In these unprecedented economical times every profession, every worker faces a serious threat. Jobs are being lost by the millions; wages and benefits are under attack. You must be prepared to protect your paycheck.

The collective bargaining agreement, CONTRACT for letter carriers, will expire November 20, 2011. The current financial position of the U.S. Postal Service does not reflect a positive atmosphere for NALC negotiators.

There is an imbalance in the financial structure of the U.S.P.S. Overpayments for retiree pensions have been identified. $75 billion dollars of overpayments. How and when will Congress restore these funds to the U.S.P.S. ? This money is rightfully that of the U.S.P.S., and will have a huge impact on the U.S.P.S.' bottom line. This money will have a huge impact on contract negotiations.

Additionally, there is an unfair financial burden imposed by law on the Postal Service. It is the PAEA (Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act) mandate for the U.S.P.S. to "prefund" retiree health benefits for the next seventy-five years, a mandate or requirement no other corporation or government entity is subjected to. The Postal Service was granted a waiver on the $5.5 billion payment for 2010.

The Postal Service cited $12 billion in losses over the last three years. In those years the U.S.P.S. paid $12.4 billion in retiree prefunding payments. These billions of dollars had the most significant negative impact on the fiscal health of the Postal Service, dwarfing the effects of the recession and the inherent loss of revenue.

What does all of this mean to you? What is your role in impacting upcoming negotiations? How do you protect your paycheck?

There are a litany of things you can and must do if you have any expectation of successful contract negotiations. You must take the initiative. As past President Bill Young has stated, "We can do this with you, we cannot do it for you."

You must register to vote in the upcoming elections. You must vote for friends of letter carriers in the elections. Friends of letter carriers protect your livelihood. You must sign up as an eActivist. As an eActivist you will be informed of the most expeditious method of any letter carrier action that may be imminently required. You must support COLCPE, preferably by payroll deduction. The payroll deduction method allows the NALC to properly budget their political activities. COLCPE gives financial support to political campaigns to friends of letter carriers. COLCPE provides the financial means to allow the NALC to release letter carriers to actively work on political campaigns for friends of letter carriers.

President Fred Rolando has declared that letter carrier action is forthcoming. What President Rolando will have letter carriers do has not yet been determined, but letter carriers will be heard from. Will your voice and participation be included?

This August in Anaheim, CA, the 67th Biennial National NALC Convention will convene. Approximately 8,000 delegates, representing the 200,000 letter carriers from all 50 States and territories will decide the direction the NALC leadership will follow going forward to collective bargaining in the upcoming year. This is a democratic union and the members will, through their delegates and votes, determine the future for letter carriers.

For a democracy to work, every member must do his or her part. The majority rules, and the NALC will go forward in solidarity. As an active member, by participating in the various union activities you will protect your paycheck.

Letter carriers continue to take home a paycheck but Postal Headquarters is threatening the future.

The Postal Service is not shielded from the harsh reality of this historical recession. Dropping mail volume means dropping revenue. There are losses on top of losses. The problems do not seem to subside. The Postal Service has decided to surrender.

The NALC has discovered that the U.S.P.S. has overpaid huge sums, in the billions of dollars, to the U.S. Treasury. Additionally, the NALC has underscored the need for relief from a mandate that the Postal Service prefund retiree health benefits. A mandate no other company or U.S. organization is subjected to. The NALC is lobbying Congress making the case for the salvation of the U.S. Postal Service.

The U.S. Postal Service has chosen to surrender. The U.S. Postal Service has chosen the easy path of short-term recovery. The U.S. Postal Service believes that elimination of Saturday delivery will be their salvation. Maybe the Postal Service needs new imaginative innovative leadership?

Why has management's staff been decimated and by whom? Carrier station compliments too, are starting to grow very thin, The agency is not serving its employees. What will happen to service to its customers? Are these deficiencies recognized by the Postal Service?

The surrender of the Postal Service cannot be accepted. . I for one am getting tired of making excuses for the rash cuts the Postal Service has made to its support infrastructure. I am tired of explaining to letter carriers why they don't have access to their uniform allowances and how to remedy that problem through management. I am tired of making excuses for management's untimely improper handling of compensation claims and questions. I am also growing weary of tracking down carrier equipment and making excuses for not having supplies. Isn't it peculiar that letter carriers celebrate and defend their ownership of new letter carrier necessities like satchel bags, pushcarts, relay satchels, rubber bands, etc.? Are these the ingredients of surrender? What the hell are they thinking?

