Welcome to the 17th Biennial Michigan Postal Workers Union’s

Educational Convention

Doubletree Hotel - Riverfront

Bay City, Michigan

June 11 - 13, 2009

Looking for who we are dedi-cating the book to this year? Guess What? You won’t find it here! Will need to get your hands on a copy of the actual book to find out! See you at the Convention!

Welcome to the 2009 MPWU Educational Convention

On behalf of the Executive Board of the Michigan Postal Workers Union, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you, the atten-dees, retirees, Auxiliary members, and friends to this the 17th Biennial (2009) Educational Convention and to my hometown, Bay City, Michigan. To help represent and protect our members’ best interests back home,

I believe the Director of Research and Education, Michael McCain, has put together an outstanding choice of classes for you to take advantage of and use to bring back that knowledge to your local to continue the fight. I wish to thank all the National, State and Local Officers, who have taken time out of their very busy schedules to come here and impart some of their knowledge and experience to us. I would definitely be remised if I didn’t take this opportunity to thank all the State, Local, Retiree and Auxiliary officers for their assistance in ensuring that this convention is one of the best by instilling their wisdom and skill to those of us in attendance. In closing, as I look back to the 1980’s, to when we had our last Educational convention here in Bay City, which was held at the Bay Valley Hotel and Resort, many things have changed. Hosting this convention here in Bay City will be a special one for me, having lived here all my life, and something for which words can not express. I hope you enjoy your stay here in Bay City and the many activities and places near by. If I, or any of the Executive Officers can make your stay and your learning experience better, or if you have suggestions for the next Convention or District meeting, please let us know. Yours in Solidarity, Gary Van Hoogstraten President

Greetings to All AttendeesGreetings to All AttendeesGreetings to All AttendeesGreetings to All Attendees

Fight Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Welcome to everyone attending this year’s Educational Convention located in beautiful Bay City, Michigan. I would like to begin by taking this opportunity to thank all the National and State officers and those who will be giving of their time and experience by teaching this year. We are embarking on troubled times in the United States Post Service. Our rights, along with the Collective Bargaining Agreement are being trampled upon and we must begin and continue to fight back. To this end, it is important that we arm ourselves with, not only, as much knowledge as possible, but also the networking of officers and individuals from all over the state. This convention is the time and avenue to gain some valuable knowledge, whether from the National level, or the State and Local levels as well. We must be able to react to changes when they happen and be better prepared to fight back! Another benefit to a convention such as this is the ability to talk to others and see how one might be handling a similar situation in another office. It has been said that sometimes, we gain more knowledge from those at dinner or in a hospitality setting than we do during class. Make sure you avail yourself of all the officers and be sure to get your questions an-swered. In closing, if you haven’t already noticed, the theme for this year’s Convention is: “Fight”. So lets begin by hitting us with your questions and we will do everything we can to give you the answers. Let's arm ourselves with knowledge, so we can fight back and protect our rights. Yours in Solidarity,

Michael McCain Michael McCain Research and Education Director.

Your Central Region National Officers send their greetings to the

attendees and guests of the 17th Biennial - Michigan Postal Workers

Union’s State Educational Convention.

Merlie Bell National Business Agent

Motor Vehicle Craft

Troy Rorman National Business Agent

Maintenance Craft

John Clark National Business Agent

Clerk Craft (B)

Lynn Pallas-Barber National Business Agent

Clerk Craft (C)

Linda Turney National Business Agent

Clerk Craft (A)

Sharyn Stone Central Region Coordinator

Keeping the Membership Informed, Aware, and UpKeeping the Membership Informed, Aware, and UpKeeping the Membership Informed, Aware, and UpKeeping the Membership Informed, Aware, and Up----totototo----Date through CommunicationDate through CommunicationDate through CommunicationDate through Communication

MPWU.COM

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

1:00 p.m. MPWU Annual Financial Audit

7:00 p.m. MPWU Executive Board Meeting

Thursday, June 11, 2009

8:00 a.m. to Noon Registration - Main Lobby

1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Opening Session C.Guffy

3:30p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Basic Arbitration Training J.Clark & C. Ulmer

Clerk Craft Q&A (Roundtable) NBAs & State Officers

Maintenance Q&A S. Raymer & L. Miller

Motor Vehicle Q&A J. Wrobel

7:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Hospitality

Friday, June 12, 2009

9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Basic Arbitration (Continued) J.Clark & C. Ulmer

