Key West PO Looking for Supervisors

(This is an internal posting.)

Are you looking to broaden your postal horizons?  Here’s an opportunity to be a Supervisor, Customer Services, EAS-17, at the Key West Post Office located at 400 Whitehead Street in Key West.  Postmaster Jane Evans is announcing two ad-hoc positions, not to exceed two years, open to all qualified EAS career employees within the South Florida District.  Applications will be accepted from April 2, 2012 through April 12, 2012.    

OCCUPATION CODE:  2310-0022

NON-SCHEDULED DAYS:  SUN/WED  HOURS:  0500 - 1400

OCCUPATION CODE:  2310-0022

NON-SCHEDULED DAYS:  SUN/THURS HOURS:  1000 - 1900

A Supervisor, Customer Services supervises a group of employees in the delivery, collection, and distribution of mail, and in window service activities within a Post Office, station or branch, or detached unit.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.   Knowledge of mail processing and distribution operations, policies, and procedures.

2.   Ability to determine staffing and equipment needs, including determining priorities and assessing the need for overtime.

3.   Ability to monitor operational performance and make appropriate adjustments to optimize mail flow.

4.   Ability to communicate orally in order to coordinate work activities with other managers, consult with customers, and meet with union representatives.

5.   Ability to manage the work of others to achieve organizational goals and objectives, including planning and organizing the work, facilitating the flow of work-related information, and providing technical guidance.

6.   Ability to estimate mail processing and distribution expenditures in order to provide budget input.

7.   Ability to monitor mail processing operations for compliance with established safety policy and procedures.

8.   Ability to manage an on-the-job training program. 

Interested employees must submit their eCareer profile, along with a summary of accomplishments addressing the above requirements.  Applications should be mailed to the following address for receipt by COB, Thursday, April 12:  

POSTMASTER, KEY WEST

400 WHITEHEAD ST

KEY WEST, FL 33040-9998

NPF: Innovation Meets Technology

Conversations inspire innovation, and important conversations about the mailing industry are taking place starting Monday at the 2012 National Postal Forum (NPF) in Orlando, FL.
For more than 40 years, NPF has provided training and education for business mailers to help them keep pace with industry progress. This year, more than 4,500 industry professionals are expected to attend NPF to meet USPS executives and learn how the Postal Service is bringing innovation and technology to the mail experience.
PMG Pat Donahoe will deliver a keynote address Monday covering the state of USPS and the mailing industry. The PMG will discuss the Postal Service’s core business strategies, announce new offerings and initiatives and describe plans to support the growing mailing industry.
Tuesday, the PMG will convene an executive briefing session featuring members of the Executive Leadership Team to examine legislative changes, digital strategies and the evolving USPS business model.
The 4-day conference includes more than 120 sessions and workshops along with an exhibits and a state-of-the-art “Innovation and Technology” pavilion to showcase current USPS technology.

Ready to Retire? Now What?

New retirement counseling videos for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) employees now are available at LiteBlue.

The videos are for the benefit of employees who have started the retirement process and have already received their paperwork. They also will be useful for employees within five years of retirement who want to learn more about benefits and the paperwork involved.

The counseling videos include the same information retirement specialists at the Human Resources Shared Services Center would give employees over the phone. But unlike a telephone conversation, each 20-minute session can be viewed as many times as employees need. And they can pause to finish paperwork or rewind to review information.

 The new counseling videos at LiteBlue are in addition to a set of more general retirement videos which include information for new or younger employees, as well as those preparing to retire. The general retirement videos are not available on ACE computers.

A Taxing Situation

Taxpayers have two extra days to get their taxes turned in this year.  While Tax Day typically falls on April 15, the IRS is pushing back this year's filing deadline to Tuesday, April 17.  The extension was granted because April 15 falls on a Sunday this year, and Monday is Emancipation Day, a holiday in Washington D.C. that celebrates the freeing of slaves in the district. The extra two days apply in South Florida and across the country.  Remember to support the USPS and mail your income tax return!