The NALC has recognized it is a time for fresh new ideas. The NALC has proposed that the Postal Service be creative. Create new types of products and services. Create a new business model. The old downsize methodology will not work. If the Postal Service cannot succeed as a Government backed monopoly, what success will it have when it cannot perform for its customers, the American people? If the Postal Service no longer delivers every address, everyday, how long will they remain the biggest and the best? Will they continue to deliver for America?

The NALC is pulling out all the stops. We will sound off in Washington, D.C. The White House and Congress have already endorsed six-day delivery going forward. Many in Congress have signaled skepticism and a lack of support for the PMG surrender.

The White House and Congress can right the wrong the US. Treasury has perpetrated on the U.S.P.S. Congress must restore the $75 billion the Postal Service has overpaid. Congress must either lift the prefund mandate or apply the monies from the massive overpayment to satisfy the mandate. Congress must do the right thing.

Letter carriers from across the nation are presently making their annual lobbying visits to Capitol Hill. Soon every letter carrier will be notified that they too must weigh in on the NALC solution. Letter carriers must let every representative in Congress know that they can help correct this egregious misappropriation.

Branch 36 celebrated this monumental anniversary at our regular March membership meeting. It was a special day for a special anniversary. President Emeritus Vincent R. Sombrotto, the New York catalyst of that landmark strike, was present to share this special anniversary. A full house of Branch 36 members, old and new, reveled in President Sombrotto's recollections of the events leading up to and culminating in that historical, unprecedented labor action. Vince was masterful, as usual, sharing insights and details of the gains today's letter carriers enjoy. It was fantastic to have Vince share this day with us. The meeting hall was full of love and pride, basking in the presence of greatness and history. Thank you Vince, for sharing this day with your brothers and sisters of Branch 36. Thank you Vince, for sharing your dedication, skills and talent with the NALC. Branch 36 is looking forward to spending time with you again.

.The Collective Bargaining Agreement - Contract - that we are currently working with is due to be renegotiated for 2011. The labor landscape in its present form does not lend much encouragement to our NALC leaders preparing for negotiations.

This is not a lament of a dismal forecast. This is a call for YOU to prepare to assist our National leaders with all the resources we can give them for negotiations.

The NALC leadership is quite adept at handling collective bargaining. The NALC history illustrates the union’s ability to secure an acceptable agreement by whatever means necessary. The NALC has won landmark interest Arbitration cases, most notably, the Fleishli Award. The Fleishli Award elevated ALL letter carriers to Level 6. Over the years numerous contracts were resolved via arbitration. The NALC and the USPS were able to negotiate a settlement on the current 2006 - 2011 National Agreement.

When the NALC secures a negotiated agreement with the Postal Service, that agreement is sent out to the membership for ratification. If the membership rejects the package there is no agreement. The NALC does not sign off on a National Agreement until the members approve it by a majority vote. One member, one vote. The membership voted overwhelmingly to accept the agreement the NALC negotiated for 2006 - 2011.

If the NALC and the Postal Service cannot agree on a Contract, the parties will ultimately have the fate of the new agreement decided at binding arbitration. A decision constructed by a third party. This decision is final and binding; this decision does not require acceptance by the membership.

What does all of this indicate for 2011? 2011 poses a complex and unique challenge for a collective bargaining agreement for letter carriers. The Postal Service numbers, in and of themselves, do not address the real factors relevant to a wage and benefit package for letter carriers.

The Postal Service is losing mail volume. The Postal Service is losing revenue. These factors are huge obstacles to NALC negotiators but they do not accurately reflect the whole truth for the staggering dollar losses attributed to the Postal Service.

Quite a number of changes are occurring in our world, the Postal Service. Locally, in Manhattan and the Bronx we've seen extensive personnel changes. We have new people in such positions as The Area Vice President, the District Manager, the Postmaster of New York, the Postmaster of the Bronx, also numerous Area Managers and Station Managers. The "Voluntary Early Retirement" opportunity has enabled scores of senior employees to retire early.

The NALC has once again joined the challenge to "save the Postal Service". The NALC has partnered with the USPS in a joint process effort (MIARAP) to expedite route adjustments to be current with the workload.

The NALC has also exhorted the USPS to redouble their input in the "Customer Connect" program. Letter carriers are generating millions of dollars in revenue and there is vast potential.