Maintenance S. Raymer & T. Rorman

Article 12 L. Pallas-Barber

OWCP J.Amos & L. Morton

Postal Press T.Carobine

Computer & Excel Class J. Duggan

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Basic Arbitration (Continued) J.Clark & C. Ulmer

Maintenance S. Raymer & T. Rorman

Article 12 L. Pallas-Barber

OWCP (National Reassessment) S. Carney & J. Amos

Office of Services to Seniors S. Gire

Children’s Auxiliary Workshop K. Danek & K. Wilinski

ItineraryItineraryItineraryItinerary

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Cash Bar

7:00 p.m. Dinner and Speakers

8:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Hospitality

Saturday, June 13, 2009

9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Basic Arbitration (Continued) J.Clark & C. Ulmer

Retirement J Beard & J. Gordon

Function 4 L. Turney

Maintenance Q&A S. Raymer & T. Rorman

Beginner/Advanced Steward Training R. Blake Children’s Auxiliary Workshop K. Danek & K. Wilinski

12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Basic Arbitration (Continued) J.Clark & C. Ulmer

Function 4 L. Turney

Beginner / Advanced Steward R. Blake

MVS - Article 39 M. Bell & J. Wrobel

Retirement Benefits & Info J. Beard & J. Gordon

Children’s Auxiliary Workshop K Danek & K. Wilinski

7:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Hospitality

Have a Nice & Safe Trip Home!

ItineraryItineraryItineraryItinerary

Harold Juhl Executive Secretary

Darren Joyce Secretary-Treasurer

Gary VanHoogstraten President

Michael Long Editor

Jennifer Amos HR/Injury Comp

Richard Blake Clerk Craft Director

John Marcotte Legislative Director

John Smeekens Veterans Director

Michael McCain Director of Education

The Officers of the MPWU Executive BoardThe Officers of the MPWU Executive BoardThe Officers of the MPWU Executive BoardThe Officers of the MPWU Executive Board extend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Conventionextend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Conventionextend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Conventionextend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Convention

Joe Wrobel MVS Craft Director

Larry Moyer Area 1 Director

Larry Miller Maintenance Craft Director

Robin Edy Area 3 Director

Joanna Atkinson Area 5 Director

Mary Stephenson Area 6 Director

Thomas Lothamer Area 7 Director

Keith Fletcher Area 2 Director

The Officers of the MPWU Executive BoardThe Officers of the MPWU Executive BoardThe Officers of the MPWU Executive BoardThe Officers of the MPWU Executive Board extend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Conventionextend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Conventionextend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Conventionextend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Convention

Laura Bullock Area 4 Director

No Photo Currentl

y

Availab

le

Therese Cowan Area 8 Director

The Officers and Members of the MPWU Executive The Officers and Members of the MPWU Executive The Officers and Members of the MPWU Executive The Officers and Members of the MPWU Executive Board extend you greetings to the 2009 Educational ConventionBoard extend you greetings to the 2009 Educational ConventionBoard extend you greetings to the 2009 Educational ConventionBoard extend you greetings to the 2009 Educational Convention

Ron Krumrie Area 10 Director

Mike Wekwert Area 11 Director

Amy Puhalski Area 9 Director

Debbie Brand Historian

Kelly Wilinski Auxiliary President

Karen Hodges POWER Representative

Al LaBrecque Retirees President

Dennis Barber Area 12 Director

National Officers and Invited Guests who have accepted and be in attendance at some portion of this convention

Cliff Guffey National APWU Executive Vice-President

Steve Raymer National APWU Maintenance Craft Director

Sue Carney National APWU Human Relations Director

Judy Beard National APWU Retiree’s Department Director

Sharon L. Gire Director of the Michigan Office of Services

to the Aging

Kathy Danek National APWU Auxiliary Legislative Aide & Editor

Photos from the 2009 Area 4, 5, & 6 District Meeting

Photos from the 2008 MPWU Constitutional Convention

Photos from the 2008 Nat'l Constitutional Convention

Various Locals Attending the 2008 National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada

1 2 3

4 5

6

7

8

9

10 11

1. Flint Area Local 2. Muskegon Area Local 3. Saginaw Area Local 4. Pontiac Local 5. Jackson Area Local 6. Small Locals (Farmington,

Troy, Gaylord & Traverse City)

7. 498-499 Area Local 8. Southwest Michigan Area 9. 480-481 (Royal Oak) Area 10. Detroit District Area Local 11. Western Michigan Area Local