PCC Countdown: Just 1 More Day to Register

The stage is set for National Postal Customer Council (PCC) Day on Wednesday, September 15. More than two dozen USPS officers will meet with their business counterparts at more than 100 sites nationwide --- including a Hollywood FL event hosted by the PCC of Broward County, Miami-Dade County PCC, and PCC of the Palm Beaches.

Do you have a family member, neighbor, friend, or business associate who is interested in finding ways to make their company more profitable? There’s still time for South Florida business customers to register for the National PCC Day event in Hollywood at miamipcc.com.

Headlining the day’s events will be an address by PMG Jack Potter. His remarks will be delivered during a satellite broadcast from Portland, OR, beginning at noon. DPMG and COO Pat Donahoe; President, Mailing and Shipping Services, Paul Vogel; Vice President, Sales, Susan Plonkey, and others will join Potter during the satellite broadcast.

South Florida business mailers can tune in to the PMG’s address live satellite broadcast at Dave and Buster's at 3000 Oakwood Blvd in Hollywood. The South Florida event is scheduled 8:30 am to 1:30 pm and will include remarks from Jeff Becker, A/South Florida District Manager, and Timothy C. Healy, Vice President, Retail Products and Services.

Also at Dave and Buster’s, local postal Subject Matter Experts will deliver informative, educational workshops: “Business Customer Gateway,” “Best Kept Secrets of the National Customer Service Center,” and “Quality Addressing.” The lunch buffet and workshops will cost $30 per customer.

Who, What, When, Where & Why of Stamps

Postage stamps were invented in the 19th century in Great Britain. English schoolmaster and government employee Rowland Hill suggested the postage stamp as a means of taxing newspapers and collecting prepaid mail fees based on weight. In 1840, Great Britain issued what has come to be known as the “Penny Black,” the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, showing the image of Queen Victoria portrayed against a black background.

The first U.S. stamps were issued in 1847: one featuring George Washington cost 10 cents, and the one with a picture of Benjamin Franklin cost five cents. To date, they both appear on the most stamps issued.

Who decides the stamp subjects and designs? For almost all stamp subjects, the process begins with Americans who submit written proposals to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee c/o Stamp Development, USPS, 1735 North Lynn Street, Suite 5013, Arlington VA 22209-6432.

The committee, whose members represent a wide range of educational, artistic, historical and professional expertise, reviews up to 50,000 proposals each year. Stamp suggestions must adhere to general policies that postage stamps primarily feature American or American-related subjects; that no living person be portrayed on U.S. postage; that only events, persons and themes of widespread national appeal and significance will be considered; and that no stamp shall be considered if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years.

What Year Was Mr. ZIP Zapped?

The cartoon figure, Mr. ZIP, was adopted by the Postal Service as the trademark for the Zoning Improvement Plan. However, the figure originated several years earlier. It was designed by Harold Wilcox, son of a letter carrier and a member of the Cunningham and Walsh advertising agency, for use by Chase Manhattan Bank in New York in a bank-by-mail campaign. Wilcox's design was a child-like sketch of a postman delivering a letter. The figure was used only a few times, then filed away.

The American Telephone and Telegraph Company acquired the design from the Cunningham and Walsh agency and kindly made it available to the Post Office Department without cost. Post Office Department artists retained the face but sharpened the limbs and torso and added a mail bag. The new figure, dubbed Mr. ZIP, was unveiled by the Post Office Department at a convention of Postmasters in October 1962.

Mr. ZIP, who has no first name, appeared in many public service announcements and advertisements urging postal customers to use the five-digit ZIP Code that was initiated on July 1, 1963. Within four years of his appearance, eight out of ten Americans knew who Mr. ZIP was and what he stood for.

With the introduction of the nine-digit ZIP Code, or ZIP+4, in 1983, Mr. ZIP went into partial retirement. His image still was printed on the selvage of some sheets of stamps, but that practice ended in January 1986. Mr. ZIP still is used occasionally by the Postal Service.

You'll "Howl-O-Scream" at These Ticket Prices!

Howl-O-Scream will soon be taking the stage at Busch Gardens, and postal employees are eligible for special discount tickets at more than 50% off the regular price!

Howl-O-Scream starts September 24 and runs through October 31, every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Halloween Night.

To purchase tickets, copy & paste the link below into your web address bar:

http://commerce.4adventure.com/eStore/scripts/skins/PAW/Promotion.aspx?companycode=P@WUnitedStatesPostalService

When purchasing discounted tickets on this site, please use your company email address as your login name. If you do not have a company email address please use “employee@usps.gov” as your log in name.

For additional information, contact Nick Stauber at 407-363-2254 or by email at nick.stauber@seaworld.com.

Source: Suncoast Scoop

Blue Man Group Off the Wall Entertainment Offers Discount Tickets to Postal Workers

Blue Man Group takes its high-octane theatrical experience on the road. If you've never seen Blue Man Group, it's a must-see. If you're already a fan, don't miss it.

From now until October 31, 2010, postal employees may purchase a Blue Man Group show ticket for $49, plus tax per person, ages 10+. This special offer is only available when you visit your Corporate Sales website, www.universalorlando.com/corporate.

There is no special password for the Blue Man Group tickets; you just need to click on the link and select the BMG option. Tickets must be purchased and redeemed by 10/31/10 to receive this special price.

Caution: The blue men do use a variety of materials on stage and at times those materials get into the audience close to the stage. While it does not happen all the time, they do strongly suggest that you do not wear clothing that you consider nice or valuable. Casual attire --- jeans, shirt, and sneakers --- are recommended.

Source: Suncoast Scoop

Postal Service Honors Mother Teresa

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception provided a backdrop and a full house during the Sept. 5 USPS unveiling of the new First-Class Mail postage stamp honoring Mother Teresa. Joining Postmaster General Jack Potter, third from left, for the stamp dedication were, from left, The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, auxiliary Bishop, Washington, DC; James Bilbray, member, USPS Board of Governors; Sister Leticia Cabrera, MC Provincial Superior, Missionaries of Charity; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Reverend Monsignor Walter Rossi, rector of the Basilica; and Mitzi Betman, vice president, Corporate Communications.