This year the IRS has an expanded version of its smartphone application designed to provide taxpayers easier access to practical tools and information.  The new app, IRS2Go2.0, available on the Apple and Android platforms, adds a new YouTube feature, news feed and tax transcript service in addition to existing tools, such as checking on the status of a tax refund.  The phone app offers taxpayers a number of safe and secure ways to access information and keep current on practical tax information. The 2.0 version of the phone app includes three new tools:

• Watch Us. People can view IRS YouTube videos on their smartphones. The videos provide short, informative features on a variety of tax topics. The channel ranks as the fourth most viewed channel among more than 125 federal government YouTube channels. IRS also has YouTube channels available in multilingual and American Sign Language. 
• Get the Latest News. With this tool, users can have the latest IRS news releases delivered to their phones as it becomes available.  
• Get My Tax Record. Taxpayers can now order their tax return transcript from the IRS2Go app. The transcript will be delivered via the U.S. Postal Service to their address of record.

The free IRS2Go app will continue giving taxpayers access to the tools offered last year:

• Get Your Refund Status. Taxpayers can check the status of their federal tax refund through the phone app with a few basic pieces of information. An updated refund status is available about three days after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an e-filed return, or four weeks after mailing a paper return.
• Get Tax Updates. Phone app users enter their e-mail address to automatically receive simple, straightforward tips and reminders to help with tax planning and preparation. Tax Tips are issued daily during the filing season and periodically throughout the rest of the year.
• Follow the IRS. Taxpayers can sign up to follow the IRS Twitter newsfeed, @IRSnews, which provides easy-to-use information, including updates on tax law changes and important IRS programs.

Apple users can update or download the free IRS2Go application by visiting the Apple App Store. Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download the free IRS2Go app.

Girl Scouts' Honor: First-Class Stamp to Celebrate 100th Anniversary

     The Girl Scouts of America are celebrating their 100th anniversary this month.  To commemorate this milestone, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the First-Class Celebrate Scouting Forever Stamp this June as part of the Girl Scouts’ Rock the Mall celebration in Washington DC.
     The stamp features a large silhouette of a girl with binoculars looking into the distance — perhaps sighting a soaring bald eagle or a faraway destination. The scene within the silhouette features a girl in mid-stride with a walking stick, shorts and backpack on a summer trek. The environment is composed of large redwoods, a lake, a distant forested mountainside and small ferns in the foreground, with a blue sky as it appears in early morning or late evening.
     Since the birth of the scouting movement more than a century ago millions of youths have learned to find valuable, lifelong skills and confidence acquired through scouting. Some of the first scouting experiences provided opportunities to hike, camp, study first aid and learn to tell time by the stars.

Cherry Tree Stamps 'Blossom' in DC

     Last Saturday USPS celebrated the centennial anniversary of the gift of more than 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to Washington, DC, dedicating the Cherry Blossom Forever stamps during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.  
     The popular spring festival commemorates the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan who donated them to nourish the growing friendship between the United States and Japan and also to celebrate the close relationship between the two nations. 

     Joining PMG Pat Donahoe and Consumer and Industry Affairs VP Susan LaChance at the National Building Museum for the First-Day-of-Issue ceremony were Ambassador of Japan Ichiro Fujisaki, National Building Executive Director Chase Rynd, National Cherry Blossom Festival Executive Director Diana Mayhew, and stamp artist Paul Rogers.
     “The Postal Service has created a lasting tribute to the gift of cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, as well as the friendship between two nations that inspired that gift,” said Donahoe. 

PMG Addresses Congress, Urges Support for Profitability Plan

Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe went to Capitol Hill Tuesday to support the Postal Service’s plan to return the agency to fiscal solvency.

Donahoe told legislators during a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy the comprehensive plan USPS has developed will produce a reduction in annual costs of $22.5 billion by 2016. He said the plan provides a “clear path toward financial stability” for USPS.

