Thank You, Fort Lauderdale!

Give a Shout Out ('Yahoo') to Donovan

"Yahoo" for Palms Central City Carrier Rory Donovan.  Last month, Rory earned a Million Mile Award from the National Safety Council.  WPBF Reporter Shelly Lockhart heard the good news and interviewed Rory about his stellar safety record.  The television station's video went “global" with Rory’s story posted on Yahoo News at http://news.yahoo.com/video/safe-drive-25-postal-carrier-160211107.html.

Grow Your Business Days Seminars

The U.S. Postal Service is partnering with the Indian River State College Small Business Development Center to host free valuable workshops on ways Direct Mail can energize your business by generating new customers.

Learn about Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), a simple, low-cost service that allows local businesses to market to every address in their neighborhood without the need to rent mailing lists. EDDM Retail is ideal for any kind of local business that is not currently using the mail. Every Door Direct Mail saves mail preparation time and is delivered by the local, trusted Postal Service carrier. Dependent upon your business’ advertising needs, permits may not be required or special fees added.        

  

Register to attend one of our free upcoming Grow Your Business Days seminars.  Workshops include social networking, refreshments and an informative presentation.

Wednesday, July 11, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 SE Salerno Road, Building C, Room 102, Stuart FL 34994
Thursday, August 9, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, IRSC Main Campus, 3209 Virginia Avenue, Building Y, Room 108, Fort Pierce FL 34981
Wednesday, September 12, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 SE Salerno Road, Building C, Room 102, Stuart FL 34994  
            

Reserve a seat now at www.usps.com/growyourbusinessdays or by registering through http://www.IRSCbiz.com.

On June 26, 2012, Corporate Communications announced a procedural change with respect to the use of Tag 57 to identify political campaign mailings.  Prior to today, Tag 57 was permitted for use in identifying Political Campaign Mail from Political Candidates, Campaign Committees and Political Party Committees.

Today’s announcement from Corporate Communications expands the definition of mail which is eligible to receive Red Tag 57 identification.  The expanded definition now includes Political Message Mail, which will be eligible for Tag 57.  Political Message Mail is mail that is political in nature and is entered from various politically-minded entities.  Some examples of political-minded entities that can enter Political Message Mail are PACs, Super PACs, and other organizations engaging in issue advocacy or voter mobilization.  As with all other mailings which are identified with Tag 57, Political Message mailings should be logged and tracked.

A Day in the Life ... By the Numbers

Each day the Postal Service picks up, processes and delivers millions of letters and packages. No single operation in the world comes close to this level of connectivity to so many households and businesses. Here's ONE day in the life of your United States Postal Service. (Figures are averages.)


216.9 million — revenue received, in dollars
554 million — number of mail pieces processed and delivered
242.6 million — pieces of First-Class Mail processed and delivered
279.5 million — pieces of Advertising Mail processed and delivered
159 million — dollars paid to postal employees in salaries and benefits
214,520 — number of packages picked up through Carrier Pickup
4 million — number of miles driven by letter carriers and truck drivers
8,250 — number of letter carriers who deliver mail entirely on foot — The USPS Fleet of Feet
136,964 — number of address changes processed
2,100 — number of addresses added to our delivery network
1.2 million — number of people who visit usps.com
778,877 — dollar amount of online stamp and retail sales at usps.com
1.5 million — amount of money spent on postage for Click-N-Ship labels
18,701 — number of passport applications accepted
382,256 — number of money orders issued
284,000 — number of transactions processed on 2,500 APCs
1.7 million — dollars spent at APCs
6.1 million — customers served at more than 36,000 retail locations
0 — tax dollars received for operating the Postal Service


A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With nearly 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $66 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.

Inspection Service Preserves Trust

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is mandated to safeguard the entire Postal Service system — from the more than 546,000 employees who process and deliver the U.S. Mail to the millions of customers who use it daily.

