Election Day 2006 - the Democrats have taken control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate! The workingmen and women of this country have sent a clear message to the current administration, “We are fed up with your policies and we demand a change.” Hopefully these changes will bode well for letter carriers to get some of the NALC issues passed, such as the much-needed Postal Reform. Letter carriers across the country played a huge role in a lot of races – financial support, working on phone banks, passing out literature and knocking on doors. The public will no longer put up with “grid lock," if they send someone to Washington to get things done and they don’t – they may as well pack their bags! President Bush said during a news conference that the people expect “us to work together” – well let’s see if he really means it or was just blowing smoke.

 As we come to the end of another year, let me thank the members of this Branch for their support of our sponsored activities during 2006 – the food drive that had the pantries bursting their seams with the food you donated, the Bowl-a-Thon in May to benefit MDAand in July for IPALC, the North/South Softball game in August for MDA, the “Legislative Evening” for our Chicago land Congressional persons, and especially for the Congressman Danny K. Davis fundraiser, which was sponsored by the NALC, APWU, NPMHU and NAPS in the Chicago area. Whenever we have asked for your support, the members have always stepped up to the plate and delivered. I would also like to thank our neighboring NALC Branches that came out to help make the evening a success.

 Congratulations to our Gold Card and 60-Year members who were honored at our annual Retirees’ Day. Myra Warren, the National Director of Life Insurance, was the National assigned officer who made the presentation to the retired members. We really enjoyed her presence. During Retirees’ Day we had nominations for Branch officers for the next three (3) years – all were elected by acclamation. Thank you for the support you have shown the entire slate of officers and me!