Alisa Dickey, Bayside, TX
I love the fact that Link highlights the amazing people who work for the Postal Service. Reading about workers who spend so many years with USPS inspires me because I’m a new, non-career employee. […]
Chris Baker
Posts by Chris Baker
Art history
USPS celebrated the beloved murals that bring a touch of beauty to Post Offices across the nation at its latest stamp dedication ceremony this week. Post Office Murals, a pane of 10 stamps that showcase five classic paintings, was dedicated April 10 at the Piggott, AR, Post Office, home to one of the featured works […]
Give me five
USPS employees still have time to earn a complimentary registration to this year’s National Postal Forum (NPF). Eligible employees can receive the registration by recruiting five customers to attend NPF, which will be held in Indianapolis from May 5-8. So far, 10 employees have received a registration: Lisa Abbott, a Central Indiana District field account […]
Life changes
Postal Service employees can learn about the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) through a series of free webinars. The webinars will explore long-term care issues related to chronic illness, injury, disability and aging, and how employees can use FLTCIP to finance long-term care. Participation is voluntary and off-the-clock. The webinars began in March […]
Part and parcel
Here’s Link’s latest “News Quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. True or false: The new USPS Returns for business mailers platform allows customers to be charged electronically through their Enterprise Payment System accounts. a) True b) False 2. What […]
Valiant attempt
Rural Carrier Tony Winborn was recently delivering mail in Perry, GA, when two vehicles collided nearby. Winborn rushed to the scene and found that one of the accident victims, a 3-month-old girl, wasn’t breathing. While emergency responders were dispatched, the Postal Service employee performed CPR on the infant, reviving her by the time paramedics arrived […]
Christine Conery, Iron River, MI
I read Link every day. The site provides concise, positive stories and good information. […]
Presidential tribute
The Postal Service will issue a stamp honoring former President George H.W. Bush, who died last fall at age 94. Bush, the 41st president, guided the nation through the end of the Cold War and drove the creation of a multinational coalition that successfully forced Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War. […]
Vital work
My name is Stacey Martin, and I’m the attendance control officer for Greater South Carolina District. My job is to help employees understand how vital they are to USPS and how customers are affected when employees aren’t here to provide service. I manage and monitor the district’s attendance programs and serve as a liaison between supervisors, […]
Honoring excellence
USPS is seeking nominations for the 2018 Postmaster General Sustainability Excellence Awards. The annual awards recognize areas, districts, facilities, teams and individuals who help foster sustainable workplaces. The nomination form and submission instructions can be downloaded from the Sustainability Blue page. Completed nominations must be submitted by Friday, June 7. The recipients of the 2017 […]
Teach them well
April is Financial Literacy Month — and not just because taxes are due. Experts encourage people to spend time in April reviewing their finances and making improvements if needed. If your finances are already in order, take time this month to help your children or other young family members understand the concept of saving. Once […]
Thomas Jasak, Vaucluse, SC
I work in a small Post Office, and I take time each day to read Link. I enjoy the helpful information and interesting stories. […]
Action! Cut!
