robin Rowland and
Barbara Perkins.
January 28, 2013 1:15 p.m.
Vouchers: The entire Board reviewed and approved all
the vouchers submitted by the State Board Members for payment.
2:30pm Call to Order
Minutes: The minutes of October 27-29, 2012 were read.
President Hirschfeld made a motion to accept the minutes, the mo-
tion passed.
Treasurer’s Report: The Association’s Financial Posi-
tion for the first quarter ending September 30, 2012, which was
prepared by an accountant, was distributed and reviewed. Commit-
teeman Bower made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, the
motion passed.
Secretary/Treasurer requested to purchase 2013 edition of
quick books because the 2010 edition of Quick Books will no
longer be supported by the company. Committeeman Bower
made a motion to purchase the newest edition of quick books, the
motion passed.
The National office has suggested we trademark the As-
sociation’s name and emblem. The details of the trademark will
be investigated further.
The association received thank you cards from the Ron
Briggs and Diane Salmon family for the flowers and contributions
of their passing. Both members served the association in manage-
ment roles and will be sadly missed.
Membership: Since September 30, 2012 the Associa-
tion’s membership has increased by 19 members to the present
total of 4163 members. The increase in membership is mostly
Secretary/Treasurer
Penny Koren
Page 7 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
contributed to the hiring of RCAs instead of TRCs.
3:40 p.m. Break
Fall Booster: The Fall Booster meeting was not as well
attended as in past years. The lower attendance may be contrib-
uted to the fact that the majority of routes are “H” routes and the
carriers are not willing to attend a meeting on their only day off. It
is the board’s opinion that when the guest speaker is a National
Officer, members tend to attend the meetings.
Mid States Conference: The conference will be May 3-
5, 2013 in Traverse City, Michigan. Committeeman Pitts made a
motion to send 3 officers to the Mid States Conference to repre-
sent Ohio’s State Board. The three should be President Hirschfeld,
Vice President Gamble and Secretary/Treasurer Koren. If one of
the three cannot attend another officer will be appointed to attend.
The Association will compensate for the lodging, mileage and per
diem. The motion passed.
Equipment: Vice President Gamble continues to investi-
gate the replacement of the sound system.
Since the National Steward System is now responsible for
the Stewards and their equipment, a letter will be sent to each
Steward, noting their assigned state equipment, asking them to
return all equipment to the assigned officer during a district meet-
ing.
The previously approved paper cutter has been purchased
by Secretary/Treasurer Koren, and has been added to the equip-
ment inventory.
Editor’s Report: Editor Todd sent a report stating that
the February/March edition is ready to be sent to printer. The next
paper deadline date for articles is March 12, 2013.
GMAC: GMAC has a contest that could result in in-
creased revenue and prizes for the states whose members request a
quote for insurance or write a policy with GMAC. New GMAC
handouts will be requested for district meetings.
Provident Guild: Committeeman Dedden sent letters, to
the USPS Education and Development Office of the Cincinnati
and the Northern Ohio Districts, to acquire where the active acad-
emies are located. Committeeman Dedden has asked for authori-
zation to distribute information about the Provident Guild to new
hires. If approved by the USPS and the Board the information will
be forwarded to each active academy.
5:30pm Recess
January 29, 2013
8:30 am Board meeting resumes.
9:00 am The entire board met with the Westlake Holiday
Inn representative for a tour of the facility.
11:40 am The Board Meeting resumes.
Committeeman Pitts made a motion that the theme of the
banquet be rock n roll, the motion passed.
Committeeman Dedden made a motion to pay $17.50
toward the purchase of a banquet meal for each preregistered ban-
quet guest, the motion passed.
The contact person for the banquet tickets will be Committeeman
Dedden. Secretary/Treasurer Koren will design and print the ban-
quet tickets. Entertainment for the banquet will be investigated
and determined at a later date.
12:40 pm Lunch
2:00 pm The Meeting Resumes
Budget: The entire board set a budget for the remainder
of the fiscal year.