The PMG urged Congress to consider the comprehensive plan favorably. He said its adoption would allow USPS to meet its universal service obligations and its employees would continue providing reliable and affordable service to the public. “We believe it’s a responsible approach that’s fair to our customers and our employees,” he said. 

The PMG’s testimony is at  http://about.usps.com/news/testimony/2012/pr12_pmg0327.pdf.

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Are You 'Engaged' in Your Future?

Like many American businesses, the Postal Service continues to experience a financial loss.  We can fault economic conditions and the increased usage of electronic communication for the decline in mail volume.

 

But even during difficult, challenging times, we are reminded that there is good news.  As we continue to implement cost-cutting measures, we have a great opportunity to grow the business.  Working together as a team and “engaging” in revenue initiatives will improve our overall financial situation and create long-term job security for all of us.

Through the Employee Engagement Programs-----Business Connect.  Customer Connect.  Rural Reach.  Submit a Lead.  These revenue generation initiatives are not new to you, but as an organization, we’re revitalizing the overall program.  We’re re-engaging to grow the business --- our business. 

Every employee is encouraged to submit a lead about a business customer who doesn’t use the mail --- or one who could use more of our mailing services.  Are you “engaged” in one of these revenue-generating programs?

Business Connect encourages Postmasters and Managers, Customer Service to help small and medium-sized businesses to generate revenue with postal products and services. Interaction with your customer(s) should be entered as an Activity in the Business Connect Data Center (BCDC).

Customer Connect leverages our letter carriers’ relationship with their business customers to identify new business opportunities and leverage existing relationships to grow revenue.  City Carriers ask your Postmaster or Manager, Customer Service for a Lead Card.

Rural Reach is a program for rural carriers to identify potential customers and revenue generation.  Lead cards are available also to you through your Postmaster or Manager, Customer Service.

Submit a Lead is for employees whose jobs do not have regular customer contact.  They’re the behind-the-scenes employees who work in plant operations, support services, and administrative offices.  You can enter the information on the USPS Blue Page at http://blue.usps.gov or at “LiteBlue,” www.liteblue.usps.gov and click on “Submit a Lead,” under “Connecting With Customers.”

Today, more than ever, the Postal Service needs to pursue all viable revenue sources, and our employees play a very important role as they submit leads through one of the revenue-generating programs.  Our future depends on employee engagement --- your engagement!  Everywhere.  Every day.

Sunrise's Camm is FEOY Nominee

Nominated by Philip Geraci, Manager, Customer Service, Sunrise Post Office


     Nellie Camm goes above and beyond the requirements of her letter carrier position by assisting customers on her route.  Camm has spoken with business customers and has promoted Priority Mail on her routes.  She was able to regain potential sales by establishing a business contact.  She has submitted four customer contact leads, and due to her effort, two companies committed to the Postal Service which now has an additional $56,000 in revenue.


     Camm has been a letter carrier for more than 20 years in the City of Fort Lauderdale.  She has proven to be a stellar employee with nearly perfect attendance and a high performance standard.  Her personality and friendly demeanor make her a pleasure to work with at the Sunrise Post Office.

FEOY Salutes Belinda C. Palmore

Nominated by Gale Jackson, Supervisor, Business Mail Entry Unit, West Palm Beach

     Belinda C. Palmore has worked in many functional areas and has brought about positive changes to benefit all in every area.   Primarily, her career has been in Customer Service and Human Resources positions of various levels of responsibility.
     Belinda has been a certified CPR/First Aid instructor with the American Red Cross for more than 20 years.  She has certified many individuals in the Postal Service, as well as employees from county schools, and area churches, businesses, and day care centers.  Her skills were put to the test when she administered CPR to a customer who suffered a heart attack while waiting in line at the Post Office.  She was successful in keeping the customer breathing until paramedics arrived to save the customer's life.  
     At Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Belinda serves in numerous roles ranging from media ministry to choir member to financial secretary.

