Shipping King Cakes for Fat Tuesday

Slidell, LA, Postmaster Ray Phelan prepares a shipment of king cakes for Operation We Care. The cakes, which traditionally are decorated in purple and green, are a Mardi Gras staple. Phelan image: Nola.com

There’s something special about Mardi Gras — the parades, the beads and, of course, the king cakes.

As the annual celebration gets underway in New Orleans this week, USPS is helping a nonprofit group ensure military members serving overseas can also let the good times roll.

For 14 years, Louisiana District has worked with Operation We Care to package and ship hundreds of king cakes to troops to help them enjoy Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday.

“It gives me a sense of satisfaction when you know the Postal Service is loading up the packages filled with sweet king cakes,” said Operation We Care President Brenda Ogden.

Randazzo’s Camellia City Bakery and Slidell, LA, Post Office employees recently boxed more than 350 freshly baked king cakes decorated in red, white and blue.

The cakes were shipped in Priority Mail boxes and included a special note of gratitude.

“The king cakes will remind those soldiers that they may be out of sight, but they are far from forgotten,” said Slidell Postmaster Ray Phelan.

Source: LINK

USPS Celebrates Black History Month At Dorothy Height Stamp Event

The U.S. Postal Service, in partnership with the Office of African and African American Studies of the School District of Palm Beach County, celebrated Black History Month at the Riviera Beach Preparatory and Achievement Academy.

The African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARL&CC) hosted the program that highlighted the Postal Service's 40th inductee in the Black Heritage Stamp Series. Dorothy Height (1912-2010) was a tireless activist who dedicated her life to fighting for racial and gender equality.

Pictured above, West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator Curlita Rogers-Saunders (left) dedicated an enlargement of the Civil Rights Activist Dorothy Height stamp to Principal Elaine Hubbard-Williams (second from right) and retired educator/historian/AARL&CC member Debbye G.R. Raing.

Photo: Debra J. Fetterly

March Passport Fairs in Miami, WPB

Planning a vacation? Make a trip to the Post Office the first stop of your journey.


Saturday, March 4, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
West Palm Beach Main Office, 3200 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL


Wednesday, March 8, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Miami GMF Postal Store, 2200 NW 72 Ave, Miami, FL


No appointments required at either location. Employees who attend must do so as 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.

Scouts Honor: Barefoot Mailman Hike

Earlier this month, the South Florida Boy Scouts of America participated in the annual 35-mile Barefoot Mailman Hike from Pompano Beach to South Beach. Scouts carried letters just as original Barefoot Mailman James Hamilton did in the 1890s. He lost his life at the Hillsboro Inlet.

On behalf of the U.S. Postal Service, Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte (above) affixed a special postmark to letters to commemorate the hike.

This year, the Boy Scout organization presented Uriarte with their own commemoratives, including the below medal to thank her for her support the past four years.

WPB to Host Passport Fair March 4

Planning a summer vacation and needing a passport?

Circle Saturday, March 4, on your calendar. That's the date for the Passport Fair at the West Palm Beach Main Office, 3200 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach. The Passport Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointments required.

Employees may participate as 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. To obtain a passport:

·  Bring proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate. (Please note: a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.)
 
·  Bring proof of identity. This must be either: a recently issued U.S. passport; a recently issued naturalization certificate; a recently issued certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID.

·  Bring a photocopy of proof of identity. Each applicant must bring a photocopy of the front and back of the ID that will be presented at the time of passport acceptance.

·  The passport application requires recent color passport photograph of you (2” x 2” in size). The Post Office will offer passport photo service for $15.  

·  To save time, employees should download the passport application at www.travel.state.gov and complete beforehand. Do not sign the application.

·  All applicants, including minors, must appear in person.

·  Minors under the age of 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required.

Each passport for an adult must be accompanied by a check or money order for $110, made payable to the U.S. Department of State and a $25 acceptance fee made payable to USPS. Fees for children under 16 are $80, payable to the U.S. Department of State and $25 payable to USPS.