The NALC continues to exercise its strength in numbers on the legislative front. The eActivists, the Carrier Corps and COLCPE fuel the political forces in Washington.

Change is not always pleasant, however, change is inevitable. If you get involved, you may influence the resulting changes. If you do not lend yourself to the effort, you can't complain about the outcome.

There is a lot at stake in the near future: the survival of the Postal Service being chief among them. The continuation of the Six Day Delivery. The struggle to negotiate a positive Collective Bargaining Agreement is equally of prime concern.

Lend your support to the NALC struggle. It's for your own good.
Enjoy the Holidays everyone, and let's see what lies ahead in 2010.

In recent years the NALC had devoted considerable resources to Route Protection. Every union letter carrier was provided with a Route Protection Manual. The manual covered every aspect of the Count and Inspection from "Dry Run" through subsequent adjustments. Letter carriers were now educated, armed with information and prepared to grieve the C & I if necessary. The Count and Inspection was not supposed to be an adversarial process, but to letter carriers it was

In 2008 the NALC and the USPS developed a joint process to evaluate and adjust letter carrier routes. The joint process would team union and management representatives. The joint process began and shortly afterward was modified and the national level agreement was called MIARAP - Modified Interim Alternate Route Adjustment Process.

MIARAP eliminates the six-day count and inspection. It eliminates the need for management to monitor your every meve for one week. Route counts and inspections were very contentious, acrimonious experience Letter carriers did not appreciate a supervisor, usually a stranger, watching them all day. Letter carriers did not appreciate supervisors watching them and jotting notes on a clipboard or making unwelcome remarks. Letter carriers were distrustful of these strangers.

The coincidental timing of the MIARAP process and the extraordinary drop in mail volume in many cases has shocked and disturbed many letter carriers. It is human nature to dislike change. When change equals lost or longer routes surely there will be many unhappy letter carriers. MIARAP is a joint, NALC/USPS endeavor. It is not infallible but I believe it is a fair method to evaluate routes. The final product of MIARAP adjustments should be an eight-hour route. It is known and accepted by all parties that letter carriers will perform eight hours work for eight hours pay.

A key component to the success of the process is communications. Letter carriers should be made aware of the evaluation process in their stations. They should be informed of how the process works and what their role is in the process. Letter carrier input is key. There are two consultations with each carrier involved in the process. The planned changes are reviewed extensively with a station representative and the station manager. The station Shop Steward should be the station representative. When all of the voices are heard and all of the participants are listening, there is less margin for error. Mistakes do and will happen. They can and will be corrected.

The United States Postal Service is having financial difficulties. There is not an industry in America that is immune to the staggering recession the nation is in.

Two years ago there were whispers of layoffs in the Postal Service. This did not happen. There have been serious actions, excessing, and job eliminations to name two. There have been early retirement opportunities and recently incentives for some crafts to take early retirement. No letter carrier has lost his or her job. It is unlikely that any letter carrier will lose his or her job due to downsizing.

Letter carrier is a good job, with good wages and benefits. We can all look forward to some days being better than others but at the end of the day, letter carriers still have that good job.

It is hopeful that all letter carriers are mindful that we are in a struggle. The letter carriers of the NALC must continue to stay involved, get involved. Letter carriers must continue to support COLCPE. Letter carriers must participate in the Carrier Corps. and E-Activists. Our ability to protect our interests lies in our ability to maintain our strength and alliances. We can deal with change, we are still here and we are still strong.

On Sunday, September 13, 2009 Branch 36 celebrated our 36th annual Retiree Brunch. This year it was held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. A good time was had by all as is usual. There were some newly retired members present and I hope that more of the new retirees come out and join us next year. I look forward to the continued attendance of our regular old timers. It's wonderful when letter carriers who worked together for years or decades reunite to rerninisce the "good old days".

.Mike Kelly, Shop Steward of Cooper Station said he liked it so much he ivrote Andy Rooney a letter. Andy it seems likes to receive letters in the mail. I think if you see the clip and like it you to should write a letter to Andy Rooney, I 'am writing my letter to Mr. Rooney right now.

President Young succeeded Vincent R. Sombrotto when he was elected overwhelmingly in 2002 and then reelected by acclamation in 2006. President Emeritus Sombrotto is legendary but Bill Young stepped right in and brought with him the leadership skills the NALC was accustomed to.

