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Chetek postmaster to make final send off after 30 years in the postal service
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| By: Rachel Westberg |
June 24, 2009 |
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Chetek Postmaster Dave Brunclik will retire after more than 30 years with the United States Post Office June 2. An open house celebration honoring Brunclik will be held Sunday at The Pokegama from 1-4 p.m.
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The United States Postal Service will undeniably go through several changes in the coming years. Chetek, too, will enter a new era of mail service with the departure of Postmaster Dave Brunclik, who is retiring after more than 30 years in the postal service.
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Dave Brunclik almost didn't take his first post office job. After serving the United States in the Air Force for four years, Brunclik decided to take the postal exam in 1977. At the time, he simply wanted to find a full-time job after leaving the military. He received a call from the Rice Lake post office asking him to join, but as he remembers, he wasn't immediately keen on taking the position.
"They told me it was part time, and I needed a full-time job," recalls Brunclik. "I had already agreed to help out with UPS over Christmas. But they told me I could do both-which they don't let you do anymore. Back then, I was just looking for a stable job."
Brunclik started out in Rice Lake as a mail clerk and carrier. He spent around 14 years there, and spent much of the time delivering mail to southern Rice Lake. Eventually, he made his way up to a supervisory position while delivering mail in the south part of Rice Lake.
"That was one of the best jobs," he says. "The job was independent and busy. It was a lot of work, but it kept you going every day."
At the same time, Brunclik worked as an Officer in Charge at the Cameron Post Office, a necessary step in becoming a postmaster. By 1991 he applied for his first postmaster position in Shell Lake. He enjoyed the experience, but wanted to work more in city delivery. He spent two years in Shell Lake and transferred to Spooner for a year. In 1993, he applied for the postmaster position in Turtle Lake. During that time he was also an Officer in Charge in Barron.
The Chetek postmaster position opened in 1998, and knowing it would be a "step up" in the postal service, he applied.
"It was really a move up," said Brunclik. "It was more responsibility and more pay."
Brunclik spent the last 11 years in Chetek, and although he has changed post offices throughout his service in the postal system, he has also seen a lot of changes in how mail is delivered-mainly in how automated the system has become with the influx of technology over the years. But through it all, he has always enjoyed the challenges of the postal service.
"I've always enjoyed working with the people and the mail," he confesses. "I've liked hard physical labor, and that is the part that most people don't see. There are never two days alike. You realize that once you get into it, it is challenging-all of the rules and regulations. It is a cool system and it is amazing how it works."
Brunclik adds that one of the most rewarding parts of being postmaster has been working with the people.
"It can be the worst day, then someone comes in here with a funny story and it makes you laugh," he says. "There is always the good and bad, but we do the best we can to give the best customer service. I hope that is what I've left with the place-take that extra step to get things where they need to be going."
Whatever happens in the future of the Chetek Post Office, Brunclik notes there will be a lot of challenges ahead for the postal service-not only in Chetek, but nationwide.
"The postal service is in crisis mode right now," he admits. "They are bleeding money, so they are trying to save everywhere they can. There will be a lot of changes in store."
Brunclik will officially retire July 3, but his last day is July 2, when there will be some refreshments in the post office to honor Brunclik's service. His wife has also planned an open house celebration Sunday at The Pokegama from 1-4 p.m.
Brunclik says he is unsure of what he'll do with his extra time after retirement, but he hopes to use the month of July to take it all in an figure things out. He does say he plans to play more golf and fish, and of course, spend more time with his family. He and wife Loretta have two sons, Christopher and Scott. They also have five grandchildren.
As far as the post office is concerned, Brunclik expects that the postal service will assign an Officer in Charge as an interim individual to head up the office. After a period of time they will likely have an open application process and hire someone, but he isn't sure how long that would take or when it would happen.
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©The Chetek Alert 2010
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Dan Fischer |
Jul, 01 2009 |
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Good luck Dave! Hope we get to see you over the holiday weekend!
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