WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is calling for a six-month delay in U.S. Postal Service facility closures to allow time to implement cost-saving reforms.
McCaskill has joined a request to Senate leaders to approve legislative language preventing the Postal Service from closing any post offices or area mail processing facilities for at least six months, allowing more time for Congress to “enact reforms necessary” to potentially save those facilities.
“While we may have very different views on how to financially improve the postal service, we all believe that democratically elected members of the Senate and the House have the responsibility to make significant changes to the postal service,” McCaskill and her colleagues wrote. “Unfortunately, we are concerned that the postal service may preempt Congress on this matter by closing or consolidating nearly 3,700 mostly rural post offices, over 250 mail processing facilities, and eliminating overnight delivery for first class mail before postal reform legislation is enacted. While some of these changes may be needed, we believe that it is very important to give Congress the opportunity to reform the postal service in a way that protects universal service while ensuring its financial viability for decades to come.”
McCaskill is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service. Postal reforms supported by McCaskill, and approved by a Senate panel last month, would require the Postal Service to strengthen the public’s ability to appeal a closure and would prevent the Postal Service from closing rural post offices until it establishes clear criteria for determining whether a post office should be closed.
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
BLOOMFIELD - For Robyn Chism, Beta Club is an active verb.
Chism, a senior at Bloomfield High School, has been an active member of Beta Club since her days in junior high school. She started in Junior Beta, and as a senior she is now president of the BHS Beta Club. Along the way she has been involved in the many Beta Club community service projects, been to multiple conventions and meetings, been an officer and carried her responsibilities with enthusiasm and dedication.
In short, Robyn Chism is a leader. A dedicated, enthusiastic, responsible leader.
And Robyn Chism is the recipient of the John W. Harris Leadership Award, the highest award presented by the National Beta Club.
According to Bloomfield Beta Club Advisor Ann Bye, the John W. Harris Leadership award is given to just 25 Beta Club members nationwide each year, and the recipients are those Beta members who exemplify the very best of Beta.
Beta has five basic components – character, achievement, service, leadership and social involvement. The motto of the National Beta Club is “DUCAMUS ALIIS SERVIENDO” – Let Us Lead By Serving Others.
Chism exemplifies the goals of Beta and the motto – and much more. Bye has high praise for the Bloomfield senior.
“She leads, she supports, she encourages,” Bye said. “It is rare to find someone of Robyn’s caliber – even in Beta Club!”
Robyn is the daughter of Rob and Michelle. The senior is thinking of working toward a college degree in physical therapy and a career of helping others. She played Wildcat Volleyball, and
But for now, there is Beta. There’s helping with the Bloomfield Christmas celebration this weekend, Beta Club service projects and leading the club as they prepare for Beta convention in the spring. She’ll be there – leading, supporting, encouraging.
The John W. Harris Leadership Award is given to 25 Senior Betas and 25 Junior Betas in the nation each year. This prestigious award is the highest award presented by The National Beta Club. Only one student may be nominated from each school. Criteria include initiative, dependability, faithfulness, helpfulness, leadership, resourcefulness, self direction, honest, justice, industriousness, humility and reliability.
The award is named for founder of National Beta, John W. Harris from Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Robyn will receive the award this March at the Missouri Beta Convention in Branson.
Links Of Interest
A Dexter teen recently fullfilled part of her duties as a statewide officer of the nation's oldest, largest, patriotic youth organization.
Kendra Stevenson is the State Curator for the Missouri State Society Children of the American Revolution. She recently traveled to Boonville to fulfill her duties as State Curator. One of Kendra’s responsibilities as State Curator is to choose age appropriate ornaments for members to make during the State Workshop in August that reflect the theme of the State President. This year’s project is titled “Make a Splash in Missouri Streams”.
Children made ornaments of fish and canoes. On Saturday, Nov. 19, Kendra decorated the Children’s Tree at Rosalyn Heights in Boonville.
Roslyn Heights is owned by the Missouri State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Roslyn Heights provides centrally located facilities for members of the state DAR organization.
The historic home is a popular tour site in the historic Central Missouri region, especially during the Christmas Open House. DAR Chapters from across the state decorate trees that fill all three stories of this beautiful home. The Children’s Tree is located in the Children’s Museum on the 3rd floor of the home.
Roselyn Heights in listed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of 400 sites in Boonville listed on the National Register.
Stevenson is a sophomore at Dexter High School and is the daughter of Keith and Kay Stevenson of Dexter.