State Convention: The State Convention will be at West
Lake Holiday Inn July 14 – 16, 2013. The 2012 State Convention
schedule was reviewed and suggestions were discussed.
Retirement Seminar: The seminar will be held April 28,
2013 at the Newark Metropolitan Hotel. The announcement will
be published in the State Paper. A $10.00 registration fee, per
member, will be charged to attend the seminar. Vice President
Gamble will send tickets to each registered member. The retire-
ment specialist will provide the information to be printed in the
handouts for the seminar. The Association will have the handouts
printed.
Chaplain: The vacancy of association’s chaplain was
discussed and three names have been suggested. The vacancy may
be printed in the paper and ask for resumes for the position.
PAC: PAC Chairman Aitchisson explained that there has
been a change of PAC managers at the National Office, which has
resulted in Ohio not receiving tallies of PAC contributions.
There will be a Spring PAC Raffle during the Retirement
Seminar on April 28th.
PAC Chairman Aitchisson expressed a desire to accept
credit and debit cards for PAC contribution and purchases using an
ipad.
Vice President Gamble made a motion to purchase an
ipad and a credit card reader to enable contributions for PAC to
accept credit and debit cards, the motion passed.
6:45 Recessed
January 30, 2013 8:40 am The Board Meeting resumes.
PAC continued: PAC Chairman Aitchisson would like to
continue the Basket Auction and would ask that each District con-
tribute a basket for the auction. Each Board Officer should bring
up the topic of the baskets and contributions to PAC at the district
meetings. Another item that increases revenue for PAC is sea-
soned USPS items. Officers will suggest donations of these items.
Steward Reports: Cincinnati District Representative
Funderburgh submitted a written steward report.
Cincinnati District Assistant District Representative,
Aitchisson and Northern Ohio District Representative Hutchisson
were in attendance. They reported that the National Steward Sys-
tem took effect November 17, 2013. Ohio has two Districts, Cin-
cinnati and Northern Ohio. There were a few hiccups in the trans-
formation but the National Office is attending to all issues.
The new Area Stewards are doing very well. The stew-
ard system in Ohio continues to be strong with no change other
than the name.
The District Representative National Steward training
will be March 18-22, 2013. The National Steward assignments
have been published in the state paper. The national steward sys-
tem has freed up personal time for the stewards.
Local Steward training is held when a new local steward
is elected.
There is no date for Recertification Stewards Training.
Committeeman Dedden made a motion to send a packet
to each new member including information on GMAC, Atlanta
Postal Credit Union and Provident Guild, and RCA health insur-
ance. All information will be presented to the Board for approval
before sending, the motion passed.
Committeeman Pitts made a motion to send each district
president the contact information of newly hired RCAs in their
district to be used for a personal invitation to meetings, the mo-
tion passed.
Committeemen Pitts made a motion to adjourn, the mo-
tion passed.
11:45 am Adjournment
Next Board Meeting: April 29, 2013 - 8:00 am
Newark Metropolitan Hotel
50 N 2nd St., Newark, Ohio 43055
Page 8 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
“Member of the Year” The OHIO RURAL LETTER CARRIERS’ ASSOCIATION will honor one of our rural carriers again this year. The Member of the Year Committee is Chaired and comprised of the last five (5) past honorees. This committee will review all entries and announce the name of the selected individual at State Convention. This individual will also be recognized at the Na-
tional Convention. Please submit this form to the 2013 Committee Chairman John Thomas (see address below) prior to the 2013 Ohio Rural Letter Carriers’ State Convention at Westlake, Ohio, July 14-16th. I/WE, ______________________________(INDIVIDUAL/DISTRICT) WOULD LIKE TO PLACE THE NAME OF
__________________________________________________TO BE CONSIDERED AS “MEMBER OF THE YEAR”.
Give a brief history of the nominee’s personal and postal life as the basis for this nomination. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
(If more space is needed, please attach additional sheets)
Please submit this form to the 2013 Committee Chairman, John Thomas (see address below) prior to the 2013 Ohio Rural Letter Carri-
ers' State Convention at Westlake, Ohio July 14-16, 2013.
