The History of Female Leadership in the NALC
This podcast’s purpose is to give a history of women who have stepped into leadership roles within the National Association of Letter Carriers, and discuss the leaders of now and into the future.
The History of Female Leadership in the NALC
Tayler Vennard
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This episode features Tayler Vennard, branch secretary of Columbia, Missouri Branch 763.
Welcome to the history of the female of female leadership in the NALC podcast. My name is Craig Schaefer. I'm a city carrier in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Today I have the honor of interviewing a sister from Missouri. Um, go ahead and introduce yourself.
SPEAKER_00Hey there, Craig. I'm Taylor Vinard. I'm out of branch 763 out of Columbia, Missouri. Don't get it fooled though. I'm not a Missouri fan. I'm a Jayhawker through and through, so don't get it twisted.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and you're right there in the the center of Missouri, too. Oh, you are territory.
SPEAKER_00Yep, I say I'm a Jayhawker living in Tiger Territory.
SPEAKER_01There you go. There you go. Okay. Well, um, let me ask you this. What uh if you don't mind, kind of go back. How long have you been a member of the NALC, did you say?
SPEAKER_00Um, six years. So I've been yep, as soon as I got hired on, I joined joined the union.
SPEAKER_01Cool, cool. Okay. Well, if you don't mind, kind of go back six years, a little before that. Tell us about what you were doing before you came into the Postal Service and uh what brought you to the Postal Service?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, sure. So I kind of bounced around a little bit before finding the post office. And the post office just came by, you know, happenstance. Um, my husband and I had relocated from Oklahoma to Columbia, and we both relocated without jobs. So it was one of those apply, apply, apply, apply. And I told my husband, well, there's a position. Um, I don't know what a CCA is, but there's a position with the post office. And I'm just gonna shoot my shot. And he goes, Well, I don't know why you try because those are like really coveted positions and they're really hard to get. And I was like, Well, I need a job, so I'm just gonna apply for everything. And um I got an email from the, I don't know if she was the postmaster or if she was like um just the acting person or whatever, but it was very like, is this a real email from somebody from the post office? It just doesn't look like official or anything. So I went for the interview and sat and she told me, you know, you're gonna work a lot of hours, and I was like, okay. And she said, uh peak season's crazy, you're gonna work a lot of hours. I'm like, well, I can imagine. And she goes, but you can't, and I was like, okay. Basically that was it because I didn't have time to do anything else.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, I mean, uh, she wasn't lying. And uh no, she wasn't. I I've I've had a bunch of new carriers come in there in Cape, and uh I'll go up and tell them, you know, just kind of give them the pep talk, hey, stick with it. You know, it's a tough gig, but it it's worth it in the end. And you're gonna be working some crazy, crazy hours, and they're like, Oh, they can't give me enough hours. A couple weeks later, I'm hearing, are these hours gonna come down a little bit? And I'm like, sooner or later they will. I don't know when. But um, okay, well, um, my next question would be what got you to where you're at now? What what caused you to pursue a leadership role in the NALC?
SPEAKER_00So I wouldn't say that I ever really pursued a position, but my president always is pushing me to do more things. Do this, do that, do this, do that. And I have, I will say in full transparency, I've listened to all of your podcasts with all of your um ladies because once you asked me to do this, I was like, well, I'm gonna go listen. I had already heard about it when we were at the wrap session, but I had kind of forgot. And then when Boyer presented it to me, I was like, Well, I'm not gonna be caught with my pants down, so let me go listen to some of these episodes. And I am out of my league here, Craig. There's no reason you should be interviewing me because I just started my position as secretary at the beginning of the year, got sworn in in December, and so I am just this little fish in this big pond trying to figure everything out.
SPEAKER_01That is that is not the case. You uh Boyer, Kevin Boyer, her president, um, one of my personal mentors as well, um he he saw something in you, and obviously, and um you you know, you belong here, and I appreciate you jumping on here simply because you are kind of new, and so that you're gonna relate more, like there's gonna be people that listen to this that are even gonna relate more to you than someone that's you know been doing leadership roles for 30, 40 years or whatever. So, no, I I you definitely belong where you're at here, and I I appreciate you coming on here. So, with that, what what positions have you held?