Animal Activist Nominated for FEOY

North Lauderdale Manager Rose Mesenger-Mannisto nominated Letter Carrier John Neal for recognition in the "Federal Employee of the Year" Awards Program.


John Neal is a dedicated letter carrier who works in Atlantic, Margate, and North Lauderdale Post Offices.  He is able to adjust to what sometimes can be very challenging schedule with different hours and days off.  John is capable of running every operation in the mail delivery field.  His peers respect him for his willingness to always assist when needed.  He is a true professional.


John is an animal activist who has rescued and saved 50 lost dogs and cats in  2011.  He finds their rightful owner and returned them to the individual or gets them adopted to new homes.


John and his wife are volunteers with the Girl Scouts of America.  They manage two troops for a total of 29 girls.  The City of West Hollywood had approached John about taking on the second troop through a grant for girls from low-income families.  This grant pays for the girls' dues and their activities, including camping and field trips.  


In addition to the Girl Scounts, John also has volunteered five days a week for the girls' softball team at McArthur High School in Hollywood where his 15-year old daughter is a star player.


He also takes excellent care of his father who has been struck with Alzheimer's.  He sits with his Dad every evening in an assisted living facility.  

USPS Delivers Bittersweet Memory

Thanks to the determination of postal employees, 90-year-old Yancey Garner, who once served in the U.S. Navy, was reunited with a letter written by his 7-year-old daughter.  Garner was serving at a naval base in Key West FL in the 1950s.  


South Florida MDO Albert Iglesias found the letter in a tray from Tampa.  He contacted Communications Programs Specialist Debra Fetterly who tried to put together the pieces of the puzzle.  She contacted Homeland Security Coordinator Michael Balcom, a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief, who made a few phone calls and researched the internet.   Mike learned that the Garner Family lived in Silver Spring, MD.  Debbie contacted her Communications counterpart and then mailed the letters to her to contact the customer.  


It was a bittersweet reunion.  Unknown to the Postal Service,  the letter was delivered the day prior to the one-year anniversary of the accidental death of the daughter who wrote it.  

EMI Sale to Beauty Supply Distributor Generates $109,200 in Boca Raton

Boca Raton Main Office Manager Jen Leon provided a sales lead to Business Solutions Specialist Sharon Squadrito who contacted the owner of High End Beauty (HEB), a local beauty supply distributor, seeking to expand the business internationally.  

HEB had launched new cosmetic and hair care products and needed an international shipping solution that offered value, ease of use and visibility. Maintaining their high scores for customer service was a priority for HEB. Sharon contacted A/Global Accounts Manager Robin Walls and the postal duo highlighted the features and benefits of Express Mail International.  High End Beauty expressed confidence in USPS’s ability not only to provide exceptionable value, but to also assist this business in maintaining and increasing customer satisfaction. 

High End Beauty projects shipping approximately 300 Express Mail International packages monthly which will generate $109,200 in new revenue.

'Team Pompano' Accepts Nomination

Team Pompano proudly accepts nomination to the "Federal Employee of the Year" Awards Program.  (L to R):  Andrew Perlmutter, Sharon Puhl, Jo Ann Zatorsky, Rick Veiga, Frank Mariano, Edwin Coppola (Pompano Postmaster), Rose Mesenger-Mannisto, Ed Drozdowski, Camille Moscola-Calvo and Louis Mongilia.  

Rose Mesenger-Mannisto, Manager, North Lauderdale Branch, nominated "Team Pompano" for recognition in the "Federal Employee of the Year" Awards Program.

“No Man Stand’s Alone” is the motto of “Team Pompano,” a dedicated group of managers who work together as a team to deliver outstanding postal service to more than 100,000 customers in the greater Pompano area.  Collectively, they are administratively responsible for 700 employees who primarily serve customers at the retail Post Offices and deliver mail to 171,791 possible city deliveries in Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Lighthouse Point, Margate, North Lauderdale, and Pompano Beach.  They also supervise a custodial staff and ensure that all facilities and landscapes are well maintained.

