Branch 9 NALC

:officer profile

Your Branch Nine Officers

President
Pamela Donato

Executive Vice President
Mike Zagaros

Recording Secretary
Melia Derrick

Treasurer
Darrell Maus

Utility Carrier out of Brooklyn Park Station, senority 11/05/88.

I began my carrier career in Minneapolis in November of 1988 at Diamond Lake Station and was there for 14 years till bidding to Brooklyn Park in the fall of 2002. Prior to that time I was a Rural Carrier Relief and casual Clerk in our small western Minnesota hometown office. The Union/Station positions I have held have included Steward, Safety Captian, Dps Co-coordinator, Formal A Dispute Advocate, Former Branch Trustee, Former Financial Secretary and currently working with the MIRAP route adjustment process. I am the current Treasurer for Branch 9 and on the E-Board and have the responsibilities for the billing and budget responsibilities of the Branch. I thank the Branch and its members for the privilege of serving them.

Financial Secretary
Rick Onslow

Health Benefits
Julie Waldemar

I started my postal career in 1977 as a LSM Operator - Clerk. In June 1978 I transferred to being a letter carrier. I started carrying mail in Robbinsdale, went to Richfield, St Louis Park and back to Robbinsdale before I landed a job in my current station Plymouth.

At Plymouth I’ve been on the EI team, been a JIT, a Food Drive Coordinator and the Union Steward.

I’ve been a Step A Grievance Rep, was a Branch 9 Co-leader on Route Inspections, I helped create the Progressive Route Adjustment Methodology (PRAM) process. I was appointed to be on the first Route Adjustment Task Force in Washington D.C. (that eventually resulted in the IARAP and MIARAP processes). More recently I was a District Team Rep from Branch 9 in IARAP and currently am a District Team Rep from Branch 9 in MIARAP.

I was the Branch 9 Recording Secretary for 8 years and in the last year I filled in as the Health Benefits Rep when Tom Woller retired. To prepare me for this position I have attended three of the Health Benefit Rep Training Sessions and participated in last years Health Fair.

Thank you all for giving me the opportunities to “make a difference” – I really have enjoyed all my years in the PO because of our union.

Editor
Chuck Glover

Sgt-At-Arms
Jim Nelson

I have been working for the USPS for 24 years now and currently work in Anoka. I am married to a wonderful women named Julie and we have three children. The oldest is 21 and the youngest is 11. I have a blue belt in Tai ke shido so I am qualified to keep the riffraff out of our meetings as well as escort any unruly members politely to the exit. I coach little league baseball in Ramsey and have been a high school diving coach. I am currently a Landlord with 14 years experience. In the last 24 years with the Post Office, I have been a Union steward for more than a decade as well as a state and national delegate. I have helped negotiate Anoka’s local contract and have taken arbitration training. I am currently a Formal Step A representative for the Branch. Along the way I have been the Food drive coordinator and helped raise funds for the MDA Bowl-a-thon. I have helped out with the Branch picnic. I have coordinated the Habitat for Humanity for the Ramsey Federal Build. I have served as the Sergeant at Arms since June of 2009. I am looking forward to finding ways I can use my gifts for the Branch.

Trustee
Barb Watzack

Trustee
Jeremy Rothstein

I began in Aug. 2003 at the Normandale Station as a carrier and haven't left there yet. I became a J.I.T. as a PTF and I'm also certified "Power Lift" trainer. I became Steward 2006 as Jan Wild was approaching retirement and she mentored me my first year and her last. I was then appointed as the Webmaster of the Branch 9 website fall of 2008 and I redesigned the site as well adding frequent updates, appointed Trustee spring 2009. I am level Step A Rep and a member of the Political Comm. Thank you Branch 9 for the opportunities I have. In unionism.

Trustee
Mike Smith

I started my career with the postal service as a clerk in 1989, then switched to carrier in the spring of 1991. I was assigned to the Edina station as a PTF, made regular and bid on a utility string, and later to a route still at the Edina station. The 24 zone moved to West Edina in 1997, and I now have a route in the 39 zone, still in the city of Edina. I am in my 6th year as steward, a formal A grievance rep, and just became a Trustee after begining on the E-Board as Branch 9's Sgt. at Arms. It has been an honor to work for our union. I think my most treasured accomplishment is being a graduate of the NALC's National Leadership Accadmy in 2007. Words cannot describe that wonderful opportunity.

In Soliderity, Mike Smith, Trustee Br.9

Director of Retirees
Cheryl Stately

I first began my Postal career in Nov. 1968 at the Edina Station. I only carried for a few weeks, because back in those days the subs were sent downtown to walk the night shift at Christmas time. Not too long after Christmas I was once again sent downtown because I was pregnant and they didn't know what to do with me, so they made me a clerk. Luckily after my son was born in June 1969 there was a carrier who wanted to make a mutual switch to a clerk, so I got to be a carrier again. This time I went to Powderhorn Station.

In 1971 my husband died and my kids had a hard time adjusting, so I had to quit and stay home with them. In 1978 I came back and was once again sent to Powderhorn. While I was an active carrier, I was a trustee from 1990 to 2000. I retired in May 2001.