Retailers Not Meeting Shipping Needs

Many retailers aren’t meeting consumers’ delivery expectations, new research shows.
While 80 percent of online shoppers want same-day delivery, 47 percent of retailers don’t offer that option, according to a survey of consumers and businesses by Temando, a shipping software company.
Seventy-seven percent of shoppers say they also would like guaranteed weekend or after-hours shipping, but only 34 percent of retailers offer that option.
“Consumer expectations are increasing. Retailers still aren’t offering the full gamut of services that consumers are expecting,” Temando chief executive Carl Hartmann told the Internet Retailer news site.
The survey also found that shipping experiences are important for businesses.
Eighty-six percent of retailers said increasing the number of shipping options during checkout helps boost sales, while 41 percent said their reputations were harmed when shipments were lost, delayed or damaged.
USPS offers a range of services to help businesses meet customers’ needs, including offering Sunday and same-day deliveries.
The Postal Service also is focused on ensuring accurate scanning, delivering, on time and improving overall customer experiences.

Barefoot Mailman Hike This Weekend

More than 600 Boy Scouts and Scout Leaders will hike 34 miles from Pompano Beach to Miami Beach to commemorate the 52nd annual Barefoot Mailman Hike this weekend.

The Boy Scouts of America South Florida Council relived part of history, walking the trail of the Barefoot Mailmen who carried mail on foot between 1885 and 1893. The Barefoot Mailmen braved heat, thunderstorms, alligators, sharks, and bears to carry mail between these two cities. 

Crossing inlets by rowboat and hiking along the beach, a round trip took six days. Their exploits earned them $600 a year, and later resulted in a best-selling book and a movie.

James Hamilton was the most well-known carrier. He mysteriously disappeared after only three months on the job. It is believed that he lost his life at Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach, FL, where he attempted to swim from the shoreline to the other bank to retrieve his rowboat that had drifted. Search parties scoured the coastline, but only found Hamilton’s clothes and a backpack of letters.

Following in Hamilton’s footsteps, modern-day Barefoot Mailmen were self-sufficient, carrying   their food supply, shelter, and letters on their backs. They camped overnight on the beach. On the second day, family and friends gathered to applaud and cheer Scouts --- some barefooted and blistered --- as they completed their journey. 

As in every year, Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte (pictured below from last year's event) will collect letters and affix a “Barefoot Mailman Station” special cancellation to each envelope to commemorate the event. 

Now Accepting FEOY Nominations

It's that time of the year to honor outstanding employees (craft and management) in the 51^st annual “Federal Employee of the Year” (FEOY) Awards Program. This program, sponsored by the South Florida Federal Executive Board, is your opportunity to recognize employees for their work performance and/or contributions to the community. 

This year a new category has been added entitled “Innovation” which will recognize employees who are new to government service – 10 years or less – who provide a fresh perspective to government programs, products, and/or services.  

Overall, there are 12 award categories: 

• Administrative
• Clerical/Administrative Support  
• Innovation   
• Law Enforcement       
• Management (except Agency Head)   
• Organizational Partnership                    
• Professional  
• Scientific         
• Service to the Community
• Technical/Information Technology
• Trades & Crafts 
• Valor

Please note the following requirements:

• Nominees must be permanent career employees.
• Nominations must be based on demonstrated performance between 10/1/14 and 9/30/15.
• All nomination packages must be typed.
• Nominees must submit a digital ready photograph of the nominee or team.
• All nominations must be submitted to Manager, Learning Development and Diversity Damaris Agrait by Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

Each nomination package must include: 

• Nomination Form Cover Page (For team nominations, enter team name on the nomination form cover page and attach individual names on separate page.)
• Narrative (not to exceed one typewritten page (Time News Roman font no smaller than 10 point)
• Summary (100 words or less) of the nomination on a separate sheet of paper
• Publicity Data Sheet/Privacy Act Notice (each nominee must sign)

For a nomination package, contact your supervisor or Damaris Agrait at 305-470-0881.

Flowers Blooming on Stamps Today

Depicted on the stamps, top row from left:  corn lilies, tulips, stocks, roses and petunias. Pictured bottom row from left:  tulips, dahlias, Japanese Iris, tulips and daffodils and jonquils. 

The U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of beautiful floral-themed stamps by dedicating the Botanical Art Forever stamps featuring vintage illustrations taken from 19th- and early 20th-century plant and seed catalogs.