Team Pompano has exceeded just about every goal assigned in the Customer Service function during a very challenging fiscal year (October 1, 2010 through September 30 2011). 

USPS is a self-supporting federal agency that relies of the sale of postal products and services to pay its operational expenses.  Due to the dramatic decline of First-Class Mail and the related revenue loss, USPS proposed comprehensive changes that included consolidating operations between facilities, assessing delivery operations and reassigning employees.  Team Pompano successfully managed these challenges while maintaining and exceeding goals. 

Team Pompano’s operations scored exceptionally high with our Customer Service Opinion Survey with the majority of customers rating service as “very good” or “excellent.”  Managers often greeted customers in the retail lobbies and also participated in various on site promotions to educate the public  on postal products and services to generate revenue.

On our internal Voice of the Employee Survey, Pompano offices achieved two of the highest scores in the District (137 Post Offices and Plants from Fort Pierce to Key West) due to Team Pompano treating staff with dignity and respect.  Team Pompano also is credited with communicating the many challenges, changes and opportunities with employees to foster a teamwork concept.

Team Pompano, led by Postmaster Ed Coppola, holds its head high when it comes to the safety record.  Under his leadership, Pompano has become the first area in the country to receive three Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program Star ratings --- the highest form of recognition that can be achieved.  Managers and craft employees worked together to ensure compliance with safety rules and regulations. Managers and union officials met monthly with Team Pompano to discuss, address, and resolve employee safety issues or concern. Team Pompano also brainstormed creative ways to improve street performance to reduce vehicle infractions and at-fault vehicle accidents. The Postmaster is the co-chairperson of the local USPS/NALC Safety Team.

Team Pompano has grown into a friendship of an effective group of professional individuals that assist one another in staffing and vehicle utilization in to ensure timely delivery to business and residential customers.  Members always help each other when needed because they do not stand alone as their performance has proven.  Team Pompano doesn’t let adversity get the better of them, they just find solutions, and that is why Team Pompano deserves recognition.

Under Team Pompano’s leadership, employees pledged more than $23,660 to the Combined Federal Campaign.  Together Team Pompano volunteered its time to assist employees at local Post Offices as they collected over 85,873 pounds of canned goods for the annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Food Drive.  Team Pompano also supported and coordinated participation in the Bone Marrow Drive which generated over 50 bone marrow donations in seven Post Offices.  

Opa-Locka's Hinson is FEOY Nominee

Opa-Locka Postmaster Manny Ferrer nominated Curtis Hinson, Supervisor, Customer Service, at the Opa-Locka Main Office, for recognition in the Federal Employee of the Year Awards Program.  


As a Supervisor at the Opa-Locka Main Office, Curtis Hinson displays exemplary performance at all times.  Several times his office has achieved Top 20 Office Performance for Street to Base Hours in 2011.  


He is a loyal, dedicated, trustworthy employee who sets the example in superior work habits.  His organizational skills are unmatched.  His employees admire him for his leadership and while they are constantly held to a high level of performance, they follow his instructions and perform at the level expected of them.


Curtis is left alone many times in his operation, with little or no supervision from his superiors.  He works over and beyond what is expected of him.  His dedication to the Postal Service is beyond reproach.  He volunteers to do more and does whatever it takes to succeed.  He trains, mentors, and guides his postal employees in a positive direction.  His overall performance for goals in FY 11 were outstanding and the achievement is noteworthy.


He is a reservist in the U.S. Army which he works half of the year for the Postal Service and half of the year for the US Army.  He has held many numerous positions such as a NCOIC, Mobilization Operation Center, Acting Sergeant Major, Mobilization Operation Center, Acting Sergeant Major for Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP), and Protocol NCOIC for the 188th Infantry Brigade (Fort Stewart GA).


