By the numbers: A day in your life at USPS

What if you were the only employee at USPS? What would you do in a single day?

According to the 2013 edition of Postal Facts, you would process and deliver approximately 528 million mailpieces, including 227 million pieces of First-Class Mail and 262 million pieces of Standard Mail. You would deliver the mail along a 4.3 million-mile route. And you would pick up — without charge — 727,167 packages.

You would process more than 130,000 address changes and add 2,160 new addresses to the delivery network. And you would make sure the nearly 1 million visitors to usps.com received answers to their questions, confirmations for the $809,000 in revenue from online stamps and retail sales, and more than 44 million Click-N-Ship labels.

You would accept 18,750 passport applications, issue 358,553 money orders and serve more than 3.2 million customers at 31,000 retail locations.

For completing all these tasks, you would earn $215 million in revenue, and you would pay yourself $157 million in salaries and benefits.

And you would receive no tax dollars.

All in all, not a bad day’s work.

Columbus million milers have tips for safe driving

Columbus city carriers Gary Wilbourn and Steve Dasinger recently received their million mile awards.

Gary has been a carrier since 1975 and his advice to other drivers is to "always look out for the unexpected."

Steve started in 1973 and also trained Gary. Steve says to "keep your eye on the other driver-he is not watching you."

The Million Mile Club is the National Safety Council’s highest safety honor among professional drivers and recognizes drivers who have driven more than one million miles or more than 30 years without a preventable accident.

The United States Postal Service and the National Safety Council have teamed up to promote and ensure the safety and health of the USPS workforce nationwide.

As a long-standing member of the National Safety Council, the United States Postal Service has established an agreement with the Council that entitles all facilities to take advantage of member benefits in an effort to prevent unintentional injury and illness.

Eligible postal employee participants of the Safe Driver Award Program include those who have a normal daily assignment that involves the driving of a motor vehicle for official business use, and who have not had their driving privilege revoked or suspended

Jacksonville Postal carriers unite to fight hunger; NALC food drive set for Saturday, May 11

Once a year, Postal Service letter carriers go the extra mile in the fight against hunger by participating in the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.  This year, letter carriers will pick up nonperishable food donations left at residential mailboxes on Saturday, May 11.  The goal is to collect 400,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest North Florida.

Although the NALC effort is a national event, much of the food donated in the Jacksonville area will directly benefit the Second Harvest North Florida, which provides food to more than 450 community programs such as church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and senior citizen centers in 17 counties. The NALC Food Drive provides much-needed food during the typically lean summer months when children are not in school.

The need for food continues to rise – from 6.62 million pounds distributed in 2007 to 22 million last year.  One in six adults and one in four children in north Florida do not know when or from where their next meal will come.  Fifty-five percent of all schoolchildren attending Duval County Public Schools are eligible for free or reduced-fee meals.  Their families struggle to feed them over the summer when school meals aren’t available.

This will be the 21st annual "Stamp Out Hunger," which is the largest one-day food drive in the United States. Residents receive a postcard reminder in their mailbox during the week leading up to the event. They are asked to leave nonperishable food donations in bags or boxes by their mailboxes, which will be picked up by their Postal Service letter carriers as they deliver mail on their routes.

Hundreds of volunteers and Second Harvest staff wait eagerly at postal distribution centers to receive the donated food from the letter carriers.  They sort the food and send it to Second Harvest’s warehouse so that more volunteers and staff can begin preparing it for distribution.

“We are so appreciative of the extra work that the letters carriers take on in picking up this food,” Ganger said.  “There is no way that we could secure all this food in one day without their help.  We hope they finish an exceptionally long and hard day knowing that they have helped feed hungry children and their families.”

Employees celebrate service anniversaries

 
Macon City Carrier
Danyse Gaskins - 40 years

Jacksonville Sr Plant Manager
Art Rosenberg - 35 years

Unadilla GA Rural Carrier
Larry Hudson - 35 years

District Manager Human Resources
Sylvia Morris - 30 years

Macon-Zebulon carriers achieve safe million miles

Two Macon-Zebulon carriers have received a million mile award from Manager Post Office Operations Angela Collier.

