Renelda Alexander, Columbus, OH
Thanks for the “Here’s the skinny” article on flats. It helped clear up some questions about padded and bubble-wrapped items. […]
Katie Howard
Posts by Katie Howard
Here, there and everywhere
USPS will soon have a better method to measure service performance, but it will require employees to think differently about the terms “urban” and “rural.” When you hear these terms now, you probably associate them with delivery route definitions. Urban refers to city routes, while rural refers to rural routes. In the delivery world, this […]
Proof positive
I’m an acting organizational development analyst with Employee Engagement at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. A lot of people ask me what “engagement” means. Here’s what I tell them: Engagement is not “having” or “doing” — it’s “becoming.” When you’re proud of where you work, when you’re excited to have conversations with customers and co-workers, […]
All clear
The Postal Service wants area and district Election Mail and Political Mail coordinators to stay vigilant throughout this year’s election season. All USPS plants and customer service units are required to complete daily “all clear” reports two weeks before and one week after an election in their districts. Election Mail and Political Mail coordinators are […]
Be vigilant
The Postal Service wants you to make workplace security a high priority, part of the organization’s effort to mark National Preparedness Month. You can help keep your workplace safe by securing your facility’s entry points when they’re not in use, always wearing your USPS photo ID badge, and keeping an eye out for strangers and […]
Dewana Anderson, Scottsville, KY
Rural Carrier Dewana Anderson was delivering mail on a recent afternoon in Scottsville, KY, when a 9-year-old boy flagged her down. Anderson stopped to assist the lad, Braden Spears, who told her he’d gotten off the school bus at his grandparents’ house, as planned, and found no one at home. Anderson comforted Spears and called […]
Donna Buchanan, Burlington, VT
I like reading Link articles like “Fired up,” which covered the Dragons stamp dedication ceremony. […]
Fresh perspectives
The Postal Service is getting help promoting Informed Delivery to younger consumers from some in-house experts: the organization’s summer interns. College students from across the nation are interning with USPS during a 10-week program this summer, part of the organization’s broader workforce development efforts. Several interns have been working on projects related to Informed Delivery, […]
Good measures
Do you understand what “sampling” is and how it helps USPS measure its service performance? If not, here’s what you should know: • Sampling helps the Postal Service know how it’s performing. Because USPS scans millions of mailpieces each day, it would be tough to count each scan and use that information to determine service […]
Keeping current
USPS wants to have the current mailing address for all employees. If you need to update your information, five methods are available: • LiteBlue. Use any computer to go to liteblue.usps.gov and enter your employee identification number and password. Select the “Change of Address” option in the rotating carousel in the center of the page. Select “edit” […]
Crime time
The Postal Inspection Service marked its 243rd birthday last week. Here are five facts about the organization and its employees. 1. The Inspection Service is one of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agencies. The organization traces its roots to Aug. 7, 1775, the earliest recorded date that William Goddard served as the first surveyor of […]
Constance Tellefson, Minneapolis
I submitted a suggestion to the IdeaSMART platform highlighted in “The right fit” and received a handwritten thank-you card from someone who read my proposal. It was a great feeling being acknowledged. […]
Jenny Mileski, Wells, MI
Retail Associate Jenny Mileski was on her way to work on a bitterly cold day in Wells, MI, earlier this year when she spotted a little girl sitting alone on a snow bank beside a busy highway. Mileski stopped to check on the child, who appeared to be around 9 years old and struggled to […]
Ready, set, gopost
The Postal Service is continuing to offer gopost lockers where customers can ship and receive packages. The latest gopost location, Pine Street Station in San Francisco, opened in July. USPS also operates gopost units in New York, New Jersey and Virginia. Each gopost unit contains dozens of secure lockers that customers can use to receive […]
Meet HERO
The Postal Service has introduced HERO, a system that will allow you to manage your career development activities from a single online platform. Here’s what you should know: • HERO is one platform with multiple capabilities. You can use HERO to receive training, apply for job openings, enter performance goals and more. Hiring and other […]
Release the Dragons!
