After a half-year-long COLCPE contest pitting state against state, the NALC state associations that came out with a higher percentage of members contributing to the union’s political fund at the Gimme 5 level were not the only victors. Every NALC member benefits from a political program that helps us stand our ground against those who would damage the U.S. Postal Service or go after working families’ rights and benefits.

The competition began in July 2010, with an announcement that states with similar membership sizes would be paired, each trying to sign up more active and retired members to give to COLCPE, the Committee on Letter Carrier Political Education. All told, close to 1,350 new COLCPE contributors signed up during the contest.

The results have been tabulated to include all contributions made through the end of November. (Contributions through EFT and OPM had to be reflected in our system by the end of November; contributions via PostalEASE had to be reflected in our system by the second pay period in December.) The state in each pairing that had the highest percentage of Gimme 5 for COLCPE contributors was declared the contest winner.

Winning state associations will each conduct raffles to draw, at random, the names of three Gimme 5 automatic contributors, who will receive $200 American Express gift cards. Also, the three states with the highest percentage of Gimme 5 contributors received plaques and $500 American Express gift cards, which can be used in future COLCPE raffles in those states.

While some states showed large gains, many races were decided by thin margins.

NOTE: In February, a data error was discovered which wound up sending Iowa over Kansas within that particular rivalry. President Rolando has declared that match-up a tie.

Who will be king of the ring?
New COLCPE contest pits state against state

There have been some classic matchups in fighting history: Ali vs. Frazier, Hagler vs. Hearns and Holyfield vs. Tyson.

Will the next one be California vs. New York?

Or Michigan vs. Illinois?

The answer will come in next February’s special COLCPE issue of The Postal Record, as the NALC pits state versus state in the latest COLCPE competition.

NALC President Fred Rolando announced the contest to encourage even more active and retired letter carriers to contribute at the “Gimme 5” level to the union’s political action fund, the Committee on Letter Carrier Political Education (COLCPE).

This new competition creates a friendly rivalry among pairs of states that are in the same “weight class.”

“This time around, we’ll be leaning heavily on the leadership of our state chairs,” said NALC Political
Director Tucker McDonald, who helped craft this latest competition.

“You’ll see matchups like Florida against Texas, New Mexico versus New Hampshire,” McDonald said.

“We even created special categories, pitting Puerto Rico against the District of Columbia and Guam against the Virgin Islands.”

Results will be tabulated from all contributions given through the end of November, and the state in each pair with the highest percentage of “Gimme 5” contributors in their respective category will be declared the contest winner.

That winning state association will then conduct a raffle to draw, at random, the names of three “Gimme 5” automatic contributors in their state.

Each raffle winner will receive a $200 American Express gift card.

Further, the top three states will receive a plaque and $500 in American Express gift cards that can be
used as prizes in future COLCPE raffles in those states.

The goal, as always, is to try to teach NALC members about the importance of contributing to COLCPE, whose funds are then put to use to support candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who themselves support the legislative priorities of letter carriers.

COLCPE money also helps finance get-out-the-vote and other political activities. Contributions to COLCPE are entirely voluntary, and absolutely no union dues money goes to support political candidates.

"Gimme 5 for COLCPE” means that active carriers are automatically contributing $5 per pay period by
electronic funds transfer (EFT) or by using one of their three payroll allotments.

For retirees, that translates as $5 per month directly from annuity payments or by EFT. (More than $5 is welcome, of course.)

This steady, dependable flow of contributions helps the union more effectively plan and budget its resources.

The winning continues

Two COLCPE raffles took place at the Anaheim convention in August. The top prize for “Gimme 5 for COLCPE” contributors was a trip for two to the 2011 NCAA Final Four, which includes a pair of tickets to the Final Four and national championship, airfare, a three-night hotel stay and a per diem for expenses. The winner was Stephen Lipski of South Jersey, NJ Branch 908.

A second raffle held was for lump-sum donors who aren’t automatic givers, with a chance for one lucky letter carrier to win a 42-inch flat-panel high-definition television. That prize went to Raymond Eisenberger of Norristown, Pennsylvania Branch 542.

Congratulations to both winners!