Ernie Kirkland was elected the National Association of Letter Carriers’ director of retired members in July 2010 by the 67th Biennial Convention in Anaheim.

The longtime member of Central Kentucky Bluegrass Branch 361 was first elected president of that branch in 1978. Kirkland was appointed part-time regional administrative assistant for Kentucky-Indiana-Michigan Region 6 in 1996, and he said goodbye to branch leadership in 2000 when President Vincent R. Sombrotto made him a full-time RAA for the K-I-M region. He held that post until his election by acclamation as head of the union’s retired members department at the 2006 national convention in Las Vegas.

“I have always been concerned for those who needed help, and unionism was a natural way to lend a hand when I saw workers not being given their rights in the workplace,” he explains. “I felt the union could—and should—do more.”

Kirkland hopes to keep the NALC responsive to the needs of its members, especially its retired carriers. “We were elected for that reason,” he said, “and ensuring the rights of our members should be our daily goal.”

Kirkland holds a degree in business accounting from Kentucky Junior College of Business. He is the father of two girls and now counts four grandchildren.