Labor Day & Informed Delivery

As many Americans observe Labor Day and enjoy the extended holiday weekend, the Postal Service is hard at work and has a convenient feature to help consumers keep track of their mail: Informed Delivery.

Whether consumers are in town or traveling for the holiday, Informed Delivery lets residential consumers see what is arriving in their mailboxes by sending them digital previews of their incoming envelopes and postcards. These images can be viewed via email notifications, or accessed through an online dashboard at informeddelivery.usps.com — perfect for travelers to check for important letters that are arriving over the holiday weekend.

Informed Delivery already has over 12 million users nationwide and has received exceptional reviews: 95% of users indicated they are very satisfied or satisfied with the new feature, and the majority check their notifications every day or almost every day. Informed Delivery is quick, easy to use, and free.

The Postal Service reminds customers that Post Offices will be closed for retail transactions on Monday, September 3, to observe Labor Day. There will be no residential or business deliveries. Although there will be no regular mail service, Priority Mail Express is delivered 365 days a year and will be delivered on Labor Day, with normal delivery and collection schedules resuming on Tuesday, September 4.

Please note:

·   Stamps are available at most grocery, pharmacy and convenience stores.
·   For 24/7 access to most postal products and services, go to www.usps.com, where you can look up a ZIP Code, track a package, buy stamps, hold mail, print postage online, submit a change of address, schedule a package pickup and find USPS locations.
·   To find a location with a self-service kiosk that enable customers to perform most retail transactions even when the Post Office is closed, go to www.usps.com.

Employee Takes Pride in Her Lobby

  

Miami General Mail Facility (GMF) Postal Store Lobby Director Irma Knighton (above) takes pride in the appearance of her lobby. Photo: Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte
 

Miami General Mail Facility (GMF) Postal Store Lobby Director Irma Knighton takes pride in ensuring she delivers a great experience to customers who visit her lobby. Knighton ensures shipping supplies are available and stocks the displays every day.

Knighton noticed that at her ReadyPost display, customers were putting together boxes of different sizes and then making their selection. Knighton built an additional display that featured boxes of various sizes so that customers could see their options and make a selection. 

“Irma’s work ethics and pride at maintaining the GMF lobby, keeping it organized, clear of debris on counters and floors, ensuring all supplies are fully stocked, and greeting customers as they walk into the lobby are a great asset,” said Supervisor, Customer Services Nancy Horta.    

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TV Ad Campaign Seeks Employees

The Postal Service invites employees to audition for this year’s holiday season television advertising campaign.

The audition is open to all employees. No prior acting experience is required.

To audition, follow these steps:

• Complete the online form. Visit USPS Holiday 2018 Employee Casting site at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/945a1499c6054244b6bdf2d12a8488df. You’ll be asked to provide your name, email address, phone number, birthdate and other required information.

• Create an audition video. In the video, state your name, where you’re from, your position, how long you’ve worked for USPS, and your favorite holiday memory during your postal career. You should also smile, show a surprised look, and state how you would react if you ever met the real Santa Claus.

• Upload the video. Use the casting site to upload your audition video, which should be no larger than 30 megabytes.

Submissions are due Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. EDT.

The commercials will be filmed during the fall and will air during the holiday season. All applicants must receive approval from their managers before selection and production begins.

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Child's Postcard Request Goes Viral

An Oklahoma girl is receiving national media attention after her request for postcards went viral on social media.

Aspen Kelly, who has leukemia, will turn 13 this weekend. She’s too sick to travel, so her mother, V Kelly, used Facebook last month to share the girl’s request for postcards from around the world.

“She would love to see a beautiful place, or something cool and exciting from other places she’s never been to before,” V wrote.

The post went viral, and the mail began pouring in.

Aspen has received more than 1,000 cards from every U.S. state and 49 countries, CBS News, “Inside Edition” and other news outlets reported.

Her well-wishers include actor Tom Hanks, who mailed a postcard while in Greece. “I hope this arrives in time for your happy 13th birthday! Love you,” he wrote.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin also mailed Aspen a message: “I just wanted to send you a note to let you know I’m thinking of [you].”

Aspen joins a long list of individuals whose mail requests have gone viral, a growing phenomenon that also includes military veterans marking milestone birthdays and even postal retirees who want to hear from former colleagues.

News organizations have published Aspen’s address for those who wish to write: Aspen Kelly, PO Box 822, Watonga, OK 73772.

Source: LINK

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'What Safety Means to Me!'

'What Safety Means to Me!'

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 or supervisor can contact you in any emergency --- including the aftermath of a hurricane. Here are five options:

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 to update your contact information.

Personnel Computer Kiosks Use the personnel computer kiosks and look for a tab titled Present Job Info/Change of Address on the main webpage. 

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. To change your address from the Blue page:   
-- 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 of the page 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. 

