Sr Field Sales Rep Exceeds Target

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines excellence as “the quality of being excellent or valuable quality.”     

 

Senior Field Sales Representative Carlos Vasquez (above) is exactly that.  

Vasquez joined the South Florida Sales Department in Fiscal Year 2018, and from Day One, has demonstrated to be a high-energy individual with the desire  be a top performer and contribute to the success of the team. In FY 2019, he exceeded the annual yearly target by 143%, as well as exceeded all quarterly targets according to District Sales Manager Jose Borrero.   
 

Story and photo submitted by Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Edwin Vivas

Halloween Safety Tips

 

Walk Safely


Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.

Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.

Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic

as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.

Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

 
Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.

Get rid of any distractions - like your phone - in your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances. 

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Holiday Slips, Trips, and Falls

Safety should be a year-round concern. But with all the hustle and bustle to get ready for the holidays, it’s possible that safety isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for most of us. For the U.S. Postal Service, safety is always a top priority. We have some tips that can not only help keep our carriers safe as they deliver your holiday gifts, but you and your family as well.

Around the House
Safety, of course, begins at home. You can do a few simple things now, to help reduce injuries during the holiday season. For those of us in the warmer climates, where snow and ice aren’t a problem, toys, small pieces of yard equipment, yard trimmings, or other items on the lawn, walkway or steps can cause a tripping hazard or serious injury. While you might be able to avoid tripping, mail carriers may have their hands full of packages and could miss seeing these items. Take a moment to make sure your yard and walkways are clear of any obstacles to make it safer for everyone.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and sometimes we can take it for granted," says USPS Safety Director Linda DeCarlo, “Just taking a few extra minutes every day, to look around for hazards in your home or workplace, or learning proper pet ownership, can reduce injuries that would ruin an otherwise good day.”

Furry Friends
Walk down just about any street on any given day and you’ll see someone walking their dog. Dogs are wonderful companions who bring joy and happiness to their families. But unfortunately, sometimes things happen, and the usually happy pup could end up biting someone.

Nearly 6,000 postal employees and a staggering 4.5 million Americans were attacked by dogs last year. Many attacks could potentially be avoided if dog owners would take a few extra moments of precaution. The Postal Service participates in National Dog Bite Prevention Week* every year and here are a few tips to keep you, your carrier, and your dog safe at the holidays and year-round.

·    If a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Some dogs burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.

·    Parents should remind their children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the person handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.

·    The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If a dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the area’s Post Office.

Additional holiday news and information, including all domestic, international and military mailing and shipping deadlines, can be found at the Postal Service Holiday Newsroom: usps.com/holidaynews.

* National Dog Bite Prevention Week is a registered trademark of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Tequesta LSSA Loves Her Job

Tequesta Branch Lead Sales and Services Associate Sheree Emmans (above) has been #PostalProud since joining the organization five years ago.

"I love my job. It's rewarding to help get my customers in and out in a timely manner while greeting and interacting with a smile," Emmans said.

'What Safety Means to Me!'

It's Time to 'Fall Back' on Sun, Nov 3

It's that time again.

Remember to change your clocks back an hour next weekend as Daylight Saving Time officially comes to an end. The clocks roll back by one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 3.

Few people will move the clock hand, or dial, back an hour exactly at 2:00 a.m. local time. But that's when Daylight Saving Time officially ends.   

During the time change, the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend that consumers change the battery in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.     

Fort Lauderdale Passport Fair: Nov 2

Do your travel plans require a passport? If so, take a trip to the Passport Fair on Saturday, November 2. Postal personnel at the Fort Lauderdale Main Office, 1900 W Oakland Park Blvd, will accept your application for processing between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.







Employee participation will be an off-the-clock activity.

U.S. citizens must present a valid Passport Book to enter or re-enter the United States by air.  U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders  and seaports of entry must present  a Passport Book, Passport Card or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government. 