MAIL TO: John Thomas
95 Twp. Rd. 1361
Chesapeake, Ohio 45619
Page 9 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR RETIREMENT? The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is offered to you by the USPS for you to contribute a percentage of your pay
check. The USPS automatically deducts 3% from your basic pay (before taxes) every pay period and deposits it into
your TSP account. Unless you make an election to change or stop these contributions, these contributions are in-
vested in the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund until you make a different contribution allocation. You
must be a career employee to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan.
If you are a Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) employee, you can receive two types of USPS
contributions. Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions – equal to 1% of your basic pay is deposited into your TSP
account every pay period automatically, beginning the first time you are paid. The USPS gives this 1% to you
whether or not you contribute from your own pay. Agency Matching Contributions – made by the USPS to your
TSP account for employees who contribute their own money to the TSP. The USPS matches your contributions dol-
lar-for-dollar on the first 3% of your basic pay that you contribute per pay period, and 50 cents on the dollar on the
next 2%. Together, these USPS contributions can equal as much as 5% of your basic pay, but you must contribute at
least 5% in order to receive the full amount of USPS money.
The TSP offers you two tax treatments for your employee contributions when you make a contribution
election: Traditional (pre-tax) Contributions – comes out of your pay before taxes are calculated. You pay Fed-
eral income taxes on these contributions and their earnings when you withdraw them. Roth (after-tax) Contribu-
tions – comes out of your pay after taxes are calculated. You pay no Federal income taxes on these contributions
when you withdraw them. Roth earnings are tax-free when withdrawn as long as the following two conditions
have been met. Five years must have passed since January 1 of the calendar year in which you made your first
Roth contribution and you have reached age 59 ½ , have a permanent disability, or have passed away.
How does the Roth TSP work? Money already in your account when you begin making Roth contribu-
tions will remain part of your traditional TSP balance. You will not be able to convert it to Roth. The combined total of your Roth and
tax-deferred traditional contributions in 2013 cannot exceed the elective deferral limit of $17,000, or the catch-up contribution limit of
$5,500 offered to age 50 years and up. Agency contributions will always be part of your traditional (non-Roth) balance. Electing Roth
contributions is not all-or-nothing decision. You can contribute to both your Roth and traditional balances. Roth gives you the opportu-
nity to diversify the tax treatment of the money in your account.
You may sign up for Roth contributions by using Form TSP-1 or electronically on the website: www.liteblue.usps.gov. Also,
remember to keep your beneficiaries up-to-date when changes occur in your life by using Form TSP-3. YOUR MONEY IS YOURS! MAKE PLANS FOR YOUR RETIREMENT!
Carla Dedden, Executive Committeeman
GMAC
Welcome to 2013, with GMAC rural carrier
insurance. If you haven’t contacted GMAC for an insur-
ance quote, PLEASE do it now! Ohio will get credit for
every quote that is requested even if you don’t’ purchase
an insurance policy from them. They have been very
generous in the past by giving money back to the states
and are continuing to do the same this year. They insure
right hand drive, left hand drive and dual control route
cars along with insuring rural carriers’ vehicles that you
drive to work but don’t utilize on the route. That’s right,
even If you drive an LLV on the route you can still take
advantage of all that GMAC has to offer. If you already
have a policy, they will even insure your spouse’s car. They will repair your
windshield if it gets cracked, with no deductible, as long as it’s done before it
needs replaced. They have now implemented specialized service areas across
the state. Now, when a rural carrier policyholder calls in they will go to a spe-
cial Rural Carrier Service Team. These agents will only take care of Rural
Carriers. How good is that? Write this down, the special number is: 1-855-
RLC-VIPS (1-855-752-8477). So before you do another thing, please call for a
quote at 1-888-325-7727 and use the code R-46 for Ohio. I am sorry to say
that I cannot help you when you have an accident please call the number
above. I only represent the state of Ohio in giving out information about
GMAC and any contests or other promotional options that GMAC is offering. I
play more of a “spokesperson” role and am not qualified as a claims adjuster. I
want to thank you all for your support in getting quotes, lets’ make Ohio Num-
ber 1.