In the US Army, he has received many awards which included two Meritorious Service Awards and seven Commendation Awards.  As a Senior Leader, he has 20 soldier members under his leadership.  His team is responsible for preparing units for deployment.  He assists in mobilizing and demobilizing 30,000-plus soldiers from across the country.  He also has trained soldiers in special areas when needed.


Curtis is involved with donating to children through his Miami Jackson High School Alumni Association.  He helps students attain scholarships.

Jupiter PO to be Named for Roy Rood

The House passed legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, designating the U.S. Postal Service building at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter as the Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building.

The Postal Service will coordinate and schedule a dedication ceremony in the near future.

Rood died last October at the age of 92.  He was the founder of Rood Landscape and helped to establish a number of northern Palm Beach County institutions, including the Jupiter Christian School, Grace Immanuel Bible Church, the Jupiter-Tequesta Kiwanis Club, the Jupiter American Legion post and the Jupiter-Tequesta Athletic Association.

Customer Contact Concierge Program At Your Service in Miami Post Offices

At a hotel, it’s a staff member who assists guests by handling the storage of luggage, taking and delivering messages, and making reservations for tours.

In France, it’s a caretaker who lives on the premises of an apartment or a hotel and oversees people entering and leaving the building, handles the mail, and provides janitorial services.

In the U.S. Postal Service, it’s the person or persons who take(s) ownership of a customer issue, focusing on the resolution to “close the loop.”  Gone are the days of “passing the buck.”  The new Customer Contact Concierge Program focuses on telephone and walk-in customers.  It’s all about “one and done” to improve customer satisfaction.

Have you ever called a company for information and the phone just rings and rings?  Have you ever walked into a store and been ignored … or the salesperson could not answer your question?

Jo Ann Feindt, Area Vice President, Southwest Area Operations, brought the program from the Great Lakes Area where it significantly increased customer satisfaction in a relatively short period of time.  Currently in South Florida, 22 Post Offices in Miami are participating in Phase 1.  These offices were selected based on the high volume of responses to the Customer Experience Measurement (CEM) survey and the most opportunity for improvement.  One EAS and one craft employee from each location enrolled in the program.  During training sessions, instructors reviewed procedures and specific job aids to ensure that consistent and accurate information is provided to the customer.

Customer Contact Concierge Program set up keeps essential tools at your fingertips.   Photo:  Barry D. Artiz

USPS is Winner on "Biggest Loser"

"The Biggest Loser” episodes scheduled to air March 13 and March 20 on NBC will feature “mail moments” during the fan-favorite “Where Are They Now” segment. Eliminated contestants are filmed receiving letters of support — mailed using the Heart Health Forever stamp — from their partners who are still on the ranch.

The 2012 Social Awareness stamp was featured prominently on a recent episode of “The Biggest Loser.” The reward for a difficult competition was letters and cards from home. The winning contestants discussed the importance of mail and what winning this prize meant to them.
The stamp ― featured prominently during this episode ― also is the centerpiece of the “WATCH IT. WRITE IT. WIN IT.” Sweepstakes sponsored by the Postal Service. To be eligible to win one of three prizes, viewers are encouraged to continue watching “The Biggest Loser” and to write letters of support to their favorite contestants.  

Sweepstakes information now is available at usps.com/biggestloser and at Post Offices nationwide. USPS employees and their immediate families (spouse, parents, children, siblings, and respective spouses), and their respective household members are not eligible to enter this sweepstakes.  

Employees Pledge $840,000 to CFC

On February 23, 2012 the awards celebration for the Combined Federal Campaign of 2011 was held at the Bahia Mar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.  Many USPS key workers from Stuart to Florida City attended this event.  The luncheon kicked off with applause for the $2,508,786 raised by the federal community of South Florida.  The Postal Service was well represented with over $840,000 pledged for the Atlantic Coast CFC Campaign.  Thank you to all employees who donated their favorite charity.

