Let's Get Started

I'm Maria Risener, the District One Representative for the Washington State American Postal Workers Union. I was certified as a steward near the beginning of 2012, and in April at our State Convention, I was installed as your District One Rep. I've been employed by the USPS since April of 1996 as a PTF clerk. I do distribution, accountables, work the window, nixies, you name it. Hopefully some day I'll be a FTR but until then, I'll keep plugging along. Who knows? Maybe I can set a record for the longest time anyone has remained a PTF!

I've long had an interest in the Union, and have been a member from the time I was hired by the USPS. Now that I have the opportunity to serve in this capacity, I intend to do my very best for the people I represent.

I'm still new to all this but I've had some outstanding training at the Stewards College in Ellensburg,
WA in July 2012, and further training at our National Convention in Los Angeles earlier this month. In addition, I have a great mentor in our State President Charles Smith, and innumerable friends who are always available to help me out if I run into an obstacle along the way.

Our district is geographically very large, ranging from Pt. Roberts to North Bend, from the San Juan Islands to Ravensdale. I myself am a PTF clerk in a level 20 office in Lynden, WA. In order to connect with the membership, I established a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/District-1-Washington-State-American-Postal-Workers-Union/251079151655682 ,  where I post Union and Postal related items, and you can follow me on Twitter at @WAPWUDist1Rep. 

It was suggested  by a couple of clerks in the District that I create a blog to keep people posted about the goings on in the APWU and WAPWU, and I thought that was a great idea, so here I am.

District meetings are something I'm trying to figure out. As I said, we have a very large district, geographically speaking, and I know that it would be a burden, on some more than others, to spend a day travelling to attend a meeting. I'm considering teleconferences or webinars for our district meetings, but I'll let you know more about that as plans are confirmed.

Should you have any questions, concerns, suggestions or comments, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.  My email address is mariaelisa64@msn.com. I do work six days a week usually, so the District Rep gig is not my only obligation. If I don't get back to you within a day or two, please feel free to drop me a reminder. My mind is like a steel trap... pretty rusty.

Till next time,

In solidarity,

Maria