SPEAKER_00So currently I am our branch secretary. Um, I wouldn't say like I've had positions per se, but I've um been an OJI instructor. I've done that for probably like a year and a half, and then when I found out I was pregnant with my son, I was like, I gotta focus on other things. And um, my husband's job is very time consuming, and I need to make sure I'm there for my son. Um, another thing that I get tasked with quite often is our scholarship committee. So whenever we have scholarships that are submitted, I go through the applications and anybody that wants to join on that committee, we sit down and go through that. And then I don't, this isn't again another committee, but this is something Boyer has tasked me again with for the last several years is um finding some either uh some kids and or families that we adopt over the Christmas season to make sure that they have a good Christmas. And I've been tasked to do that for like I think this last December was my third year.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that is um I I saw that you guys had that on your Facebook uh page this last Christmas, and uh I I was uh I was moved by it that you guys do that. That is really, really nice. Uh it that's going above and beyond. And so all of those roles, in my opinion, are all leadership roles. You you you don't want to you may not it may not be a title, so to speak, but all of those things you're doing are parts of leadership and people are looking up to you for answers and things. So you're you're you're doing it, you know. You belong, you belong here. Um, so now um I ask this to everybody, no matter what they are are in in their current position. What are your duties? What do you do as secretary of your branch?
SPEAKER_00So right now I'm very consistent at um taking the minutes at the meeting and answering questions around the office that carriers have. I'm still learning like all the facets of my job. Uh recently just got uh access to the members only portal so I can do those tasks. Um, but right now it's just a lot of learning and trying to figure out everything that I'm supposed to do, asking a lot of questions. Um, I'm sure Boyer and probably even Robbie are a little sick of me at this point, but just trying to figure it out and make sure that they understand, like I'm trying. I just it's not like a plop in there and know it kind of position, and they know that as well.
SPEAKER_01So no, and you got and Rob is another one that is just a fantastic guy that is there for you. Um, he I've I've been lucky enough to hang out with him, and he's he's just like every time we see each other, we're just messing with each other and everything. You you got I I can't brag enough about 763. Your branch is awesome.
SPEAKER_00Uh I don't want to forget Charles either. Charles is top notch.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, disclude him by any means.
SPEAKER_01No, no, I'm glad you mentioned Charles because it once again, he as well is somebody that I look up to just what he does and everything. So yeah, you you got a bunch of great mentors there that'll lead you in the right direction. Um kind of on a and I'm hoping I'm hoping this is a no, but have you uh had any experiences with any kind of discrimination, whether it be postal service-wise or NALC-wise. And if you have, how did you deal with those situations?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think unfortunately for women especially, there's a lot of discrimination, whether it's overt or covert, if that's how you want to put it. But um, I think the worst kind is when it comes from like your carrier co-workers. And those, I won't speak about those out of respect for those people. But um, one experience that has stuck with me and probably will continue to stick with me is after I had my son, I came back to work in February, had him in December, and I had spoken with my um management team, which is a whole different management team than we have now, but you probably know how that goes. Um, and let them know like I was breastfeeding and I wasn't gonna, I wasn't like wanting any accommodations. I just wanted them to be aware and to know that I'm a T6, so on certain routes I might be taking a little bit longer or whatever, due to the things that I needed to do. And one of the days um I wanted to go put my pumps in. And both we only our office is an older office, so the women's bathroom is one stall. And my postmaster, previous to the one we have Dell, created another bathroom, but it's on the opposite side of the office, not clean. And so I had been using the um bathroom across the hall from the postmaster's office, and she didn't want people to use that um bathroom anymore because of her conspiracy theories. So one day I wanted to go put my pumps in because I put my pumps in, and then I go straight to the street, so I don't have to deal with any coworkers, I just dip out as quickly as possible. And both bathrooms were occupied, and the other bathroom was locked. So I go up to my supervisor, I waited for her to get off the phone and waited for her to acknowledge me. And I said, Hey, can I please get the key to that bathroom so I can unlock it and just put my pumps in? And she gave me this look of like, you're kind of annoying me right now. And then she was like, Well, aren't one of the other bathrooms open by now? And I just looked at her and I was like, I said, honey. I said, All I'm trying to do is put my pumps in so I can go do my job. And so finally she handed the key over, and that was that. But it was just like, you know, you're a mom, you've been through similar situations. Why would you cause me such distress when I'm just trying to feed my child? So that was probably the main one where I was just like, Oh my god, like seriously, are we gonna argue over a bathroom?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And the the craziest part about that, I was waiting for the pronoun to come out because it seems like the majority of the ladies that I've had, and if you've listened to them, you I'm sure heard the majority of the problem is with other ladies, lady managers that are female. And you would think that I mean, in my crazy head, I'm thinking that a a lady would understand another woman, especially in a situation like that, much better better than a man would, but yet here we are, you know, and so it's it's just wild to me. I don't I don't get it. I don't I don't understand.
