"Neither rain nor snow"... in Macon GA

In the wake of a weather rarity in Middle Georgia;  ice, nearly three inches of snow, and temperatures dropping below 20-degrees, nothing can stop the letter carriers in Macon GA from delivering the mail.

Postmaster Tim Goodwin stated, "It gets tough delivering mail in adverse weather conditions, but we ensure our employees take all necessary precautions including working safely wearing the proper attire to keep warm. "   

"I am so proud of our employees' performance during these conditions .  While schools were closed and businesses were either closed or operating on shortened hours, Macon's Zebulon and South Macon stations employees join many of Gulf Atlantic's Georgia area employees in providing great service to our customers."

 Letter Carrier Tony King

Letter Carrier Kevin Sark

Greenville FL carrier saves blind man in house fire

Greenville FL Rural Carrier Kathy Floyd recently helped a blind customer get out of his burning home while delivering her route.

Floyd saw fire and smoke coming out of the eaves and windows of Warren Daniel’s home.

She raced to his porch, went in and helped the customer out of the front door and off the screened-in porch to safety.

Afraid there may be an explosion, she helped Daniels into her vehicle and drove away to safety. 

Floyd then called 911 and stayed with the customer until emergency help arrived.

She is aware that Daniels is blind and checks on him often.

Both Floyd and Daniels are OK and made it out without injury. The house was a total loss.

Glen St Mary SSA reads to local school children

The Glen Saint Mary FL Post Office along with other local businesses were invited to participate in Project REACH--Reading Embraces All Children--at the local Westside Elementary. 


Project REACH assigns a professional to each class to talk about how reading impacts their job and to read to students during the morning reading block.  Westside Elementary consists of first through third grade students with a total of 50 classes of approximately 18 students each. 

Sales & Service Associate Missy Whitehead’s daughter, Kristyn Davis, teaches at Westside Elementary so it was a special honor to read to her class.

Before reading, Whitehead talked about how learning to read had a great impact on her being able to perform her job reminding the students of their recent trip to mail postcards they addressed at the Post Office. 

She read “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”.  After the reading the students participated in re-enacting the story emphasizing big, bigger and biggest along with a few roars from the silly ole troll. 

The students were surprised with activity coloring books and Whitehead even left with a special treat from the students.

Jacksonville carriers record Five Million Miles of safe driving

Five more Gulf Atlantic District letter carriers from Jacksonville stations have been recognized for their long-standing safe driving records.

Murray Hill Station Letter Carriers Larry Taylor, Terry Parsons, Emory Jackson and Monument Station Letter Carriers James Greene and Michael Moneyhan are now members of the Million Mile Club which 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.

That's more than five million miles recognized just in the Jacksonville area.

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, USPS 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.

From left to right, Jacksonville Murray Hill City Carriers Larry Taylor, Terry Parson, Acting Jacksonville Postmaster Debbie Gornik and Emory Jackson.

From left to right, Jacksonville Monument Station Manager Mike Wright, City Carrier James Greene, Acting Jacksonville Postmaster, Debbie Gornik, and NALC President Bob Henning.

From left to right, Jacksonville Monument Station Manager Mike Wright, City Carrier Michael Moneyhan, Acting Jacksonville Postmaster, Debbie Gornik, and NALC President Bob Henning. Moneyhan also received his 30 years of service award.

Two Georgia Postmasters assume new positions

Manager, Post Office Operations Angela Collier recently welcomed new McIntyre, GA Remotely Managed Post Office (RMPO) Postmaster Barbara 'Angel' Anderson. She is pictured with her Administrative Postmaster Kevin Hayes of Gordon, GA.

Ms. Anderson started with the Postal Service in March 2006 as a Postmaster Relief in Toomsboro, GA.  She became the Officer In Charge (OIC) in July 2012 after the Postmaster retired.

When the Toomsboro office was reduced to four hours Anderson became the OIC in Irwinton, GA.

In Sept of 2013, she was selected as the RMPO Postmaster of McIntyre, GA.

Collier also recently welcomed new Adrian GA RMPO Postmaster Clint Braswell.

Braswell started with the Postal Service in May 1996 as an Rural Carrier Associate in Swainsboro, GA.