See you all at the many meetings that are coming up this spring.
Barb Pitts Executive
Committeeman
Carla Dedden Executive
Committeeman
NEW CHAPLAIN
With the passing of our State Chaplain,
Ron Briggs, the State Association is in need of a
new chaplain. As the Executive Board members
do not personally know each and every member of
the association for their abilities, talents and per-
sonal callings it was decided to announce the need
for a new chaplain and to allow individual mem-
bers to apply for the position as he/she feels called
to serve.
The duties of the chaplain include provid-
ing spiritual support to members and their families,
preparing and leading worship services at Booster
meetings and State Convention, provide the invo-
cation and morning devotions at State Convention,
write articles to be published in the state paper, etc.
If you have a personal calling to be considered for
the position of State Chaplain, please send your
intentions and a resume to President Janna Hirsch-
feld at: 00577 Southland Rd. New Bremen, Oh
45869 by May, 15, 2013. It is the desire of the
board to have a new chaplain assigned and ready to
assume the leadership role for the State Convention
in July. Please give this prayerful consideration..
Page 10 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
Eastern area reports. We know exactly how much delayed mail is
in the plants. We expect to see the same amount or less of delayed
mail going out of count than what we had going into count. The
district policy is all mail that arrives at the plant by 1pm must be in
the offices by 7am the next day; otherwise it is considered delayed.
Your stewards were in the plants at all hours of the Tina Payne
night because that is when your mail is being processed.
The stewards were looking out for you and we called the
rural analyst/CSA’s, trying to resolve as many issues as we could
over the phone. In offices that had extreme hostility or major is-
sues an upper level steward showed up correcting the situations.
Mail count is stressful enough without having a hostile workplace.
Unfortunately, we can’t be in all 395 offices in the district. The
Dayton plant has officially notified the clerks and mail handlers
that they will be closing as of June 1, 2013, and I will miss that
plant. Thankfully, as rural carriers we still have our jobs. However,
it is very frustrating to answer phone calls and hear that the union
did nothing for me in this mail count and why should I stay in the
union. The union is NOT responsible for the drop in mail volume.
Look at the mail that you deliver – every bill I receive has the
words printed on the outside of the envelope: go paperless, save a
stamp. Our mailers are trying to put us out of business. The Sep-
tember, 2012 mail count was influenced by the political mailings
as Ohio was a key battle ground state and most routes went up in
evaluation. Historically, mail volume is up in September and we
are comparing that mail volume to the normal drop in mail volume
for the February/March time period and we expected to see a drop
in evaluations. The normal work load didn’t stop for the stewards
because it was mail count. Every steward I talked to around the
country was working very long hours and Ohio was no exception
to this rule. YOUR UNION DID EVERYTHING THAT WE
COULD POSSIBLY DO.
I want to personally thank NRO, Steve Traylor, Mike
Aitchison, Randy Anderson, Randy Burger, Mike Sikyta, Phil
Burnside and all the local stewards for their help in the 2013 na-
tional mail count, along with Delbert Hutchisson and our many
late night discussions. These stewards put on mail count training
classes, in-
spected plants,
visited problem
offices, and
a n s w e r e d
many, many
questions. The
Cincinnati Dis-
trict national
steward system
is not a one
person show
but a team
working to-
gether to get
the job done
and it is a job
well done!! To
my team – a
big THANK
YOU!
Cathy
Funderburgh
What Has The Union Done Continued from Page 4
Junior C. Cronenwett, 91, of Galion, died Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 at Olentangy Woods Nursing Center in Galion. Born Jan.
24, 1921 in Galion, Ohio, he was the son of the late Calvin Cronenwett and Emma (Bruck) Cronenwett. He was preceded in death on
Dec. 26, 1990 by his wife, Rosemary (Wurm) Cronenwett. Junior was a graduate of Galion High School, was a World War II U. S.
