Kentucky Rural Letter Carriers' Association
2019 Oak Leaf Society
Donna Cissell
An Outstanding Oak Leaf
The year was 1987 when a twig started to grow on the KY RLCA Oak Tree.
Just by chance Donna Cissell signed up to take the Rural Letter Carrier Exam. A few weeks later she was notified to come and take the test. After getting the results, she wondered which 4 questions she missed out of the 100, however, she continued working her part time and then afull-time job. Time moved on as it does with the Post Office, eighteen months passed, then she received that letter. The Post Office offered an interview for the part time position as an RCA on Route 17 at the Middletown Post Office.
So, on October 8,1988 Donna started her part-time Postal Career! For the next two years she served on Route 17 as well as other routes in the Middletown Office. Always willing to work when needed she carried Routes in 5 of the Louisville Branch Offices. Given the right to bid on other Routes, in 1991 Donna was the successful bidder on Route 30 at the Fern Creek Branch. This is when that little twig began to grow, always being available to serve on Route 30, she also carriedallof the routes at the Fern Creek Branch. In true Donna fashion, she made lifelong friends with the Rural and City Carriers as well as earned the respect of the Clerks and Management.
Finally, after 7 1/2 years, on March 8, 1996 The big day finally came, Donna made Regular! She was awarded a full-time route at the Lyndon Branch. It was then that Donna became very active in the Association. She served as the Local Steward in her office, became active in the District by serving as President and became an Academy Trainer. She continued her interest and support by being elected to the State Board for a three-year term. Her integrity, commitment and leadership abilities resulted in her serving on the QWL/EI Kentuckiana District Joint Steering Committee. There were many duties with this position, certification and training of DPS Mail, training of mediation teams, and giving assistance to work teams in getting their programs to become effective.
In June of 2008, Donna was elected State Secretary/Treasurer Of the KYRLCA. 2008 was a busy time as we were preparing to host a National Convention. Not only did she have a new position to learn she was very busy serving as Chairman of the Fundraising Committee for the Convention.
Now that twig on the Oak Tree back in 1997 is now a beautiful leaf on The KYRLCA Oak Tree. It is continuing to hold its true color when Donna was selected to serve at the National Level by being on the Training, Development and Compliance Committee. Her duties included training new State Secretaries, develop new training methods, assisting with database, Quick Books and anything to do with the job as a State Sec./Treas.Her assigned territory covered the South Atlantic Conference as well as the Southwest Area Conference.
As Donna worked with other Secretaries, she shared information about our Carrier Seminar program and our District Officer Training Programs. Some states are using these ideas, with some ideas modified to fit their situations. Being on the team when the current database was developed and working with the National Board on sending out the ratification notices for the last contract, serving on the Credentials Committee at the National Convention for six straight years and served as Chair one year is a great example of her abilities to serve and lead. She certainly makes KY proud to have that kind of representation across our great nation.
In 2014 Donna retired from her Rural Route Position! Now she really has more time to devote and nurture the duties of State Secretary/Treasure Position. She has been so creative in re-developing our Scholarship Fund, Annual Training of District Officers, help in filing LM Forms, Annual Audit Program for the Districts, the Carrier Seminar Program, and growth in the Outstanding District Awards. Her abilities and knowledge in the use of electronic equipment and programs has helped to keep the State Board in touch with each other and assist them in doing the work of the Association on a more regular basis. She has also been very effective in theLongevity Award and the Retiree Recognition Programs. The packets of information for new members and packets to the Families when there has been a death of a Rural Carrier.She has always worked to see that this Association remains successful and Kentucky remains in a leadership position as an outstanding State. She has used her knowledge and skills to assist in whatever job she has been tasked with as a Rural Carrier, Officer, or a Member of this Association. She has always worked very hard on how to stay in compliance, while being watched by NRLCA, the Membership, the IRS, the DOL and many others!What a Beautiful Leaf we now have on our Oak Tree.
This Committee and the entire Membership want to give a big Thank You to Donna’s husband Noel. We know that Noel and her family remains the rockof her life. Come August Noel and Donna will be celebrating 48 years of marriage.
They have 3 grown sons, John, Mike and Joe, who all have wonderful wives and terrific families. They have 12 grandchildren now, withanother due in August.
Whiletheir boys were growing up Donna and Noel took Leadership roles and were active with their boys in sports, school activities, church youth groups and Boy Scouts. All three of their boys were Eagle Scouts.
Noel and Donna are members of Beargrass Christian Church.
Thank you, Noel, for the support you have shown to this Association, by helping Donna in ways that we cannot even imagine. We know there were times when she was away or doing work for the Association that she could have been with you and her family. Without your love and support she could not be the person that she is, as she serves this Rural Carrier Family.
Thank You again,
Love and Prayers to you and your family!
Awarded June 21, 2019