• One of the country’s oldest federal law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long, proud and successful history of protecting the Postal Service, securing the nation’s mail system and ensuring public trust in the mail.
• Postal Inspectors arrested more than 5,500 suspects for crimes involving the mail or against the Postal Service in 2011. About half of the arrests involved mail theft and more than 750 involved mail-related fraud.
• Postal Inspectors arrested 83 suspects in conjunction with Operation Homeless, which targeted mail thieves who recruit homeless people to cash stolen checks. Victim losses exceeded $7 million.
• Postal Inspectors are members of the Identity Theft & Economic Crimes Task Force, national and state Joint Terrorism Task Forces and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, among others. They work closely with the financial service, airline and mail order industries to maintain America’s confidence in the U.S. Mail.
• To quickly respond to incidents such as natural disasters, the Postal Inspection Service has 18 mobile command centers and a mobile mail-screening station ready for action.
• Postal Inspectors deploy state-of-theart screening equipment designed to identify hazardous substances and suspicious items in the mail and to ensure safety at postal facilities while keeping the mail moving.
• In 2011, Postal Inspectors responded to more than 3,550 incidents involving suspicious items, substances, powders or liquids in the mail or at postal facilities. Of those incidents, 212 involved improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
• Postal Inspectors seized $13.1 million in proceeds related to illegal drugs from the mail in 2011.
• Postal Inspectors participated in Operation Due North, a multi-agency effort targeting criminal networks specializing in telemarketing and lottery fraud. This initiative resulted in disrupting 11 major criminal networks operating out of Montego Bay, Jamaica. A large amount of cash and dozens of high-value items were seized and 14 suspects were arrested.
• The Inspection Service participated in national mail fraud initiatives with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. The Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fraud Initiative focused on fraudulent claims related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Operation Empty Promises focused on business opportunity fraud initiatives targeting small businesses and work-at-home schemes.
• Postal Inspectors intercepted over 5 million foreign lottery mail pieces containing counterfeit checks totaling over $675 million.
• In 2011, Postal Inspectors seized approximately 143,000 counterfeit postal and non-postal money orders worth nearly $155 million mailed to the U.S. from criminal groups.
• Postal Inspectors participated in National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) in March 2011, holding over 600 events nationwide. The national theme “Your Information Destination” highlighted consumer education resources. Over 375,000 pounds of documents were shredded for consumers in conjunction with the NCPW event.
• Postal Inspectors, investigating those who use the mail to sexually exploit children, identified more victims under the age of 5 than in previous years. In 2011, courts ordered more than $1 million in restitution to child victims identified by Postal Inspectors during these investigations, a 100% increase over the previous year. 

At Your Service: 10 Post Offices Join Customer Contact Concierge Program

     EAS and craft employees who are working together in the Customer Contact Concierge Program understand that outstanding customer service is our “bread and butter.”  This program aims to improve customer satisfaction, which in turn, creates customer loyalty, and results in revenue generation and retention for the Postal Service.

     “Customer perception is really how we measure!” said an enthusiastic Lillian Castro, district program coordinator.  “Earlier this year, we implemented the program in 42 Post Offices in ZIP spans 331, 333, and 334, and our Customer Experience Measurement (CEM) scores improved.  Now we’re training employees in the role of ‘concierge’ at 10 Post Offices in the 330 area.”  
     Just what is a concierge?  A hotel staff member who assists guests by handling the storage of luggage, recording and delivering messages, and making reservations for tours.  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 Postal Service, a concierge is an employee who takes ownership of a customer issue, focusing on the resolution from start to finish “closing the loop.” 

     Participating Post Offices were selected based on the high volume of responses to the CEM survey and the most opportunity for improvement.  One EAS and one craft employee from each location are enrolled in the program.  During training sessions, Marketing instructors reviewed procedures and specific job aids to ensure that consistent and accurate information is provided to the customer in field offices.

     At your service are the 330 participating Post Offices added to the Customer Contact Concierge Program: 

Bright Station                                  Hialeah Main Office

Central Carrier Annex                    Hollywood Main Office

Hallandale Post Office                   Miami Gardens Branch

Hialeah Carrier Annex                   Palmetto Lakes Branch

Hialeah Lakes Branch                   Promenade Postal Store

            

NAPUS Hosts Q&A with USPS Execs

Panel participants (L to R) Jeffrey Becker, South Florida District Manager; Eric Chavez, North Florida District Manager; Diane Tindle, A/MPOO 1 South Florida District; Nancy Rettinhouse, Suncoast District Manager.  