Army veteran and a member of American Legion Scarbrough Post 243 in Galion. He retired as a mail carrier for the United States
Postal Service after 40 years of service. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Ronald "Ron" and Michele Cronenwett of
Warren, four grandchildren and two sisters, Betty Ulmer of Richmond, Va. and Ellie Erikson of New London.
Travis LeRoy Green, 25, Tamra Green, RCA, Springfield Oh, son passes away
GREEN, Travis LeRoy 25, of Springfield, OH went to Heaven unexpectedly, Sunday, February 17, 2013. The beautiful blessing of
Travis arrived January 8, 1988, in Springfield, OH to Terry "Robie" and Tammy (Leeth) Green. A visitation will be held on Friday,
February 22, 2013 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at JACKSON LYTLE & LEWIS FUNERAL HOME, Springfield. Funeral service to follow
on Saturday, February 23 at 1:00 p.m. also at the funeral home with Pastor Jim Welch officiating. Burial at Donnelsville Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.jacksonlytle.com.
Bernard F. Eppley Jr., 83, of Newark, died at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2013 He was born July 17, 1929, in Zanes-
ville, a son of the late Bernard F. Sr. and Eulalia Grace “Gay” Eppley. He retired as a Rural Postal Carrier for the United States Postal
Service, and had previously worked at Rockwell International for 17 years. He will be laid to rest, beside his beloved wife Winifred,
at Zanesville Memorial Park Cemetery, Zanesville.
In Memoriam
Your stewards were chasing down any leads
on hidden mail and this is an example.
Page 11 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
THE OHIO RETIRED LETTER CARRIER'S SCHOLARSHIP
The Ohio Retired Letter Carriers are proud to announce that they will be
offering the "Ohio Retired Letter Carrier's Scholarship" in the amount of
$100.00. This scholarship will be awarded at the State Convention in 2013. Caretaker of this scholarship will be the Auxiliary of The Ohio Rural Letter
Carrier's Association.
Rules for the Ohio Retired Letter Carrier's Scholarship:
1. Applicant must not be over the age of 21 by June 30, 2013. 2. Parent or grandparent must be a member in good standing of the Ohio
Retired Letter Carriers. 3. Application must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2013.
NAME_________________________________________________________
ADDRESS______________________________________________________
CITY________________________STATE____________________ZIP______
COLLEGE THAT WILL BE/ARE ATTENDING____________________________
FIELD OF STUDY________________________________________________
NAME OF PARENT/GRANDPARENT__________________________________
1. GPA
2. One letter of recommendation from a teacher.
3. One letter of recommendation from a Rural Letter Carrier (not your relative).
Send your application to:
Sandy Schwartz
President of the Auxiliary of the OHRLCA 10 Eastmoor Court
New Bremen, OH 45869-1101
Page 12 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
OHIO RURAL LETTER CARRIER'S
AUXILIARY SCHOLARSHIP
Now is the time to consider making application for the scholarships to be awarded by the Ohio Rural Letter Carrier's Auxiliary.
RULES FOR APPLYING ARE AS FOLLOWS:
You must be a 2013 high school graduate with a
scholastic standing in the upper 25% of your class.
Your parents or grandparents must be current members
of the Ohio Rural Letter Carrier's Association or Auxiliary.
Submit your application BY JUNE 1, 2013
To the Auxiliary President:
Sandy Schwartz 10 Eastmoor Court
New Bremen, OH 45869-1101
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1. Your name, address, phone number, and picture.
2. Name of parents or grandparents and post office where they carry/carried mail. 3. Name and address of the school where you have been accepted. 4. Statement of your plans and ambitions. 5. Listing of high school and community activities. 6. THREE letters of recommendation: a. One from your high school administrative head. b. One from your local minister or church affiliate. c. One from a local business or professional person on their business letterhead.
Rules 1 through 5 may be submitted in letter form on an 8 1/2 X 11"sheet of paper.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE STATE CONVENTION IN JULY
Page 13 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
And On It Goes……
It seems as if the tug of war has no end in sight.
Within the Postal Service the battle of 5-day
delivery vs. 6-day delivery goes on.
