Massachusetts own Mike Quinn Postmaster of Dracut MA is running for National Secretary Treasurer. Mike is attending many Chapter Conventions accross the country to share his ideas and values with other Postmasters. Massachusetts is doing all it can to assist Mike with his expenses. If you haven't got your ticket for the $10,000 raffle you need to act soon. Time is running out and the tickets are already half way sold. Tickets are $100 but only 200 will be sold. Buy one on your own or pitch in with a few people to share in the winnings. Contact Mike or your local Chapter President to purchase yours today!
Ok, so its a little late, but no worries. Here is the National Convention issue youve all been waiting for. BTW the next issue will be in January, please send me some stuff. Also it will have the Scholarship application and more on State Convention. See you all soon
2011 PAC’N A CURE Ride
Dear fellow NAPUS Member,
Our 7th annual Massachusetts NAPUS convention PAC ride is upon us once again!! Seven (7) Massachusetts NAPUS members will cycle 100 miles to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer and Your donation will be split, 50/50, PAC and a cure for breast cancer (PAC ‘N A CURE RIDE).
Last year we donated $1,000 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on behalf of Massachusetts NAPUS members!! We’re hopeful you’ll sponsor our efforts to wipe out this horrible disease and at the same time help preserve our jobs, benefits, and retirement, through PAC; but more importantly we’d like you to provide us with the name of someone you know who has or is suffering with the horrible disease of Breast Cancer.
Your Very Important Person’s name will be hand written on a yellow jersey, worn by one of our NAPUS cyclist during the ride.
On the first day of this year’s MA NAPUS State convention, your V.I.P. YELLOW JERSEY cyclist will leave from the Red Jacket in South Yarmouth at 7:30 a.m., cycle to and then back to the Red Jacket for our annual barbeque.
Our goal is to receive contributions of $10, $20, or more per sponsor and yes, anyone you know can contribute to our cause. Sponsors who donate Twenty-five ($25.00) or more will receive a T shirt commemorating our event. Please see the sponsor sheet on the reverse side of this letter. Now more than ever we need your help, so please rally around us and get the word out, we’re just a few weeks away from the convention.
Checks or M.O.’s can be made out to Massachusetts NAPUS and our Executive Officers will again publish the donations in the Baystater so that everyone knows the outcome of this noble cause. We’d like to have all funds collected by June 5, 2011, so please help us with sponsorship for the 2011 NAPUS “PAC’N A CURE” Ride!!!!
Best Wishes and Thank you
J. J. Donovan, President
020/023 NAPUS Mayflower Chapter
Dear Representative/Senator __________,
On March 31, the U.S. Postal Service filed regulations (39 CFR Part 241) that, if implemented, could deny your constituents valued postal services and statutory due process rights. Therefore, I respectfully request you to file comments with Postal Service objecting to these regulations.
The proposed regulations would enable the Postal Service to unilaterally consolidate an existing post office by administratively redesignating it as a "station or branch". This clearly violates title 39 of the United States Code, with regard to the statutory post office consolidation process and the postal-served community would be denied the legal right to appellate review by the Postal Regulatory Commission when the Postal Service elects to close the station or branch. The proposed regulations also violate the law by redefining the position of "postmaster", which is presently defined in statute.
I have taken the liberty of attaching some background material relating to the Postal Service-filed regulations and the address where your comments must be sent. It is crucial the your comments be received by the designated Postal Service official no later than May 2, 2011.
If you have any questions, you may call me at _________, or NAPUS Director of Government Relations at 703-683-9027.
Thank you your help in protecting universal postal services.
Sincerely,
USPS-Proposed Rules Violate At Least Two Provisions Included in
Title 39 of the United States Code
The National Association of Postmaster of the United States (NAPUS) and the National League of Postmasters (NLPM) request Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives) to file official comments with the U.S. Postal Service that object to tampering with the statutory definition of Postmaster; and the agency’s use of a regulatory "sleight of hand" to irreparably undermine a community’s statutory due process rights. The comments must be received by the Manager of Customer Service Standardization no later than May 2, 2011. Members of Congress should send their comments to:
Manager, Customer Service Standardization
Attn: Retail Discontinuance
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Room 6816
Washington, DC 20260-6816
In addition, Members of Congress should send a copy of their comments to:
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe
United State Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260-2600
Issue
: On March 31, the USPS submitted "proposed" regulations that would define "Postmaster" in violation of current law, and would illegally authorize the closure or consolidation of a Post Office, without Postal Regulatory Commission appellate review.Illegal Change of the Definition of Postmaster
The Postmaster Equity Act (PL 108-86) establishes the legal definition of a Postmaster:
… an individual who is the manager in charge of a post office, with or without the assistance of subordinate managers of supervisors;
39 USC 1004(3)(i)The proposed regulation (39 CFR 241.1) would illegally change the definition by asserting:
A post office may be operated or managed by a postmaster, or by another type of postal employee.
