Gail Hendrix, Washington, DC
I have enjoyed Link for many years. Thanks for your work to highlight employee contributions throughout the Postal Service. […]
Chris Baker
Posts by Chris Baker
Theresa Jo Belkota, Lewiston, NY
A Lewiston, NY, family has long known Theresa Jo Belkota as a neighbor and a letter carrier. But now they call her something else, too: “Gavin’s hero.” Belkota was at home washing dishes on a summer day when she heard screams for help next door. She rushed outside and discovered that 10-year-old Gavin Burns’ foot […]
Kwanzaa celebration
The Postal Service continued its tradition of honoring the Pan-African holiday Kwanzaa during the dedication ceremony of a new stamp Oct. 11. Government Relations and Public Policy Executive Director Stephanie Childs, who led the ceremony, explained the importance of Kwanzaa for the millions of African-Americans who celebrate the holiday each year. “Kwanzaa has grown to […]
Need to know
Engagement awards. The Postal Service is continuing to seek nominations for its third annual Engagement Leader of the Year Awards, which honor leaders who foster enthusiasm, involvement and commitment among their teams and peers. Nominees for this year’s awards must be Executive and Administrative Schedule (EAS) or Postal Career Executive Services (PCES) employees in leadership […]
News quiz
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. Fill in the blank: The price changes announced this week by the Postal Service include a (blank) increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp. a) 1-cent […]
New prices
The Postal Service has announced price changes to take effect next year. The USPS governors approved the proposed changes, which will be reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) before they take effect Jan. 27. The governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with needed revenue. The […]
Steven Fagaly, Cincinnati
I was reading your coverage of the new John Lennon stamp when a co-worker walked up and asked why I was smiling. I didn’t realize I was smiling. I was just recalling pleasant memories of a legendary performer. […]
Wilfred Lebron, Gainesville, FL
Gainesville, FL, Mail Handler Wilfred Lebron was recently driving to work when he came upon a three-car accident that had left an SUV overturned and leaking fuel. With emergency responders on the way, Lebron and another passerby rushed to aid the SUV passengers, using a crowbar to break windows and rescue two victims. A third […]
News quiz
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 used an employee lead program to submit a tip that generated $121,440 in annualized revenue for USPS? a) El Dorado, AR, Postmaster Renee Baxley b) Lakewood, OH, Letter […]
Need to know
Honoring leaders. The Postal Service is seeking nominations for its third annual Engagement Leader of the Year Awards, which honor leaders who foster enthusiasm, involvement and commitment among their teams and peers. USPS will recognize leaders at the district, area and headquarters levels, culminating with one or more honorees who will receive national awards. The […]
Start your engines
Hot Wheels will roar into Post Offices this week. The popular die-cast metal cars that have been delighting enthusiasts of all ages for 50 years will be showcased on stamps that USPS will issue Saturday, Sept. 29. Each Hot Wheels stamp will show one of 10 different vehicles: The Twin Mill (1969), a speed machine […]
Sampling success
USPS regularly hears from consumers who say they appreciate the privacy, security and convenience that PO Boxes offer. PO Boxes also are important to the Postal Service’s bottom line, providing the organization with a reliable revenue stream and helping to solidify customer value. This is why accurate scanning at PO Boxes is important with Internal […]
Teresa Navarette, San Diego
Thanks for sharing the story of Andra McKoy, the Pontiac, MI, mail handler who was part of Aretha Franklin’s band. […]
Jennifer Singleton, Waynesville, NC
Rural Carrier Jennifer Singleton was recently delivering mail in Waynesville, NC, when she grew concerned about a customer whose mail was piling up. Singleton alerted the woman’s neighbor, Sandra Ferguson, and police were contacted. A responding officer checked on the woman and discovered that she was deceased. Ferguson and another neighbor later told a local […]
Flocking together
Winter is here. Birds in Winter, new stamps that showcase four winged beauties in seasonal scenes, were dedicated Sept. 22 in Quechee, VT. Pricing and Costing Vice President Sharon Owens, who led the ceremony, praised birds for their resourcefulness, resilience and talent, noting they produce some of the most beautiful sounds in nature. “It’s easy […]
Winning teams
