We Are #PostalProud!

South Florida District

Fort Lauderdale Vehicle Maintenance Facility

Fort Lauderdale Main Office Carrier Annex and Lauderridge Annex

Photos: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman

Fort Lauderdale to Host Seminars

Fort Lauderdale Postmaster David Guiney is encouraging entrepreneurs to attend a seminar to learn how to grow their business through the Postal Service.

Monday, April 30, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Causeway Postal Store, 1515 SE 17 ST, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 

Tuesday, May 1, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Davie Branch, 3850 S University DR, Davie, FL 33329

Wednesday, May 2, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Fort Lauderdale Main Office, 1900 W Oakland Park BLVD, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310 

Wednesday, May 2, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Oakland Park Branch, 3350 NE 12 AVE, Oakland Park, FL
 
Friday, May 4, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tamarac Post Office, 7875 NW 57 ST, Tamarac, FL

Alejandro is New SFL District MOPS

Alex Alejandro (pictured above) is the new Manager, Operations Programs Support in the South Florida District, effective Saturday, April 28, 2018. Prior to this promotion, Alejandro served as Hialeah, FL, Postmaster.

Alejandro began his postal career in 1997 as a Part-Time Flexible Distribution/Window Clerk in Hollywood, FL. Two years later, he became a career Distribution Window/Clerk at the Pines Carrier Annex in Pembroke Pines, FL.  

Throughout his career, Alejandro has been promoted to positions of increased responsibility, including Associate Supervisor, Customer Services, Hollywood, FL, Post Office; Supervisor, Customer Services, Olympia Heights Branch, Miami, FL; Supervisor, Customer Services, Pines Carrier Annex, Pembroke Pines, FL and Princeton, FL, Branch; and Manager, Customer Services, Flamingo Branch, Pembroke Pines, FL. He was an Acting Supervisor, Customer Services at the Hollywood, FL, Post Office and also served as Manager, Customer Service Operations, Miami, FL.


Alejandro also served as Officer In Charge in Homestead, FL, and Opa-locka, FL. He was detailed as Manager, Delivery and Customer Service Programs, South Florida District; Manager, Route Evaluation and Adjustment Center, South Florida District; Manager, Customer Service Operations, Hollywood, FL; and Manager, Customer Services, Pines Carrier Annex, Pembroke Pines, FL. Alejandro also managed several district delivery and route inspection teams.

“Alex has a wealth of postal knowledge and customer service experience which are assets to this position,” said Acting South Florida District Manager Timothy Costello. “Please join me in wishing him continued success in his career.”

We Are #PostalProud!

Miami, FL, Customer Service Staff

Miami, FL, Processing and Distribution Center

A Career Milestone in Miami

Miami Postmaster Enrique M. Suarez (right) congratulated and presented Miami Manager, Customer Service Operations Darrin Johnson (left) with his Service Award and pin for 30 years of dedicated service. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte 

Are You Sprinting?

The Sprint to 10 Million Challenge, an initiative to sign up new users for Informed Delivery, is underway.

The goal is to have 10 million Informed Delivery users by Sunday, May 6, when this year’s National Postal Forum begins. Informed Delivery currently has about nine million users.

Informed Delivery is a free feature that allows consumers to digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages from computers, tablets and mobile devices.

The Postal Service is encouraging employees to sign up at informeddelivery.usps.com. Sign-up is voluntary.

Help 'Stamp Out Hunger' on May 12

Palms Central Letter Carrier/NALC Branch 1690 Food Drive Coordinator Starr Hunter has been dedicated to promoting the annual NALC “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive for the past 25 years. This year will be no different. Photo: Curlita Rogers-Saunders


The National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC’s) 26th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive is on Saturday, May 12.

Nearly 49 million Americans — 1 in 7 — are unsure of the source of their next meal. This includes 12 million children, as well as about 7 million seniors over age 60 — many of whom live on fixed incomes and often are too proud to ask for help.

Last year, active and retired letter carriers, with help from thousands of volunteers as well as NALC’s national partners, collected 75 million pounds of food, bringing the 25-year grand total to almost 1.6 billion pounds.

Postal employees have an opportunity to make a difference in helping families in need on Saturday, May 12. Remember to leave a generous donation of non-perishable items at your mailbox for your Letter Carrier or Rural Letter Carrier to pick up and deliver to a local food bank or pantry. 

The top requested non-perishable food items are: cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals (such as soups, chili and pasta), 100% juice, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken and turkey), beans (canned or dry). You also can donate healthy, low-sodium, low-sugar items such as beans, oatmeal and other whole grains, and canola or olive oil. 

NALC Food Drive is Saturday, May 12

The National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC’s) 26th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive is Saturday, May 12.

Nearly 49 million Americans — 1 in 7 — are unsure of the source of their next meal. This includes 12 million children, as well as about 7 million seniors over age 60 — many of whom live on fixed incomes and often are  too proud to ask for help.