Story & Photo:  Lu Ann Warner

South Florida District Manager Jeffrey Becker participated in a panel discussion at the NAPUS FL Chapter State Convention in Clearwater FL.  Joining him were A/MPOO 1 Diane Tindle and MPOO 8 Robert Weiser.  The panel addressed questions from Florida Postmasters on the recent announcement of a Voluntary Early Retirement and Special Incentive offer for the nation's approximate 21,000 Postmasters.  Discussed also was the Post Office Structure Plan --- also called the “POSTPlan” --- which is the Postal Service’s strategy to keep low-activity Post Offices open for business, including thousands of our smallest offices serving rural areas. Many Postmasters in Florida took advantage of this one-on-one opportunity to hear firsthand from their MPOOs and District Managers to help them understand the challenges of the Postal Service and the effects of this recent organizational change on their positions in their administrative offices.

Catch the Safety Bug in WPB!

A/Safety Specialist Ruth Dombroski says catching bugs is a good thing! Ruth teaches newly- hired employees in West Palm Beach that safety is important, not only in the Postal Service, but in their personal lives.  Ruth begins teaching her Safety course by asking employees about their activities.  Ruth points out that if an injury occurs, the Postal Service and its customers may be affected.  Ruth further explains activities that we enjoy outside of work such as boating, bicycling, jogging, and swimming also could be affected if we don’t use extra caution while we are performing our duties.  This week Ruth “infected” approximately 12 newly-hired employees with her enthusiastic teaching performance. Transitional employees, mail handlers, and Rural Carrier Associates have learned that Safety is contagious! --- Lu Ann Warner, Customer Relations Coordinator, West Palm Beach

Summer Safety Tips: Surf's Up for Thompson Trio (and Cassie)

Front Row:  Cassie the Wonderdog
Back Row:  The Thompson Trio (L to R) Taylor, Tyler, and Trevor.

(L to R) Thompson Trio Trevor, Tyler, and Taylor take a stand as Cassie practices land surfing. 
Summer fun in the sun is in full swing, and strong emphasis on your safety is vital. Postal employees and their families will continue to drive great distances for work and to visit their families and friends. Swimming, boating, off-road driving, barbecuing, and fireworks are popular activities for the Fourth of July holiday. Whatever your plans, vigorously pursue and adopt a risk management plan before you get underway for the holiday celebration.

Exercise forethought and common sense when engaging in any activity. 

To meet the challenge of this Fourth of July holiday, keep in mind some safety hints to minimize risks and avoid death and injury ...

Fireworks: The best advice: leave them to the professionals. If fireworks are legal in your area and you decide to light off a few, use caution! Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Careless use of fireworks can cause serious injury or death.

Heat: When the heat is on, it may be harder to work safely. Drink water often. Dress lightly and chose fabrics that let moisture and heat escape. When possible, take breaks, move to a cooler area, or periodically change to lighter work.

Swimming: Use common sense; swim where lifeguards are present. They are trained to identify hazards and help you if you get into trouble. Never dive unless you know the depth of the water and what obstacles are below. Don't let a bad decision leave you paralyzed for life.

Boating: Take a boating course, file a float plan, never exceed the boat's maximum capacity, wear a personal flotation device, keep an eye on the weather, and save the alcohol for later.

Off-road driving: Get training before operating a vehicle or an all-terrain vehicle off-road. Start out slowly. Know your route so you can alter speed and be especially cautious in areas with limited visibility or poor road conditions. Maintain proper speed and wear personal protective equipment.

Barbecue safety: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for lighting and extinguishing gas grills. There is a right way and a wrong way. Postal employees and their families have been severely burned when gas buildups have caused explosions.