I had many occasions to spend time with Bill. I even played golf with him a few times. Bill enjoys the camaraderie of the many letter carriers he meets. In the time I was with Bill I saw his dedication and commitment to his family. I often questioned Bill about NALC positions I wondered about and his answers were always thoughtful and informative.

I enjoyed the times I was with Bill Young. I appreciate the dedicated leaaersntp he displayed as our President. Bill Young his worked long and hard in service to letter carriers. Bill Young followed in giant footsteps and left some footprints of his own. I wish Bill Young a long, healthy and rewarding retirement. He earned it and he deserves it.

As per the NALC constitution, Executive Vice President Fredric V. Rolando will be sworn in as the 18th President of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

President Rolando will have a monumental and unique undertaking awaiting him. The current state of the Postal Service, the economy and the labor landscape welcome the incoming President. These issues comprise quite a challenge, however, Presidents Sombrotto and Young before him faced their own daunting challenges masterfully. I am confident President Fred Rolando will be more than equal to the task.

I have met Fred on numerous occasions. Fred is a personable man with a wry sense of humor. When I met him I felt as if I had known him for some time. Fred has logged many years of experience and tireless commitment to letter carriers.

I am confident Fred Rolando will forge his own successful legacy as our leader, as the 18th President of the NALC.

Congratulations and the best of luck to President William H. Young and to President Fredric V. Rolando. Hip, Hip Hooray to both of you.

Main Street, U.S.A. is now left to ponder and comprehend the extent of the Wall Street collapse as it hits home. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their homes. The American workers who still have jobs have seen wages and benefits evaporate in lieu of keeping their jobs.

All career letter carriers still do have a pension to look forward to. All career letter carriers still do have all of their benefits, health insurance, life insurance, wage guarantees and their collective bargaining agreement.

Was it really luck that has saved the letter carriers? Are letter carriers lucky to have fought off the suggestion of a five-day mail delivery? Are letter carriers lucky to sneer at the prospect of reinvented letter carriers assignments, such as casers and deliverers?

Hell no, it isn't luck. It's leadership. Leadership at all levels. It's unity and solidarity at all levels. These are the ingredients of the letter carriers' luck.

Our National leaders have been quite busy in Washington. President Young has testified before Congress in direct contradiction to the Postmaster General who seeks to cut back to five-day delivery. President Emeritus Sombrotto's words "Show me the books" ring as true today as they ever did. There has not been a Government bailout for the U.S. Postal Service, nor has one been sought. There has not been any subsidizing of the U.S.P.S. by any public funds since the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. The Postal Service has offered early retirement to many employees in an effort to reduce manpower. There have not been any layoffs of Postal employees as yet.

The NALC has aggressively sought the passage of HR 22 which would provide substantial financial relief to the U.S.P.S.'s budget. HR 22 would not be a gift or a bailout. The USPS is currently required to prefund health benefits for retired employees. No other government agency or private corporation is required to advance these funds.

The passage of HR 22 would level the field for the Postal Service, at least in that one aspect. The Post Office has been a cash cow for the government for too long.

Was it luck that tallied tremendous victories this past November? The November that saw the election of President Barack Obama. The November that saw friends of working families take back the majority in the House of Representatives. The November that oddly remains open to decide the Senatorial election in Minnesota, which could result in an insurmountable majority for a worker-friendly U.S. Senate.

Hell no it wasn't luck. It was the men and women of the NALC putting their money where their mouths are. It was COLCPE in motion. The NALC released an army of hundreds into the field to work seven days a week for the months and weeks leading up to the November elections. It was grass roots activities, as in NALC Carrier Corps. Volunteering their time to the NALC cause. It was hardworking, dedicated letter carriers delivering victory.

I believe it was President Emeritus Sombrotto who invented COLCPE. I believe it was Branch 36 and Region 15 that led the way in dollars and contributors to COLCPE for decades. It seems that the rest of the country has caught on. The object is to succeed and grow. Branch 36 was once the largest NALC branch in the world. We are not anymore. Branch 36 as stated once led the world in COLCPE, we do not anymore. Does this diminish Branch 36 or Region 15? I don't think so.