SPEAKER_00I think the men just want to like they don't want to deal with it. Like, hey, yeah, here you go. Yeah, and I think the women sometimes are just they have enough whatever gall to just like question you about it. I'm just like, bro, come on.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. Well, um, another question, and we you kind of touched on it a while ago, um, because of the time involved in different positions. Um, has the time that you have put into the the branch work that you do, has it caused you any issues with either family or friends where you're missing things or you know, anything along those lines?
SPEAKER_00Um, not so much so far. Um, I'm very adamant about protecting my time as much as I can. I also have a very, very supportive hus husband that knows that union stuff is important to me to be involved in. And so, like he knows every second Tuesday of the month I have a branch meeting and I need to be there by a certain time. And he's communicated that with work. So usually he'll be home on time, and so I can be able to get to go do those things. I think the hardest thing is just I don't get to see my side of the family very often because they live back in Kansas, and so I I can just tell it in my mom's voice every so often like, okay, it's been a while since I've seen you. And I'm like, Yeah, I know. I also don't have a lot of time off of work, and you're retired now, so I know that you would be itching to see us, and especially your grandson, but it is what it is, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. I I would say that I'm sure your mom wants to see you, but I have a feeling there's someone she wants to see a little more. I know how that is.
SPEAKER_00I'm just the though this.
SPEAKER_01Yes, exactly. Um, so uh now that we kind of got through that stuff, when you aren't doing your union stuff, when you're not doing the secretary duties or any of the other uh jobs that uh you've been tasked with, what do you like to do on your off time? What do you do to relax, unwind? Do you have hobbies? What what do you like to do?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um, usually in the evenings after my son goes to bed, um, my husband and I will usually just chill on the couch and kind of decompress from the day, talk to each other about our days and stuff like that. Like I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast, or it might have been off the podcast, we just recently purchased a house. And so it's a bit of an older home. So we're going room by room to like update and renovate and make it what we want and designing things online to see how we like it and stuff like that. Um, we usually garden every year. Um, the property that we bought does have a garden, however, it's overgrown by bamboo. So we've got to remedy that situation, which I think is gonna be a major task. But usually this time of the year would be gardening and um doing all that good stuff. So yeah, that's usually what I like to do.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, sounds like sounds like a good time. Just chilling. Yeah, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm a homebody.
SPEAKER_01Nothing wrong with that. Same, I am the same way. Um, so you know, I and I realize you, you know, you're kind of new in your position, but you have been obviously you've been cultivated to get into this position. You know, they've been giving you tasks to do. And what I I want to know, do you have like uh something that you might be able to, a little piece of advice you might be able to give someone that's listening to this that's saying, you know what, I'm thinking about wanting to get him more involved. Do you have a piece of advice you would give someone like that?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I'm gonna say this, but I don't always do it. But um just whatever get you get tasked with, just try your best to do it and take the ball and run with it. Like um, I know I to I turn Boyer down a lot for things he'd like me to do, and a lot of that is just me making sure I have time to be home with my son and stuff like that, just because of my husband's crazy schedule. But I think he also does understand that. Um, but I I want to answer your question in just a little different way, as opposed to like in a leadership position. I would really encourage somebody who's just new to the union or new to um start getting involved with the union, coming to meetings and learning how things work. And um, I've learned so incredibly much the last few years with all these podcasts coming out. Um, I don't think I would understand how our union operates and functions if I hadn't started listening to some podcasts. And I only listen to them like while I'm at work. Um, I don't spend a lot of time outside of work doing work things unless I need to. Um, but I would encourage new people to take some initiative in their branch instead of, you know, just complaining all the time because you can be the change that you want to see in your branch. You can't just sit on the sidelines all the time. If you've got something to say, you need to bring it to the branch and let's let's figure it out.
