At the end of the week, I’ll be turning in my ID badge. It’ll be my last “end tour” with the Postal Service.I’m excited about the future, and I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life. But I’ll tell you something: You don’t work in a place for 32 years and walk away easily.
My father worked for the Postal Service. I met my wife here. We started a family. Along the way, we met so many people who meant a lot to us, and we made some very good friends. I even managed to have some fun along the way.
The Postal Service has been a big part of my life; it’s an experience I’ll never forget. You know as well as I do that this place can really get into your blood — it’s hard to say goodbye.
That’s what really sets the Postal Service apart. You care — about customers, the organization, and each other. I’ve seen it everywhere I’ve worked, as a brand-new clerk in New York, in jobs in Connecticut and DC, for almost 10 years as Postmaster General and at every facility I’ve visited — and that’s been quite a few. I can’t thank you enough for that.
People have been depending on us for a long, long time. And you’ve never let them down. In the plants and Post Offices, in the lobbies and on the routes, in the VMFs and in the administrative offices, you always give your best. You’ve made this the greatest Postal Service on earth. That’s something to be proud of.
And it hasn’t always been easy. The last 10 years have been some of the hardest we ever faced. When you travel as many miles as we do, there’s bound to be some bumps in the road. But we always worked our way past them, and we made real progress together.
With a bad economy, competition, and new technology, we’ve really had to be on our game. But you kept your eye on the ball, and you kept scoring — with great service and customer satisfaction. In a tough-cost environment, you made us more efficient than ever. And when customers think about our team, they know it means trust.
I’ll be honest with you — the work has been demanding. But you know that. I’ve enjoyed every minute — some more than others — but I’ve enjoyed them all. That’s one of the reasons my decision to retire was so difficult. Thinking about it, though, I know the Postal Service is in good hands.
First of all, there’s each one of you. I’ve seen what you can do. I know you’re going to keep giving it your best, because that’s what you’re all about.
And I know that Pat Donahoe has what it takes to be a great PMG. I’ve known him and I’ve worked with him for years. There’s no one who has more confidence in you. There’s no one who’s more committed to doing a great job for our customers. And there’s no better choice than Pat to lead our organization at this point in our history.
But he can’t do it alone — he’s going to need your help and your cooperation. And I know he can depend on the same support you gave me.
Our leadership may be changing, but our needs aren’t. We’ve got to make sure the Postal Service is a strong and vital part of our economy for a long time to come.
It’s going to take speed and flexibility to keep up with the changing demands of our customers. It’s going to take imagination and innovation to come up with new products and services. And it’s going to take energy, focus and determination to modernize today’s postal laws and regulations.
You’ve heard me say this before: There’s no single solution. There’s no quick fix. We have to take a balanced approach — a reasonable approach — to building a solid financial future. We can’t afford anything less. And that’s why we will make it happen.
It’s been a real honor to lead this great organization. And when I walk out the door on Friday, I’ll leave knowing that I’ve done my best. But my best wouldn’t have been possible without you. I want you to know that.
Whatever the future holds, I’ll always be a proud member of the postal family. I’ll always be a champion, an advocate and a promoter of the Postal Service. You can count on that. And I’ll always be one of you – I’ll always bleed “postal blue.”
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Jack Potter
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