Hello Brothers, Sisters & Cousins,

 

      Firstly, I would like to thank my predecessors, Jane and Jayme for both offering to assist me in taking on this new role and for their work for our membership, I am sure with their help we will be able to do a lot of fantastic work. I am thrilled to work with all of you over the next two years! I would like to begin by introducing myself so you know who your new Secretary is. I began my journey with the Postal Service in 2014 as a City Carrier Assistant, and I became a Full-time Regular employee in 2018. I work in the small office in Allegan, MI. I spent four challenging years as a non-career employee, and I'm grateful that none of you will have to go through that experience again, although I understand that many of you have had even longer non-career experiences than I did.

 

      Starting in 2016, I ran a non-profit organization for veterans and first responders, connecting them with mental health care professionals who specialized in their unique needs. This experience ignited my passion for helping others and being a voice for those who lacked the strength to advocate for themselves. I continued this work until early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and my grandparents required additional care. During this time, I also approached my branch, Branch 246 of the Southwest Michigan Letter Carriers, to request a steward position in late 2019. Although my existing steward was doing an adequate job, we rarely saw results, and he often encouraged me to step up. I ultimately decided to take on that responsibility. I quickly expanded my role by serving as an outside steward for multiple offices. Currently, I am the steward and formal A representative for seven offices within my branch. In 2022, I became the Financial Secretary for our branch, and in 2023, I was appointed as the branch secretary a position I still hold. Additionally, in 2023, I took on the role of MDA coordinator for our branch, a position that had lacked commitment for some time.

 

      After I started taking on various roles within the Union, I began to pay attention to politics and what they meant for me and for all of us. Before that, I would do a little research before a national presidential election, but I really didn’t follow politics at any other time. Understanding how much Congress could affect my job impacted me deeply and personally. The more I paid attention, the more I realized there was more that we could be doing. We are not a small organization, and when we come together for a common cause, we create a movement for change that cannot be ignored. I’m sure I am not the only one questioning what exactly our state board does. When I discovered their role is to work on our legislative and political agenda, I became interested! No matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on, there are constant attacks on the postal service and unions. If we want a say in what happens to us, we must have a seat at the table, and our state board makes that possible. We have all seen recently what can happen when we unite. The recent budget reconciliation bill that was introduced was filled with attacks on federal workers, including us. Through our noise, phone calls, emails, and persistent advocacy, we managed to have those proposals removed from the bill. That is the power we hold, and every single one of you is a part of it.

 

      I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with each and every one of you over the next few years. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to speak with me at the convention and offered their support. I cannot express enough gratitude for the chance to serve you all. I am proud to be a member and now the Secretary of the great Michigan State Association of Letter Carriers. Now, let’s get to work!