Last year, active and retired letter carriers, with help from thousands of volunteers as well as NALC’s national partners, collected 75 million pounds of food, bringing the 25-year grand total to almost 1.6 billion pounds.

Postal employees have an opportunity to make a difference in helping families in need on Saturday, May 12. Remember to leave a generous donation of non-perishable items at your mailbox for your Letter Carrier or Rural Letter Carrier to pick up and deliver to a local food bank or pantry. 

The top requested non-perishable food items are: cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals (such as soups, chili and pasta), 100% juice, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken and turkey), beans (canned or dry). You also can donate healthy, low-sodium, low-sugar items such as beans, oatmeal and other whole grains, and canola or olive oil.

Miami Provides Relief on Tax Day

Miami Processing and Distribution Center Mail Handler Althea Atkins (above) accepted stamped income tax return envelopes from customers who appreciated the drive through collection.

Miami Processing and Distribution Center Clerk Rosalyn Montalvo (above left) cancelled last-minute tax return envelopes in the parking lot drive through while Miami Postal Police Officer Craig Clarit (above right) maintained the safety of employees and customers and the security of the mail. 


The annual Tax Day tradition continued at the Miami Processing and Distribution Center on April 17. Although customers had an additional two days to file their taxes this year, there was a steady stream of vehicles in the customer parking lot. Postal employees with proper identification accepted last-minute tax return envelopes from customers who were grateful for the parking lot drive through. Special thanks to the following employees who worked as a team and delivered the brand with exceptional customer service:

CUSTOMER SERVICES: Lobby Assistant Viola Brown; Postal Support Employee Kiana Lawrence; Sales and Services Associates Elias Acosta, Latosha Armenteros, Sonia Cofino, Donna Jones, Irma Knighton, Wang Shu Lee, Myriam Matias, VJ Reddy, Dulce Suarez; Acting Supervisor, Customer Services Janet Cruz; Manager, Customer Services Alexander “Alex” Fonseca; Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

OPERATIONS: Mail Handlers Althea Atkins and Ramona Johnson; Clerk Rosalyn Montalvo; Senior Manager Distribution Operations Alberto Iglesias

MAINTENANCE: Building Equipment Mechanics Emilio Franco and Orel Fulton; Supervisor, Maintenance Operations Pedro Garcia; Manager, Maintenance Operations James Lopez

U.S. POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE MIAMI DIVISION: Sergeant Favis Fuentes; Assistant Sergeants Alonzo Simons and Danny Turnof; Postal Police Officers Gary Bohl, Gustavo Cabanas, Jose Chirinos, Chung Choi, Craig Clarit, Brian Juman, Clarence Moss, Jr., Diego Rendon,  Edna Sepulveda, Edgar Solano, Besnic Vinca

Miami Processing and Distribution Center Mail Handler Althea Atkins (above) quickly accepted returns from last-minute tax filers on April 17. Also pictured is Miami P&DC Senior Manager Distribution Operations Alberto Iglesias (left) who assisted with the cancellations and Supervisor, Maintenance Operations Pedro Garcia (center) who assisted with traffic flow.
 

On April 17, Miami Processing and Distribution Center Mail Handler Ramona Johnson (above) accepted the last tax return envelope at 11:59 p.m.

Photos: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte 

Postal Exec Thanks WPB AMS Tech

On April 3, West Palm Beach, FL, Address Management Systems Technician Karin Nolf (pictured right) shared her experience with Informed Delivery in LINK. She wrote: “The first email I received with pictures of mail arriving soon was more detailed than I expected. I shared the email with my co-workers and encouraged them to sign up, too.”

A week later, Acting Chief Customer and Marketing Officer/Executive Vice President Jacqueline Krage Strako wrote the following letter to Nolf:

Thank you so much for your willingness to share your Informed Delivery experience with your postal customers, as well as LINK readers.
 
Informed Delivery is a crucial component of the Postal Service’s strategy to maximize the power of mail. It also sparks anticipation and enthusiasm for our customers, providing them with mobile access to their mail and packages. We are actively encouraging all employees to help us reach the next milestone in the growth of this innovative new feature.

An employee effort to recruit co-workers, as well as customers, is one of the driving forces behind Informed Delivery enrollment, which has now exceeded nine million users. When postal employees share their passion and excitement, it demonstrates the power and the influence of our employees.
 
I want to thank you personally for everything that you do, and for stepping up as an Informed Delivery champion. It is the support and enthusiasm of employees such as yourself that make a difference in the Postal Service. 

Ride, Sally Ride

America’s first woman in space, Dr. Sally Ride (1951–2012) inspired the nation as a pioneering astronaut, brilliant scientist, and dedicated educator.

 
One month from today, USPS will honor her with a Forever stamp which will be dedicated at the University Of California, San Diego. 

On June 18, 1983, Ride launched through Earth’s atmosphere aboard space shuttle Challenger, becoming the first American woman to reach space. For six days, she worked closely with her four male crewmates, proving to the world below that women were just as adept as their male counterparts in the final frontier.