How to Prepare for the Passport Application Process:

·  A completed application (form is at usps.com/passport; but do not sign it until the passport clerk instructs you to do so).  
·  Remember that everyone, including newborn infants, is required to obtain a passport in his or her own name. For children under age 16, the consent of both parents/ guardians is required. 
·  Proof of identity (a valid permanent state driver’s license, a government ID or military ID, previous passport, Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization Certificate)
·  Proof of U.S. citizenship (previous passport, original or certified birth certificate issued from the state with a raised, embossed, impressed, or multi-colored seal and registrar’s signature and date of certificate filing)
·  Two official passport photos (available at the Passport Fair for $15)
·  Social Security Number

The U.S. Department of State fees vary according to age and type. The fee(s) must be made by money order, check, bank draft, or cashier’s check made payable to the U.S. Department of State. The Passport Book fee for under age 16 is $80; for age 16 and older is $110. The Passport Card fee for under age 16 is $15, and for age 16 and older is $30. In addition, all acceptance agencies, including the Postal Service, charge a processing fee of $35 per application. A debit or credit card may be used in addition to cash, money order, or check made payable to the U.S. Postal Service.

'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Marketing is in the Pink!

The South Florida District Marketing Staff decorated their department for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pictured counterclockwise, from left, Retail Specialist Pat O Brady; Acting Marketing Administrative Assistant Michelle Wilcox; Manager, Marketing Juan Nadal; Manager, Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU) Joycelynn King, Retail Specialists Crystal Restrepo, Raymond Cefali, and Deborah Dhue; and Manager, Retail Sue Walker.

Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte 

 

Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov 3

If you changed your clock by one hour, you're a week early.

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3, which means earlier sunsets and shorter afternoons ... but NOT this week! The time change is  after Halloween and not before, as many people seem to believe.

The time change officially takes place at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, but you don't necessarily have to move the big hand on your clock behind an hour. The change is automatic for most smartphones, computers, tablets and other digital devices.

If you're still using an analog alarm clock, you'll most likely want to move it back before you go to sleep on Saturday, November 2, or when you wake up the next morning. 

Stay tuned for a reminder next week!

 

'What Safety Means to Me!'

Breast Cancer Research Semipostals & Butterflies in Pembroke Pines

From left, Sales and Services Associates Anthony Butler, Nordia Minzie, Raquel "Rocky" Giles, and Ray Chang are all smiles as they promote the sale of Breast Cancer Research semi-postal stamps at the Pembroke Pines Branch. Sharae Kranski (not pictured) designed the decorative butterfly tree (below).

 

Fort Lauderdale Passport Fair: Nov 2

Do you have travel plans that require a passport? If so, first take a trip to the Fort Lauderdale Passport Fair on Saturday, November 2. Postal personnel at the Fort Lauderdale Main Office, 1900 W Oakland Park Blvd, will accept your application for processing between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Employee participation will be an off-the-clock activity.

U.S. citizens must present a valid Passport Book to enter or re-enter the United States by air.  U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and seaports of entry must present a Passport Book, Passport Card or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government. 

     

The U.S. Department of State fees vary according to age and type. The fee(s) must be made by money order, check, bank draft, or cashier’s check made payable to the U.S. Department of State; debit and credit card payment is not available. The Passport Book fee for under age 16 is $80; for age 16 and older is $110. The Passport Card fee for under age 16 is $15, and for age 16 and older is $30. In addition, all acceptance agencies, including the Postal Service, charge a processing fee of $35 per application. A debit or credit card may be used in addition to cash, money order, or check made payable to the U.S. Postal Service.

Please direct any questions to Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Edwin Vivas at 954-527-3298.
 

'What Safety Means to Me!'

 

PMG to Dedicate Wreath Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service ushers in the holiday season with four new stamps in a booklet of 20 featuring festive wreaths. Displayed on a door, in a window, or over a mantel, wreaths are symbols of joy and celebration, inviting the spirit of the season to enter the home.

Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan will be the dedicating official at today's First-Day-Issue ceremony at the L.L. Bean Flagship Store in Freeport, ME.

Inspired by the holiday decorating traditions of early America, the four wreaths featured on these stamps are classic, yet contemporary. Their designs create feelings of warmth and welcome. Wreaths often are made from materials easily found during the winter months.
 
The ribbon leaf wreath is inspired by French floral art. Aspidistra leaves, folded and manipulated to resemble ribbons, create a long-lasting wreath.

Gilded pine cones and magnolia pods grace the wreath trimmed with cranberry red ribbon.

 

Red and gold ribbon adorns the wreath made from gilded dried hydrangea, eucalyptus and nandina foliage, red berries, and small ornaments.

 

The woodland bush ivy and red winterberry wreath presents a classic red and green palette.

