USPS Announces More Stamps

 

The Postal Service announced plans to release five additional stamps in 2019:

• Star Ribbon, which features a tri-colored ribbon, folded into a patriotic symbol
• Little Mo, a release that honors tennis champion Maureen Connolly Brinker (1934-1969)
• Ellsworth Kelly, 10 designs that highlight the famed abstract artist’s works
• Transcontinental Railroad, three stamps that mark the 150th anniversary of the railroad’s completion
• Military Working Dogs, four designs that celebrate the canines who serve the nation’s armed forces

Source: LINK

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Hines Joins Black Heritage Series

Today the U.S. Postal Service issues the 42nd stamp in the Black Heritage series --- Gregory Hines, whose unique style of tap dancing injected new artistry and excitement into a traditional American form. A versatile performer who danced, acted and sang on Broadway, television and in movies, Hines developed the entertainment traditions of tap into an art form for a younger generation and is credited with renewing interest in tap during the 1990s.

Acting Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale will be the dedicating official at the First-Day-Of-Issue ceremony at the Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City.

Gregory Hines (1946-2003) was nominated for Tony Awards in the 1970s for his performances in three Broadway musicals — “Eubie!,” “Comin’ Uptown,” and “Sophisticated Ladies” — and won a Tony Award in 1992 for his starring role in “Jelly’s Last Jam.” He danced alongside his brother, Maurice, in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1984 film “The Cotton Club” and alongside ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov in the 1985 movie “White Nights,” and he appeared in the 1989 movie “Tap,” which highlighted three generations of tap dancers. He also hosted an Emmy-winning Public Broadcasting Service show about tap dancing, recorded a No. 1 R&B duet with Luther Vandross, twice hosted the Tony Awards, and acted in television sitcoms.

The stamp features a 1988 photograph by Jack Mitchell that shows a smiling Hines on one knee in a red blazer and gray pants, with one foot raised to show the taps on the bottom of his shoe. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp. 

 

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Reminder: Price Changes January 27

As a reminder, price changes will take effect Sunday, January 27.

Mailing Services product prices will rise approximately 2.5 percent.

Shipping Services price increases vary by product. For example, Priority Mail Express prices will increase 3.9 percent, while Priority Mail prices will increase 5.9 percent.

Here are the current and new prices:

• First-Class Mail single-piece letters (one ounce): 50 cents (current), 55 cents (new)
• First-Class Mail letters (additional ounces): 21 cents (current), 15 cents (new)
• First-Class Mail letters (metered one ounce): 47 cents (current), 50 cents (new)
• First-Class Mail outbound international letters (one  ounce): $1.15 (no change from current price)
• First-Class Mail domestic postcard stamps: 35 cents (no change from current price)
• Priority Mail small flat-rate box: $7.20 (current), $7.90 (new)
• Priority Mail medium flat-rate box: $13.65 (current), $14.35 (new)
• Priority Mail large flat-rate box: $18.90 (current), $19.95 (new)
• Priority Mail Army/Air Post Office and Fleet Post Office large flat-rate box: $17.40 (current), $18.45 (new)
• Priority Mail regular flat-rate envelope: $6.70 (current), $7.35 (new)
• Priority Mail legal flat-rate envelope: $7 (current), $7.65 (new)
• Priority Mail padded flat-rate envelope: $7.25 (current), $8 (new)

Also, effective January 27, the “balloon pricing” that currently applies to retail and commercial Priority Mail zones 1-4 and to commercial Parcel Select (all zones and entries) will be eliminated, and the current dimensional (DIM) weighting provisions for retail and commercial Priority Mail Zones 5-9 will be retained.

First-Class Package Service will move from a weight-based product to a zone-based and weight-based product.

Additionally, the Postal Service will defer implementation of new DIM weighting provisions for retail and commercial Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express and Commercial Parcel Select for all zones and entries. These DIM weighing provisions will be delayed until Sunday, June 23.

The PostalPro site has revised postage statements and an updated release overview, while a 2019 price change kit and other information will be posted soon to the Retail and Customer Service Operations Blue page.

Source: LINK

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Praise for Palms West Employees

From left, Distribution Clerks Andy Caballero, Stacie Billings, and German Lievano; Supervisors, Customer Services Shalonda Foster and Donald Tommasiello; and Distribution Clerks Sharon Knowles and Suzanne Singh.

 

Soldiers' Angels representatives recognized Palms West Branch Distribution Clerks and Supervisors with a Certificate of Appreciation for their support of the 2018 Holiday Collection Drive. 

 
Soldiers’ Angels is a national charity that provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and their families and the growing veteran population.

During the holidays, employees  assisted with the loading and scanning of the many pallets destined to overseas military personnel.

Photo: West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator Gayle Jones

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WPB SSAs Earn Perfect RCE Scores

 

West Palm Beach Main Office Window Unit Sales and Services Associates Thomas Costello (left) and Regina Bean (right) hit homes run with perfect scores on their Retail Customer Experience (RCE) transactions. Bean also was recognized by a customer for her outstanding customer service. West Palm Beach Postmaster Ernie Onody (center) thanked both Sales and Services Associates and expressed his confidence that they would continue to deliver a perfect score on future transactions.