Employees may call 1-800-ASK-USPS, or go to the Postal Service’s website at www.usps.com, to get the location of other nearby passport Post Offices and their passport customer service hours.

Employees also may check the U.S. State Department’s website at www.travel.state.gov to obtain additional information. Information also is available in English and Spanish at the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

Chocolatiers Enjoy Sweet Success

Harbor Sweets has been in the chocolate business for more than 40 years, and its top executive attributes part of its success to USPS.

The Massachusetts company began as a basement hobby of founder Ben Strohecker, who first offered sweets for sale to 75 friends and family on his Christmas card list.

Today, Harbor Sweets employs more than 100 chocolatiers and mails 25,000 catalogs to homes and businesses around the world.

Phyllis LeBlanc, the company’s president and chief executive officer, worked as a part-time chocolate dipper while in college.

“I never dreamed I would eventually buy the company and carry on Ben’s legacy of excellence,” LeBlanc says in a new video on the National Postal Museum’s site.

The 3-minute, 21-second segment is part of “America’s Mailing Industry,” an online exhibit showcasing how the Postal Service and businesses work together.

While Harbor Sweets now sells its products through gift and gourmet stores, it still relies heavily on its mail-order catalog for business.

“From our earliest days to our newest endeavors, Harbor Sweets is known the world around for pride and devotion to a tradition of producing the best, and offering it with a smile,” LeBlanc says.

Source: LINK

Rolling Out Informed Delivery by ZIP

The Postal Service is expanding Informed Delivery, an optional, free feature that provides eligible residential consumers with a digital preview of their incoming mail.

Through Informed Delivery, users receive images of the outside of their household’s letter-sized mailpieces that will arrive in their physical mailboxes soon. Users can receive these images via email or by accessing their online dashboard at informeddelivery.usps.com.

USPS has been testing Informed Delivery in select areas. By late April, the feature is slated to be available nationwide.

“Informed Delivery makes it easy and convenient to know what’s arriving in your mailbox each day,” said Product Innovation Vice President Gary Reblin. “We’re eager to share this new feature with consumers across the United States.”

The Postal Service is rolling out Informed Delivery by ZIP Code, beginning with major metropolitan areas.

Employees, who are also invited to sign up for Informed Delivery, will be notified when the feature becomes available in their area.

They can also check the feature’s availability by using the ZIP Code lookup feature at informeddelivery.usps.com, which has sign-up instructions and a list of FAQs.

The Informed Delivery pages on Blue and LiteBlue have additional information.

Source: LINK

Mail Order Catalogs are Driving Sales

Henry Coleman, a Hammacher Schlemmer marketing executive, discusses the company’s services in a video on the National Postal Museum’s site.

Hammacher Schlemmer is known for selling cutting-edge gadgets, but the company relies on a tried-and-true vehicle — its mail order catalogs — to
communicate with customers.

“The catalog is a catalyst for all of our marketing efforts,” Henry Coleman, a Hammacher marketing executive, says in a video on the National Postal Museum’s site.

“It really serves as the primary way that we communicate to our current customers and acquire new customers.”

The 90-second video is part of “America’s Mailing Industry,” an online exhibit showcasing USPS and its business customers.

Hammacher, based in Niles, IL, mails about 60 million catalogs each year.
Although the publication dates to the 1880s, making it the nation’s oldest continuously operating catalog, it remains innovative.

Hammacher has embraced the Postal Service’s efforts to encourage businesses to use augmented reality and similar features to enliven their mailpieces.

For example, customers can hover their smartphone or tablet over Hammacher’s catalog pages to see items come to life, read product reviews or make online purchases.

“The internet allows us to deepen the relationship with our existing customers and deepen the relationship for prospects, but only as a companion to our existing processes,” Coleman says.

Source: LINK

Special Delivery in San Diego

San Diego police officers Matt Enderlin and Eric Hustad, holding baby Pierce, visit new parents Vanessa Prado and Dennis Dillard at the hospital last week.

While some expectant couples choose a hospital to deliver their babies, one San Diego couple recently chose a Post Office parking lot.

