Jacksonville recognizes USS Halyburton FFG-40 Last Day in Commission postmark requests

Home to two U.S. Naval bases, Jacksonville Postmaster Debbie Gornik routinely receives Last Day in Commission pictorial postmark requests several times per year.  On September 6th, the USS Halyburton (FFG 40) was decommissioned at Jacksonville Naval Station Mayport.  This ship was named for Petty Officer 2nd Class William David Halyburton who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism while serving with the Marine Rifle Company during the Battle of Okinawa. 

Over 100 pictorial postmark requests have poured in since September 1st from around the nation and as far away as the Kingdom of Belgium keeping the postmaster’s staff busy processing requests.

Pictorial postmark being placed on letter cancellation request.

Panama City FL Postmaster recognizes employees

General Expeditor Barbee Pass retired with 43 years of service on August 31, 2014.  Barbee said it was time for her to move on to the next chapter of her life, retirement. Barbee said she was most grateful, to all, for what the postal service did for her over the pass 40 plus years and what it has allowed her to do.

L-R:  Manager Post Office Operations Todd Smith, General Expeditor
Barbee Pass, Panama City Postmaster Roberto Farias.

Wil Pender received his 30 year service award from Panama City Postmaster Roberto Farias on August 25, 2014.  Wil started his career with the Postal Service in 1991 as a Transitional Employee (TE) Carrier in Silver Springs Maryland..  In 1992, he became a Mailhandler, transferred to a City Carrier position and was then promoted to regular in 1993.  From 1995 through 1998, Wil was an Acting Customer Services Supervisor, he transferred  to Panama City Fl. In 1998, Supervised as a 204B at all Panama City carrier stations, He was also an acting Manager at Eastside and Downtown Station from 2002 until promoted to Manager Customer Service in 2013.

 L-R:  Customer Services Manager Wil Pender, Postmaster Panama City Roberto Farias

Debbie Bibb began her postal career in 1984 as a Letter Sort Machine (LSM) Clerk in Kansas City Missouri.  She transferred to Leavenworth Kansas in 1987 as a Sales and Service Associate/Distribution clerk, then in 2004 to Panama City Florida to her current position, Training Technician.  She was recently presented with her 30-year Service Award and pin.

L-R: Customer Services Supervisor Jennifer Washington, Postmaster Panama City Roberto Farias, Training Technician Debbie Bibb, and Customer Services Supervisor Keith Kelly.

Military veteran postal employees honored district wide

Tallahassee P&DC Maintenance Department military veteran employees were recently recognized with Certificates of Recognition.

L-R (front) A/Tallahassee Plant Manager Mario Nunez, Maintenance Mechanic James Peppers, General Mechanic Carl Madison, Maintenance Mechanic Jerry Ellis, General Mechanic Steve Pratt, Maintenance Manager Mary Mack.   Middle: Mechanics Troy Taylor, Nathaniel Bonner, Electronic Technician Brooks Phillips, Custodian Dough Heide, Electronics Technician Harry Knight, Mechanic Sidney Williams.
Back row:  Electronics Technicians Tony Broughton, Benny Dorsey, Maintenance Mechanic Wesley Goldwire, MOS Marc Cunningham, Maintenance Mechanic Nelson President, General Mechanic Morris Benton.

Manager, Customer Services Charlotte Cutlip presented Certificates of Recognition to 30 military veterans at Jacksonville, FL Lake Shore Station.

Melrose, FL Post Office promotes Farmers Markets Stamps

Melrose Officer in Charge Rocky Bolin took the creative approach to promoting the Farmers Markets First-Class Rate Forever Stamps with his customers. He set-up a display in the retail lobby of a pumpkin-head farmer holding a poster of the Farmers Markets stamps. This awesome marketing idea had a tremendous impact because sales of the stamps skyrocketed. “I like having a lobby display that’s an attention getter, but also informs customers of our latest stamps. Usually, customers are unaware of our new products,” stated Bolin.

Jacksonville Post Offices host successful eBay seminars

Consecutively, on September 16-18, Jacksonville’s Mandarin Station, Pottsburg Station, and GMF Main Office Postal Store each hosted eBay seminars facilitated by eBay Certified Business Consultant Danna Crawford.  The Main Office Postal Store’s seminar was scheduled at 6:00pm to accommodate the general public who works from 9-5 and generated over 32 excited attendees, Mandarin had a standing room only crowd of 64 attendees, and Pottsburg hosted 32 attendees for a whopping three day total of 128 participants and a waiting list of others who were not able to attend any of the three sessions.  Facilitator Danna Crawford’s presentation included an introduction to eBay; eBay selling basics; how to build an eBay business; buying and selling strategies; inclusive of Every Door Direct Mail and shipping with the USPS.  The seminars were so successful, additional workshops have been scheduled for November.

eBay Business Consultant Danna Crawford

eBay attendees at Jacksonville Main Post Office/P&DC

eBay seminar attendees at South Mandarin Library

eBay seminar attendees at the Pottsburg Station Business Mail Entry Unit.

Montrose GA Postmaster Idella King retires

After 30 years of service, many of those years as Montrose GA Postmaster, Idella King proudly but humbly exchanges her employee ID badge for a new life full of relaxation, fun, and no alarm clocks.  Happy retirement and happiness to Idella.

