The Greatest Hoosier I Have Ever Known
by Edward J. Brennan,
 50 year+ member of the UFPC & APWU

Several years ago I had the great honor and privilege of giving a banquet address at the end of the Indiana State Convention. As a person who had spent many years going from Missouri to Indiana for Union business I was more than happy to be "back at home" with my many friends. During my remarks I mentioned that I hoped delegates would remember in their prayers three of my best friends in Indiana who had either passed away or were under the weather, namely Maggie Reimann who was in the hospital, Cliff Bass from Evansville and the Evansville Brewery both recently passing from this world. All of the three were the best at what they did. All of them were the pride of their state. All of them were known and honored throughout the land as leaders without equal. Many a trip I made to be with my friends from the Evansville Local in the Turtle Bar or the basement of the Evansville Brewery. Many a trip I spent with the early leaders of the UFPC and the Auxiliary. Who was Cliff Bass? He was one of the early leaders from Evansville who joined others in the formative years of the UFPC Postal Press Association. He was an outstanding and outspoken Editor who represented his Local and his State with pride. He was a leader for those who came after him to follow and copy for his long time dedication to his fellow members, his Union, and the State of Indiana. His passing years ago was a great loss for the Evansville Local, the State of Indiana, and the APWU. He will be sadly missed by those who knew him.

But, just a few days ago, I learned of the passing of the Greatest Hoosier I have ever known. The lady was a legend in her time. When she entered a room everyone knew that they were in the company of someone who was very important. Just something about her gave off a sense of stature, grace, and leadership. Just to listen to her speak was spellbinding. She could give a speech about something as common as a turtle race and people would listen attentively to every word. She could talk about the Union or the Auxiliary or about her Union brothers and sisters and you would be ready to join, or come to a meeting, or march with a picket sign. She was the life and breath of Unionism.

It was sad to learn in a round about way that one of my best longtime friends had gone to her just reward. My friend and the friend and defender of many postal workers and their families had given her last speech, conducted her last meeting, and walked in her last picket line. The Lord had called home his good and faithful servant Maggie Reimann, past President of the Auxiliary to the UFPC, a strong supporter of the Postal Press Association, the pride of Indiana, and a tireless fighter for the common man and for the Union movement in general.

Those of us who have been in the Union movement for fifty years or more know about life without Union Recognition By Law. We know about Collective Begging prior to Collective Bargaining. We know about working for $1.65 per hour with no night differential or Sunday Premium pay. We know about working 16 or more hours per day with no days off. That is why we remember those who came before us or who grew up in Unionism at our side. That is why we are extremely honored to have grown up in postal Unionism with shining examples of people who cared for their brother and sister postal workers and their families. That is why we can tell present day postal workers that we knew people like Cliff Bass and Maggie Reimann. That is why all of us who are still in the Postal Service or in the Union can thank people like Cliff Bass and Maggie Reimann for being major players in gaining the benefits we have today.

As a person who is in the twilight of my Union career I wish to take this occasion to thank the great State of Indiana, Cliff Bass, and especially the Greatest Hoosier I have ever known, Maggie Reimann, for dedicating her life and her work to the Union and the Auxiliary and for all of the benefits she has helped gain for today's postal workers. God bless you Maggie. This old postal worker knows what you have done, what you have sacrificed, and the honor you have brought to the Auxiliary and the Union. Thank you and God Bless You THE GREATEST HOOSIER I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

TRI-STATE CONFERENCE 2011 SCHEDULED
There will be a 2011 Tri-State Steward Training Seminar , held at Miami University in Ohio, March 21-25, 2011.  The center has been remodeled and updated.  Charges for the training are: $950 for single occupancy and $760 for double occupancy, which includes meals, hospitality, university costs, and union costs. The scholl is limited to the first 120 paid students, registration ends February 21, 2011, Announcements and regitration information will be sent to all Tri-State Locals in the near future.

INDIANA eMAIL ALERT
In an effort to be able to communicate in an expedient manner in instances where or when the need arises for notifications to be made where URGENT action is need the Indiana Postal Workers is establishing an eMail Alert Program. Click on the link below to sign up to be notified by eMail on the link below


Indiana e-Team


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APWU, AFLAC Offer Benefit to Help Protect Members' Families Against Medical Catastrophe

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(Click on the AFLAC duck for more info)

Representative from AFLAC made a presentation at the Indiana Postal Workers State Convention. The National APWU and AFLAC teamed up in August, 2004and the benefits are being presented across the country.

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