 

Add these elegant stamps to your cards and letters to share holiday greetings with family and friends.

 

Antonio Alcalá served as the art director of the project and designed the stamps with floral artist Laura Dowling. Dowling designed the wreaths for the stamps, which were photographed by Kevin Allen.

Thank You for Your Service

Manager, Labor Relations Maria Franquez (right) wanted to personally thank Human Resources Clerk Keith Bernard (left) for his loyalty and support of the U.S. Postal Service during more than 30 years of government service.  

"The Postal Service has experienced many changes through the years, and we are proud of our commitment to the efficiency and quality of public service that we have maintained. Together, we have built a communications service second to none, and by working together, we will all share pride in its accomplishment," read the commendatory letter. 

'What Safety Means to Me!'

USPS Vision of 2020 Stamp Program

Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat  
In 2020, the Postal Service is launching its third Lunar New Year series with the issuance of the Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat Forever stamp. The Year of the Rat stamp will be the first of 12 stamps in the series. The Year of the Rat observance begins Jan. 25, 2020, and ends Feb. 11, 2021.

Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon dance often performed in Lunar New Year parades, this three-dimensional mask depicting a rat is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this time of year. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original artwork by Camille Chew.
  
Made of Hearts
Made of Hearts is a continuation of the Postal Service tradition of creating stamps that celebrate love. The stamp features horizontal lines of red and pink hearts on a white background. Toward the center, red hearts in varying sizes replace pink hearts in a formation that creates one large red heart, the focal point of this graphic design. This stamp is just right for thank-you notes, get-well cards or any occasion when love is the perfect message. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

Gwen Ifill
The 43rd stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Gwen Ifill (1955–2016), one of America’s most esteemed journalists. The stamp features a photo of Ifill taken by photographer Robert Severi in 2008. Among the first African Americans to hold prominent positions in both broadcast and print journalism, Ifill was a trailblazer in the profession. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Let's Celebrate! 
In 2020, the Postal Service issues Let’s Celebrate!, a new stamp that adds fun to celebratory greeting cards, invitations and gift-bearing envelopes and packages. No matter the occasion — birthday, anniversary, holiday, engagement, new job, retirement — Let’s Celebrate! helps send cheer along with well wishes. The stamp features an array of colorful circles in varying sizes arranged in a random pattern. The letters in the word “celebrate,” cast in a dark green hue, appear inside several brightly colored circles on a white background. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp. 

 Wild Orchids  
The Postal Service celebrates the exotic beauty of orchids with 10 new stamps in booklets of 20 and coils of 3,000 and 10,000. Each stamp features a photograph of one of nine species that grow wild in the United States: Cypripedium californicum, Hexalectris spicata, Cypripedium reginae, Spiranthes odorata, Triphora trianthophoros, Platanthera grandiflora, Cyrtopodium polyphyllum, Calopogon tuberosus and Platanthera leucophaea. Orchids also have common names, with some plants having several different names in popular use. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photographs by Jim Fowler.

Arnold Palmer
This stamp honors champion golfer Arnold Palmer (1929–2016). With drive and charisma, he helped transform a game once seen as a pastime for the elite into a sport enjoyed by the masses. The stamp features James Drake’s action photograph of Palmer at the 1964 United States Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

 Maine Statehood
This stamp celebrates the 200th anniversary of Maine statehood. Nicknamed the Pine Tree State, Maine became the 23rd state in the Union on Mar. 15, 1820. American painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967) was among the many prominent artists who sought the tranquility of the state’s coastal towns during the summer. His painting “Sea at Ogunquit” (1914) captures the rugged beauty characteristic of Maine. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Contemporary Boutonniere
Contemporary Boutonniere is a new Forever stamp similar in design to the new 2-ounce Garden Corsage stamp. It can be used for wedding RSVP cards and also is perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes, birthday cards, announcements, Mother's and Father’s Day cards, and other occasions when a beautiful stamp is fitting.

The stamp features a photograph of an arrangement of a burgundy mini-cymbidium orchid bloom, a succulent and a touch of green hydrangea, accented with loops of variegated lily grass. These materials are on trend for today’s modern designs, as arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano and photographed by Renée Comet. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

Garden Corsage
The Postal Service introduces Garden Corsage, a new 2-ounce stamp. This stamp can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations, oversize greeting cards for all occasions, and mailings such as small gifts that require extra postage.