Driving: Here are some tips for highway trips:

• If you are highway bound, make sure your vehicle is in excellent operating condition. Always carry a roadside emergency and first aid kit. Remember to bring extra water, especially in hot climates.

• Put on a safety belt the first thing when you get in a car --- it takes only 3 seconds. Putting on a safety belt is a simple habit and can make all the difference between walking away from a crash and being carried off on a stretcher.

• Keep children safe. The back seat is the safest place for children to ride. All children must be protected with the correct safety equipment.

• Don't speed. Speeding reduces your ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the road. You never know what's around that next corner - a deer, stalled car, or pedestrian in the roadway.

• Most importantly, don't drink and drive --- and equally important, don't get into a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking.

Think before you act. Basic precautions for prevention of mishaps - while on the waterways, on the ball field, on the highway, and at work - will make this Fourth of July and summer a safe and happy one, and one which you will live to talk about.

Miami Super Scanners Score 100%

Congratulations to several Miami Post Offices that scored a perfect 100% on Parcel Select Scanning last week. The Offices are Aventura Finance Station, 33280, Blue Lagoon Branch 33206, Little River Station 33238, Ludlam Branch 33255, Miami GMF Caller Service 33102, Miami Springs Finance Unit 33266, Norland Branch 33269, Shenandoah Finance Unit 33245, and Sunset Branch 33283. Miami Officer-In-Charge Scott Bower will recognize employees for their dedication to provide outstanding service to their customers.

Scanning is a strong selling point in the competitive package delivery business. Properly scanned letters and packages let business mailers and consumers monitor the progress of their shipments at key points in the network.

Excellence in Performance in Miami

Miami Officer-In-Charge Scott Bower (second from right) awards Certificates of Appreciation to Miami GMF Postal Store Sales & Service Associates (L to R) Sharity Suita, Antonia Hernandez, and Esther Gonzalez.  Bower praised employees for their dedication and excellence in performance.  Photo:  Briggett Glinton

Special Incentive Deadline July 2

Postmasters and mail handlers have until Monday, July 2, 2012, at 8:30 p.m. EDT to take advantage of their special incentive offers.

The effective date of separation for Postmasters accepting their offer is July 31, 2012. Two alternate separation dates — August 31 and September 30 — also are available to the Postal Service to help prevent operational disruptions. Postmasters will be informed if they are assigned an alternate separation date.  Mail handlers who accept their offer will separate from USPS August 31, 2012.

Details of how to accept the offers, as well as FAQs and retirement videos, are available at the Workforce Connection website on LiteBlue.

Some Gas Stations, Food Stores Will Have Generator Power after Storm

It’s a not-so-distant memory South Floridians would like to forget, but think back to the 2005 Hurricane Season … No electricity for days … weeks … months.  Dodging cars and trucks at almost every intersection --- at one point, only 18 of 3,500 traffic light signals were in working order.  Grocery stores open --- paper products and canned goods only --- as all the refrigerated and frozen food had spoiled.  Gas stations with fuel, but no power to pump it to vehicles. 

Lessons learned. 

In 2007, the Florida Legislature passed a law requiring all gas stations with 16 fueling positions --- eight dispensers accessed from both sides --- to be wired so generators can power the pumps, cash registers,  and critical equipment during outages.  The legislation requires only that gas stations be pre-wired for a generator, but does not mandate that all operations have a generator on site.  Only those gas station owners with 10 or more filling stations in a single county are required to have portable generators, in addition to the pre-wiring mandate.

Some grocery chains also have plans to “power up” after a hurricane.

Keep in mind that a hurricane could damage or devastate, any gas station or grocery store, rendering it inoperable. 

How to Update Your eOPF

It only takes one hurricane to realize the importance of having current information in your eOPF (electronic Official Personnel File).  If you already haven’t done so, now is a good time to update your information to ensure that your manager/supervisor can contact you in any emergency. 

www.liteblue.usps.gov

Go to www.liteblue.usps.gov.  On the welcome page, enter your Employee Identification Number (EIN) and Postal Identification Number (PIN).  In the middle of the next page, where you see Employee Apps – Quick Links, click on Change of Address. 