He then moved to Dublin, GA where he was a Part Time Flexible (PTF) Clerk before returning to Swainsboro, GA in the clerk craft.  Braswell also clerked in Lyons, GA during the Swainsboro tenure.
In March Braswell transferred to Wrightsville, GA as PTF City Carrier.

Before accepting his first Postmaster position in Collins, GA May of 2010 Braswell held other positions such OIC of McIntyre, Kite, and 204B of Wrightsville.

Earlier in 2013 Clint was the OIC of Twin City, GA before accepting the Adrian position.

Milledgeville GA achieves 5th straight RCE perfect score

Congratulations to the Milledgeville GA Post Office for achieving their "5 in a Row Award" in Retail Customer Experience (RCE) 100 % perfect score

Pictured are Sales & Service Distribution Associates (from left)  Lee Humphrey, Trellis Dixon, Ed McRae and Donna Whidby.

RCE 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.

Employees honored for longtime service to USPS

 Jacksonville FL -- NDC
Joe Martin, Calvin Cushion, Robert Thiel -- 40 years

From left to right: District Manager Charley Miller,  Mail Handlers Joe Martin,
Calvin Cushion, Robert Thiel, and Plant Manager Dave McClelland.

 Gulf Atlantic District Manager Charley Miller presented three 40-year service awards to three employees who have worked in the Jacksonville National Distribution Center since its opening. Plant Manager, Dave McClelland shared how most of his seasoned employees have been around since the NDC was built back in 1973. One of the keys to stability is keeping his employees informed and treating them with respect. Thank you for your 40 years of service. 

Augusta GA
Jeannette Harmon -- 30 years

Pictured from left to right are: Acting Manager Customer Services Mike Crawley, Manager Customer Services, Augusta Postmaster Paul Steele, Acting Manager Customer Services Mary Lowery and, Acting Manager Customer Services James Lloyd.

 
 Jacksonville FL -- Murray Hill
Carol Miller, Cheryl Carruthers, Terry Parson, Larry Taylor -- 30 years

Pictured from left to right are: Clerk Carol Miller, Clerk Cheryl Carruthers Clerk, Acting Jacksonville Postmaster Debbie Gornik, City Carrier Terry Parson City and City Carrier Larry Taylor who all received their 30 years of service awards.

Okaloosa-Walton counties wind up CFC campaign

Okaloosa and Walton Counties (MPOO area 6) in the Gulf Atlantic District recently ended their Combined Federal Campaign.

Total pledges from the two county area totaled more than $10,000.  From the largest office to the smallest office there were a variety of contributors.  Pledges are tax deductible and many non-profit organizations benefit from these pledges. 

The Combined Federal Campaign affords Postal Employees the opportunity to contribute to "local, national and international organizations that have met eligibility requirements."

The Combined Federal Campaign began in the "early 1960's to coordinate the fundraising efforts of various charitable organizations so that the Federal donor would only be solicited once in the workplace and have the opportunity to make charitable contributions through payroll deduction."

Federal employees continue to make the CFC the largest and most successful workplace philanthropic fundraiser in the world.  Continuing a long-standing tradition of selfless giving, in 2012 Federal employees raised over $258 million dollars for charitable causes around the world. 

Thank you to MPOO6 Area for your contributions.

Milton FL carrier aids injured customer

Fourteen-year veteran Rural Carrier Angela Holley of Milton, Florida, was busy making her appointed rounds on December 4th when something out of the ordinary caught her attention.

Through the open garage door of one of her customer’s homes, someone was waving to her.  Angela circled back around to see if she could help.

What she found was that Mr. Reed, an older gentleman on her route, had slipped down in his garage and could not get back up. Angela quickly rendered aid, assisting him into a chair and helping call a family member.

She even asked a neighbor to check in on him before she resumed delivery on her route.

Fortunately, Mr. Reed suffered only minor injuries. The next day when Angela stopped back by to check on him, Mr. and Mrs. Reed were extremely grateful for Angela’s help.

Mrs. Reed said that he had been on the floor for an hour. If not for Angela’s willingness to help, there’s no telling how long Mr. Reed would have been down.

