Priority Mail Commercials Prompt Miami Today Reporter to Write

Recently, the U.S. Postal Service revamped its Priority Mail program to raise revenue and drive new growth in its package delivery business. 

The agency now offers free online tracking for priority mail shipments, free insurance, and date-specific delivery so customers know whether a package will arrive in one, two or three days. 

Miami OIC Rick Suarez uses the SSK.

The changes include redesigned boxes and envelopes.  Postal officials expect the changes to generate more than $500 million in new annual revenue.

Miami Today Reporter Samantha Joseph was impressed. She requested an interview with Miami Officer-In-Charge Enrique (Rick) Suarez to learn more about Priority Mail, as well as other postal products, services, and programs --- to share with her Miami area readership.

And Suarez equally was impressed and welcomed the opportunity to be interviewed.

“I always welcome opportunities to tell our postal story and to generate revenue,” said Suarez.  “Miami Today’s readership is in the business, e-commerce, and international trade so I took advantage of the opportunity to share information on our products and services.”

The interview began with an overview of the mailing industry -- in a state of transition due to changes and advances in technology – to paint a financial picture for the reporter.

“First-Class Mail volume is steadily declining, and parcel-delivery volume is increasing rapidly,” Suarez told the reporter.  “Our expansive delivery network, along with the partnerships we’ve developed with competitors, such as UPS and FedEx, creates opportunities for non-traditional revenue growth. Our competitors save money by allowing us to pick up and deliver the first and last miles. And the Postal Service makes money by collecting and delivering with minimal processing.”

Suarez then shared the latest information on Priority Mail 1, 2, and 3-Day service, the Self-Service Kiosk (which also helps reduce Wait-Time-In-Line!), and the Premier Post Office Program.  

Miami GMF Sales & Service Associate Briggett Glinton accepts Priority Mail.

                                                                                                                                    Following the interview, Suarez met a Miami Today photographer in the Miami GMF Postal Store where he demonstrated the ease of use at the SSK.  Smiling Sales and Service Associates Briggett Glinton and Irma Knighton were photographed providing outstanding service to customers in the retail lobby.

Support Breast Cancer Research

Few things reach as many Americans each day as the mail --- and postage stamps provide an opportunity to raise money and awareness in support of important social issues.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and South Florida postal employees are reminding their customers that the Breast Cancer Research semi-postal stamp covers First-Class Mail postage and generates funds for this important cause.  During September 2013, the stamp raised more than $99,000 for research. Since 1998, the stamp has raised $77,628,062 for breast cancer research.

The stamp features artwork of a mythical "goddess of the hunt" and is available at your local Post Office.  Art director Ethel Kessler, of Bethesda, Maryland, herself a breast cancer survivor, was asked by the Postal Service to design the stamp. Kessler contacted illustrator Whitney Sherman of Baltimore to create the artwork.
Directing the project, with feedback from a postal design advisory board, Kessler discussed themes with Sherman that the stamp should depict, such as strength and courage, and to show an ethnically-vague woman. It was Sherman who came up with the solution of using Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, protector of women, to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. The female hunter is depicted reaching for an arrow, to symbolize that she protects women from harm and to mimic the position women take during a breast exam. Sherman's illustration is a black line drawing of the female figure on a vibrant, abstract color field, done in pastel which gives the stamp its optimistic or uplifting feel. Kessler featured phrases, "Fund the Fight" and "Find a Cure" outlining where the right breast should be.

'Excellence in Safety'

To recognize outstanding commitment to safety by our employees, the Southern Area Safety office has initiated the “Excellence in Safety” Awards Program.  

MIAMI

Recently Miami Officer-In-Charge Enrique (Rick) Suarez personally presented the award to two of his outstanding employees.

The first recipient honored was John Fehl, a Sales and Service Associate at Sunset Branch.  Fehl has been with the Postal Service for 29 years with no previous accidents.  In addition to his regular duties, he is the Safety Captain as well as the Communication Ambassador.  “The word ‘No’ is not in his vocabulary; he sets the example for others to follow,” said Dan Lopez, Manager, Customer Service.  

Along with Fehl’s co-workers, management staff participating in the recognition included; Dan Lopez, Manager, Customer Service; Manny Molina, A/Manager, Customer Service Operations; and Gale Williams, A/Miami PEG Coordinator.   