Personnel Computer Kiosks

Use the personnel computer kiosks and look for a tab titled Present Job Info/Change of Address on the main webpage.  Kiosks are available at the following South Florida locations: 

§      Haverhill Post Office General Clerk’s Office (between retail reception area & workfloor)

§      Miami ISC Kiosk Room (along the northern perimeter of the workfloor)

§      Miami P&DC Cafeteria & in front of Men’s Room across from White Room

§      South Florida L&DC (by the entrance)

§      South Florida P&DC Cafeteria

§      Pompano Beach Main Office Breakroom

§      West Palm Beach P&DC Cafeteria & Training Rm #143 (along north wall)

Blue Page (USPS internal web page)

All employees who have access to the Blue page may change their mailing and residential address and emergency contact information.

§      Select Log On from the upper left corner. 
§      Log on with your ACE ID and password.
§      Ensure the welcome screen has your name on it.
§      Select the tab labeled My Life. Under this tab, on the right side is the heading My Profile, where you will find two links titled Address/Phone and Emergency Contact.  Select Address/Phone.
§      Select the Address type from the drop menu and click on the Change button.
§      Make your desired change(s) and click on Save.
PS Form 1216, Employee’s Current Mailing Address

Use a PS Form 1216, “Employee’s Current Mailing Address.”  Send Copy 1 of your completed form to HRSSC COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, PO BOX 970400, GREENSBORO NC  27497-0400. 
HRSSC

Call the Human Resources Shared Service Center at 1-877-477-3273, and select Option 5.  Validate your identity with your Employee Identification Number (EIN) or Postal Identification Number (PIN).  Follow the prompts.

Batter Up! Stamp Dedication Set at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital

Batter up!  Keep your eye on the ball (I mean blog!) for news on a stamp dedication at a Hollywood FL children's hospital named after New York Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio on September 8!

In the meantime, pre-order stats for Forever stamps honored four of Major League Baseball's iconic legends indicate that Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams leads with 14,380 stamps sold.  He is followed by New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio with 10,100, Pittsburgh Pirate Willie Stargell with 5,920 and Cleveland Indian Larry Doby with 4,700.

The Postal Service previously announced it would issue sheets of 20 stamps honoring each player individually.  Dedication events will take place next month in Cooperstown, NY.  Beginning July 21, stamp sheets will be sold in limited quantities at select Post Offices in Boston, MA; Cleveland, OH; Cooperstown and New York, NY; and Pittsburgh, PA. To obtain the stamp sheets and related philatelic products, customers are encouraged to order them between now and Aug. 31.  Customers may pre-order the stamps and collectible products by visiting usps.com/play-ball or calling 1-800-STAMP24 (1-800-782-6724).

School PO Rates 'E' for Everyone!

By Ann Marie Tighe, A/Customer Relations Coordinator, MPOO 334/349

Fort Pierce Post Office was invited to participate in the year end activities at Garden City Elementary.  Approximately 375 students ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Second Grade are registered at this school.   Supervisor, Customer Services Kristopher Novy volunteered for this assignment. 

To make it more interesting, it was decided to really show the students some of the daily tasks performed by postal employees.  A makeshift Post Office was set up allowing the students a “hands on” experience. 

We began by tasking teachers with instructing students on the proper techniques of sending a postcard.  Each student received their own postcard to decorate and mail to themselves or another student.   This mail was going to the Garden City Post Office on June 6^th.  We used the room number as the house number and the teacher’s last name for the street name and randomly added Avenue, Street and Lane to each.  The city, state and ZIP Code showed the physical location of the school, Fort Pierce, FL 34950.

SCS Kris Novy described the different jobs available at the Post Office with the “new employees.”  Since it was for “Career Day,” he stressed requirements needed to apply for a job; ability to read and write; a high school diploma; safe driving skills; and staying out of trouble.  After his presentation, each student received a penny to purchase the stamp for their postcard.  (What a bargain!)