The following offices won awards at the CFC Luncheon:

THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPATION

(500+ Employees)

West Palm Beach Processing & Distribution Center

THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION

Boca Palmetto Park Station (< 100 Employees)

Jose Marti Station (101-500 Employees)

THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE 2011 GOAL

Avenue of the Americas Postal Store (< 100 Employees)

Greenacres Branch (101-500 Employees)

Jose Marti Station (101-500 Employees)

2011 Communications Contest

The South Florida District Won the Campaign Communications Award

Offices that achieved 100 % or surpassed their individual office goal: 

Plants:  Miami International Service Center, South Florida Logistics & Distribution Center, Fort Lauderdale Processing & Distribution Center, West Palm Beach Processing & Distribution Center, Miami Vehicle Maintenance Facility, Fort Lauderdale Vehicle Maintenance Facility, West Palm Beach Business Mail Entry Unit and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  

MPOO 1:  Carol City Branch, Dania Post Office, Florida City Branch, Hallandale Post Office, Hialeah Carrier Annex, Hialeah Main Office,Key West Post Office, Marathon Post Office, Miami Beach Main Office, Miami Gardens Branch, Normandy Branch, Ocean View Station, Opa-Locka Post Office,  and Surfside Branch

MPOO 2:   Allapattah Station, Avenue of the Americas, Coconut Grove Station, Coral Gables Branch, Country Lakes Postal Store, Doral Branch, Father Felix Varela Postal Store, Flagler Station, Goulds Postal Store, Gratigny Branch, Hibiscus Annex, Jose Marti Station, Key Biscayne Branch, Little River Station, Ludlam Branch, Milam Dairy Branch, North Miami Branch, Olympia Heights Branch, South Miami Branch, Sunset Branch, Tamiami Station,  Town & Country Postal Store, Uleta Finance Unit, West Carrier Annex.  

MPOO 3:  Alridge Station, Coral Ridge Finance Unit, Inverrary Branch, Main Office Carrier Annex, Oakland Park Branch, Weston Branch.  

MPOO 4:  Atlantic Branch, Coconut Creek Postal Store, Coral Springs Branch, Margate Branch, and Tropical Reef Branch.

MPOO 5:  Central Carrier Annex, Chapel Lakes Branch, Flamingo Branch, Hollywood Main Office, Miramar Branch, and Pembroke Pines Branch.

MPOO 6: Boca Rio Branch, Boca Raton Main Office, Boca Palmetto Park Branch, Boca Spanish Isles Branch, Boca West Branch, Boca Woodlands Branch, Palms Central Branch, Palms West Branch, Southboro Station, Wellington Carrier Annex, and Downtown/Northwood.  

MPOO 8:  Boynton Beach Branch, Gateway Station, Jog Road Branch, Boynton Main Office, Delray Beach Main Office, Delray West Branch, Delray Carrier Annex, Orange Avenue Station, Port St. Lucie West Branch, Hobe Sound Post Office, Indiantown Branch, and Jupiter Post Office, Greenacres Branch, Lantana Branch, Lake Worth Main Office, Loxahatchee Post Office, Okeechobee Post Office, Palm Beach Post Office, Palm City Post Office, Stuart Post Office, and Deerfield Beach Main Office.

'Passport Day in the USA'

(L to R) Fort Pierce Retail Associates/Passport Agents Theresa Carter, John Collins, and Allan McLeod were reeling in the revenue on Saturday.   Passport revenue totaled $3,868.59.

Fort Pierce Main Office had a full house for "Passport Day in the USA."  Fort Pierce Photos:  Carl Sperger 

"Passport Day in the USA" events on Saturday, March 10, were very successful.

