PAC

PAC, Political Action Committee, plays a vital role in our union. There are various aspects of our careers as postal employees which are controlled by the United States Congress. That is where PAC comes in. The NRLCA PAC promotes and supports candidates who support The Rural Letter Carriers of America. Candidates are not supported based solely on party affiliation. The criteria is "CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT THE RURAL LETTER CARRIERS OF AMERICA".

A lot of people object to the whole concept of political action committees and their function. However, they are a fact of life in the political game. And it is just like a game. You play by the rules or you don't play at all. You do have the option of working to change the rules. But until those changes occur, we operate within the existing parameters.

Now you ask, "What does all this have to do with me"? Let me answer that with another question. "Do you know how much money UPS and FEDEX pour into their PAC's each year"? Compared to them, our PAC is a pittance! Rural Carriers need to keep in mind, there are other companies out there who would love to put you out of work. Nothing personal, just business.

We all need to take responsibility for our actions. Donate to PAC, keep your job. An oversimplification? Very possibly, but who knows? We are living in uncertain times and I feel sure there will be changes in the near future. Let's make those changes work FOR Rural Carriers. DONATE TO PAC TODAY!

PAC Q & A

ATTENTION !!! VIRGINIA MEMBERS !!!

The Virginia State Board has provided a prize of $1500 to the PAC Chairman this year. For each $10 donation, you will receive one chance in the drawing. For example, a $100 donation would get you 10 entries into the drawing. What a deal! Not only will you have the chance to win a valuable prize, but the PAC monies are used for the benefit of rural letter carriers. REMINDER: PAC DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN ANY AMOUNT.

Cindy Chatneuff, our PAC Chairman, is waiting for your donation. Send it NOW! ALL CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO: NRLCA PAC. The address is listed at the top of this page and also on the Officer's page. In addition to getting your name in for the Grand Prize Drawing, you will also receive a lovely PAC pin! Our goal is to see EVERY member in the state wearing a PAC pin. Wear those pins proudly!

Nov. 10, 2004...updated 10/28/07

Do you know the importance of PAC to your job, benefits package and future
retirement? A quote from Bob McLean, the Executive Director of the Mailer's
Council: ".remember that lifetime employment--and pensions--for postal
employees is no longer a guarantee. You can expect postal appropriations to
be a regular part of the legislative agenda ...from here on."

This is a very serious matter. Read the quote again and let it sink in.
Now think about your future. How many of you can afford to ignore this? I
know I can't!

I know some of you don't approve of the PAC process, but withholding your
support of PAC is not going to change anything...except your benefits and
retirement may become nonexistent.

As you all should know, the USPS competes with several private companies -
the largest are FedEx and UPS. Both these companies want to take the gravy
from the delivery business and leave us with the old dry bone. Let's do
some comparing of PAC numbers. I know numbers and statistics are boring, but
these may be boring a big gaping hole in your future.

For the 2004 election cycle, Total Receipts*

FedEx Corp. $1,183,869
UPS $2,008,605
NRLCA $ 451,856

*Based on data released by the FEC on Friday, November 07, 2003.

I must say that just this one comparison sends chills up and down my spine.
Further comparisons only add to the ague. While these numbers may make you
think we are up against an insurmountable wall, to me they present an
achievable challenge. If every member in the state of Virginia would give
just $25, our state could raise over $70,000. And if all the members in all
the other states did the same thing, the outcome would be staggering.

What price do you put on your future? It seems to me that $25 is a real
bargain. Get those PAC donations in now. Send them to Cindy Chatneuff and
make all checks payable to NRLCA PAC. And I have already put my money where
my mouth is, I donated $100 in August and plan on giving more.

I have one more quote for you. This one came from a congressman. "You're
either on the outside or the inside, and the only thing that can get you on
the inside is money."

(Info source: www.opensecrets.org)

Debbie Atwell

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