First, sign up to be an e-activist. This is a simple procedure without cost. When you sign up, you will be sent information pertaining to those issues that affect labor or your job.

Second, the most important program entails signing up for COLCPE automatic deduction. The acronym stands for Committee On Letter Carriers Political Education. Our national president Mr. William H. Young, has asked us to give at least $5.00 per pay period. Our goal is to have every member contribute to this good cause.

We recently visited Washington, D.C. where we met with some political offiicials md they are very supportive of letter carriers. Thanks to those who donate to COLCPE, several of these officials were elected through our votes and they thank us. They are committed to the labor movement. We all need them. Join right now by phoning Postal Ease to enroll in payroll deduction. All the bills and other NALCsupported legislation show that almost all the sponsors and co-sponsors of the 'bills received donations from the NALC COLCPE fund. Your job future is in your hands.

These are the steps to follow for retirement.
At Least One Year Before Retirement:

Ascertain when you will be eligible to retire and when you wish to retire. Check with your personnel office regarding any period of service which is necessary to give you title to an annuity at a cedain age, but which you are not sure is creditable for retirement purposes.

Gather information about any other pensions or benefits for which you might be eligible (e.g. benefits from Social Security, Veterans' Administration, pensions from private industry).

Set up an appointment with the personnel office. They will provide you with individual retirement counseling with the district retirement counselor early enough to allow that person time to answer any questions you may have or to resolve any problems you may be experiencing. Advance planning will enable you to review your Office Personnel Folder (OPF) ensuring that your records are complete showing service and all benefit entitlements. This should include information about your health benefits and life insurance coverages. If you are combining your military service, the personnel office needs to venfy creditable service time.

Apply to make any deposits for civilian and post-1956 military service if applicable or find out how such service would be credited if deposit is not made. Make your decision on when and how you wish to receive Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) funds. If applicable, arrange to pay off any TSP loans before retirement to avoid any delays in receipt of TSP distributions.

Request an annuity estimate, which will help in personal financial planning. This computation will also aid in making decisions about survivor benefits, waiving military retired pay, and paying deposits or redeposits.

To further aid your financial planning, estimate the monthly deductions (health benefits, life insurance, taxes, survivor annuity, etc.)

Keep in mind that the annuity amount provided by the personnel office is an estimate only -but hopefully it will be fairly close to the final annuity figure from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Six Months Before Retirement:
If applicable, decide whether to waive military retired pay.
Clear up debts owed the Postal Service (e.g. overpaid salary or advance leave).

Two to Four Months Before Retirement
Notify your supervisor, who will have to make plans to adjust for your absence.
SHARED SERVICES FOR POSTAL RETIREMENT 1-877-477-3273
1. VOICE PROMPTS HIT #5
2. SAY RETIREMENT
3. SAY AGENT
4. WORK ZIP
5. DIGIT ID#
6. POSTAL EASE PIN (if you don't know PIN say "DON'T KNOW)

Six Weeks Before Retirement:
Complete and submit the retirement application and related forms. As you will note, the application form contains several pages of information and instructions-read carefully before filling out the forms.
Of course, for some individuals there will be steps in addition to those in this brochure.

There are a lot of things to do before retirement, but it is quite manageable if approached in an organized way.

Please Note: To be eligible for health benefits and life insurance benefits into retirement, you must be enrolled in both for the last five years of employment. You do not have to be in the same health plan for those five years. You are allowed to be in a different health plan each of the five years. You just have to be enrolled for-five years.

Also, I'd like to welcome those who have joined the NALC Health Benefit Plan for 2009. That's the smartest move you could ever make in regard to getting the best health plan for yourselves and your families. We look forward to being your health plan this year and for all the years to come. To all those retirees and active members who will continue with the NALC health plan, we extend an enormous thank you. This is a great health plan.

With the holiday season now behind us, we can all reflect on the events that brought us joy this past year for which we are thankful. Let's not forget the men and women of the Armed Forces who are fighting to bring freedom to less fortunate people, and to ensure that we enjoy lasting freedom. Through the action of the majority of voters, the country will be governed for the next four years by a new administration whose top office holder will need all our support.