Garden City Post Office was now open! The customers (students) lined up at the counter to purchase their 1¢ stamp and placed it on their postcard.  Retail Associates (students) used some old round daters to cancel the stamp. A mini collection box was placed to receive their outgoing mail.  The assigned letter carrier (student named by teacher) collected the mail and brought it to the Post Office for processing.

  

Mail Processing clerks (students) received and then sorted the mail to the address.   

After a rough day at work, it was time to sit, relax and watch a short film. Today’s movie is “The Adventures of Letter.” A television news reporter from Maine, along with his letter, is being mailed to his mother in California.  The movie (and the Garden City Post Office) were rated “E” for everyone!

PMR Open to Retiring Postmasters

Postmasters eligible for optional retirement — or eligible to retire under the current Voluntary Early Retirement offering — have an opportunity to continue serving their communities by applying to become Postmaster Relief (PMR) employees.

Accepting a PMR position will not affect annuity payments. The pay rate for a PMR who takes advantage of this opportunity will be $11.76 per hour.

The Postal Service will hire PMRs to work in Post Offices where the operating hours are reduced to 2-4 hours and where other conditions are met. Postmasters who retire will be eligible for these positions.

Eligible applicants can apply by providing a written request to their Human Resources District Managers that includes the locations where they are interested in working.

The Postal Service believes retired Postmasters make excellent reemployment candidates for these positions because of their knowledge of postal products and services, their community connections and their ability to provide continuity of service.

Click-N-Ship: Credit Card, Bill Me Later, or PayPal?

Customers using Click-N-Ship now can choose to pay for their shipping labels using a credit card, Bill Me Later, or PayPal.
PayPal is just one of several enhancements added to the U. S. Postal Service’s Click-N-Ship tool and part of a broader redesign of usps.com to make the online shipping and shopping experience more flexible.
PayPal is a global e-commerce payment option that allows customers to pay for their purchases over the internet. Once Click-N-Ship customers have completed their shipping labels and are ready to check out, they simply select the PayPal option.
PayPal allows customers to pay securely, without sharing financial information. The service provides flexibility to pay with multiple options, including PayPal account balances, bank accounts, credit cards or promotional financing. PayPal is a fast and secure way to pay that fits perfectly into the U.S. Postal Service’s expanding online strategy to make it easier and more convenient for customers to do their postal business — anytime, anywhere.

New Stamps Feature First QR Code

Music speaks an international language, crossing borders and oceans. Today, the United States Postal Service and La Poste of France celebrate a lively conversation between continents with the issuance of the Miles Davis and Edith Piaf stamps. The U.S. version of the stamps, issued as Forever stamps, go on sale today at Post Offices nationwide. The U.S. version and La Poste versions can be purchased in the United States online at usps.com and by phone at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).
This is the first time the United States and France have jointly issued a stamp since 1989, when both countries honored the bicentennial of the French Revolution.
The Miles Davis and Edith Piaf stamps also feature another historic first. For the first time, a QR code is printed on the back of the stamps. The code can be scanned with a smart phone. A landing page opens with an option to listen to music from Davis while viewing photographs and a timeline of the lives of both Davis and Piaf. There are several buttons on the landing site including a Buy Now button that enables purchasing the U.S. and French versions of the Davis and Piaf stamps as well as other related products. The landing site can be emailed, shared on Facebook and Twitter and videos may be added.
Edith Piaf, forever associated with her hometown of Paris, is one of the few French popular singers to become a household name in the United States. The renowned American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis is beloved in France, where he performed frequently and was made a Chevalier in the Legion of Honor. He also was awarded the Grande Médaille de Vermeil by the city of Paris, the equivalent of making him an honorary citizen.

Customers Give Royal Palm Beach SSA Their Stamp of Approval

By Lu Ann Warner

Roxanne Edenfield, SSA at the Royal Palm Beach Post Office, is being recognized for her exceptional service. 
Customers John and Nohora McKeen and Al Jabaly wrote letters to West Palm Beach Postmaster Richie Fermo, citing the outstanding service Roxanne gives on a daily basis. 
When customer Al Jabaly was interviewed, he said he has never before written a letter to the Post Office! “Day in and day out” Roxanne gives “professional” and “knowledgeable” assistance to him. “She does not chat a lot and keeps the line moving” said Jabaly. “Roxanne is a feather in your cap” he added.  
Roxanne received an official letter of commendation from the Postmaster, as well as a Stamp Yearbook set, for her above and beyond customer service!