Contributions and donations are personal matters. People need to understand or be educated to the need for their contributions. At Branch 36, we have worked tirelessly to demonstrate the power of COLCPE. I am convinced that my brothers and sisters of Branch 36 appreciate this power and are coming onboard. Having a vastly improved and simplified payroll deduction method, thanks largely to Sonny Guadaiupe, Branch 36 is now signing up hundreds of payroll deduction contributors. The dedication, commitment and hard work of Region 15 activists has produced amazing results. Three congressional seats, historically anti worker seats, were won by candidates supported by letter carriers. Staten Island, N.Y. and Congressional District 19 and 20 of the Hudson Valley are now worker-friendly. Many of us, and there were many of us, who participated without being asked to, gave our time to various political campaigns. Our efforts paid off, we won. We know what matters in Branch 36 and Region 15. The congressional representatives and the U.S. Senators in Region 15 are 100% worker-friendly, that no brag, just fact. We have an amazing CDL, Congressional District Liaison, Ms. Carmen Flores. Carmen has forged a relationship with Congresswoman Ms. Carolyn Maloney that surely must embody the concept of CDL. There are too many milestones and accomplishments to continue in this space. I am also not good at recognizing all of the successes and contributions of my Branch 36 brethren, I am often guilty of omission and oversight. I do want to name one more success story here. Every fall at the retiree brunch brother Eddie Gerussi asks why his station is never mentioned in the Outlook newspaper? I am proud and thrilled to say that Williamsbridge Station of the Bronx has made their first ever contribution to COLCPE. Thank you brothers ind sisters, great job Shop Steward J.kllrnnp'orge Perez in leading the way.

When there is a problem or a challenge, the commitment, dedication and of course contributions of the men and women of my branch, Branch 36, will again be ready to show everyone the way. how lucky is that?

What does this mean to letter carriers? What has changed? What do letter carriers need to do?

As a union, we have recognized our call to duty. The NALC has always been a proactive organization. Before the disastrous economic crisis made headlines the NALC was expanding Customer Connect and generating vast sums of new revenue. The Interim Alternative Route Adjustment Process was another tool to enable the Postal Service to more timely adjust to business needs. With no need for sarcasm, the 1etter.carrier mantra of days gone by is seriously relevant today. We the letter carriers, must save the Postal Service. Keep in mind what President Emeritus Vicent R. Sombrotto always reminded us "the Postal Service is the repository of all our jobs."
This is were we work this is where our paychecks come from.

This union has worked tirelessly to preserve letter carrier jobs, letter carrier.wages, and letter carrier benefits. The NALC has worked with the leadership of'the Postal Service to continue to serve the American people with the best, most efficient and economical Postal Service in the world

The Postal Service is fundamentally just like any other company. Its obligations are funded by its revenue. A significant drop in revenue must be addressed. We are all aware of the. dropping mail volume. We are all aware of the adjustments the Postal Service is making to try and keep pace with the economic impact this downturn is having on Postal revenue.

This union has worked tirelessly and at great expense in dollars and the sweat of letter carriers to elect leaders to Washington who will represent and safeguard workers and working families.

Now more than ever all letter carriers must stand up and be noticed. Let it be known that you are a NALC member. Let it be known that letter carriers deliver. You will make a difference in your future.

Changes that are occurring in the PO. may not be to your liking. Perhaps your route was adjusted and you don't like it. Even worse, maybe you lost your route. I would be equally disturbed by such an event but I encourage you to consider all things. We are in a survival mode right now. Our best interests are to protect letter carrier jobs.

We, the letter carriers, have much going for us. We are in the forefront of proactive meaningful leadership. We are faced with a tremendous obstacle right now and every letter carrier must recognize this. Every letter carrier must get involved to achieve a 'positive solution. You can no longer let the other guy do it, no one can do this for you. The "union" is not going to protect your paycheck, you are the "union". If you haven't been one of us, I think you'd better get with us now. Tomorrow might be too late.

In subsequent years many finance reforms were enacted to prevent a recurrence of such a devastating economic disaster.

Through the 1940's and 50's the hard toil, labor and dedication of the American workforce rebuilt the nation and the nation's economy. Prosperity became an American birthright. Many of the children of depression era parents were able to obtain better educations than their parents could. With superior education and a thriving economy they were able to find good jobs. The next generation took the same direction: education - career - prosperity. The common expectation became each succeeding generation would fare better than their parents. This actually was more of a reality than an American Dream.

Along the way from the 1930's to the present 21st century there were bumps in the road. The 1950's were economically flat. The 1970's and 80's experienced runaway inflation. In 1987 there was a huge tremor in the stock market. Reforms created after the 1929 collapse helped, but once again, the government had to intercede. The investment world had stumbled, and it was a period of a few years before a full recovery. The late 1980's and the 1990's ultimately enjoyed peace and prosperity.