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It's Hurricane Season: Who to Call

Having the USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline number handy is an important part of hurricane preparation. The USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline (1-888-EMERGNC or 1-888-363-7462) is the system the Postal Service uses in the event of an emergency. It’s the official source of information for weather issues, work schedule changes, and facility status.

 

The emergency hotline number is on the back of most employee badges. If your badge does not have the number, record it for future use in your mobile device, on a piece of paper, or on your home computer.

 

If you evacuate or relocate due to an emergency, call the hotline number, enter your facility ZIP Code and then press “5”.  You will be routed to an individual who can verify that you are in a safe environment. Those individuals will relay the employee information to District and Area leadership.

 

If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), call a Florida TRS toll-free number, and the TRS operator will interact with the hotline application on your behalf.

 

FLORIDA TRS Provider – Sprint; Customer Service #: 1-800-955-8013 (V/T)

Access #s: 1-800-955-8770 (V), 1-800-955-8771 (T), 1-877-955-5334 (STS)         

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District to Host Nat'l PCC Day Event

On Friday, September 28, the U.S. Postal Service’s premier event, National Postal Customer Council (PCC) Day, is coming to the Post Office at 1900 West Oakland Park Blvd in Fort Lauderdale --- conveniently located less than a mile west of I-95.

Employees are encouraged to share this news with their customers who may take advantage of an action-packed day of educational workshops and  presentations. They'll also have an opportunity to network with South Florida business mailers and executive postal leadership, including Southern Area Operations Vice President Shaun E. Mossman and South Florida District Manager Timothy R. Costello, as well as many local Postmasters.

South Florida’s Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast PCCs have joined together to host this event from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A continental breakfast and a buffet style lunch are included in the ticket price --- $30 in advance and $40 at the door.

Customers may register at https://www.miamipcc.com.

Seeking Your Inform 5 Participation

The Postal Service has introduced Inform 5, an initiative to encourage employees to promote Informed Delivery to customers.

Informed Delivery allows users to digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages from computers, tablets and mobile devices.

Through Inform 5, USPS wants employees to tell at least five customers each day about Informed Delivery. The goal: to get more consumers to use the feature, which currently has about 11.7 million subscribers nationwide.

Informed Delivery is an important part of the Postal Service’s efforts to add value to the mail and grow its business. Increasing the number of Informed Delivery subscribers will encourage more businesses to add interactive content to Informed Delivery emails, thereby boosting the value of mail.

USPS will include information about Inform 5 in upcoming employee pay statement mailings. The guidelines will include tips on starting conversations with customers, such as asking them, “Did you know you can get an email that gives you a preview of your mail?” and “We have a new mobile app that lets you check your mail from anywhere.”

Employees can learn more about Informed Delivery on Blue, LiteBlue and usps.com pages that have information about the feature.

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'Imagine' a John Lennon Stamp

 

Imagine a John Lennon stamp.

Postmaster General/CEO Megan Brennan will dedicate a stamp honoring the legendary singer and songwriter in New York City's Central Park on Friday, September 7. Lennon will be the latest addition in a series of Music Icons stamps.

Beloved around the world, Lennon was successful, both as a founding member of the Beatles and as a solo artist. His music continues to speak for truth, peace, and tolerance.

 

The September 7 date fits with the design of the stamp and “Imagine,” the song he wrote and the album by that name, which was issued on September 9, 1971. The stamp features a photograph of John Lennon taken by rock-and-roll photographer Bob Gruen in August 1974. The original black-and-white photograph has been treated in gradations of color.

 

The stamp pane is designed to resemble a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. One side of the pane includes the stamps and brief text about Lennon’s legacy. A black-and-white photo of Lennon seated at his white piano appears on the reverse side. Taken by photographer Peter Fordham, the original photograph was used to promote Lennon’s 1971 solo album, “Imagine.”

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WPB Passport Fair: Saturday, Aug 25

Does your vacation destination require a passport? Start your journey on Saturday, August 25, with a trip to the Passport Fair at the West Palm Beach Main Office, 3200 Summit Blvd. Sales and Services Associates will assist you in the passport process and will accept your applications from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your participation must be off-the-clock.

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 $35 per application. A debit or credit card may be used in addition to cash, money order, or check made payable to the Postal Service. 

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Lake Park SSAs are #PostalProud

Lake Park Post Office Sales and Services Associate Phillippa McCalla (right) received her first Gold Star Award and Sales and Services Associate Maura Norris (left) her third Gold Star Award.

Thanks to all the Lake Park Sales and Services Associates who have accumulated six perfect Retail Customer Experience (RCE) transactions this fiscal year. They are #PostalProud and are committed to providing outstanding service to their customers!

Photo: West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator Gayle Jones

 

 

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'What Safety Means to Me!'