West Palm Beach P&DC 'Exit' Poll Points to a Safe Work Environment

(L to R) Thomas Starr, Maintenance Supervisor/FSC; Ken Czwojdak, NPMHU Representative; Wanda Brown, Mail Processing Representative; Dexter Kearse, APWU Representative; Anthony Morris, In-Plant Support Representative.  Standing in front is Ruth Dombroski, A/Safety Specialist.  

Article & Photo By LuAnn Warner

On June 7 & 8, the West Palm Beach P&DC was inspected by the Safety Inspection Team.  The team is proud to report that they found no imminent danger hazards during the inspection.  Team members were Ruth Dombroski, A/Safety Specialist; Thomas Starr, Maintenance Supervisor/FSC; Anthony Morris, In-Plant Support Representative; Wanda Brown, Mail Processing Representative; Dexter Kearse, APWU Representative; Ken Czwojdak, NPMHU Representative, and Rick Holtkamp, Maintenance Representative.  

This Safety Team is committed to ensure that the approximate 700 West Palm Beach employees have a safe work environment in which to complete their daily duties.  The Postal Service participates in programs such as the inspections so that at day’s end the employees can go home to their families in a safe and healthy condition. This indicator confirms that the employees in West Palm Beach are staying involved in the reduction of injuries and illnesses at their facility.

Lock Out to LinkIn Sites

Russian hackers released a list of passwords this week, and on Wednesday security researchers identified the likely source as LinkedIn sites.  The 6.5 million leaked passwords, camouflaged with a common cryptographic code called SHA-1 hash, were posted Monday on a Russian online forum.  It's a format that's considered weak, if added precautions aren't taken.  Roughly half of the "hashed" passwords already have been decoded and posted online in human-readable text.

If you use LinkedIn, it's recommended that for your own protection, you immediately change your password.

Bicycling 'Forever' with New Stamps

USPS is giving one of America’s most popular outdoor activities its stamp of approval with the issuance of the Bicycling Forever stamps.  The four stamps feature a young child learning to ride a bicycle with training wheels, a commuter pedaling to work, a road racer, and an airborne BMX rider. 
The official First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony is today, June 7, at the Minneapolis, MN, Main Post Office.  You can purchase these stamps nationwide, including at South Florida Post Offices. 
Recent surveys indicate that Americans enjoy billions of bike rides a year. Bicycling organizations around the country report increased participation in local biking activities, and nearly half of all Americans say they would like more bicycling resources, such as trails and bike lanes, in their communities.
Bicycling is a low-impact aerobic activity that just about everyone — from young children to retirees — can enjoy. The health benefits are impressive: Riding a bike lowers the risk of obesity, heart disease, and breast cancer while improving muscle tone and strength. Bicycling can also lower stress. Whether riding along a lakeside path or through the bike lanes of a bustling city, bicycling is therapeutic and just plain fun.

It's in the Cards in West Palm Beach

Customers appreciate one-stop shopping at the Post Office.

Palm Beach Gardens Branch in West Palm Beach is being recognized for being one of the TOP Performing Greeting Card locations in the Southern Area. They averaged 14 cards sold daily for the month of May.  

According to Manager Dianna Dobson, the Greeting Card Stock Person takes special care to be sure the cards are stocked thoroughly. Attributing to the success of the sales was the correct placement of the product as people walk by the displays prior to conducting retail business in the station.

Also recognized in the South Florida District was the Main Office Window Unit in West Palm for achieving daily average sales of 12 cards sold in May, a Top Ten Performing Office for the District.  These two offices alone contributed Greeting Card May sales of $1602.66 for West Palm Beach.  --- Lu Ann Warner, Customer Relations Coordinator, West Palm Beach