And…… In the halls of Congress the battle of 5-day deliv-ery vs. 6-day delivery rages on. It seems that every meeting I attend to talk about PAC, I talk about how crucial it is at this moment to have
your voices heard. I suspect that many of us will be glad when the issue is finally decided. But until then, we must keep up the good fight, maintain the pressure, and keep those calls and letters flowing into your Congressman’s office.
The raffle tickets for the drawing at the April retirement seminar are selling well. I appreciate your purchases and would like to encourage more of the active carriers to get involved, even if it is only to buy a few raffle tickets. After all, it is the active and relief carriers that will be most affected by the changes your Con-gress is willing to impose on the Postal Workers and the Federal Employees. These impositions include changes to the Federal Em-ployee Health Benefits system, increases in the employees share of insurance costs, increases in required deposits to retirement ac-counts by the employees, and decreases in retirement benefits, to name a few.
Be prepared to purchase reverse raffle tickets at your dis-trict meetings. They will also be available on page 5 of this publi-cation. Again this year, we have some nice prizes to complement the ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR grand prize.
We will be reminding the districts at their respective meet-ings that we appreciate their contributions to the basket auction and look forward to seeing what their imagination comes up with for this year’s state convention.
Don’t forget to bring your items for the silent auction ta-bles. These silent auction items can be a fun way to pick up a little something that you might not want to go out and pay retail prices for. During the last two conventions, there has been some really neat stuff for the young people too.
These are exciting times we’re in, let us strive to prevail!!!
Michael D. Aitchison
SPOTLIGHT PAGE
Every issue we would like to have a Spotlight Page. Anyone knowing of a person or post office they feel should be spot-
lighted please send information to: Editor Lori Todd at [email protected].
NEW MEMBERS
Therese Fern Swanton
Christopher Horvath Dillonvale Dion Jackson Medina
Victoria Woods-Yee Pandora
Stephanie Gonzalez Findlay Louwana Gordon Lancaster
Barbara Taylor Warsaw Rebecca Haught Jewett
Tina Youngs St Marys
Jason Shinault Ashtabula Christopher Shinault Ashtabula
Seth Lindsley Green Springs Michelle Peterson Bellevue
Kelly Moyer Kent Patsy Eldridge Winchester
Roxann Putman Newcomerstown
Debbie Hire Paulding Jonathan Gardner West Alexandria
Starlene Oneal Lebanon Totianna Lawson Grafton
Denise Tucholski Orwell
James Hostetler Sugarcreek Debra Mcilwain Canal Winchester
Heidi Hodges Medina Jenny Hess Greenwich
Elliott Browning Pickerington
Angelia Crosier Kent Anne Bongalis Mantua
Bille Branham Pataskala Susette Trapp Tiffin
Nicole Wade Masury Erica Healy Defiance
Shanetelle Trimble Canal Winchester
Keeley Layman Spencerville Timothy Olive Belpre
Danny Newcomb II South Point Stacy Deremer Massillon
Sarah Hampp Roseville
Jullie Ballinger Rockbridge Harry Bonar Jr Shadyside
Michael Welsh Mc Connelsville Lisa Dailey New Waterford
Frederick Kwawuvi Westerville Kerri Geddes Windham
Kimberly Kimball Pleasant Plain
Virginia Jones Atwater Mandy Postlewait Rootstown
Rebecca Fremont Minford Chad Jackson Maumee
Serena Locke Bloomville
PAC Chairman Mike Aitchisson
CONTEST
Every issue of the Ohio Rural Letter Carrier will
contain a name of a member in the body of one of the board
members articles. Find your name in the article and win a
$25 Visa Voucher from Atlanta Postal Credit Union. The
name will be placed where it makes no sense (example:
The USPS is a great place lori todd to work). Contact
Penny Koren at 330-735-2727 to claim your prize.
Cynthia Saunders did not find her name in the last
issue.
Page 14 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
$682,560 for the market research that they believed would support their position taken in the NRP.