White Springs FL carrier recognized as hero by PMG

Last year, White Springs FL Rural Carrier Associate Rebekah Willis was delivering mail on a dead-end road when she noticed a customer's yard was on fire. (The fire was from a controlled burn on a adjacent property that re-ignited.)

The fire jumped the fence, caught a tree and pine needles on fire, and was heading toward two homes.

Willis ran to the houses to warn the customers, but found no one home.

She called 911 and found a water hose to extinguish the fire before the fire department arrived.

For her actions, she received a letter of commendation from Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe that stated:

"I want to commend your selfless display of civic duty.  You deserve the highest level of admiration for extinguishing the fire.  Because of your involvement, this situation had a positive outcome.  Thank you for being the eyes and ear of your community."

Donahoe went on to note: 

"The Postal Service has played an integral role in the daily lives of American citizens for 238 years.  Through the faithful completion of their daily rounds, and by going the extra mile for customers whenever needed, rural carriers maintain and strengthen this proud tradition."

Juliette GA celebrates romance on Valentine’s Day

For the 21st consecutive year, the Juliette, Georgia and Romeo, Michigan Post Offices will continue their celebrated alliance which offers the country and parts of the world a unique dual Valentine’s Day pictorial cancellation that features the theme of  Romeo and Juliet.

Hopeless romantics can have their valentine cards cancelled in Juliette, Georgia with this year’s official dual pictorial cancellation postmark. The cancellation highlights a silhouette of sweethearts expressing their love for the holiday.  This same unique cancellation will be applied on letters mailed in Romeo, Michigan.

 
To receive this special cancellation, enclose your stamped, addressed valentines in a larger envelope, and mail to:

Romeo and Juliette Valentine Cancellation
Postmaster
356 Bowdoin Rd.
Juliette GA 31046-9998

Mail-in requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the actual pictorial postmark date. In addition, please allow normal mailing time standards in order to guarantee timely delivery before Valentines Day.

Each year the Valentines Day cancellation receives an estimated four thousand letters for cancellation from 36 states and more than 200 cities in the United States. The cancellation also has international demand from Italy, France, and Japan. We have been interviewed live on radio stations in Seattle Washington, Sarnia Ontario, and BBC Radio in London England.

Customer praises Leesburg GA service

A customer in Americus GA recently praised the service he received from Leesburg Post Officer-In-Charge Lori McDonough during the busy holiday season:

"I had a package sent Priority Mail incorrectly delivered to Leesburg GA instead of to me in Americus.  I called the Leesburg Post Office to see if I could find out if it was indeed there. 

"A lady named Lori answered the phone and was so pleasant and helpful.  She personally checked for the package, verified they did have it, and said she would send it to Americus for delivery.  She went over and beyond the call of duty in handling this."

"Too frequently people don't hesitate to register a complaint, but seldom take the time to compliment someone who has done such a good job."

McDonough said, "I try to treat every customer as I would expect to be treated.  We had many, many customers looking for packages during the peak season and it is easy to become exasperated with the calls and/or customer complaints, but you have to take each case or phone call one at a time, giving each customer your attention. " 

 "When I have an inquiry, I write down the customer’s contact information on the Track N Confirm printout and follow up with them as there is movement on the package.  They appreciate the follow up and it puts the “service” back in the U.S. Postal Service.

USPS Offers National Championship Memorabilia

TALLAHASSEE FL --- To celebrate Florida State University’s National Football Championship, the U.S. Postal Service’s Gulf Atlantic District is accepting orders for limited-edition collectible commemorative envelopes (cachet) at $10 each and double-matted artwork — suitable for framing — at $25 each or our best buy bundle (1 ea. double matted artwork and 1 ea. cachet) for $32.50.

• Cachet                                            $10.00
• Double Matted Artwork                  $25.00
• Double Matted Artwork Bundle      $32.50

Supplies are limited so order quickly with a printed order form.  Call 904-359-2728 for more information.

Human Resources recognizes retirements, service

Gulf Atlantic District Manager Human Resources Manager Sylvia Morris recently honored employees who have retired with more than 30 years of service.

Labor Relations Specialist Jim Hildreth (not pictured) who was domiciled in Macon GA retired December 31 after more than 34 years of service and  Driver Safety Instructor Anthony Iaquinto retired after 30 plus years of service.