On September 11, 2001 our nation suffered the worst enemy attack on the United States homeland in history. The tremendous loss of innocent civilian lives .and the hipact of the scurrilous attack terrified and horrified the nation. America grieved and tended to the business of recovery. The realization of the financial impact of this terrorist attack soon became a shocking reality. The insurance and airline industries were struck a devestating blow. Once again the government had to intercede to bolster failing industries. The nation once again began struggling toward recovery.

The 9/11 economic recovery was progressing despite major interuptions, most significantly, Hurricane Katrina. 2007 through 2008 saw wild fluctuations in oil and gas prices. At the close of 2008 the American economy had imploded. The American banking system appears to have totally failed. Century old investment banks and firms are defunct. Most major banks are failing. The government must aid Wall Street in this crisis or the United States is in financial ruin. All of fhe powers of the U.S. government crafted a plan to "bailout" Wall Street.

On the heels of the banking failure the big Three U.S. automakers declare, unanimously, potential bankruptcy. Another segment, manufacturing, of the U.S. economy is close to shut down. Another government intercession, another government "bailout" is necessary.

The calamity of the Wall Street failings has resulted in losses of hundreds of thousands of jobs as businesses fail and shut down. The attempted rescue of the automakers is also an attempt to preserve hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

The American middle class is under seige. Americans are losing their jobs, their homes and the security which has provided for generations.

We can only pray that suggestions of a return to the 1930's are no more than a hysterical reaction to the constant reports of gloom and doom.

Letter carriers have enjoyed the many' fruits of prosperity; letter carriers too are the middle class. Letter carriers should be aware and concerned, not fearful, of what is happening around them. The current economy is in crisis. No industry, no company is proceeding with business as usual.

The Postal Service is not impervious to the dire economic conditions. The mail volume had been falling in recent years with no relevance to the American economy. whether times were good or bad. The ramifications of the poor economy magnify the loss of Postal revenue. Advertising is way down. Not only direct mailing, but publications and newspapers are failing. They represent additional losses from the mail stream. In 2008 the total mail volume had declined by nearly TWO BILLION pieces.

Let me repeat, letter carriers need not be afraid. Letter carriers must remain vigilant. The NALC is on high alert. The NALC has been in communication with Congress, as has the Postal Service. In recent meetings with Congress the Postal Service has acknowledged that the NALC/USPS Interim MRA memo will save the U.S.P.S. $1.4 billion.

NALC President Young has delcared that letter carriers have aided and contributed to the crisis needs of the U.S.P.S. What are the other employees and organizations contributing?

Letter carrier will continue to work at good paying jobs with benefits. Letter carriers will .continue to receive eight hours pay for eight hours work. Surely letter carriers can recognize the needs of the moment. The Minor Route Adjustment process may, in many instances, not be amenable to every letter carrier. The process is not an exact science, nor does it promise an ideal product. What the MRA memo will do is adjust letter carrier routes to as near to eight hours as possible in an expeditious manner.

Tuesday, November 4,2008 will forever be hailed as proof positive that the United States of America is indeed the bastion of equality and opportunity for all.

Once before in my lifetime a young visionary was empowered by the American people. That visionary outlined the path to the new frontier and beyond. Then as now, America was at a threshold. With his youth, vision and vigor, I am confident President Obama will restore America's hope and prosperity for the future.

The NALC, every brother and sister of this great union, spared no effort to rally the rank and file as activists. So many letter carriers were volunteers in so many races. Many of the carriers I have seen since the election are so proud, and rightfully so. Those who participated in the.process felt responsible for the success of their candidates and I laud and congratulate every one of them. Job well done.

The nation can now prepare to move forward. Recovery on many fronts will begin with President Obama's inauguration and selection of a Cabinet.

Letter carriers must be mindful that the political process is a work in progress. Enjoy this victory, but don't think for a minute that it's over. It's never over. Letter carrier participation in this election was a huge success. The need for e-Activists will not cease. The value and power of the Carrier Corps will not dirninish. The absolute demand for COLCPE cannot be overlooked. These are among the many ways that rank and file members participate in the political process for letter carrier goals and issues. Keep up the good work.

I hope to see many of you on the work floor. For many of you this is our chat room. To all of you, I wish you a joyful holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy New Year.