Winter Flowers Bloom in Fort Laud

The Fort Lauderdale Post Office celebrated an unveiling and special commemoration of the Winter Flowers Forever Stamps at the American Stamp Dealers Association Stamp Show in the Broward County Convention Center.

Novices to philatelists from around the world attended this annual stamp event.  More than $1,700 in stamps and merchandise were sold at the retail booth.

Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Scott Bower and ASDA Executive Director Amy Nicklaus (pictured left), Supervisor Deborah Dhue, Sales and Service Associates Frank Dominguez and Sabria Palmer, Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Adrienne Savino and A/Marketing Manager Arlene Sanchez all participated in the success of this event.

Story & Photos:  Adrienne Savino

SSA Sabria Palmer shows Winter Flowers Forever stamps.

Miami Celebrates Lunar New Year

Story & Photo:  Mirtha Uriarte

The Chinese Cultural Foundation, Inc. celebrated their 26^th Annual Chinese New Year Festival on Sunday, February 16, at the Miami Dade College – Kendall Campus. 

An enlarged replica of the 2014 “Year of the Horse,”First-Class stamp was presented on behalf of Miami Postmaster Enrique M. Suarez by  Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte.  Uriarte presented to Peter Liu, Chinese Cultural Foundation President, the seventh stamp in the “Celebrating Lunar New Year” series during the opening ceremony.

According to Liu, the festival was originally founded by a group of about 200 Chinese Jamaicans who settled in the Kendall area. Today, it’s no longer just for the Asian populations in South Florida; last year, more than 6,000 people attended. This year’s attendance numbers have not been provided.

This event was visited by a large number of Asian community members, as well as others of numerous cultures that came to partake in the beautiful festivities, elaborate costumes,  shows, ethnic foods and much more. 

Lana Yin, Sales and Service Associate from Miami’s Ludlam Branch promoted the new stamps to generate close to $600 in three hours.  Yin interacted with numerous customers who also were of Chinese descent. 

“The Postal Service is able to interact with stamp collectors and regular customers as well during year-round events in our community,” said Uriarte.  “The events allows us to promote our products by presenting an enlarge replica of specific stamps as well as offering the product onsite for immediate return on investment.” 

Black History Month: Celebrating African-American Heritage and Contributions to Our Country

USPS has recognized African-American civil rights leaders, politicians, inventors, doctors, athletes, musicians and heritage celebrations through the issuance of these and many other stamps.

February is Black History Month — a time to celebrate the heritage of African-Americans and the contributions they have made to the nation. 

African-Americans make up nearly 22 percent of the Postal Service’s workforce.

“We recognize the richness of African-Americans’ history and the significance of their contributions to the Postal Service,” said Employee Resource Management VP Rosemarie Fernandez. “We celebrate their numerous accomplishments.”

Nearly 75 years ago, USPS issued the first stamp recognizing an African-American, Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now known as Tuskegee University).

USPS has continued to recognize African-American civil rights leaders, politicians, inventors, doctors, athletes, musicians and heritage celebrations through the issuance of 151 stamps with African-American themes.

For additional information on African-American history, including famous African-American firsts and the roles they have played in the history of USPS, go to the African-American History Resource Kit on the USPS Diversity and Inclusion website.