After going into labor four weeks early, Vanessa Prado and her boyfriend, Dennis Dillard, were en route to a hospital last week when Prado began to feel her baby’s head crowning.

“I just said, ‘I’m not going to make it, and we’ve got to pull over now,” she told the local NBC station.

Realizing there was no slowing down the early morning arrival, the couple had a choice to make — pull into a McDonald’s or the Mira Mesa Post Office, which hadn’t opened yet.

The couple chose the Post Office for their special delivery.

Two San Diego police officers arrived at the scene minutes later, just in time to help Vanessa deliver her baby boy.

The couple named their baby Pierce Dillard, but at least one other option was considered.

“We joked that we were going to name him Pierce Postal,” Prado said.

Source: LINK

Black History Month in Coral Springs

From left, Rock Road Restoration Historical Group, Inc. President and founding member Hazel Armbrister; Coral Springs Branch Manager, Customer Services Richard Elam; Pompano Beach Main Office Supervisor, Customer Services Cherylann Franco; and Miami Maintenance Support Clerk Linda Patrick.

From left, District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell, U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Florida; Master of Ceremonies Brother Lester Faison; Rock Road Restoration Historical Group, Inc. founding member Katie Wiggins; and Coral Springs Branch Manager, Customer Services Richard Elam.
Photos: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman 

The U.S. Postal Service joined the Black History Month celebration with Rock Road Restoration Historical Group, Inc.

Coral Springs Branch Manager, Customer Services Richard Elam; Pompano Beach Main Office Supervisor, Customer Services Cherylann Franco and Miami Maintenance Support Clerk Linda Patrick  joined together to dedicate the 40th stamp in the Black Heritage Series, Dorothy Height, to the Rock Road Restoration Historical Group, Inc. and to the Guest Speaker, District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell, U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Florida.

Elam closed the presentation with a quote from Height, "Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life.  It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop."

USPS Dedicates JFK Stamp in Boston

Today the U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the centennial of President John F. Kennedy’s birth by dedicating a Forever stamp in his honor at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

The stamp features a 1960 photograph by Ted Spiegel of Kennedy campaigning for president in Seattle. The artwork accompanying the stamp, showing Kennedy in a reflective pose, is a 1970 oil painting by Aaron Shikler (courtesy of the White House / White House Historical Association). The Forever stamp, available only at the event on Presidents Day, will be available nationwide in Post Offices on Tuesday, February 21.

Kennedy’s Legacy
 
Born May 29, 1917, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. He remains for many a captivating and charismatic personality — one who appealed to the nation's higher ideals and inspired young Americans to engage in public service.

On January 20, 1961, Kennedy, at age 43, became the nation’s first Catholic president and the youngest person elected to the presidency. In his Inaugural Address, he famously called upon Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

In the early months of his administration, Kennedy announced his signature initiative, the Peace Corps, to aid people in developing nations. In May 1961, Kennedy announced the bold goal of landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade, setting the nation on the path toward achieving the historic Moon landing in 1969.

During the height of the Cold War, Kennedy confronted the Soviet Union in a series of conflicts that could have escalated into a major war. During the summer of 1961, for example, he defended the status of West Berlin, a small pocket of freedom within Soviet-supported East Germany, when it came under threat from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

Kennedy opposed Khrushchev again in the fall of 1962 after Soviet forces installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. Against the urging of his military advisers to bomb the missile sites, Kennedy decided on a naval quarantine to prevent further shipments of military equipment to Cuba. After suspenseful days in which war appeared imminent, Soviet ships heading to Cuba turned back, and Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles.

On June 11, 1963, Kennedy made an impassioned speech on civil rights that characterized the unequal status and treatment of blacks in America as a moral crisis. He then submitted a bill to end racial segregation, which in substance was passed after his death as the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

Presidents Day and a History Lesson

 

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore, a batholith in the Black Hills, in Keystone, South Dakota. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and his son,  Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features 60-foot sculptures of the heads of four United States presidents: George Washington (1732–1799),  Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), and  Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865).