Recall the adage, a stitch in time saves nine. Let our pattern af behavior include continuing to contribute to COLCPE ... let's keep our friends in Washington close to the letter carriers. The economy is really in bad shape and our president elect will need our full support.

With the new year comes the time for new year resolutions. I request that every active letter carrier and retiree in our Branch resolves to make two resolutions. The first is to sign up to be a NALC-activist. The second resolution I ask you to make is to sign up for COLCPE, either through automatic deduction or by sending a check. If any of you don't know what COLCPE is, it is our politicd fund, the full name of which is Committee On Letter Carriers Political Education, We use it to help letter carrier-friendly candidates become elected to the House and the Senate, whether those candidates are from the Democratic or Republican Party. Many carriers have signed up for the deduction through Postal Ease and don't miss the 2,3, or 5 dollars coming out of their paychecks every two weeks. Let's make sure this will be a memorable year for our families, the union, and the United States of America.

The Postal Service- is no longer the service most of you readers are familiar with. The newer technology that includes the Internet is devouring the mail volume. Collection of mail in New York has been reduced and collection boxes are disappearing. Some stations are losing assignments. The Postal Service is offering early retirement to city carriers and members of other crafts so as to cut operating expenses.

The "early out" is irrevocable at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, November 21,2008. That is the closing date of this early retirement for individuals. Those of you who have second thoughts, may withdraw their retirement applications. Because of this economy crisis, the Postal Service is trying to cut personnel and services. We urge anyone considering the offer of "early out" retirement to be very careful, because "early out" does not grant you the retirement .pay you'd ordinarily receive.

Your job is very safe, and you could make your future retirement a healthier one if you join your Thrift Plan.

Your union will be there to protect your rights when you ask for it. I extend my sincere thanks to all those retirees who contribute to COLCPE. This is the way to keep our friends in Washington close to the letter carriers.

Remember please, youke nearing the time when you can change your medical coverage to the NALC Health Benefit Plan, which is superior to others, or to join for the first time, this health plan, from November 10th through December 8, 2008. You owe it to yourselves and your families. Check it out well. Begin now to start the New Year right, with the best health benefit plan, the NALC Health Benefit Plan which is owned, operated and controlled by letter carriers.

Present at the Brunch were President Emeritus Vince Sombrotto and our national Director of Retired Members, Ernest Kirkland. Vince spoke and he thanked all the members for what they did for him because, he said, with.out their support he would never have; accomplished all the good things he did for the letter carriers. He continued saying that because of the support of these branch members he was elected president of NALC.

Vince spoke about the coming national election. He advised the.members that the most important issues are their pensions, social security benefits, and the state of the economy. He advised that we make sure to voie for the right candidates who'll help us, and our families, and the United States. Vince never thought that the strike of 1970 would have the far-reaching impact
it has on today's letter carriers and be responsible for their being well paid, and be so well represented by union officials.

Vince presented a gold, card to retired member Robert Ieppariello, of Canal Station, who became a life member He was there.with his two sons.

Our National Director of Retired Members Ernest Kirklsnd also spoke. He told the members about the accumulation towards the 2009 retiree COLA that stands at 6.2 percent, based on the July CPI-W. He also thanks all the retirees who were part of the strike in 1970. He said that because of the changes in the Postal Service that followed the strike, he came to work at the Postal Service and was involved with the union in his state and today, he is the Director of Retired Members

For me it was one of the best sundays I was with all the retirees, I taked with them and shared great memories, but, at the same time, I was also sad because I miss Leon Brown During the time I've represented Branch 36, my good friend Leon Brown helped me and whenever an active letter carrier phoned for some advice, Leon was there to lend a helping hand. I first met Leon Brown at the branch Credit Union at a Board of Directors meeting. From that day forward, Leon and I became very close friends. Thanks to him, I acquired my job at Branch 36. After I became Director of Retirees, my desk and Leon's desk were adjacent to each other, during which time I enjoyed talking with him about everything from sports to family matters. Leon was a good and wonderful husband and a great father. Will deeply miss him. To Joann and family, I extend my sincerest condolence.