[Emphasis added]In law, a post office is managed by a postmaster, plain and simple. The proposed regulations conflict with that law. The Senate Committee Report that accompanied the Postmaster Equity Act (Report 108-112) underscores the legal requirement that a post office is managed by a postmaster:
Postmasters are the manager-in-charge of the nation’s individual post offices
.In addition, the report states that postmasters "are accountable for postal operations and services, including retail operations and community relations." The regulation does not and cannot confer these responsibilities on "another type of postal employee."
Illegal Denial of Statutory Post Office Protection
The issue needs to be prefaced by a number of key facts. According to the Postal Regulatory Commission, closing all small and rural post offices would save the Postal Service less than 0.7% of its total operating budget; a recent Gallup Poll reported that 86% of Americans oppose closing post offices; post offices provide the pivotal communications and marketplace nexus between rural America and the global economy, supporting countless small and family-owned businesses; and post offices are an essential element of thousands of small and rural communities.
Current law, 39 USC 404(b), provides specific statutory guidelines that the Postal Service must follow if it decides to close or consolidate a post office. In addition, postal customers (e.g., communities, local officials, chambers of commerce, etc.) may appeal the closing or consolidation of a post office to the Postal Regulatory Commission, if either, the Postal Service fails to follow the statutory procedures, the decision is arbitrary or capricious, or the decision is unsupported by evidence. The statutory appeal rights apply to post offices; and the Postal Service’s proposed regulations acknowledge the distinction between post offices and other types of postal facilities – but then obliterate it. Other types of postal facilities are not granted the same statutory procedures, protections, and appeals as post offices.
The proposed regulations are a not-too-thinly-veiled attempt to subvert the statutory rights to which post office customers are entitled. The regulations seek to permit the USPS to convert a post office into a subordinate postal facility, which is denied specific statutory protections, under the Postal Service’s view. In essence, the conversion would consolidate one post office within the administrative operations of another. Consequently, via a slight of hand, the lapsed post office would morph into station or branch. Such a consolidation is subject to statutory rules and Postal Regulatory Commission review, notwithstanding the USPS’ regulatory attempt to subvert them in violation of the law. According to the proposed postal regulations, once the post office is converted – that is, consolidated – it would be immune from the statutory protections provided under 404(b). Rather, the converted post office would fall under the new regulations that grant the Postal Service the unfettered ability to close post offices, especially in small town and rural areas. This is the hidden agenda of the Postal Service and is in clear violation of 39 USC 101(b), which states that "the Postal Service shall provide the maximum degree of effective regular postal services to rural communities, and small towns and rural areas where post offices are not self-sustaining."
Well, Our State NAPUS Convention has come and gone but most of us feel it was a huge success. With 79 Postmasters and PM's Retired attending dispite the suspension of Convention leave we offered exceptional training, comraderie, and time to learn from one an other. The Honorable George Rushton was named as Postmaster of the Year 2009, We had top notch entertainment, and of course the Red Jacket was great as always. We had 8 first timers this year, some pictured above who all had a great time and learned much. Our Scholarships were awarded and although attendance was down we managed to raise a boatload of money for next years scholarships. JJ Donovan headed up the PAC -n- Cure ride which raised 2000$ to be split for PAC and Breastcancer! Great times!
Stay tuned for more pictures and the next Baystate Postmaster!
Our State Convention is just around the corner. Life sure gotten ahead of us this year and many of you are behind schedule. Thats OK! The AD book is closed but you can still donate directly to the scholarship fund (we definately need the funding). Remember the auction where all funds go to the scholarship too!
Also Thurs nites entertainment will be very memorable " Hyannis Sound" Acapella group will bring you to your feet! Come and enjoy!
Ken:
this site looks good. I think it is the avenue we have been looking for.
Great job!
MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER NAPUS
Explore regularly to see what we're up to
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