Gratigny Letter Carrier Marisel Collazo was the second recipient honored.   She also joined the Postal Service 29 years ago and has had no prior accidents.  She is the on-the-job instructor who provides quality training to current carriers and new hires.  “Carrier Collazo performs her duties professionally, always going above and beyond to help other carriers and customers.  She is an asset to the Postal Service,” said Raul Mayor, Manager, Customer Service.  

Her attention to all safety precautions while delivering mail curb side, demonstrating proper vehicle operations, use of seatbelt at all time, setting handbrakes, driving with LLV door closed and coming to a complete stops at all intersections are just a few of the driver observations that led to recognition.

Collazo’s co-workers, along with Ernesto Cintado, Manager, Customer Service Operations; Gail Davis, District Safety Specialist; Raul Mayor, Manager, Customer Service; and Gale Williams, A/Miami PEG Coordinator, attended the recognition. 

FORT LAUDERDALE

Chuck Winkelholz is an outstanding employee with an impressive safety record, according to Raymond P. Belanger, Supervisor, Vehicle Maintenance, Fort Lauderdale.  His duties as an Automotive Technician involve providing vehicle repair services to numerous stations and branches in the Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood/Pembroke Pines area.  He performs these tasks during hours of minimal sunlight, in inclement weather, and under severe conditions, including performing roadside repairs under heavy traffic conditions.

His willingness to “go the extra mile” to safely repair inoperable vehicles frequently means the difference between a vehicle having to be towed to the Vehicle Maintenance Facility for repairs (and being out of service for that day or longer), and the vehicle being repaired and back in service the same day as being reported. 

As his immediate supervisor for more than 17 years, Belanger attests that his employee has had no at fault accidents either vehicle or industrial, although he drives approximately 90 miles daily, in traffic, and repairs vehicles in less than an ideal environment. 

“His outstanding safety record is even more impressive taking into account the type of work he performs and the conditions under which he perform,” said Belanger.  “He is an extremely safety-conscious employee who is an excellent role model for all employees.”

WEST PALM BEACH 

City Place Letter Carrier Frankie Rodriguez is an on-the-job instructor who understands the challenges of delivering mail on foot and with the threat of loose dogs on the route.  Valerie Carbone, Manager, Customer Service, reports that Rodriguez is a very safety-conscious individual who maintains the security of the mail and his vehicle.  During safety observations, she has observed her carrier curbing the vehicle’s wheels to avoid rollaway accidents.  Rodriguez began his postal career 12 years ago. 

Letter Carrier John J. Booth is a 27-year postal veteran, also being recognized for practicing good safety habits at City Place Station.  He has volunteered to serve on the District Safety Program and always shares his safe practices to help other carriers remain safe. 

Carlos Rodriguez has served as Safety Captain for many of his 33 years of postal service.  Rodriguez is being recognized for his attention to ensuring vehicles are in proper operating condition.  In addition, he is always happy to assist another carrier with the driver checklist.  He emphasizes the importance of curbing your wheels to co-workers and calls attention to any safety violation and ensures immediate correction.  Rodriguez works at City Place Station.

Amalia Diaz-Beverly is the on-the-job instructor for newly-hired letter carriers at City Place Station.  She is an excellent role model who stresses the importance of performing your duties in a safe manner to all letter carriers.  Diaz-Beverly joined the U.S. Postal Service 28 years ago.

Letter Carrier Warrick Roundtree of City Place Station in West Palm Beach trains new letter carriers, ensuring that they understand and observe safe practices.  Completing the vehicle checklist is part of his daily morning routine.  Roundtree has been in the Postal Service for 37 years.

Riviera Beach Clerk Bernice Branch is a 26-year employee who consistently works in a safe manner and serves as a role model to others.  According to Pablo Estupinan, Manager, Customer Service, Riviera Beach Post Office, Branch is an excellent employee who has never incurred an accident.

Letter Carrier Jim De Benedictis is a 26-year postal employee.  He consistently works in a safe manner and emphasizes safe work habits to others at the Riviera Beach Post Office.  Sady Marquez joined the Postal Service six years ago and consistently works in a safe manner.  She has an accident-free safety record.  Kathleen Vitone-Washeck also has maintained an accident-free record.  She has been a postal employee for nine years and works at the Riviera Beach Post Office.

