The objects of the Association shall be: to unite fraternally all letter carriers and other employees of the Postal Career Service for their mutual benefit; to obtain and secure our rights as employees of the United States Postal Service, and to strive at all times to promote the safety and the welfare of every member; in conjunction with the Postal Service, to strive for the constant improvement of the Service; to create and establish the NALC Life Insurance Department and the NALC Health benefits Department; to construct, maintain, and operate the NALC buildings in the city of Washington, D.C. Reston, Virginia, and other localities; to establish a non-contributory retirement program for officers and employees; to sponsor a non-profit retirement housing facility in East Lake Wales, Florida, to be owned and operated by the National Association of Letter Carriers, Retirement, Education, Security, Training, Incorporated-NALCREST; and to establish and operate, under rules adopted and promulgated by the National Executive Council, a fund composed wholly of voluntary contributions by the membership to be used at the national and local levels exclusively for the purpose of assisting candidates without regard to party affiliation for election to federal office who favor legislation in the interest of labor, said fund to be separate and apart from all other moneys and funds of the Union.