USPS has recognized 672 teams that have created positive workplace environments, based on results from this year’s Postal Pulse employee survey. The teams received “certified engaged” status. This means they met a host of criteria, including incorporating employee engagement principles — such as stronger communications and more employee recognition — into their daily activities. The […]
Need to know
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.78 percent during the week ending Sept. 21, up from one week earlier. Dakotas (99.24 percent) topped the districts, while Western (98.02 percent) led the areas. To see the latest results, go to the Enterprise Analytics site and select “Analytics Tools,” followed by “DES2 Scan Dashboard.” Stamp releases. […]
Be smart
The Postal Service wants you to take all kinds of preparations — including saving and financial planning — during National Preparedness Month. Rebuilding lives after a disaster or other emergency includes stressful challenges. Having access to personal financial, insurance, medical and other records is crucial for starting the recovery process quickly and efficiently. Taking the […]
Labor update
USPS and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) have agreed to extend contract negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. Although the contract with the APWU expired at midnight Sept. 20, the Postal Service and the union mutually decided to extend the negotiations deadline to Oct. 20. The APWU represents more than 192,000 employees, including […]
Mark Wiesner, Merrick, NY
An older Postal Service customer recently credited Merrick, NY, City Carrier Assistant Mark Wiesner with saving not only her life but her legs, too, after she was crushed in a freak household accident. The woman was home alone when 12 boards of sheetrock stored in her front hallway fell on her, pinning her by the […]
Diana Watkins, Elm Springs, AR
I appreciated this week’s edition of “The list” on POWs and MIAs. They are never forgotten. […]
News quiz
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: Under current law, the USPS Board of Governors is comprised of nine governors and the Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General. a) True b) False 2. […]
Winter is coming
The Postal Service will issue Birds in Winter, stamps that showcase four winged beauties in seasonal scenes, Saturday, Sept. 22. The stamps feature a black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Each bird is depicted in a bold digital rendering. The feeling […]
Sales stories
How did the USPS employee lead programs break their latest barrier — $7 billion in estimated annualized revenue? Through the dedication of postal workers, of course. Here are three examples of employees who recently participated in these programs: • El Dorado, AR, Postmaster Renee Baxley worked with a children’s clothing company to help meet its […]
Hailing the ‘Queen’
The world lost a music icon when Aretha Franklin died last month, but Andra McKoy lost a friend and mentor. McKoy, a Pontiac, MI, mail handler, spent 22 years as a tambourine player for the world-renowned “Queen of Soul.” McKoy began playing with Franklin in 1996 after her brother, Franklin’s organist at the time, recommended […]
Debra Danai, Manitou Beach, MI
The Honoring First Responders stamp, highlighted in the “Time of heroes” article, means so much to me because my daughter is an emergency medical technician. She saves lives. She truly is my hero. […]
Jonathan Walker, Fredonia, KS
City Carrier Assistant Jonathan Walker was recently delivering mail in Fredonia, KS, when he saw an out-of-control pickup truck crash into a mailbox before coming to a stop. Walker rushed to the vehicle and recognized the driver as a customer — who was unconscious and apparently suffering a seizure — accompanied by two young children. […]
After Florence
The Postal Service is in recovery mode in North Carolina and South Carolina, where Hurricane Florence has left a wide path of destruction. USPS has resumed deliveries and reopened Post Offices in areas where it’s safe to do so, although service remains suspended in some locations. The Postal Employees’ Relief Fund and Employee Assistance Program are available to help […]
Need to know
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.72 percent during the week ending Sept. 14, down from one week earlier. Dakotas (99.2 percent) topped the districts, while Western (98.07 percent) led the areas. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]
Pieces of history
John Lennon had a connection with the mail long before the Postal Service honored him this month with a Forever stamp in its Music Icons series. Lennon collected stamps during his childhood, amassing an assortment of more than 550 offerings from around the world. His stamp album is now owned by the National Postal Museum […]