Remember to 'Fall Back' November 3

 You know the old saying:  “Spring forward, fall back.”  It helps us to remember how Daylight Saving Time affects our clocks twice each year.

Mark your calendar now so you’ll remember to set back your clock by one hour on Sunday, November 3.

During Daylight Saving Time, which begins in the spring, clocks are turned forward an hour. When Daylight Saving Time ends in the fall, clocks are set back an hour and Standard Time resumes.

The present schedule is determined by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In effect, the United States springs forward at 2:00 am on the second Sunday in March, and falls back at 2:00 am on the first Sunday in November.

'Inverted Jenny' Making a Comeback

The $12 Stamp Collecting: Inverted Jenny souvenir sheet is available at your local Post Office.

Two eerie occurrences took place surrounding the nation’s first airmail flight. The pilot got lost, flew in the wrong direction and crashed. And due to a printing error of the stamp created to commemorate this historic event, the biplane depicted on the 24-cent Curtiss Jenny airmail stamp was upside down. A sheet of 100 stamps bearing this error was sold to the public. One stamp sold at auction in 2007 for $977,500. 

“The stamp is much more than a misprint,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in dedicating the stamp. “It also symbolizes the Postal Service’s pioneering role in American history. Air mail turned out to be one of our most successful innovations. By showing that air travel could be safe and useful, we helped create the entire American aviation industry, which went on to reshape the world.”

Pan Am, TWA, American, United, Northwest and other airlines originated as air mail contractors before passenger service began. Additionally to help commercial aviation get off the ground and to speed the mail, the Post Office Department helped develop navigational aids such as beacons and air-to-ground radio. Today the Postal Service continues as the commercial aviation industry’s largest freight customer. Mail also flies on FedEx and UPS cargo aircraft.

Visit this link at the National Postal Museum to see examples of Postal Service innovations.

Ray Charles Joins Music Icons Series

 

The U.S Postal Service is honoring musician Ray Charles with his own Forever stamp, the third issuance in the Music Icons series.

This extraordinary composer, singer, and pianist, blind since the age of seven, went beyond category, blending blues, gospel, country, jazz, and soul music in a unique and highly influential pop music style. His many hits included “I’ve Got a Woman,” “Georgia on My Mind,” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”

Looking back over the course of his long career, there seemed little Charles couldn’t do. His work spanned almost the entire breadth of American music and brought him 17 Grammy Awards, plus an award for lifetime achievement in 1987. His many other prizes include the National Medal of Arts (1993), the Polar Music Award (1989), and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986. That same year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The stamp sheet was designed to evoke the appearance of a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. One side of the sheet includes the stamps and the image of a record appearing to peek out of the top of the sleeve. A larger version of Charles’ photograph and the Music Icons series logo appear on the reverse side.

West Palm Beach Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

By LuAnn Warner, Customer Relations Coordinator, West Palm Beach

Riviera Beach Manager, Customer Services, Pablo Estupinan dedicated an enlargement of the Puerto Rican Flag Stamp to the Herencia Experiential Art Center. The dedication was part of the Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s closing celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.  West Palm Beach Postmaster Rich Fermo presided over the event. Sam Roman, President and Chairman of the PRHCC, will accept the enlargement on the Chamber’s behalf.

Fermo also will welcome the Postal Customer Council of the Palm Beaches to the event as educational information will be provided on using U.S. Postal Service webtools to grow your business to PRHCC members. 

The Puerto Rican flag stamp was issued on August 11, 2011 as a Forever stamp in the fifth set of ten stamps in the Flags of Our Nation series. Puerto Rico's flag features horizontal red and white stripes and a blue triangle with a star. Shown in the lower right corner of the stamp, is a colorful little bird, the Puerto Rican Tody. Art director Howard E. Paine collaborated with award-winning artist Tom Engeman on the 60 stamps in this series.  In addition to the official flag, each Flags of Our Nation (Forever®) Set 5 stamp design includes artwork that provides a "snapshot view" of the state or other area represented by the pictured flag. In most cases, an everyday scene or activity is shown, but occasionally the view is of something less commonplace — rare wildlife, perhaps, or a stunning vista. 

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.  The observations started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.