Dear UPMA Retiree,

     Hope this email finds you healthy and safe.  The UPMA State Convention was held July 18 and 19th in Columbus.  Our retiree meeting was held as usual during Convention.  It was sad to see such a small crowd this year but totally understandable with COVID-19.  For those of us that attended, face masks and all, it was nice to see everyone.  

     During our meeting we had a discussion about whether or not we should hold the annual Fall Luncheon due to the COVID-19.  As much as we enjoy this event it was voted to cancel this year's 2020 Fall Luncheon at the Der Dutchman restaurant in Plain City.  We have already reserved next year's Luncheon for the first Wednesday in October as usual.  So mark your calendar for October 6, 2021 to be at the, Der Dutchman in Plain City. 

     I want to thank those that were in attendance at the Convention to allow me to continue another term as your Secretary/Treasurer.

     Again I hope all of you are healthy and safe!

Sincerely,
 
Anita Rieger

UPMA Retired and Friends,                                                                                 6/19/2020

There seems to be a lot of confusion about this year's national convention and retirees participation in it so let me make a few comments.  Since the Covid 19 pandemic began President Dan and I have been in almost constant communication concerning the national convention and the safety of our members.  A lot of factors went into decisions that were made.  UPMA had the entire Marriott Hotel reserved for the entire week of our convention.  If we had just cancelled the convention the cancellation fee for their loss of income would have been in excess of $477,000.00.  However the virus changed everyone's plans.  The hotel negotiated with us for a date in 2022, a business meeting in October and a cancellation fee of $30,000.00.  We are the ones who requested to change our plans and the hotel did have time and money invested in planning this year's convention which is only right that they be compensated for. Another point that everyone needs to remember is that President Heins did not make these decisions, the national executive board voted for everything that was done so any criticism of him is way off base.  President Heins did not create this mess, he just inherited it. 

Since this all started your retiree executive board has met by telecom every two weeks and for over a month we have met at least every week. We have looked at all of the issues related to retirees participation and their safety and welfare at the national convention.  If the social distancing measures remained in place there would be no luncheon, banquet, hospitality room and possibly not enough seats in the meeting room for everyone.  The retirees had no bylaw changes submitted, there will be no time and place voting this year, no proposed dues changes to vote on either.  All that retirees would do is vote for a secretary and treasurer.  Our retiree bylaws state that officers will serve for two years OR until their replacement is elected so it will be business as usual until their replacements are elected.  Over 20 retirees contacted me before any decisions were made and were in favor of cancelling retiree attendance at this year's convention.  Also, over 30 had requested a refund of registration so that's over 50 retirees who expressed their opinion.  Remember, retirees are the high risk group.

Decisions had to be made by the national board and the retiree board well in advance of August 1st so that members could make plans for plane reservations and arrangements that just can't wait until the last minute.  We didn't know if tours would run, if restaurants would be open or if local places of interest would be open.  With so much uncertainty and with the virus still out there the decisions were made to scale way back on the convention and eliminate retiree participation, mainly out of concern for your health and safety.  If we have erred, it was on the side of your safety .

I hope that everyone stays safe and I look forward to seeing you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Rodney Boland, President UPMA Retired

Click on this Link to the Federal Retirement Newsletter:

https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ira-contirbutions-secure-act/

Retiree report from the 2020 Legislative Summit

     LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT RETIREE MEETING:  notes from Linda Carter
National President UPMA Retired Rodney Boland led an informal retiree meeting on Sunday afternoon. Highlights included:
- No issues affecting Retirees at the Active Executive Board meeting.
- Membership: Overall membership in Actives remains stable, however worth noting is that Supervisors membership is growing; Postmasters membership is decreasing.
- Retiree membership is declining. 8992 in February 2020, down from 9559 in February 2019.
- Recently retired list helpful in Gold. Will request from Frank Augustosky at UPMA.
- Request assistance from Chapter Presidents about who is getting ready to retire; contact prospective retiree before he/she leaves office.
- Proposed Bylaw changes should be sent to Louise Nix.
- Discussed entertainment at Retiree luncheon at National Convention.
- Scholarship application is on website. 145 applications in 2019; gave only 9 based on funds raised. Need to initiate ways to raise more funds.
- Invitation to SOC in October. Registration goes up March 1.
- Brainstormed ideas to consider, ie: Health Benefits booklet before open season, Medicare training, Travel Planner for retirees,