James D. Joyner Jr: started as a Mail Handler in January 1980. He then switched to the carrier craft in November 1980 and has worked in Macon his entire career.

Denise Mays as a Clerk in October 1982 and then switched to the carrier craft in March 1986.  She is a City Carrier Instructor and has worked in Macon her entire career.

Pictured L-R are Mr. Joyner, Macon Postmaster Tim Goodwin and Ms. Mays.

The Million Mile Club is the National Safety Council’s highest safety honor among professional drivers and recognizes drivers who have driven more than one million miles or more than 30 years without a preventable accident.

The United States Postal Service and the National Safety Council have teamed up to promote and ensure the safety and health of the USPS workforce nationwide.

As a long-standing member of the National Safety Council, the United States Postal Service has established an agreement with the Council that entitles all facilities to take advantage of member benefits in an effort to prevent unintentional injury and illness.

Eligible postal employee participants of the Safe Driver Award Program include those who have a normal daily assignment that involves the driving of a motor vehicle for official business use, and who have not had their driving privilege revoked or suspended.

Dublin GA Postmaster Myers delivers a first in history

(Published in the Dublin GA Courier-Herald)
BY PAYTON TOWNS III

Valerie Myers didn't know about making history.

But after looking into it, she found that she was indeed the first Afircan American woman to serve as Postmaster at the Dublin Post Office.

"When I found out I was very excited," Myers said.  "I feel honored and privleged to be that.  I'm just glad to be recognized as that and hopefully I can prove to the community that I can be a good one."

"I want them to remember their first female Afircan American Postmaster to be fair and work well.  I want to get involved in the community and be really active here," she said.

Myers was appointed to this position on March 9 and had been on the job the last couple of weeks. She has a special connection to Dublin in that her parents grew up here.

"It has a special place in my heart because of that," said Myers, who grew up in Miami, FL.

"I started there and eventually worked my way from the bottom," Myers said.  "It's been a lot of hard work. I know about everything it takes to run the post office.  I think for a good leader to understand what it takes makes a difference."

USPS business staff make presentations to university mail association in Ocala

Representatives from the U.S. Postal Service were invited to make presentations recently at the College and University Mail Service Association's annual meeting held at the College of Central Florida (CCF) in Ocala.

Business Development Specialist Rachelle Gilliard presented an overview of Every Door Direct Mail and Priority Mail to 50 attendees.

OIC for the Ocala Post Office Ron Jarrell also spoke to the audience on the State of the Postal Service and "Whose Mail Is It Anyway", a topic requested by CUMSA which dealt with mail disputes and particular scenarios encountered by college and university CPUs and mailrooms.

Secretary Christy Czarzasty from the Ocala Post Office assisted CCF in coordinating the USPS portion of the event which included attendees from across the Southeast United States.

The USPS Inspection Service and OIG also were on hand and made presentations to the audience.

Steinmart partners tour Jacksonville P&DC, NDC

Last month Acting Business Service Network represetantive Valerie Rodgers and District Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar provided a tour of the Jacksonville Processing & Distribution Center along with Acting Manager Distribution Operations Eric Keith for Jacksonville-based business partner Steinmart representatives Suzanne Pignataro and Peter Klockenbrink.

The tour continued later that day at the Jacksonville National Distribution Center to help Pignataro and Klockenbrink better understand USPS processing and distribution operations.

"The Postal Service appreciates the relationship we have with Stein Mart and we will continue to provide excellent customer service," said North Florida District Manager Charley Miller. "Taking a guided tour of our mail processing facilities really helps us partner and learn how we both can make improvements to better serve our mutual customers."

The Postal Service is conducting a pilot program at seven Sectional Center Facility sites in Dallas, Houston, North Texas, North Houston, Fort Worth, New Orleans and Jacksonville to provide excellent customer service for Steinmart's standard mailings. 