L-R:  Montrose GA Postmaster Idella King, (A) MPOO 4 Paul Birge

USPS eBay shares the stage at the Butterfly Festival

The Postal Service had a very visible presence at the 4th Annual Florida Monarch Festival, also known as the Butterfly Festival, held at the picturesque Greathouse Butterfly Farm in Earleton, FL.  Keystone Heights FL Postmaster Steve Marcus and Melrose FL Postmaster Debbie Adkins (presently detailed to District Finance) partnered together and manned an eBay – Grow Your Business booth at the festival, as they have done for the past few years.  The duo also managed to get some Business Connect leads.

Festival visitors enjoyed delicious food, educational talks and walks, butterfly releases, delightful shopping, the Butterfly Emporium, and yes, learned about the postal experience to help grow their business.  Also, present with her own booth showcasing her talented art paintings was Keystone Heights Post Office rural carrier Andrea Parks.  Parks does a fantastic job of painting landscapes and warm scenic views.  Many postal employees from throughout Florida and Georgia attended the two-day event including Human Resource Specialist Lillian Mason, Green Cove Springs Supervisor Rocky Bolin, CRC Dee Carter and others. 

Valdosta GA VMF employee T. Lamar Hardy, wife Terry, and three daughters Kaleigh, Morgan and Addie, drove 120 miles from Valdosta GA to Earleton FL to enjoy the festival as a family outing.  It was truly an enjoyable event.

L-R:  Keystone Heights Post Office rural carrier Andrea Parks, Melrose Postmaster Debbie Adkins, Keystone Heights Postmaster Steve Marcus, Green Cove Springs Supervisor Rocky Bolin.

L-R (front):  Melrose Postmaster Debbie Adkins, Morgan Hardy, Addie Hardy, Morgan Hardy; back row: Terry Hardy, Lamar Hardy, Keystone Heights Postmaster Steve Marcus

Bostwick FL Postmaster says ‘it time’

After 30 years serving postal customers, Bostwick FL postmaster Hope Pierce officially retired on September 30th.  Jacksonville Postmaster Debbie Gornik presented Hope with her 30 year retirement service award and spoke on Hope’s accomplishments and dedicated service at her farewell celebration.  Much success and happiness, Hope!  You will be missed.

L-R:  Area Manager (A) Dolores Seuwin, Hope Pierce, Jacksonville Postmaster Debbie Gornik

L-R: Orange Park MPO Supervisor Terry Schallenberg, Hope Pierce, Green Cove Springs Postmaster Jan Farmer, Green Cove Springs Supervisor Rocky Bolin

Hope’s retirement celebration cake

Post Offices and stations recognized with Gold Star Awards

The following post offices and stations were recognized with Gold Star Awards for earning perfect scores on Retail Customer Experience transactions:

Green Cove Springs, FL Post Office 32042
Jacksonville, FL – Lake Shore Station 32210
Jacksonville, FL – South Jax Station 32207
Orange Park, FL-Ridgewood Station 32065
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Post Office 32082

The National Joint Committee honors Gulf Atlantic District Advisory Committee

The Gulf Atlantic District Advisory Committee (DAC), received the Creative Promotion award from the National Joint Committee (NJC) for its efforts in the 2014 EAP Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention campaign. 

Employees supported the cause by wearing the colors of purple and turquoise; which represent suicide awareness.    The suicide prevention issue was incorporated into the weekly stand up talks to help keep the central focus on the workroom floor.  Every District employee received postcards in the mail promoting EAP and were provided informative information. In addition, the NJC's Hold On Pain Ends (H.O.P.E) Campaign was incorporated into the new GFA EAP Slogan "Where HOPE and HELP meet; which served as a wonderful reminder that there is hope and help available to individuals in need.

L-R: Committee members NALC Robert Hamilton; Human Resources Manager Sylvia Morris; APWU Johnny Jenkins; APWU Local President Doris Orr-Richardson; Brunswick GA Officer-in-charge Eugene Lofton (all committee members are not pictured)

Second Generation supervisor shares postal life with second graders

Pictured centered is Supervisor Jarrett Hilliard with Mrs. Bennett
and her second grade students

Eastman Supervisor Customer Service Jarrett Hilliard was invited to speak to the 2nd grade students in Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Greene classes at Bleckley County Primary School.  Jarrett, a former Distribution Operations supervisor and son of a retired postmaster Wayne Hillard, shared important information about mail processing as well as mail delivery, capturing the attention of the students.  The students, who were eager to learn more, bombarded Jarrett with many questions about the postal service.  The teachers and students appreciated US Postal Service visit and look forward to another opportunity to learn more.

South Jax employees recognized for MSP Scanning Performance

When it comes to exceptional performance in MSP scanning, South Jax Station employees are committed and focused on being at the top of the high performance list.  Recently recognized for outstanding MSP scan performance with Letters of Appreciation were Letter Carriers Frank Rivera, Ted Corby, Richard Dunn, Ophny Neus and Raul Guerrerro.  Special recognitions were presented to each employee by (A) Manager Customer Services Matt Hasbrouck and Customer Services Supervisor Brian Baker along with (A) Area Manager Edwin Lang

L-R:  (A) Area Manager Edwin Lang, Manager Matt Hasbrouck, Carriers Frank Rivera,
Ted Corby, Richard Dunn, Raul Guerrerro, Ophny Neus, Supervisor Brian Baker

Jax-Southpoint Postal Store recognized with Gold Star Award

Congratulations to Matt Comadore, and the Team at Jax-Southpoint Postal Store for achieving two 100% perfect scores in September!  Great job!!  Thank you for taking such great care of our customers!