Western Region Holds Successful Training Seminar

Western Region Holds Successful Training Seminar
By Marilyn Walton
NAPS Western Region Vice President

The 2025 Western Region Training Seminar was called to order by Stephnia Campbell, host San Diego Bridget Evans Branch 159 president, who introduced the honor guard, singing of the national anthem, Pledge of Allegiance and invocation. Campbell next introduced Tanya Toedt-Fitzharris, San Diego postmaster, and Gabe Magdalene, California 6 District manager, who welcomed delegates and read special remarks from Ed Ruiz, WestPac Retail and Delivery Operations vice president, who was unable to attend.

Special NAPS guests were NAPS President Ivan D. Butts, Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore and Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Warden. Representing the National Auxiliary were President Laurie Butts and Western Region Vice President Chanel Dotson.

Training began with “Sharable Stuff You Need to Know,” presented by former NAPS Secretary/Treasurer John Aceves. Butts presented information about NPA and plant reclassifications, including information on RIF avoidance and impacts that will hit the WestPac Area in early February 2026. Past President Brian Wagner presented a seminar on EAS-17 grievances and how the process works.

The goal was to provide three full days of training. On Friday morning, there were two USPS presentations: “Proactive Customer Service, No Problem!” and “USPS Labor Relations Policies and Procedures,” presented by Jaya Guiterrez, WestPac Labor Relations specialist. Other classes included NAPS’ “Appeals Writing 101,” “Nepotism and Impartiality” and “Postal Bingo.”

California State President Marilyn Jones presented the 2025 NAPS-SEE Awards, an award established by Jones. This special recognition was presented to the Western Region officers for their contributions, volunteerism and devotion to NAPS.

Warden offered “NAPS Needs Your Help!”—great training on local state officers’ responsibilities in managing branch funds and resources available from NAPS Headquarters. Additional NAPS training included “FOLA Fundamentals 101” and

“Don’t Pay What You Don’t Owe?

A meditation skit led by Margarete A. Grant Branch 127 President Charles Patterson and his team demonstrated how an actual NAPS/USPS mediation is conducted. Time was spent explaining the mediation process, including how the mediator directs the decorum of the meeting with the NAPS representative, member and manager insisting on the action.

Mulidore provided attendees with an update on current legislation and NAPS’ legislative focus in 2026. There also were presentations on “How to Stay Out of Trouble,” what is and is not an involuntary reassignment, as well as USPS investigative interviews and OIG investigations.

All NAPS presentations and the USPS Customer Service information will be available to share. Northwest Area Vice President John Valuet is collecting presentations to store on complimentary USB drives. Delegates were asked to provide their contact information to ensure they receive at least one USB drive to share with their members.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to Host San Diego Bridget Evans Branch 159 for its support. Also, a very special thanks to my counterpart, Chanel Dodson, and her Auxiliary team who conducted the daily 50-50 SPAC raffles, and Felcia Pennington, California State Legislative consultant, who coordinated the entire collection of SPAC fundraisers for a total of $11,600.

Special thanks to our volunteers who served on the Registration Committee and worked tirelessly to ensure everyone got registered. There were 34 branches, representing 10 of the 13 Western Region states.

And, finally, thanks to our sponsor—the NAPS Western Region team:

Pacific Area Vice President Chuck Lum, Rocky Mountain Area Vice President Myrna Pashinski and Northwest Area Vice President John Valuet. Team work makes the dream works!