Two additional pilot sites will be added later this month in Tulsa and Austin.

Steinmart is a high-end chain of boutique stores with markets across the nation and headquartered in Jacksonville.

Macon MPO achieves 5-in-a-row RCE award

The Macon Main Post Office was honored recently for achieving their fifth RCE perfect score in a row. 

The award was presented by Post Office Operations Manager Angela Collier to Postmaster Tim Goodwin, SCS Nancy Clark, clerks Vicky Snook, Andre Alcala and Shantoria Taylor.

The Retail Customer Experience gives the Postal Service an objective view of our retail locations.

It can be used as a real-time snapshot of a customer interaction. It is not just about the score.

It is even more important that the results drive changes in behavior that will result in improved customer satisfaction and increased retail revenue.

The attributes measured in the Mystery Shopper program should become so commonplace to our everyday performance that if the program were to end tomorrow, it would not change the customer's retail experience in any way.

Mystery shoppers record how long they spent in line, how the retail unit looked, how courteous the retail associates were, and other details about their visit.

South Macon carrier reaches Million Miles of safe driving

South Macon Station city carrier Curtis Holmes recently received a Million Mile award from  Manager Post Office Operations Angela Collier . 

Curtis began his Postal career in 1979.   After  spending a year in Warner Robins m GA, and then transferred to Macon where he has worked his entire career. 

The Million Mile Club is the National Safety Council’s highest safety honor among professional drivers and recognizes drivers who have driven more than one million miles or more than 30 years without a preventable accident.

The United States Postal Service and the National Safety Council have teamed up to promote and ensure the safety and health of the USPS workforce nationwide.

As a long-standing member of the National Safety Council, the United States Postal Service has established an agreement with the Council that entitles all facilities to take advantage of member benefits in an effort to prevent unintentional injury and illness.

Eligible postal employee participants of the Safe Driver Award Program include those who have a normal daily assignment that involves the driving of a motor vehicle for official business use, and who have not had their driving privilege revoked or suspended.

Submit a Lead results in more EDDM revenue

As a result of the Submit a Lead program, Sales & Service Distribution Associate (who is detailing as a Business Engagement Specialist) Loneryl McIntosh recently contacted customer Nancy Klum, owner of European Leather Gallery in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

Klum was interested in expanding her business in the local area and McIntosh outlined the value of direct mail and the Every Door Direct Mail product utilizing a coupon to track return on investment.

"Working with Nancy Klum from European was great," said McIntosh.  "This customer knew the value of direct mail marketing and wanted to take advantage of Every Door Direct Mail for their 2013 advertising campaign.  Though we worked together on the EDDM project over a few months, it was worth the time invested."

Klum liked the idea and will test five campaigns this year with 26,000 pieces for each campaign for an estimated revenue of nearly $21,000.

Jacksonville Postal carriers unite to fight hunger; NALC food drive set for Saturday, May 11

Once a year, Postal Service letter carriers go the extra mile in the fight against hunger by participating in the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.  This year, letter carriers will pick up nonperishable food donations left at residential mailboxes on Saturday, May 11.  The goal is to collect 400,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest North Florida.

Although the NALC effort is a national event, much of the food donated in the Jacksonville area will directly benefit the Second Harvest North Florida, which provides food to more than 450 community programs such as church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and senior citizen centers in 17 counties. The NALC Food Drive provides much-needed food during the typically lean summer months when children are not in school.

The need for food continues to rise – from 6.62 million pounds distributed in 2007 to 22 million last year.  One in six adults and one in four children in north Florida do not know when or from where their next meal will come.  Fifty-five percent of all schoolchildren attending Duval County Public Schools are eligible for free or reduced-fee meals.  Their families struggle to feed them over the summer when school meals aren’t available.

This will be the 21st annual "Stamp Out Hunger," which is the largest one-day food drive in the United States. Residents receive a postcard reminder in their mailbox during the week leading up to the event. They are asked to leave nonperishable food donations in bags or boxes by their mailboxes, which will be picked up by their Postal Service letter carriers as they deliver mail on their routes.