Ride was the only person to sit on the investigative panels for both the Challenger and Columbia accidents. As a professor, she used her experience as an astronaut to explain complicated physics principles. In 2001, she cofounded a company devoted to fostering interest and skills in science, technology, engineering, and math among young people, particularly girls.  

Through her love of science and determination to improve our world, Ride left a lasting impact on generations of students and the future of American space exploration.

Deadline for FSA Claims is April 30

Now is the time to make sure you’ve submitted all your 2017 Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) claims. 

All claims for the 2017 benefit period must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, April 30, 2018. Any 2017 claims received after this time will not be reimbursed.

The Health Care FSA and Limited Expense FSA allow you to carry over up to $500 into the 2018 benefit period. If you have more than $500 left in your account, the unused funds that aren’t carried over will be forfeited after April 30, 2018.

The Dependent Care FSA allowed the continued spending your 2017 funds until March 15, 2018. Make sure that you’ve submitted all eligible expenses incurred through March 15, 2018. Funds remaining in your account after April 30, 2018 will be forfeited. 

To be sure you haven’t missed filing any eligible expenses, just check the claims payments (including paperless reimbursement claims) in your online account against your 2017 receipts. Log in at www.FSAFEDS.com. If you need help determining expenses that are eligible, you can view the eligible expense list on this website.

Have questions? Benefits Counselors can help maximize the value of your FSAFEDS account. Counselors are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST:  

Toll-free: 877-FSAFEDS (372-3337)

TTY (Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing Line): 866-353-8058

Customer Praises Tamarac Lead SSA

Tamarac Branch Lead Sales and Services Associate Fred Faber (center) provided outstanding service to a customer who wrote a letter praising him to Supervisor, Customer Services Donzetta Blair (left) and Manager, Customer Services Nelson Cortes (right). Photo: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman  

 

Recently, the Office Manager of Drivetech Automation  in Tamarac wrote a letter to Tamarac Branch Manager, Customer Services Nelson Cortes and Supervisor, Customer Services Donzetta Blair complimenting Lead Retail Associate Fred Faber. 

 

The customer wrote: “I was having difficulty receiving packages to my office on numerous occasions which brings me to speak about Fred.  I would call or text on his personal phone number which he insisted I do if we ever have a problem. Since Fred insisted I do that there has never, ever been a time when the problem wasn’t rectified the following day. Once I texted him having no idea that he was on vacation and the problem was still taken care of. I never heard of service like this or would even expect it from a government employee. I simply cannot say enough about Mr. Faber and his dedication to your Post Office.” 

Earthly Reasoning

 

To help mark Earth Day, which is Sunday, April 22, here are five ways the Postal Service helps the planet:

1. USPS uses the power of the sun. The Los Angeles Processing and Distribution Center (pictured above) has a solar power generation system comprised of 31,000 solar panels. This makes the center the city’s largest postal facility generating electricity through solar energy.

2. The Postal Service has green roofs, too. Two USPS facilities have green roofs, including the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center, whose 2.5-acre roof is one of the largest green roofs in New York City. Green roofs save energy and can contribute to better water quality.

3. USPS employees walk the walk. The Postal Service has 6,955 letter carriers who deliver mail entirely on foot — a USPS “fleet of feet” that saves the organization on vehicle costs, gas and more.

4. Alternative fuel vehicles also play a role. The Postal Service operates a fleet of more than 47,000 alternative fuel-capable vehicles, most of which are equipped to use ethanol. There are electric, compressed natural gas and liquid propane gas vehicles in the fleet as well. Additionally, USPS has used two-ton electric vehicles to deliver mail in New York City since 2001.

5. The organization is looking toward the future. The Postal Service has pledged to reduce the amount of energy it uses per square feet of building space 25 percent by 2025.

Source: LINK

Peace Rose Forever Stamp Blooms

The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a new Forever stamp celebrating one of the most popular roses of all time. The new Peace Rose Forever stamp features a detail from a photograph of the rose’s blossom, its creamy yellow petals touched at the edges with pink. The peace rose revolutionized hybrid tea roses with its unique coloring, hardiness and disease resistance.

The First-Day-Of-Issue dedication ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, at the Gardens of the American Rose Center in Shreveport, LA.  

Development of what was to become the Peace Rose began with a famous rose-breeding family in mid-1930s France. In 1935, the Meilland family had crossbred hundreds of roses hoping to create new commercially viable varieties.

One of the crosses yielded a unique bloom with yellow petals delicately edged with pink, which they named Madame A. Meilland.

Years later, as World War II escalated in Europe and France was threatened with invasion, two packages of the new rose’s budwood were sent to plantsmen in Germany and Italy.

A third package was entrusted to the U.S. consul, who took it with him as he left France and promised to send it on to American grower Conard-Pyle. This U.S. breeder cultivated the rose and sent cuttings to other growers to test the plant in various climatic zones and soil conditions.

The trials were so successful that the rose was introduced April 29, 1945, and made available for sale to the public. With war still raging across the globe, American growers selected a new name for the rose as a reflection of the world’s most fervent desire: peace.