Stay Alert! School is in Session

August is the beginning of a new school year for many children. This means an increase in the number of pedestrians on streets and sidewalks as children walk to and from school or wait for school buses. Drivers need to take extra precautions to avoid accidents involving pedes­trians by staying alert and driving defensively to keep our kids safe. We need to watch out for each other, carriers need to inform new carriers to a route where the school zones are.

We are all familiar with the need to be extra careful when driving near schools or playgrounds. These are some precautions drivers should adopt while driving through residential areas:

• Slow down! Obey speed limits. 
• Adjust your mirrors so that you can see around your vehicle.
• Avoid backing up your vehicle.
• Never pass a school bus that is stopped. Stop your vehicle, at least 10 feet away from the bus to allow enough space for children to enter and exit the bus safely.
• Stay alert. Children are unpredictable. They take risks, ignore hazards, and fail to look both ways when crossing the street, while walking and riding their bikes.
• Avoid distracted driving.

USPS makes every effort to promote safe neighborhoods. Whether you’re on or off the clock, be alert and aware of your surroundings to keep our kids safe!

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That's the Spirit at Royal Palm P&DC

Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center employees --- management and craft alike --- celebrated "Spirit Week" the week of August 5. The management team got into the spirit with ties of Superheroes. From left, Acting Supervisor, Distribution Operations Darien Perez (Wolverine); Supervisors, Distribution Operations Daniel Nunez (Iron Man), and Brett Berman (Spiderman); Acting Manager, Distribution Operations Johnny Bankston (Flash); Supervisor, Distribution Operations Angelo Guerrier (Superman); Acting Lead Manager, Distribution Operations Jeremy Dykes (Dead Pool); Acting Manager, Distribution Operations Edwin Turner (Green Lantern); and Supervisor, Distribution Operations Wilson Marin Patino (Thor).

 

Photo: Bridget Taylor

 

Additional photos of "Spirit Week" will be posted as submitted.

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Happy Anniversary, Hot Wheels

In celebration of Hot Wheels’ 50th anniversary, the U.S. Postal Service will issue 20 Forever stamps showcasing some of the most outrageous car designs from Hot Wheels.

 
For the first time, Hot Wheels car designs will grace the face of Forever stamps for fans of all ages to enjoy. Arranged in diagonal rows, the 20 stamps showcase photographer Len Rizzi’s images of 10 Hot Wheels cars — two of each design — speeding along a bright orange track.

 
Each stamp features the name of the vehicle shown in one of the top corners and the words “USA” and “Forever” in one of the bottom corners. The iconic Hot Wheels logo appears in the top right corner of the pane. The back of the pane displays the Hot Wheels 50th anniversary logo. The stamps will be dedicated during a First-Day-Of-Issue ceremony on a date and location to be announced soon.

 

Top row (left to right):

 
• The aptly named Purple Passion (1990), a super sleek metallic purple and green model. The car remains a favorite of collectors.  • Equipped with a roof-mounted rocket, the Rocket-Bye-Baby (1971) is one of the most aggressive racers in Hot Wheels history.

 

• Perfect for Halloween, the spooky Rigor Motor (1994) is a coffin-shaped hot rod that is powered by a huge engine adorned with two skulls.

• A spectacularly powerful version of a classic muscle car, the Rodger Dodger (1974) has a giant engine bursting out of its hood.

 
• With a twin turbo V6 hybrid engine and wide front air intakes built to look like a predatory fish, the Mach Speeder (2018) is a true 21st-century racer.

 

Bottom row (left to right):

 

• The Twin Mill (1969) is one of the most iconic Hot Wheels cars of all-time. The speed machine features dual big-block engines.

 
• The distinctive Bone Shaker (2006) is a hot rod with a fierce-looking skull for a grille. The car has a massive short-block engine made to rattle your bones.

 

• The HW40 (2008), a car introduced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hot Wheels, features a jet turbine engine. The space-age vehicle features a futuristic glass hood.

• The original surfboard-toting Deora (1968) was included in the first Hot Wheels line. The souped up Deora II, showcased on the stamp, came out in 2000.

 • The Sharkruiser (1987) is a carnivore on wheels. The completely unique design features fins, a tail, a sharp-toothed grille, and a roaring V8 engine.

William J. Gicker was the project’s art director. Greg Breeding designed the stamps and was the typographer.

Hot Wheels History

Hot Wheels was born when Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler challenged his design team, which included a General Motors car designer and a rocket scientist to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than anything on the market. Mattel soon introduced its iconic orange tracks, which provided children unlimited ways to test out stunts and racing skills. The Hot Wheels toy line expanded rapidly. Since the inception of Hot Wheels, Mattel has produced thousands of varieties of cars. In 2011, Hot Wheels was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Today, children and their parents still love racing the eye-poppin’, colorful, lightning-fast cars.