During the discovery phase of the PRC Ad-visory Opinion process, the issue of “cumulative impact” from various factors, like eliminating Satur-day delivery, and the network optimization plan, came up several times, and the USPS said they had not considered the combined effect of these various proposals.
It wasn’t until cross examination of one of the researchers that he referred to the first study. What first study, asked the APWU advocate? The Postal Service had to admit that they conducted two studies and the first may have studied a “cumulative impact” but the research was “abandoned” before completion, so “no analysis of its preliminary quanti-tative results was pursued.”
That apparently means the Postal Service was not curious enough to see what it had purchased from the ORC for over $400,000, and it aborted the study before it learned how much mail volume and revenue might be lost as a result of its plans. The Postal Service needs to explain why the phase 1-research was abandoned and who made the decision to abort the study before calculations could be com-pleted.
As I write this article, two things have hap-pened yesterday to prevent PMG Donahoe’s Plan to end Saturday delivery. First, Congress passed an appropriations bill that has a provision maintaining Saturday delivery, just as it’s done every year since 1984. Second, at virtu-ally the same moment, the Government Ac-countability Office (GAO) sent a letter to Congressman Gerald Connolly (since he helped bring the facts to light), recommending its legal opinion that the Postal Service is bound by current law and the Continuing Resolution “to continue six-day delivery and rural delivery of mail at not less than the 1983 level”.
Bottom line, Congress would need to pass new legislation permitting the postal Ser-vice to eliminate Saturday delivery. This may be part of some future postal reform legisla-tion that ultimately gets enacted but not a re-sult of PMG Donahoe’s unilateral decision. One thing we know from the last 60 years of history is that private industry along with their willing accomplices’ in congress will not stop trying to get a piece of the United States Postal Service.
Thank you kindly, Delbert K. Hutchisson
History Repeats Itself Continued from Page 5
Ohio Rural Letter Carriers’ Association
Statement of Financial Position As of March 12, 2013
SUSAN THAYER, ADR DELBERT HUTCHISSON, DR MIKE WALLIS, ADR
CATHY FUNDERBURGH, DR MIKE AITCHISON, ADR
RANDY
ANDERSON,
ADR
I-75 71
270
77
National Steward System
Page 15 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
Hello. A reminder to all carriers with graduating high
school seniors--make sure that you have requested the Ohio
Auxiliary and Retired Carriers Scholarship Applications from
an Auxiliary officer. Also, don't forget to have your Juniors'
work on their entries for the Ohio and National Auxiliary Rural
Letter Carriers Conventions. Information can also be obtained
from any Auxiliary officer. We are looking forward to seeing
you at the upcoming district meetings, and thank you for your
continued support of the DEBRA humanitarian project.
Spring HAS to be just around the corner.
