Note from PM Rep Chair - Jim Zach
A number of us just got back from the Legislative/Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. It was a very interesting time to be in our Nation’s Capital, to say the least. While there, I was able to attend both the morning Question & Answer session for PM Reps, and the afternoon Training class. More about that later.
At the various Chapter meetings held earlier this year, I had the opportunity to address those in attendance, with some brief remarks. I say brief, because public speaking is not one of my strengths, and I tend to talk kinda fast! At any rate, one of my common themes regarded something I’ve noticed since getting involved in PM Rep work; and has been confirmed in discussions with other officers and past PM Reps. And that is, that the Postmasters who get in trouble and need help are the ones who are almost never in attendance at a NAPUS function. And, sadly, most of the discipline that is issued is warranted. Maybe I’m naïve, and a little out of the loop since I’ve been retired for 5 years, but I really believe that most POOM’s do not have the time or inclination to be issuing Letters Of Warning willy-nilly. Almost all of the disciplinary issues I’ve handled in the past year and-a-half were, regrettably, deserved; most of the PM’s involved admitted that to me! The best I can do in those circumstances is get the severity and/or term reduced.
My point in all this is to encourage everyone to attend whatever NAPUS functions they can. I know that with the loss of convention leave, it makes it very difficult to justify time away from family over a weekend, and have to use your annual leave to boot, for some of the longer events. Being involved in NAPUS is the only way you can get some of the training you need, and possibly even more important; establish the networking you need to reach out to a fellow Postmaster and ask for help, or help another Postmaster who is struggling. I keep in touch with quite a few of my active Postmaster friends, so I know what you’re up against, and that most of the training consists of classes that are Web-based. How are you supposed to get in your afternoon nap if you have to take one of those? (Please duly note the dripping sarcasm!) Not a very effective way to learn about something as critical as SOX compliance, with all the distractions inherent in your normal duties.
Please plan on attending the State Convention for whatever amount of time you can. The training classes are all scheduled for Monday afternoon, so if that’s all you can make it for, please do!
Back to the beginning of this missive. One of the things brought up by the National PM Rep Committee was that they are offering to send a National PM Rep to our State conventions to train current and potential PM Reps. If I can pull this off in the short time frame, Brenda Gibbs from Iowa would probably be the one doing the class, I’ve already talked to her and she was very open to it. Her class would probably be involved enough so that it would take both class sessions on Monday afternoon, so you wouldn’t be able to go to any other classes. For that reason, current PM Reps, State officers, and those who are seriously interested in becoming a PM Rep, are the ones the class would be tailored to. It won’t be a Q & A session, except as pertains to the training itself. This type of training would be very beneficial to all of us involved in the PM Rep process.
That’s all for now, hope to see a BUNCH of you at State Convention!
Jim Zach
PM Rep Chair
“If you like sausage and respect the law, never go where either one is made.”
Contact Information
JIM ZACH - PM Rep-Chair
Retired PM
Cook county
Cell 630-804-2740
JOHN BALL
Retired PM
Cook county
Home 708-596-5108
SHAWN BENNETT
Westville PM 61880
Vermillion county
Home 217-443-6197
Cell 217-304-3165
MIKE BOSWELL
Effingham PM 62401
Effingham county
Cell 618-263-2885
STEPHEN BOWLING
Retired PM
DeWitt county
Cell 217-620-3825
RUTHIE CAUBLE
Benton PM 62812
Franklin county
Home 618-435-3222
Cell 618-218-5608
CURT CLOUGH
Sullivan PM 61951
Moultrie County
Cell 217-619-3639
DRAKE DOMEL
Retired PM
Lake county
Cell 708-254-8376
KIRK EDGECOMBE
Rantoul PM 61866
Champaign county
Home 217-876-0209
Cell 217-620-0209
TOM HILL
Glasford PM 61533
Peoria county
Home 309-647-3310
Cell 309-389-3611
KAREN MUYSKENS
Flossmoor PM 60430
Cook county
Cell 708-799-3345
DARRELL REYNOLDS
Retired PM
McDonough county
Home 309-833-5142
Cell 309-333-9416
ELIZABETH SCHNITZLER
Retired PM
JoDaviess county
Home 815-598-3272
Cell 815-275-7134
MORRIE SMITH
Champaign PM 61821
Champaign county
Cell 217-473-0650
ARMAND V. SPADONI
Retired PM
DuPage county
Home: 630-260-1277
Cell: 630-517-5890
LARRY WIENEKE
Retired PM
Calhoun county
Home 618-576-2550
Cell 618-520-9068