Hundreds of volunteers and Second Harvest staff wait eagerly at postal distribution centers to receive the donated food from the letter carriers.  They sort the food and send it to Second Harvest’s warehouse so that more volunteers and staff can begin preparing it for distribution.

“We are so appreciative of the extra work that the letters carriers take on in picking up this food,” Ganger said.  “There is no way that we could secure all this food in one day without their help.  We hope they finish an exceptionally long and hard day knowing that they have helped feed hungry children and their families.”

La Florida stamp unveiled In St. Augustine ceremony

 

From left, Florida Department of State Secretary Ken Detzner, reenactor Chad Light, Jo Ann Feindt with the United States Postal Service, Sen. Bill Nelson, St. Augustine Mayor Joe Bolles and Flagler College President William Abare unveil the La Florida commemorative stamp in Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College in downtown ST. Augustine on Wednesday afternoon, April 3, 2013.

Reprinted from St. Augustine FL Record
By DARON DEAN, daron.dean@staugustine.com

When Jo Ann Feindt, vice president for the Southern Area of the United States Postal Service, thinks about St. Augustine, she’ll probably remember being almost impaled by Ponce de Leon at the ceremony unveiling the Postal Service’s 2013 La Florida forever stamp at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium Wednesday.
As actor Chad Light, in character as Ponce and dressed in full 16th-century regalia, went to sit down after making a brief speech, he didn’t notice that his sword — which was fully sheathed — had angled into Feindt’s abdomen, causing her to jump back a bit.

It wasn’t a brush with death, of course, but the unplanned gaffe brought a great deal of laughter from the audience of about 300 people who showed up to see the stamp and hear from presenters that included U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Flagler College president William T. Abare, Feindt, Light and St. Augustine Mayor Joe Boles.

Light seemed genuinely embarrassed for a moment, but played it off with aplomb. “She lives!” Light shouted, back in character. Feindt laughed.

The La Florida stamp is actually four stamps that interlock to form a single picture of brightly-colored flowers indigenous to the state. They were created to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the naming of the state by Ponce in 1513, who named it La Florida for Pascua Florida (Feast of the Flowers), Spain’s Easter celebration, and — reportedly — for the abundant display of foliage the explorer could see from his ship off the coast.

The stamps contain blossoms such as red and pink hibiscus, yellow cannas, morning glories in white, red and shades of purple and white and purple passion flowers. On the margin, the stamp pane includes a scene of explorers traveling in a small boat along a river, surrounded by tropical vegetation.

The stamps are also designated “forever stamps,” meaning that they will always carry the full First Class value, no matter what the postal rate is.

Nelson began by thanking the guests in Spanish and said it was a great day for Florida.

“Somehow, our schoolchildren are taught that our heritage is English,” Nelson said. “Our heritage is Spanish. Not only because of the city that has 42 years ahead of Jamestown, but also because all of the first Europeans that came to this land, starting with 500 years ago (were Spanish). And so, we are here in a great celebration. As people see these stamps, they are going be able to recognize the uniqueness of our blessed state.”

Feindt, who was born in Hollywood and began her career with the Postal Service in Fort Lauderdale, said she was pleased to be back in her home state.

Pictorial Postmarks Announcement – USS Klakring and USS Underwood

As a community service, the Postal Service™ offers pictorial postmarks to commemorate local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation. A list of events for which pictorial postmarks are authorized appears in the Postal Bulletin. The sponsor of the pictorial postmark appears in italics under the date. Also provided are illustrations of these postmarks.

People attending these local events may obtain the postmark in person at the temporary Post Office™ station established there. Those who cannot attend the event but who wish to obtain the postmark may submit a mail order request. Pictorial postmarks are available only for the dates indicated, and requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial postmark date. All requests must include a stamped envelope or post-card bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail® post-age.