Also honored were employees with more than 30 years of service including:  Transitional Coordinator Tammy Ross and Safety Specialist Team Leader Kerry Campbell.

Congratulations to these employees and enjoy your retirement.

Anthony Iaquinto

Tammy Ross

Kerry Campbell

Jacksonville Maintenance employees celebrate retirement

Gulf Atlantic District Manager Charley Miller and Acting Senior Plant Manager Steve Hardin recently honored three Jacksonville Maintenance employees for their long service at a special retirement luncheon.

Supervisor Maintenance Operations Don Calkins (pictured with Hardin and Miller) retires after 44 years of service.  He was joined by Maintenance Manager Tom Miller with 33 years of service and Manager Maintenance Operations Ralph Bearden who retires with 26 years of service.

Congratulations on your retirements and thanks for your service.

Gulf Atlantic team finds missing BCS game tickets

Tallahassee Lake Jackson Station Postal team with Supervisor of Customer Service Andrea Weatherspoon (in the pink). BOTTOM ROW LEFT: Customer Tony Colvin, SSA Carrietta Spraggins, SSA Yoke Johnson, Weatherspoon. TOP ROW LEFT: SSA Sheila Gowan, SSA Darlisa Williams, SSA Natasha Fornaris, 204B Reginald Sampson

On Thursday, January 2,  Tallahassee Lake Jackson Supervisor of Customer Services Andrea Weatherspoon made a frantic call for help to Gulf Atlantic Consumer and Industry Contact Manager Tony Joy.  

Two Registered Mail pieces sent from Tallahassee containing  Bowl Championship Series game tickets,  one mailed the day after Christmas destined for Atlanta, and the other mailed the next day destined for San Diego, had still not arrived . 

The search was on!

Thanks to the efforts of  employees in the San Diego and  Atlanta Registry Rooms and the Gulf Atlantic team, the Registered items were located and delivered Friday, January 3 – just three days before the big match between the Florida State Seminoles and Auburn  Tigers.  

The BCS National Championship game was held in Pasadena, California on Monday, January 6.

"May this be a reminder to all, Registered Mail trumps any service expectation," said Joy.   " For items requiring date specific arrival always , we recommend Priority Mail Express .   And we are grateful these stories have happy endings! "

P.S.  For all you non-college football fans, the Seminoles defeated the Tigers 34-31 in the final moments of the game.

Jacksonville Mandarin Station carriers retire

 

Three Jacksonville City Carriers recently retired from the Mandarin Station effective December 31, 2013.

Congratulations and thanks for your service to the Postal Service and your customers.

City Carrier Paula Farmer retired with 31 years and eight months service (pictured with Acting Jacksonville Postmaster Debra Gornik), City Carrier Don Rechtin had 32 years of service (pictured with Gornik) and City Carrier Wil Robinson retired after 30 years of service.

JAX Supervisor wishes co-workers well as she retires

 

December 31, 2013 was my final tour of duty with the Postal Service.  My 33 years has been rewarding, challenging and most of all a lifetime of memories. 

I am grateful to God for the opportunity and the many details that this organization has given me. There are so many people I would like to thank.  I tell everybody that “I love my job” and especially my Customer Service co-workers and customers.  

My once, GMF Roving pool, you were the backbone of customer service, my GMF Sales and Associates team you will always be # 1, I would like to especially thank my senior clerk, Angela Cuffy for my Sales and Associates training, she did a great job and I became a great Supervisor because of her training. 

The Postmaster’s Staff, this include Denese Baines and Wendy Fuller, thanks for everything.  Carl Porter, Tanya Whitaker and the mail handlers who always came when I called and dispatched all the mail, thanks.  Dee Carter and Dawnette Tinsley, thanks for all your support. 

Last but not least, my friend and Manager, Al Walker, thanks for allowing me to manage the largest retail unit in this city. You were the best and I will miss you all, thank you to everyone who assisted me on this tour of duty.

The last day is bittersweet, but I am ready to end my tour today, I did my best and I have no regrets.

Sincerely,
Wanda McKinney
Supervisor Window Services
Jacksonville GMF Postal Store