Celebrating Presidents Day as a holiday did not come about until around the last four decades, but its roots go back to our first president. How did we come to celebrate the third Monday in February as "Presidents Day"? The Celebration of Washington's Birthday although Presidents Day is now recognized as honoring the birthdays of President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln, the holiday started as just a celebration of Washington's birthday.

Depending on which calendar system you ascribed to (Julian or Gregorian) in the time of the Founding Fathers, Washington's birthday fell either on February 11 or February 22. To celebrate his birth, early Americans celebrated on February 22. However, the celebration wasn't written into federal law until 1880, making Washington the first person to be honored with a federal holiday.

By the 20th century, ideas had begun to shift around the celebration of Washington's birthday. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act into law in 1968, shifting Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Washington's Birthday to Mondays in order to lengthen weekends and allow more time to travel for people to be with their families.

Pizza Anyone?

The South Florida District Marketing Team is promoting employee engagement with a competition to increase POS Survey responses between January 16, 2017 thru March 24, 2017.  Top 10 offices for each week will be entered into a final raffle. The District Marketing Team will recognize the office with the most responses and highest scores (minimum score of 92) with a pizza party.

Miami, FL, General Mail Facility Postal Store won the first week with a total of 25 responses for the week and an overall customer satisfaction rate of 100%.  On Feb. 3, employees were recognized with pizza and sodas.

 

First Row, from left: Miami P&DC Custodian Francisco Ortiz; Sales and Services Associates Wang Lee, Irma Knighton, Viola Brown, Briggett Glinton, Elizabeth McDonald, and VJ Reddy; and Supervisor Customer Services Ine Diaz. Second Row, from left: Manager, Customer Services Lawrence Rogers; A/Supervisor, Customer Services Nancy Horta; Sales and Services Associates Donna Jones, Valerie Mitchell and Sonia Coffino.  Not pictured but also recognized were Box Clerk, Ana Cabrera; Sales and Services Associates Robert Castro, Leslie Christie, Evelyn Garcia, Enrique Martinez, and Dulce Suarez; Lead Retail Associate Sharity Suita; Postal Support Employees Peter Almeida and Kianna Lawrence.

 Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

Miami SSA Glinton Earns More Gold

Miami General Mail Facility Postal Store Sales and Services Associate Briggett Glinton (center) proudly displays her Gold Star Awards as Manager, Customer Services Lawrence Rogers (left) and Supervisor, Customer Services Inde Diaz (right) share a smile with their star performer. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

WPB MO Passport Fair is Sat, March 4

Planning a summer vacation and needing a passport?

Circle Saturday, March 4, on your calendar. That's the date for the Passport Fair at the West Palm Beach Main Office, 3200 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach. The Passport Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointments required.

Employees may participate as 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. To obtain a passport:

·  Bring proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate. (Please note: a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.)
 
·  Bring proof of identity. This must be either: a recently issued U.S. passport; a recently issued naturalization certificate; a recently issued certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID.

·  Bring a photocopy of proof of identity. Each applicant must bring a photocopy of the front and back of the ID that will be presented at the time of passport acceptance.

·  The passport application requires recent color passport photograph of you (2” x 2” in size). The Post Office will offer passport photo service for $15.  

·  To save time, employees should download the passport application at www.travel.state.gov and complete beforehand. Do not sign the application.

·  All applicants, including minors, must appear in person.

·  Minors under the age of 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required.

Each passport for an adult must be accompanied by a check or money order for $110, made payable to the U.S. Department of State and a $25 acceptance fee made payable to USPS. Fees for children under 16 are $80, payable to the U.S. Department of State and $25 payable to USPS.

Employees may call 1-800-ASK-USPS, or go to the Postal Service’s website at www.usps.com, to get the location of other nearby passport Post Offices and their passport customer service hours.

