Georgia State Association
of Letter Carriers

Proud to serve the Letter Carriers of this great state
OFFICER NOTES
 VICE-PRESIDENT REPORT
By
JACOB ALSTON


Brothers and Sisters, as I write my Article for this month let me say to all that time is fast approaching to submit applications for this year Royal E. Smith Scholarship. The deadline for applications will be April 15, 2008. Applications can be obtained from the following: Branch Presidents, The Ga. Letter Carrier Paper, and the Georgia State Association web Page at <gsalc.org>, or by contacting me by phone at 404- 536-0832. Let me take time in this Article to remind all Branches that the scholarship fund needs you donation. A big thank you to all the Branches that have donated to the scholarship fund and as I prepare to once again send out letters of appeal for your help to keep the scholarship fund viable so that we can continue to award our yearly scholarship. We currently have three scholarship applicant receiving $800.00, a year due to your contributions. Let us make 2008 the best year for contributions. The Royal E Smith Scholarship fund depends on your contributions.

Active Letter Carriers you have received your contract COLA of $458:This is the second regular cost-of-living adjustment for letter carriers under the 2006-2011 National Agreement. Did you make a decision to donate at least $5.00 to COLCPE our political action fund, by using one of the following ways; payroll deduction Allotment (you can now have three) or by having automatic deductions from your checking account. You decide, but please consider one or the other.

For those retirees that do not have access to a computer the following information may be
Helpful when you need help from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which acts as the personnel office for retired letter carriers, and is the agency responsible for administering retirement, health and life insurance benefits. Before you call or write OPM, are sure to have your Civil Service Annuity (CSA) number ready.

888-767-6738     For general inquiries

202-606-0500     General inquiry number for retirees in the Washington, D.C. area.

800-409-6528     Special number for making changes in tax withholding and requesting duplicate tax statements

Write to OPM Mail your written inquiries to: Office of Personnel Management, Retirement Operations Center, Boyers, PA 16017 (unless OPM has specified a different address for a specific action such as health benefits open season).
Bothers and Sisters the Presidential Primaries are heating up for a fantastic finish this year. If you art not registered to vote please do so, do not let the opportunity to have a say in your future pass by. Also, let us with increased energy and participation be involved in events that will be coming our way in 2008. Let me mention a few of these events; on the State level, the State Convention; On the National level, The National Convention. But the event that I believe should be at the forefront, is the upcoming National Elections, let us all become involved and help elect the candidate that will make this Nation and our Union stronger. Until we meet again keep the faith.
APRIL PRESIDENT`S PERSPECTIVE

As I sit and ponder this month thoughts, It dawned on me that the time of renewal was at hand as I looked at the different types of grass that only a few weeks ago lay dominant, but now returning to its renewed appearance. The flower beds that looked dead and unappreciated now have a look that only God can bring about.

I suppose you are wondering what has this to do with my role as state chair. Well as I returned from State Chairs training in Washington last month, the focus was on getting our endorsed candidate enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination and election to President in November. If everything work out as not only NALC, but labor as a whole, then the renewal that I referred to above will take place in this country as well. Even if Sen. Clinton is not the nominee for working folks, then the task of renewal will not be in any less capable hands. What we as labor families must do is rally around whoever is the nominee and do our part to make sure that the Democrats take back the White House.

The renewal needs to take place in how the administration out source labor jobs, by revisiting NAFTA and making sure that the workers come first, not the corporations. A renewal must happen as we deal with millions of our citizens not having health coverage, but the government spending billions a day to fight a war that most Americans disagree.  The other renewal, that is of up most importance, is to get labor friendly leaders to revisit WEP and GPO so that retirees will get what they deserve. A delegation of your leadership and others will be in Washington April 17th to lobby our Congressional Delegation on these issues.

BE BLESSED and SUPPORTIVE!!
Don T.