 UPMA RETIRED DUES INCREASE: from UPMA RetiredPresident Rodney Boland

 UPMA membership dues are determined by the National Bylaws, UPMA. The National Bylaws, Article 1, Section 2 addresses dues for Active members; Article 1 Section 3 addresses dues for Retired, Postmaster Relief and Associate Members. It reads: "The annual membership dues for UPMA Retired, Postmaster Relief and Associate Members shall be sixty dollars ($60). These dues will increase by the same percentage as the cost-of-living allowance (COLA) increases equal to the amount of annuity adjustments as issued by OPM. The UPMA Retired and Associate members are eligible to vote on changes to this section." (Bylaws are posted on website at www.unitedpma.org. )

The COLA increase issued by OPM for 2020 is 1.6 percent; therefore, Retired/Postmaster Relief/Associate member dues will increase 1.6% of current dues, $60 annually. This equates to an increase of 96 cents annually, or 8 cents per month, effective January 2020. This will be the first dues increase since UPMA began in 2016.

At the national convention two years ago retirees voted to have a dues increase every time that our cost of living adjustment went up.  That way we would never have to vote on this issue again. Although there was a COLA increase the last two years, the dues increase was not implemented because the national executive board voted not to do it.  It turns out that the national executive board can't suspend the increase since it is called for in the by-laws.  Therefore, the required increase will take place in 2020.                                                                           12/20/19

From incoming UPMA Retired President Rodney Boland            11/1/2019

Greetings to my friends of UPMA Retired! 
     As the old year comes to an end, a New Year begins.  The questions that we all wonder about are what does the New Year hold in store and where do we go from here?  I think that we are doing quite well to only be three years old.  However, we still have lots of room for improvement.
     My priorities are to always keep the membership informed, really push membership to a new level and always keep an eye open for issues that would adversely affect our organization and its members.  Communication is essential so that members will be informed, will feel like a valuable part of the organization and hopefully want to be involved.  Membership is the life blood of any organization.  The executive board, along with the membership committee, will always be implementing new ideas to increase the retention of retiring postmasters and managers.  And hopefully, through constant communication, members will be motivated to take an active part in the political process to protect the benefits that we often take for granted.  All of this you will hear more about as the New Year gets underway
       I have never been content to sit on the sidelines and watch so I guess it was only natural that I would get involved in the postmaster organizations.  I hope to be involved for a long time to come and that we can all work together so that UPMA Retired will grow and prosper.
   I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very blessed Christmas.
Sincerely,
Rodney T. Boland

From Outgoing President Jack:
I sincerely appreciate all the Area Reps, Committee Chairs and Committee Members, and Appointees for specific positions that have served during my term of office as President.  Each of you accepted the positions with a willingness to serve and continually improve our great organization. We have had challenges and will continue to have, and that encourages new ideas and better ways of getting our business done.  Please continue to provide input.
          I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as your President.  I am very proud of our accomplishments and of the opportunity to make new friendships all over the country.  I am so very thankful that our organization has allowed us to make lasting memories in seeing places we may not have seen, to make friends we may not have known, to change things that may have needed changing and to improve those things that needed to be improved.  I will forever remember the Lap Blanket Project that was done to honor our Veterans and the bind that tied us all together in making an unbelievable 519 Blankets.  I am forever grateful.  
As I have previously stated "Bless His Heart, He Did His Best". Thank you to each and every one.
Jack D. Wilkins 
National President, UPMA Retired

We were honored to have Jack Wilkins,

UPMA National Retiree President,

in attendance at our 2019 Ohio Chapter Convention

and spoke on his concerns for the retiree 

organization.