Fred Rolando’s election as NALC Executive Vice President by acclamation at the 2006 Las Vegas Convention was the latest affirmation by his fellow letter carriers of their confidence in his abilities as a leader on the Executive Council.

Rolando was first elected to national office by acclamation at the 2002 Philadelphia Convention as Director of City Delivery, having been appointed to that post in February 2002 by President Vincent R. Sombrotto to fill a vacancy.

A member of Sarasota, Florida Branch 2148, Rolando began his letter carrier career in 1978 in South Miami, Florida as a member of Branch 1071. He served as a steward there from 1979 to 1984, when he moved to Sarasota and soon became chief steward, and in 1988 he was elected Branch 2148 president, holding the post until 1999. From 1992 to 1999 he also served as a part-time Regional Administrative Assistant for NALC Region 9 and was director of education for the Florida State Association from 1993 to 1999. He was named a full-time RAA for the Atlanta Region in 1999.

Rolando, who has a B.S. degree in criminology and psychology from Florida International University, said he “got active in the union because of the antagonistic way management treated letter carriers.”

During his service in the City Delivery post, Rolando had the opportunity “to become familiar with many of the specific issues that affect letter carriers, both common and unique to different areas of the country,” he said. He has taken a leading role in preparing the union for “future city delivery issues, which will likely include transitions necessitated by changes in the Postal Service itself.”

Although his portfolio of responsibilities has changed with his move up to the number two position in the union, Rolando maintains an interest in the daily details of letter carrier work, and is striving to smooth the path NALC members follow into the 21st century.

Rolando and his wife, Jolene, have four children: two daughters and two sons.