CFC Heads into Final Week

 

West Palm Beach Address Management Systems Technician Karin Nolf is proud to “Show Some Love” to the Combined Federal Campaign. Nolf decided to support women who serve our country. Photo: West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator Curlita Rogers-Saunders

 
The annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) heads into its final week of pledging, with employees having until January 12 to contribute to 10,000-plus charitable organizations that are local, national or international.

Every dollar can make a difference when you make an online pledge to the CFC at www.sunshinecfc.org.  

The CFC is the largest and most successful workplace charitable giving drive in the world. The CFC is the only authorized charitable organization solicitation of federal employees in their workplace.  

Celebrating a Career Milestone

The Fort Lauderdale Custodial Department gathered to recognize Building Equipment Mechanic Ray Thompson (front row, center) with a plaque and pin for his 30 years of service. Front row, from left: Laborer Custodians Richard Bernardo, Robert “Bob” Naylor and David Guzman; Building Equipment Mechanic Raymond “Ray” Thompson; A/Supervisor, Customer Services Kathleen Britton; and Laborer Custodians Armando Ramos and Stefan Williams. Back row, from left: Laborer Custodians Dean Williams, Marvin Jankee, Randy Burrough, William “PJ” Douglas, and Gary Stump.


Photo: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman 

Informed Innovation

Informed Delivery is receiving praise from a top publication in the marketing sector.

Target Marketing magazine recently recognized the free feature as one of six outstanding campaigns of 2017.

“As a marketing professional, I am in awe of the tremendous performance metrics of Informed Delivery and wonder at all the possibilities it offers USPS for the future,” Target Marketing Publisher Chris Lyons said.

The magazine praises Informed Delivery’s high average email open rate and growing user population, which currently tops 7 million.

Other highlights include a 2017 user survey that shows 95 percent of users are “satisfied or very satisfied” with Informed Delivery, as well as the feature’s high rating from iTunes App Store users.

“As a consumer of Informed Delivery, I love it — it is the one email I open every day religiously. Well done and congrats to USPS on the development of such a creative, valuable and unique service,” Lyons said.

Informed Delivery allows users to digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device.

The feature is available to residential consumers, PO Box residential customers and USPS employees, who can sign up at informeddelivery.usps.com. Sign-up is voluntary and must be completed off the clock.

 

Source: LINK

Ft Lauderdale Passport Fair is Jan. 27

The stressful holiday season is over. It’s time to relax and start the New Year with vacation plans --- and a passport application.

The Fort Lauderdale Main Office, 1900 West Oakland Park Blvd, is hosting a Passport Fair on Saturday, January 27, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointments are required, but employee participation would be an off-the-clock activity.

U.S. citizens must present a valid Passport Book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports 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 available 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; 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 $25 per application. A debit or credit card may be used in addition to cash, money order, or check made payable to the Postal Service.

Many Happy Holiday Returns

The Postal Service has made improvements to prepare for the flurry of consumers returning holiday gifts through the mail.

Approximately 15-30 percent of items bought online during the holidays will be returned, according to the National Retail Federation.

To help these businesses, USPS has expanded its returns processing capabilities, which include more than 16,000 return delivery units across the nation.

The organization has also made it easier for businesses to insure returns. Additionally, USPS has enhanced its Merchandise Return Service, which applies to three mail classes: First-Class Package Service, Priority Mail and Ground Return Service.  

The latest Postal Bulletin has an overview of these improvements, which also include a service that targets merchants that ship high-value, lightweight products like jewelry and consumer electronics.

The growth in the returns market is part of a broader shipping increase: USPS expected to deliver 850 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, up more than 10 percent from one year earlier.

The shipping spike was driven by major increases in online holiday shopping.

Online sales rose 18.1 percent from the 2016 holiday season, according to MasterCard Market Insights, an industry research service.

“Overall, this year was a big win for retail,” said Sara Quinlan, a Mastercard Market Insights senior executive.

Source: LINK

Three Cheers for Pembroke Pines

Pembroke Pines Branch employees celebrated the holidays with a luncheon. During the festivities, Supervisor, Customer Services Yanier Leon thanked employees for an excellent job during the holiday season.  

 

From left, Sales and Services Associate Raymond Chang; Supervisor, Customer Services Yanier Leon; and Sales and Services Associates Rocky Gilles and Viviana Nienznajomski.  

From left, Sales and Services Associates Raymond Chang, Rocky Gilles and Viviana Nienznajomski strike a pose for this holiday photo.

No one could resist this holiday spread at the Pembroke Pines Branch. 

Photos: Lashavia Johnson

Combined Federal Campaign Seeks Your Online Donations by Jan. 12

A/District Manager Timothy R. Costello

Note: This year’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) nationwide theme, "Show Some Love," encourages employees to support the causes that mean the most to them. The campaign is accepting online donations through January 12.

***

As part of the fabric of every American community, the 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.

The CFC is the only authorized charitable organization solicitation in our workplace. Your participation is strictly voluntary.

Throughout the years, the CFC has become a powerful way for our employees to make donations to charities to help others in need. 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 campaign. This is the first year that the CFC is encouraging online donations at www.sunshinecfc.org.

As we begin a new year, consider making a charitable gift to benefit people who truly are in need. Just one dollar a paycheck can make a difference in the lives of people in your community, across the country, and around the world.

Thank you,
Timothy R. Costello
A/District Manager