Employees also may check the U.S. State Department’s website at www.travel.state.gov to obtain additional information. Information also is available in English and Spanish at the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

They're All Heart

On Feb. 3, South Florida District Local Services personnel participated in "National Wear Red Day" to help raise awareness of heart disease. Pictured from left, A/Human Resources Specialist Maria "Christy" Grimaldo, Field Recruiter Lorraine Ramsey; and A/Human Resources Specialist Marlene Mourin. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

Everything's Coming Up Roses

Photo: John Sylvain

On Valentine's Day, Coral Springs Branch Manager, Customer Services Richard Elam delivered a rose to each Letter Carrier (above) and Clerk (below) to show his appreciation for their dedication throughout the year.

 

Photo: Beth Bowness

Oscar de la Renta Designs on Stamps

Today in New York City, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Oscar de la Renta First-Class  Forever stamps in eleven designs. The stamps also will be available at local Post Offices on February 16.

Most widely known for dressing the country’s First Ladies and celebrities, Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014) was one of the world’s leading fashion designers for 50 years. This pane of 11 stamps features an evocative black-and-white portrait of the couturier and 10 details from several of his most exquisite gowns. De la Renta’s innovative designs and close attention to detail elevated American style and brought international attention to New York as a world leader in fashion. Art Director Derry Noyes designed the stamps.

FDOI Gets 'Stamp of Approval'

From left, South Florida District Marketing Manager Juan Nadal; Hialeah Main Office Supervisor, Customer Services Tayloria McPhee-Johnson; American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) Executive Director Dana Guyer; and Fort Lauderdale Postmaster David Guiney participated in the First-Day-Of-Issue dedication ceremony for the Patriotic Nonprofit stamp at the Fort Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

 

Fort Lauderdale Postmaster David Guiney (right) posed with the Davie Police Department Color Guard at the Fort Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium. Photo: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman 

 

 

Tamarac Postal Support Employee (PSE) Latashia Baxter (left) assisted a customer with a stamp purchase during the American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) Winter Postage Stamp Show. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

 

Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman (right) assisted a philatelist (stamp collector) with a special postmark commemorating the First-Day-Of-Issue Patriotic Nonprofit stamp dedication ceremony. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte

It's the Year of the Rooster

The Miami Post Office is celebrating the Year of the rooster Forever stamp with a dedication at the annual Lunar New Year celebration at Miami-Dade College South this weekend.

Considered the most important holiday of the year for many Asian communities around the world, the Lunar New Year is celebrated primarily by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan and Mongolian heritage.

In the United States and elsewhere, the Lunar New Year is marked in various ways, including parades featuring enormous and vibrantly painted papier-mâché dragons, parties and other special events. Vendors at outdoor markets sell flowers, toys, food and other items. Musicians play drums to celebrate a time of renewed hope for the future. Many families present red envelopes (hongbao), like the one depicted in the stamp art, containing money to children and loved ones.

Call Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte at 305-470-0386 for specific information on the stamp dedication open to employees as an off-the-clock activity.

Chinese New Year Festival Miami 
Miami Dade College-Kendall, Fred Shaw Plaza 
11011 SW 104 Street, Miami, FL 33176 
Sunday, February 19, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 

See more at: http://www.southfloridafinds.com/event/fl/miami-dade/miami/chinese-new-year-festival-miami.html#sthash.r12bCNBl.dpuf

Want to be a Television Star?

If you’ve always dreamed of being on TV, here’s your chance.

The Postal Service is once again inviting employees to audition for a USPS television commercial. No prior acting experience is required.

The commercial will be filmed in mid-March and begin airing in the spring.

To audition, follow these steps:

• Create an audition video. In the video, state your name and location, talk about your proudest moment as a postal employee and describe memorable experiences you’ve had with customers. You also can discuss the brands that the Postal Service delivers, and note whether you’ve auditioned for a USPS spot in the past.

• Upload the video. Go to the USPS Spring 2017 Employee Casting site to upload your video. You’ll be asked to complete an online form and hit “Submit.” Video uploads are limited to 30 megabytes.

Submissions are due Wednesday, February 22, at 5 p.m. EST.

All applicants must receive approval from their manager before selection and production begins.

 

Source: LINK