 

Photo: West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator Gayle Jones

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today is a federal holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, that commemorates the Civil Rights Leader’s birthday, which was January 15.
  
The U.S. Postal Service has issued several stamps, including the 2013 release that marked the March on Washington's 50 anniversary (pictured above).

King (1929-1968) was a Baptist preacher who became a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and also helped pave the way for enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, four years before his assassination.

King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a holiday in numerous cities and states beginning in 1971; the holiday was enacted at the federal level by legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Hundreds of streets in the U.S. have been renamed in his honor, and a county in Washington State was also rededicated for him. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 2011. 

New CFC Deadline is February 9

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) deadline has been extended through Saturday, February 9.

The CFC is the only authorized charitable organization solicitation in our workplace. There are more than 4,000 approved charities eligible to receive your donation --- organizations that provide human services, health care, medical research, disaster relief, housing, youth development, and much more.

How much you give and whether you wish to designate your support to a specific charity is your decision. Most employees elect to pledge an amount to be withheld regularly from their paycheck while others give a one-time gift during the CFC. Your participation is strictly voluntary. 

To make an online donation, visit www.sunshinecfc.org. Your gift will help shape the lives of thousands of people in our communities, across the country, and around the world. Every dollar can make a difference. 

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Palm Beach Gardens Carrier Retires

 

Palm Beach Gardens Branch Manager, Customer Services Robert Harris (above, right) presented Letter Carrier Louise Carlon (above, left) with her Retirement Certificate. Carlon retired after 30 years of service.

 

Photo: West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator Gayle Jones

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Holiday Stamp of Approval

On Saturday, December  8, South Florida District Manager, Marketing Juan Nadal (above) dedicated the Global Forever stamp to Miami Dade College's North and Inter-American Campuses President Dr. Malou C. Harrison (not pictured).

This annual event attracted hundreds of families that enjoyed several dance performances by local schools, activities and a holiday parade. The parade began as Santa himself arrived in a helicopter and greeted and posed with children for photos. 

 

The children had the opportunity to color the annual U.S. Postal Service coloring page designed by Employee Engagement Ambassador and Cartoonist Earl Musick. They listed their wishes on the back of pages, and then mailed them in the onsite “Letters to Santa” collection box. All letters deposited were sent to Santa’s Workshop in Miami, FL, where volunteer elves addressed postcards to children.

 

Pictured left, Ellie Rose Nadal, daughter of Manager, Marketing Juan Nadal and Manager, Inspection Service Administration Charisse Nadal, deposited her letter to Santa during the Miami Dade College Holiday at the North event.

Photos: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

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Promoting the Postal Brand



Among employees promoting the postal brand to media during the holiday season were Miami Postmaster Enrique "Rick" Suarez and Olympia Heights Branch Letter Carrier Edwin DeJesus. Please see below photos.

 

 

WLTV Channel 23 Univision Reporter Lourdes Del Rico (above, right) interviewed Miami Postmaster Enrique “Rick” Suarez (above, left) during the busiest week of the year. Suarez provided viewers with recommended shipping deadlines to ensure their loved ones received holiday cards and letters.
 

Local media arranged through the Corporate Communications Office, opportunities to follow a Letter Carrier along their route. WLTV Channel 23 Univision’s “Despierta America” videographer (above, left) captured Miami Olympia Heights Branch Letter Carrier Edwin DeJesus (above, right) making a package delivery.

"I experience the joy of the holidays as I deliver cards and packages to my customers,” DeJesus said. “It makes my day.” 


Above, Miami Olympia Heights Branch Letter Carrier Edwin DeJesus ensured that he scanned holiday packages and left them in secure area when the recipient was not at home. 

Photos: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte 

Lunar New Year Stamp Blooms in TX

Today in Houston, TX, the U.S. Postal Service will dedicate its Year of the Boar stamp, the 12th and final entry in the Celebrating Lunar New Year series.

The stamp will be available nationwide at Post Offices.

Lunar New Year, an important holiday for many Asian communities, is celebrated primarily by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan and Mongolian heritage.

The Year of the Boar begins Tuesday, February 5. Individuals born during the Year of the Boar are said to be generous, compassionate and warmhearted.

The stamp artwork features peach blossoms, which are particularly significant during this time of year. In China, peach trees typically bloom in early February, heralding the imminent arrival of spring.

Kam Mak, a Hong Kong-born artist, created the artwork using elements from a previous series of Lunar New Year stamps: Clarence Lee’s intricate cut-paper design of a boar and the Chinese character for “boar” drawn in grass-style calligraphy by Lau Bun.

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Informed Delivery: 14 Million Plus Preview Mail, Manage Packages

Informed Delivery allows you to digitally preview your incoming mail and manage your packages from mobile devices, as well as computers and tablets.