Items submitted for postmark may not include postage issued after the date of the requested postmark. Such items will be returned un-serviced. Customers wishing to obtain a postmark should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others, insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: Pictorial Postmarks, followed by the Name of the Station, Address, City, State, ZIP+4® Code, as listed below. Customers can also send stamped envelopes and post-cards without addresses for postmark, as long as they sup-ply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address.

After applying the pictorial postmark, the Postal Service returns the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover. The newest pictorial postmarks for the Jacksonville area are shown below:

Northwest Florida employees generous in CFC campaign

 Postal employees in Northwest Florida are generous as evidenced by a recent recognition  CFC  breakfast  at the Holley Center on the Florida State  University  - Panama City campus.

USPS in the 324 Zip Code received the award for Largest Percentage Increase in the 2012 Combined Federal Campaign of the United Way of Northwest Florida!

USPS donations totaled 133 percent  more than  last year 's donations, an increase of  more than  $1,378.

On hand to accept the award was Youngstown FL Postmaster Brian Kirke who sits on the Local Federal Coordinating Committee for the Northwest Florida United Way Combined Federal Campaign.

"Efforts were made to increase the participation level over previous years, and those efforts paid off with big dividends...the employees of the USPS in the 324 Area really came through in their contributions to charities of their choosing , " said Kirke. "This is what the spirit of the Combined Federal Campaign is really about  and we hope to continue this trend in the years to come."

Two million miler carriers honored in Sylvania GA

Sylvania GA Postmaster John Bolton recently presented two employees with Million Mile plaques.

Rural Carrier Bruce Forehand has served as an RCA and Regular Rural carrier in Sylvania for 44 years without a preventable accident.

Kenny Austin has served 30 years as an RCA and Regular Rural carrier in Sylvania without a preventable accident.

"It is a rare opportunity to have a carrier receive this award, but to have two employees is truly remarkable and a testament to their dedication to working safely," said Bolton.

USPS-North Florida District Celebrating Amazing Women

As Women’s History month comes to a close, let us not forget the many successful women that have helped to shape the USPS in our own backyard. A person is successful for many reasons. Success to most is the realization and obtainment of a worthy ideal or result. With that, let’s meet the successful women.

Women like retired IS Manager, Karen Keller. Karen dedicated more than 30 years to the USPS and when she was not working she was volunteering her time and energy to helping others. The obligation she has to people certainly helped while in the employment of the postal service where she truly worked to provide excellent customer service. (Customer’s still ask, where’s Karen?)

Glenda Howard, Lead Clerk at Evans, GA post office—Glenda recently retired after 34 years of service.  The employees and customers of the Evans office already miss her positive attitude and the “songs” she was always singing. Positivity breeds positivity—and Glenda is certainly a positive person.

Being positive certainly goes a long way, but so does communication. The North, South and Suncoast Districts- Manager, EEO Dispute Resolution , Nancy Falanga was recently praised by her staff. Ms. Falanga possesses great leadership and communication skills. She has a superb team of people who appreciate her leadership qualities. She is definitely an asset to the United States Postal Service EEO Department. Ms. Falanga has more than 25 years of service!

 Amazing women are everywhere in the postal service, take for instance Jo Ann Feindt. Ms. Feindt is the Southern Area Vice President. Her dedication to quality can be seen a mile away.  She is responsible for all postal operations including mail processing and distribution, customer service and administrative operations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and portions of Georgia and South Carolina. Ms. Feindt is a 33-year postal veteran.

But what about our lady Letter Carriers? The first recorded female letter carrier was on April 3, 1845. And in the early 1900’s job announcements said, “Only Single Women Need Apply.” Times have certainly changed. Women are holding all types of positions and guess what, they have families at home!

Many of our employees work for years without recognition, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t successful or important to the organization. That’s why it is so vital to acknowledge employees and co-workers at all levels.

Do you know of a significant achievement or initiative that one of our employees are involved with? If so, make contact with the North Florida District Blog via www.nflnewsmakers.blogspot.com. We are always interested in letting others know what’s happening in our local post offices and surroundings.

All contributions came from staff or co-workers.