SPEAKER_01That is solid solid advice for anybody that's just starting out, you know, like that was perfect. Um well, I mean, I've you've hit all my questions. Did I miss anything? Is there anything you'd like to add?
SPEAKER_00Um, two things I'd like to add. The first thing is, and I believe one of your other ladies had mentioned this in her interview, but um there is a pregnancy workers' fairness act that was um uh into act in April of 2024. And it just provides more protection for women who are breastfeeding or pregnant or postpartum. Um, I think that piece of legislation is great. Um, I didn't have that necessarily available to me after my son was born, but um when I had the issue with the supervisor, I spoke to my steward that afternoon because I was upset, obviously. And I told him, hey, I do have protections under the Pump Act of 2022. And he was like, Well, what's that? And I was like, I will give you information because I gave the supervisors information about that before I was returning to work. And that um piece of legislation or that bill, whatever you want to call it, um requires the your employer to give you a space that's comfortable, clean, has a lamp, has running water, it cannot have a bathroom in it, and it can't and it has to be secluded away from other areas of the workplace. And that was something I was like, you know, I'm not asking for all these things. I'm just asking to use a bathroom to get myself situated so I can get out to the street. And so once I informed him about that and gave him some reading material, you know, he really did an awesome job for me sticking up to management and just letting them know like she could really pursue this and she's a carrier, so she could drive back to the office. She's guaranteed all that time. She's not asking for those kinds of things. So I think you guys need to just accommodate what she's asking for. So that's one thing I wanted to add. And then the second thing I wanted to make sure is that I gave a shout out to the branch um for the Christmas stuff. Because um we we um fundraise for that every year within the branch, and whatever dollars we collect and whatever we're able to purchase is solely from our carriers. And sometimes our supervisors will um participate, and sometimes our rural carriers will participate as well. So I just want to make sure that they get the credit where it's due. I just go buy stuff and try to coordinate with whomever I'm speaking to, if it's a family or foster care or whoever, just to try to make sure we get those kiddos or that family accommodated appropriately so that they can have a wonderful Christmas in their situation.
SPEAKER_01I both of the things you just added there, I they're perfect. Um, I think the the a lot of the legislation dealing with like the breastfeeding and stuff like that, I don't think it's really well known. So I'm glad that you threw that out there again. I do remember someone else mentioning it, but I can't remember who it was off the top of my head. Um but yes, I I'm thank you for throwing that out there. And also the the Christmas thing, like I said earlier, it you guys kill it. That is just amazing. I I think that we all a lot of times, no matter what level we're at in the postal service, as far as carriers new or you know, 30, 40 year carriers, we sometimes forget how fortunate we are. And you know, that is a great way to have a reminder of how how lucky we are, how you know, and we work hard. I don't I'm not saying that, but I'm just saying we are very fortunate in the positions we're in, and to be able to afford uh, you know, those sort of things for our own family, and there's so many people that aren't. And so uh yes, I want to I would shout out 763 as well for that. You guys do a phenomenal job. Um Taylor, I I that's all I have. I really appreciate you taking time. I know you right before we got on here, your husband had just got home, and I'm sure you're ready to go spend some time with him. Uh thank you so much for joining me tonight, and you definitely deserve to be on here. There's this this is it's there's no competition, and I guarantee you my very first episode was with Jane Brondell, the first ever National Secretary Treasurer uh female, and I guarantee you she would tell you you deserve right to be right here, just like anyone else. So thank you for joining me and don't don't doubt yourself. You you're where you belong. So thank you so much, and thank you everyone for listening to my podcast. Have a great evening, be safe, and be kind of