Dragons, four stamps that celebrate the high-flying, fire-breathing creatures that have roamed imaginations for millennia, will be released Thursday, Aug. 9. The mythological creatures have appeared in legends and folklore in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other parts of the world. They’re often described as lizard-like animals with four legs, sharp claws, scales, wings […]
Sky high
To help mark the arrival of this year’s second United States Air Mail stamp, which will be issued Saturday, Aug. 11, here are five more facts about airmail service. 1. A “Flying Schoolgirl” was among the pioneering pilots. Katherine Stinson became the first woman to fly U.S. Mail when she dropped mailbags from her plane […]
Teresa Barwick, Center Hill, FL
I enjoyed “Intern-al affairs,” the article about the Postal Service’s summer interns. I’m glad students are learning about USPS. They’re our future. […]
Tracey Johnson, Ridgeland, MS
Rural Carrier Tracey Johnson was recently delivering mail in a Ridgeland, MS, neighborhood when she spotted a little boy by himself alongside a street. He started crying when she stopped and asked him where his mother was. Johnson picked up the boy to comfort him while she called 911 and the local Post Office, and […]
Making progress
The percentage of USPS employees who report feeling “engaged” has climbed 8 points during the past three years, the results of the latest Postal Pulse survey show. Twenty-five percent of employees who participated in the survey said they feel engaged, meaning they are involved, enthusiastic and committed to their work. This is up from 23 […]
Over here
To help celebrate last week’s release of the World War I: Turning the Tide stamp, here are five facts about U.S. Mail during the Great War. 1. Mail volume grew significantly. World War I began July 28, 1914, and ended Nov. 11, 1918, although the United States didn’t enter the war until April 1917. During the […]
New look
The Postal Service has redesigned the Priority Mail Express label to ensure delivery accuracy. The new, single-ply label 11-B/11-F was introduced in July. It replaces the current, three-ply Priority Mail Express label 11-B/11-F. The redesigned label is expected to eliminate delivery challenges that result when the bottom copy is illegible because senders fail to press […]
On the run
Kevin Johnston doesn’t run races to win — he runs because it makes him feel good. “I enjoy running because you meet so many people,” said the Marion, CT, Postmaster, who recently completed 169 races as a member of the Run 169 Towns Society. The society is composed of runners who race in every town […]
Katherine Felton, Helmetta, NJ
I loved reading about the postcards in the “Wish you were here” article. […]
Denise Stugelmeyer and Megan Jackson, Gerber, CA
The workday was just getting underway recently at the Gerber, CA, Post Office when a crisis erupted. As Rural Carrier Denise Stugelmeyer arrived for work, she saw that a vacant building across the street was in flames. Stugelmeyer rushed into the Post Office to call 911, then she and Retail Associate Megan Jackson ran across […]
Read More… from Denise Stugelmeyer and Megan Jackson, Gerber, CA
Don’t know ZIP?
The Post Office Department introduced its Zoning Improvement Plan Codes — otherwise known as ZIP Codes — in July 1963. Here are five things you may not have known about the five-digit codes that revolutionized mail sorting and delivery. 1. Each ZIP Code is like a series of addresses. The first digit represents a broad […]
Questions and answers
Reminder: If you have questions about your benefits, the Postal Service has answers. You can go online to post your questions and get answers from the Benefits and Wellness team. You can ask about health plans, retirement options, flexible spending accounts, commuter programs and other benefits-related topics. The discussion board is part of the IdeaSMART platform, […]
Up for the count
The U.S. Census Bureau recently tested Informed Delivery’s ability to raise awareness of the agency’s questionnaires. Informed Delivery allows users to receive digital previews of their incoming mail. The free feature has more than 11 million users and is adding about 135,000 new subscribers each week. During the test, residents in Providence, RI, received questionnaires […]
In ‘Focus’
In her latest “Business Focus” video, Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan urges employees to stay safe during hot weather. She reminds everyone to complete required safety training that includes guidance on staying cool and tips on recognizing signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. “Building awareness and guarding against heat-related illnesses ensures that we all […]
Gregory Huff, Newark, NJ
I was very pleased to see the “Reaching out” article regarding PEAAACE, a group to provide professional development, networking and other opportunities for Asian-American employees. […]