As most of you know last year at the National Convention, the delegates passed a revised version of the Constitution & Bylaws of the NRLCA. This document was updated to reflect the latest in the 21st century, and albeit changed, a lot of it stayed the same. This is good for those of us that are challenged by dramatic changes in the documents that basically make up the NRLCA.

That being said I recently received a updated copy of the Constitution & Bylaws of my State, they of course had to be updated to conform to those of the National guidelines. I must say that I really haven't had much time to look at the changes and the impact that those changes will have on the Constitution & Bylaws that most of the Districts in our State have already submitted. This will put a big challenge on the Committee that has been selected by our President to oversee those same changes at the State Convention.

I would have hoped that we would have had that document prior to our District meeting, yet that not being the case we will do the best we can. I'm sure that as with anything there were many reasons for the delay and it's nice to have at least a couple of weeks prior to the State Convention to peruse this new document.

I have taken a quick look into the new document and it looks as though the changes that have been made are clearly marked, with the changes identifiable. We as delegates are tasked with ratifying this document in 2 weeks so I need to get to reading.

We as delegates are as always charged with responsibility of making the decisions for those that have chosen not to, or were unable to attend our convention. The issues we will face this year are the most important that this Association has faced since it worked with the USPS and the National Labor Relations board to create the evaluated system that we have benefited and now are suffering from.

This is a time for change and I would hope that we as delegates would go into our conventions with open minds to new ways of doing business. This is our chance to send to the National Convention ways or directions that need be investigated over the next year and then give the delegates the ability to make informed choices in the 2009 and maybe the 2010 conventions prior to National Negotiations in 2010.

There is one thing for certain, the continued attack of our time standards and the MOUs being signed into law by our National Office, has imposed unrealistic times in the delivery of mail on Rural Routes. We have all heard "we are our own worst enemy because we continue to run under our evaluations" but isn't that the benefit of the evaluated system? Without the ability to get off early what differentiates those in blue from us? We cannot allow the mindset that has permeated our Association of ( being the enemy) because we want to enjoy one of the true benefits of being a member of the NRLCA.

Our Union should have never allowed the idea that it's members are the problem with the system that pays us. That kind of theology is flawed and unacceptable by those that are forging the path of our future. We cannot allow those that believe we are the problem into the positions of power, that will be negotiating on our behalf in the 2010 negotiations. We have got to make the change, no matter how painful in the short term.

In conclusion as we head to our State Conventions then eventually into our National Conventions, can we afford to vote down that resolution, because it's different, or the Constitution change that might hurt some or benefit most, and most importantly the candidate with a different point of view then what has been the norm. I Think Not!

And Thats The Way Jay Sees It