Sandy Schwartz
Ohio Auxiliary President
Auxiliary Officers PRESIDENT
SANDY SCHWARTZ
10 Eastmoor Court
New Bremen, OH 45869-1101
Phone 419-305-3800
VICE PRESIDENT
PAUL ORTZ *Provident Guild
11696 Youngstown Pitts Rd.
New Middletown OH 44442
Phone 330-542-9496
SECRETARY/TREASURER
DIANA HAUSFELD
P. O. Box 105
Minster, OH 45865-0105
Phone 419-628-2433
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN
Ed Cox Chairman
4780 Stony Creek
Urbana OH 43078
Phone 937-206-2537
Jodie Burke
4822 Delevan Dr.
Lyndhurst OH, 44124
Phone 216–382-3031
Ray Mull
9235 Wayne Trace Rd.
Camden OH, 45311
Phone 513-543-3766
JUNIOR SPONSOR
Pat Singelyn
18991 Munn Rd.
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
Phone 330-562-8886
JUNIORS 2012-2013
President: Abby Hausfeld
733 Oakwood Drive, Minster, OH 45865
VP: Riley Hausfeld
733 Oakwood Drive, Minster, OH 45865
Secretary : Samantha Fernandez,
Defiance, OH 43512
Treasurer: Nate Hausfeld,
733 Oakwood Drive, Minster, OH 45865
The 2012-2013 Ohio Rural Letter Carriers’ Association Auxiliary
Recent
Retirees
Edward Ackerman Lewisville
Michael Baker Maplewood
Donald Beatty London
Cynthia Becker Tiffin
Darlene Bennett North Bend
Susan Elliott Carrollton
Amelia Kincaid Loveland
Stephanie McBride Grove City
Brice Miller Gnadenhutten
Linda Morgan Warren
Mark Petersen Cecil
Rodney Rethmel Defiance
Mary Schumann Maria Stein
David Webb Wilmington
Pamela Winters
Sandy Schwartz Auxiliary President
PRESIDENT KAY CARTER'S 2012-2013 AUXILIARY PROGRAM
OF WORK
PROJECT: dEBra-"Epidermolysis Bullosa" EB MOTTO: "Until there's a cure...there's dEBra" SYMBOL: Butterfly-Mailbox AMERICANISM: The American Flag SONG: "God Bless America" SAFETY: "Be Alert-Be Aware-Be Safe" FLOWER: Mixed Flower Bouquet SONG: "How Great Thou Art" INSPIRATION: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
-Helen Keller
ATTENTION All District Officers and Contact
Information is listed on OHRLCA.ORG!
Page 16 The Ohio Rural Letter Carrier April/May 2013
Non-Profit
U. S. Postage
PAID
Permit # 225
Youngstown, OH
Members
Send Address Changes to:
Ohio Rural Letter Carriers Association
104 Clay Road SW
Dellroy, OH 44620-9757
UPCOMING EVENTS
Income Tax Filing Deadline
April 15, 2013
Retirement Seminar Newark Metropolitan Hotel
50 N. 2nd St., Newark, Ohio April 28, 2013
Pac $1000 Raffle
OHRLCA Board Meeting Newark Metropolitan Hotel April 29, 2013—8:00 a.m.
Mid-States Conference
Traverse, Michigan May 3, 4, 5, 2013
Deadline For Nominations For National Convention Delegate
May 31, 2013
National Delegate Name Drawing
June 4, 2013—7:00 p.m. 104 Clay Rd. SW
Dellroy, Ohio
Constitution Changes And Resolutions Are Due In The
Secretary/Treasurer Office by July 9, 2013
State Convention July 14-16, 2013
Westlake Hoilday Inn 1100 Crocker Rd.
Westlake, OH 44145
National Convention August 13-16, 2013 St. Louis, Missouri
All dates and times are subject to change due to
unexpected events. Please check our website
OHRLCA.org for changes to this schedule and the
most current date information.
DEADLINE for the June/July issue is May 12, 2013. Please
have all articles to Editor Lori Todd by that date.
Constitution Change and Resolutions Forms
were printed February/March 2013 Ohio Ru-
ral Letter Carrier!
Constitution Changes and Resolutions
ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY JULY 3rd, send to:
Secretary/Treasurer Penny Koren,
104 Clay Rd SW, Dellroy, OH 44620
ATTENTION: NATIONAL
DELEGATE BALLOT DRAW
IF YOU WISH YOUR NAME ON
THE NATIONAL DELEGATE BAL-
LOT, HAVE YOUR NOMINATING
BALLOT IN THE OFFICE OF: SEC-
RETARY PENNY KOREN BY MAY 29,
2013.
Two members of the Election Com-
mittee will pull the nominee names and
the order they are drawn is the order they
will appear on the ballot. The ballot draw
will be May 31, 2012 at Secretary-
Treasurer Penny Koren's residence, 104
Clay Rd SW, Dellroy OH 44620 at 7:00
pm.
This event is open to all members.
OHRLCA Retirement Seminar
Sunday, April 28th Newark Metropolitan Hotel, 50 N. 2nd St., Newark, Ohio 43055
Joni Montroy of Key Retirement Solutions and
Former USPS Human Resource Specialist
CSRS—FERS—Benefits—Thrift Savings—Life Insurance
CSRS 9:00 am - 11:00am FERS 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Everyone attending the seminar needs to bring a current Form 50 and pay stub!