Ft. Pierce Main Office Retail Associates John Collins, Allan Mc Leod, and Theresa Carter greeted customers and accepted applications for processing. Postmaster's secretary Ann Marie Tighe and Supervisors, Customer Services Andi Carstensen, Robert Millan, and Kris Novy, and A/Supervisor, Customer Services Georgia Parsons assisted customers in preparing their applications.  The team did an outstanding job resulting in 110 new passports  (two using Express Mail to expedite arrival at the Passport Agency), 12 passport renewals, and 60 passport photos.  Revenue totaled $3868.59.

The Deerfield Main Office processed 39 passports, collecting $975 in revenue.  West Palm Beach Main Office and Hollywood Main Office are tallying revenue figures from "Passport Day in the USA" activities.

Retail Associates/Passport Agents Linda Shelak and Linda Adkins were all smiles with passport revenue generated.  Deerfield  Photo:  Richard J. Boyle

It was standing-room-only at the West Palm Beach Main Office .

Retail Associate Adrienne Fortunato explains passport procedures to West Palm Beach customers.

WPB Photos:  LuAnn Warner

Illustrator Barry Artiz Nominated for 'Federal Employee of the Year' Award

Barry Artiz has been nominated in the South Florida Federal Executive Board's "Federal Employee of the Year" Awards Program.  He is competing among other federal employees nominated in the Technical category. Best wishes, Barry!

Barry Artiz tells people where to go and what to do without uttering a word.  As USPS Illustrator/Graphics Artist, this 22-year veteran created 3,000 informational and directional signs in 2011.  Whether it’s “Next, Please” directing customers to the retail counter, “Employee of the Month” recognizing a worker for a job well done, or “Stall 42” instructing employees where to dispatch the mail, his artistic talents are displayed at 190 Post Offices and processing plants from Fort Pierce to Key West.  In addition to creating signage, overall graphic arts assignments totaled 30,857 pieces in Fiscal Year 2011. 

Visit any South Florida Post Office and you’ll find yourself singing the popular 1970s tune from the Five Man Electrical Band.  “Signs, signs, everywhere a sign, blocking up the scenery, breaking my mind.  Do this, don’t do that.  Can’t you read the sign?”  Three feet by four feet.  Vinyl, magnetic, reflective.  Single and double sided.  With and without grommets.  Black and white or multi-colored.  Artiz has a message for every occasion, every reason, every season … and he delivers it all with sensitivity, creativity, and imagination that is second to none. 

Graphic design is the art and process of combining text and graphics that communicate an effective and efficient message with the design of text, logos, graphics, newsletters, brochures, posters, photos, images, signs, or any other kind of visual communication.  Artiz does all this and more.  Booklets, brochures, business cards, flyers.  Catalogs, clip art designs, decals.  Directional signage, maps, floor plans.  Artiz is a one-man print shop. 

Thanks to Artiz you’ll know the person sitting next to you at the executive leadership meeting.  He creates the tent cards and the name tags.  And while you’re reviewing those statistics and mulling over operating plans, you’ll thank him as your eyes drift to a colorful stamp enlargement on the wall.  Or you’ll focus your eyes on the framed artwork of the latest stamp issues courtesy of Artiz.

If you’re an employee learning the streets in a new territory, you’ll thank him for the matrix that helps you sort the mail to addresses within the ZIP Code.  And you’ll remember him when you receive the district newsletter at your home.  Artiz creates all graphics and layout designs, and photographs employees highlighted in each monthly issue.   

In addition to his regular workload, Artiz willingly accepts special assignments.  In May 2011, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, contacted Artiz to create reward posters in English, Spanish and Creole in hopes of capturing suspects in a letter carrier murder. 

On his own initiative, Artiz learned to maintain and repair equipment, saving thousands of dollars for his employer in 2011.  Disassembling print head units and daily cleaning of equipment to factory standards has extended the life expectancy beyond the average two years. 

Artiz is a very caring person who reserves his “volunteer time” to help his family, friends, and neighbors --- whether it’s installing hurricane shutters, landscaping gardens, painting houses, running errands, or modernizing interior designs.