You hear a lot about Informed Delivery these days, but do you understand how it works and why it’s important to USPS?

If not, here’s what you should know:

• Informed Delivery bridges digital and physical communications. The free feature allows users to digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages from computers, tablets and mobile devices.

• It’s easy and convenient to use. Informed Delivery users receive email notifications containing images of the outside of incoming letter-size mailpieces that will soon arrive in their physical mailboxes. These images are also accessible on the Informed Delivery online dashboard and mobile app.

• Businesses can add interactive content to Informed Delivery emails. When a consumer clicks on this content, he or she will be taken to the company’s website to receive offers, coupons or to learn more about the firm’s products and services.

• More than 14 million consumers use Informed Delivery. The feature is available to residential consumers and PO Box residential customers. USPS employees can go to informeddelivery.usps.com to sign up for Informed Delivery when they’re off the clock.

• Informed Delivery can help the Postal Service grow. Increasing the number of Informed Delivery subscribers will encourage more businesses to add interactive content to Informed Delivery emails, thereby boosting USPS revenue and the value of mail.

You can also learn more at the Informed Delivery pages on Blue and LiteBlue, as well as usps.com.

Source: LINK

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Preventing Rollaways and Runaways

In Fiscal Year 2018, the South Florida District experienced five rollaway/ runaway vehicle accidents. This fiscal year (as of October 1, 2018), the district already has experienced one rollaway vehicle accident.


A rollaway accident occurs when the engine is off, and the driver fails to set the parking brake and/or fails put the vehicle in park. A runaway accident occurs when the engine is left on, and the driver fails to set the parking brake and/or fails put the vehicle in park.

Rollaway and runaway accidents are extremely dangerous, since the vehicle is out of control and can easily strike a child, a pedestrian, another vehicle, or a fixed object. It is your responsibility to ensure that rollaway/runaway accidents do not happen.

Remember to keep your keys with you at all times. Doing so demonstrates that two of the four steps to properly parking your vehicle have been accomplished. Please review the below steps to properly park a vehicle:

Step 1. Set the handbrake
When setting the handbrake, be sure to depress the brake pedal first. Then set the handbrake. Setting the handbrake without depressing the brake pedal will not hold the vehicle if you are on a hill or if the engine is running.

Step 2. Put your gear selector in park
If you are driving a manual transmission vehicle, place the gear selector in low/first or reverse.

Step 3. Curb your wheels
Remember, when parking your vehicle on a downhill slope with a curb, turn your wheels “into” the curb. When parking uphill with a curb, turn your wheel “out” from the curb.  If there is no curb, turn your wheels to the side of the road you are parking on. If you are parking on the right side, turn your wheel to the right. If you are on the left side of the street, turn the wheel to the left.

Step 4. Shut the engine off and remove the key
Regardless of how long you will be out of the vehicle, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE!

To properly secure the parking brake on most delivery vehicles, it is imperative the foot operated brake pedal be fully depressed prior to the hand brake being set. Setting the hand brake without first fully depressing the foot pedal does not necessarily make the vehicle secure.

Remember that safety is a personal choice you make each day. Rollaway and runaway accidents can be prevented.

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Miami Customers Praise New Carrier

A Miami customer praised Ludlam Branch City Carrier Assistant Torrey Pringle (above) in a letter to his manager. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

Ludlam Branch Manager, Customer Services Vicente Perez-Melendez received complimentary correspondence on City Carrier Assistant Torrey Pringle who replaced recently-retired Letter Carrier Richard Ulloa on his Miami route. Below is the customer's letter:

We neighbors were saddened when our wonderful postman Rich retired. We missed his friendliness and kindness and knew he could never be replaced. Then along came Torrey Pringle. We welcomed him, and hoped that he shared some of the traits Rich had. He has. We are very happy with him, and hope that he can retain this route on a permanent basis.

I happened to see Rich at Halloween. He brought his grandchildren to our neighborhood. I told him that we missed him, but are happy with our new mailman, Torrey. He suggested I drop you a note expressing my hope to keep Torrey on the Schenley Park route. I do hope you will consider Torrey as our permanent mailman.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

A Satisfied Schenley Park Customer

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Today is Last Day for CFC Pledges

 

As part of the fabric of every American community, the U.S. Postal Service and its employees demonstrate good corporate citizenship each and every day. Our collective commitment to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is a prime example.

Friday, January 11, is the last day to pledge to the CFC. Every dollar can make a difference. To make an online donation to your favorite charities, visit www.sunshinecfc.org. Your gift will help shape the lives of thousands of people in our communities, across the country, and around the world.

The CFC is the only authorized charitable organization solicitation in our workplace. There are more than 4,000 approved charities eligible to receive your donation --- organizations that provide human services, health care, medical research, disaster relief, housing, youth development, and much more.

 

How much you give and whether you wish to designate your support to a specific charity is your decision. Most employees elect to pledge an amount to be withheld regularly from their paycheck while others give a one-time gift during the CFC. Your participation is strictly voluntary.