The official First-Day-of-Issue ceremony will take place January 29 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hilton Atlanta Downtown, 255 Courtland St. N.E. as part of the American Philatelic Society’s AmeriStamp Expo.

The stamp art features 10 individual designs, each a detail of an illustration from an American nursery catalog printed between 1891 and 1912. The catalogs are part of The New York Botanical Garden’s nursery and seed catalog collection, one of the largest and most important collections in the United States. The collection and similar collections in other institutions are treasure troves of historical information for scholars and scientists studying a wide range of subjects, including the history of botany, horticulture, commercial agriculture, landscape design, plant exploration, graphic arts and publishing.

Drawings of Exotic Botanical Species

Beginning in the late 15th century, intrepid Europeans explored new lands in the Americas, the South Pacific and other areas of the world. There they discovered plants unknown in Europe, which they imported for study and propagation. Scientists, gardeners, plant hunters, and collectors required accurate botanical drawings of the exotic new species. Botanical illustrators produced works that were meticulous and highly detailed and quite often beautiful pieces of art as well. The years 1750 to 1850 are considered the height of the botanical illustrator’s art.

The mid-19th century saw a flowering of another kind of botanical art. As more people discovered the joys of ornamental and recreational gardening, thriving commercial greenhouses and nurseries marketed plants — exotic as well as native — to eager gardeners. To entice buyers, the nurseries created colorful catalogs illustrated with beautiful blossoms and lush foliage. The illustrations were idealized, romantic versions of what plants could look like, but they fueled many a garden dream.

Leadership Program Opens Feb. 1

The Postal Service is seeking applicants for a program to help employees develop their leadership skills.
The EAS Leadership Development (ELD) application period is February 1 - 22 (11:59 p.m. CST).
The program offers a structured approach to help USPS develop leaders for key managerial positions in each area and district.
Participants are given an opportunity to develop their leadership competencies and functional and technical skills through virtual learning, on-the-job development, feedback and coaching.
The program is available to area and district employees who are Executive and Administrative Schedule (EAS) levels 16 or above.
Employees who meet these criteria and are interested in leadership development and future career growth are encouraged to apply.
If you are a current ELD participant, you must re-apply during this open application period to continue participating.
Interested employees should talk to their managers about ELD and prepare for the application period by visiting the career development site on Blue.

Chicago Clerk is a 'Survivor'

Chicago Mail Processing Clerk Darnell Hamilton will compete on “Survivor: Kaoh Rong,” debuting February 17.

Darnell Hamilton’s Postal Service career has prepared him for many challenges — including “Survivor: Kaoh Rong.”
The Chicago Mail Processing Clerk will compete for the CBS show’s $1 million prize during its 32nd season, which is slated to premiere February 17.
Hamilton, a Chicago native and three-year USPS employee, will play on the “brawn” team, competing against the acutely named “brains” and “beauty” teams.
“Where I’m from, you always see the negative. It’s good to be doing something positive,” Hamilton said. “I have no problem taking on a big task.”
Last week, Hamilton told the Chicago Tribune he’ll bring street smarts to the competition and hopes to be a role model for people with difficult pasts.
More information about Hamilton is available on the “Survivor” site.

Carrier Academy 'Drives' Performance

South Florida District Manager Jeffery Taylor (standing) spoke with newly-hired City Carrier Assistants (CCAs) at the West Palm Beach, FL, Carrier Academy. Taylor stressed the important role of City Carrier Assistant to the Postal Service and encouraged all to do their best. These CCAs will be delivering mail from offices from Pompano, FL, to Fort Pierce, FL.

Pictured from left: Palm Beach Gardens, FL, City Carrier Assistant (CCA) Diane Rios, Fort Pierce, FL, Letter Carrier and Carrier Academy Instructor Tera Ogden, and Jupiter, FL/Tequesta, FL, CCA Yisel Pomares review case labels.

Fort Pierce, FL, Letter Carrier and Carrier Academy Instructor Tera Ogden is responsible for making sure that new letter carriers understand their responsibilities and duties. During the three-day training class, Ogden explains to City Carrier Assistants (CCAs) how to read case labels and how to follow the line of travel.

Ogden began her postal career as a Casual employee in 1999, and says that she enjoys training new carriers.

Photos: Curlita Rogers-Saunders, West Palm Beach Customer Relations Coordinator