I must let you all know that there is an early out for those who are thinking of considering this offer. Carefully consider your family's financial situation and the effect it would have on your monthly retirement.
Keep our friends in Washington close to the letter carriers. CONTRIBUTE TO COLCPE.

On the first day of the Convenfiono, our national President Bill Ybung reminded everyone that the recession really began more than a year ago, and that the mail volume has declined for five straight quarters. First-Class mail volume fell by 3.5 percent. "Signs of distress are everywhere," tbe President said. May and June recorded the biggest jumps in unemiloyment in more than 20 years. Millions of Americans, including some NALC menibers, are losing their homes due to the mortgage market collapse. Fear is growing that doing mortgage business with a banking institution is no guarantee that doing so forms a safe investment. He continued to say that the key to rebuilding the middle-class in America is to rebuild the labor movement as a force for economic progress, and the key to rebuilding the labor movement is political change at both ends of Pennsylvania Ayenue in .Washington, D.C., meaning the Congress and the White House.

After Mr. Young's great speech, over one thousand members volunteered to have money given for COLCPE by way of payroll deduction. NALC and those making up most branches believe that making regular COLCPE contributions is the only way we can keep our political friends close to the letter carriers and our unions.

Our own Branch 36 leader, Charles Heege, is a firm believer in COLCPE. Thanks to many of our active and retiree members, Branch 36 contributed approximately $30,000.00 every year. Because of these contributions, our NALC as well as state and national leadership can remain strong, and our jobs can remain safe. Sincere and abundant thanks ape extended to each of you who contribute to COLCPE.

Our national President William Young is not the only person in authority warning letter carriers about the future of the Postal Service. Also of the same view is the President of the American Postal Workers Union, Mr.William Bums. He said in this changing world no one is strong enough to stand alone against adversity. Despite all our successes, the future of our jobs will be determined by our ability to work together. These are strong words. We all make up the union and we must work together intelligenrly to accomplish what will ensure the continuation of our jobs and the Postal Service

Good news from Branch 36. Our Branch 36 President Charles Heege won renomination and reelection to a successive 4 year term in office as a delegate to the AFL-CIO convention by 10,428 votes. No other candidate acquired as many votes. We celebrate this good news and take renewed hope that the best is yet to come because our Charlie Heege is among the group of candidates who became reelected. Congratulations Charlie!

Jimmy spoke about ttke benefits of the Thrift plan, in which way a letter carrier's future will depend upon his or her retirement plan. With this retirement plan you could make yaur retirement benefit a healthy one. Study the information to make the wisest decision about which plan is best for you. He spoke about the five types of Thrift Savings Plan Annuities:

1. Single Lie Annuity: This annuity provides monthly payments to you only, for as long as you live.
2. Joint Life Annuity With Your Spouse
3. Joint Life Annuity With Other Than Your Spouse'
4. Single Life and Joint Life Annuities
5. Lavel And Increasing Payment Annuities

Jimmy spoke about your Social Security benefits. Because many members want to lcnow more about these retirement plans, our Branch will conduct another Thrift Savings .Plan F.E.R.S. Retirement seminar on Tuesday June 10, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at the Vincent R. Sombrotto Building, 347 West 41st Street, N.Y.

If you are eligible to retire, please learn all about your future benefits. This is very important for your retirement. Just call Shared Services for Postal Retirement. The number to call is 1-877-477-5273. Shared Services will send you a Blue Book. with the necessary information. Once you receive this book, contact me at the Branch and I will be glad to help you. Once you have reviewed and updated all your benefits, you should share it with your loved one. Maintain everything in a safe place.

Retirees, contribute to COLCPE directly from your annuity. You have the option of making voluntary contributions.