Letter Carrier Eric Reyes was delivering mail on a fall day last year in Escondido, CA, when two vehicles collided nearby. While several passersby aided occupants of an overturned car, Reyes rushed to the other vehicle, in which the driver and his girlfriend, Angelique Arenas, were trapped. Unable to unbuckle their seatbelts and aware that […]
Safety Happens
Portland District Manager Bill Schwartz believes that engaged employees are safety-conscious employees. To help improve the district’s safety culture, Schwartz implemented a program last year to encourage workers to take proactive measures to ensure their well-being. “We are trying to modify people’s behavior by raising awareness in a positive way,” he said. Since the Safety […]
Encouraging words
A group of social media users is harnessing the power of mail to show their support for Army recruits in South Carolina. The group, called #NoTraineeLeftBehind, is comprised of more than 500 Facebook users who have mailed an estimated 80,000 letters to soldiers undergoing basic training at Fort Jackson, an installation in Columbia. Renae Reis, […]
Coral Reefs
The Postal Service will release its Coral Reefs postcard stamps Friday, March 29. Coral reefs are one of the world’s most important ecosystems, sheltering and sustaining about a quarter of all ocean species. The reefs are formed over thousands of years, mainly by colonies of animals called polyps. These creatures make stony corals, the foundation […]
Star players
Here’s Link’s latest “News Quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Who served as art director for the Star Ribbon stamp? a) Antonio Alcalá b) Greg Breeding c) Derry Noyes d) Ethel Kessler 2. If you’re asked to provide information […]
Snow man
Residents of Pocatello, ID, were hit with a surprise snowstorm one day last month, but they weren’t surprised that Letter Carrier Brett Hochhalter stepped up to help them cope. After completing his longtime 50-block route near Idaho State University, Hochhalter grabbed a snow shovel and cleared sidewalks, as well as several driveways. “Nobody knew we […]
Samanthia Baines, Hopkins Park, IL
The “Nifty 50” article about Bessie Flemons celebrating 50 years as a postal employee gives me hope for a long career with USPS. It’s inspiring to read about positive people within our organization. […]
Forever stylish
Clothing retailer Forever 21 has introduced an officially licensed Postal Service apparel line that features vintage USPS logos and designs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. “The collaboration will generate royalty revenue for the Postal Service and build brand awareness among a younger audience,” said Brand Marketing Executive Director Chris Karpenko. The apparel line includes […]
Advanced annual leave
The Postal Service wants to ensure employees understand how advanced annual leave works. Advanced annual leave describes the amount of annual leave that the organization “advances” to eligible employees at the beginning of each year. If you’re a full-time, part-time regular or non-traditional full-time career employee, you receive advanced annual leave. This number is shown […]
Acting VP appointment
Steven Phelps has been named the Postal Service’s acting vice president of pricing and costing. In this role, Phelps will oversee the development and implementation of pricing strategy, costing and regulatory reporting for all USPS products in an effort to strengthen the mailing experience for all customers. Phelps, a 34-year employee, previously served as pricing […]
Nifty 50
A Chicago mail handler is celebrating 50 years as a postal employee. “It is truly a blessing to work at the world’s greatest Post Office,” said Bessie Flemons, who is based at the Chicago Processing and Distribution Center. She has some words of wisdom for those following in her footsteps. “The advice I would pass […]
Cause for concern
Rural Carrier Terry Foster was making deliveries in Layton, UT, a few days before Christmas last year when she grew worried about an older customer whose mail was piling up. Foster asked authorities to check on the woman, who had recently been widowed. Emergency responders discovered that the customer was stranded in her bathroom after […]
Cynthia Salas, San Antonio
I always look forward to reading Link. The articles are fascinating and informative. […]
Zero tolerance
The Postal Service is committed to cultivating a positive and safe work environment that’s free of threats, intimidation, bullying and violence for all employees. To help fulfill this commitment, a threat assessment team is available at all USPS locations — including area, district offices and Postal Service headquarters in Washington, DC — to respond to […]
Protecting veterans
The Postal Inspection Service is marking National Consumer Protection Week by promoting Operation Protect Veterans, a national campaign to raise awareness of vet-related scams and fraud schemes. Research shows that veterans are frequently targeted by scam artists and victimized twice as often as other people. In a survey by the University of Chicago, veterans reported […]
Getting it there
My name is Bobby Wilkerson, and I’m a general expeditor at the Detroit Processing and Distribution Center. I help ensure mail gets to where it needs to go. Our facility receives a lot of mail from Michigan. Once the mail is processed, I scan the mail trays, generate a profile, attach a placard to the […]
New controller
Cara Greene has been named the Postal Service’s controller and vice president, a position she has held on an acting basis since August. The appointment takes effect March 2. Greene, part of the chief financial officer’s organization, certifies financial filings and oversees external reporting, corporate accounting, accounting services, international accounting, revenue assurance, and compliance with […]
There to care
USPS is seeking nominees for the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program, which honors employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. The program, which will mark its 16th year in 2019, is based on a simple idea: Postal Service employees know the habits of their customers and the rhythms of their communities, and are […]