The stamp features a photograph of a corsage containing a spray of peach roses and a pink ranunculus, accented with deep-pink heather and seeded eucalyptus. A cream-colored lace ribbon entwines the flowers. Garden Corsage is similar in design to the Contemporary Boutonniere Forever stamp, and the two form a natural pair. The corsage was arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano and photographed by Renée Comet. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.

Earth Day
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Postal Service issues a stamp featuring a playful painting of the planet, with small green lines surrounding Earth and hand-lettered text. Art director Antonio Alcalá was the stamp artist and designer. Ricky Altizer was the typographer.

American Gardens
With these stamps the Postal Service celebrates the beauty of American gardens. This pane of 20 stamps features 10 different photographs of botanic, country estate and municipal gardens taken between 1996 and 2014. The gardens include: Biltmore Estate Gardens (North Carolina); Brooklyn Botanic Garden (New York); Chicago Botanic Garden (Illinois); Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Maine); Dumbarton Oaks Garden (District of Columbia); The Huntington Botanical Gardens (California); Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park (Florida); Norfolk Botanical Garden (Virginia); Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (Ohio); and Winterthur Garden (Delaware). Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photographs by Allen Rokach.

Voices of the Harlem Renaissance
These stamps celebrate one of the great artistic and literary movements in American history, the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, which firmly established African Americans as a vital force in literature and the arts. Twenty stamps showcase four stylized pastel portraits of these literary figures: writer, philosopher, educator and arts advocate Alain Locke; novelist Nella Larsen; bibliophile and historian Arturo Alfonso Schomburg; and poet Anne Spencer. African-inspired motifs are used as background elements of each portrait. The pane header shows a cityscape in silhouette with a sun in its midst and the title “Voices of the Harlem Renaissance.” The artist for these stamps was Gary Kelley. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors
With the release of the Enjoy the Great Outdoors Forever stamps, the Postal Service celebrates the many ways individuals experience America’s abundance of natural beauty. These hand-sketched and painted designs depict five different scenes of outdoor activities — building a sand castle, hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and biking. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with original art by Gregory Manchess.

Hip Hop
The Postal Service celebrates hip hop with four new stamps in a pane of 20. Since its inception more than four decades ago, the electrifying music, dance and art movement has profoundly influenced American and global popular culture.

The stamp art features photographs taken by Cade Martin that depict four elements of hip hop: MCing (rapping), b-boying (breakdancing), DJing and graffiti art. The bold, digitally tinted images are intended to appear in motion. The words “Forever” and “USA,” “Hip Hop,” and the name of the element featured appear across the top of each stamp. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps, which are highlighted with a vivid yellow, green, red and black color scheme. The title of the stamps, printed in red and black, is centered on the top of the pane.

Fruits & Vegetables
The Postal Service captures the classic beauty of still-life paintings in a booklet of 20 stamps featuring 10 different portraits of fruits and vegetables. Each stamp features a collection of one kind of fruit or vegetable: red and black plums, heirloom and cherry tomatoes, carrots, lemons, blueberries, red and green grapes, lettuces, strawberries, eggplants and figs. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing art by Robert Papp.

Thank You
In 2020, the Postal Service issues four new stamps in a booklet of 20 available for notes, cards and letters of thanks sent to acknowledge a favor, an act of kindness, a job well done or gifts sent for any occasion. Highlighted in gold foil are the words “Thank you” in cursive script and an elegant floral design that swirls through and around the words.

Each stamp features one of four background colors: blue gray, deep blue, muted green or soft maroon. Greg Breeding was the art director. Dana Tanamachi was the stamp designer and lettering artist.

19th Amendment: Women Vote
With this stamp, the Postal Service commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees women the right to vote. Inspired by historic photographs, the stamp features a stylized illustration of suffragists marching in a parade or other public demonstration. The clothes they wear and the banners they bear display the official colors of the National Woman’s Party — purple, white and gold. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Nancy Stahl.

Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor
With this commemorative stamp, the Postal Service marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor. The stamp’s image is based on artwork of watercolor, acrylic and gouache, a method of painting that uses opaque pigments ground in water and thickened to a glue-like consistency. The painting was digitally refined to convey a scene of desolate beauty at the end of the Pilgrims’ long journey to an unfamiliar world. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original art by Greg Harlin.