LaRisa Kamalamalama, Kailua, HI
I feel very motivated after reading the “Best practices” profile of Oviedo, FL, Postmaster Karen Hebert. This story is just what I needed. […]
Katie Howard
Posts by Katie Howard
Future focus
The Postal Service is improving customers’ experiences by investing in employees and new technology, PMG Megan J. Brennan told a recent gathering of rural carriers. “The future is all about the customer. We have to listen and quickly adapt to their needs,” the PMG said at the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) convention near […]
High seas adventure
A Honolulu District employee recently completed the adventure of a lifetime when he sailed his boat from Alameda, CA, to the Hawaii capital. “I’m sure a lot of people would say I wasn’t ready for this journey,” said Steve Russell, a maintenance mechanic at the Honolulu Processing and Distribution Center. The journey began when Russell […]
Bee good
A new video offers a quick glimpse of the recent Protect Pollinators stamp dedication ceremony. The video shows USPS leaders and other speakers discussing the importance of western honeybees and monarch butterflies, the two pollinators featured on the stamps. “Pollinators produce one-third of the world’s food crops,” USPS Judicial Officer Gary Shapiro says. “Without them, […]
In the zone
USPS is reminding employees to watch out for children now that schools are resuming. Drivers must take precautions to avoid accidents and keep children safe by staying alert, driving defensively and remembering that kids are unpredictable. While driving, remember to: Slow down and obey the speed limits. Adjust your mirrors so you can see around […]
Steven Curtis, Jamesville, NY
Rural Carrier Steven Curtis was delivering mail recently in Jamesville, NY, when he spotted a customer in trouble. The man was pushing a lawn mower that had tipped on its side as he struggled to keep it — and himself — from plunging into a deep ditch alongside the road. Curtis rushed to assist the […]
Business owner Don Shook
“I think USPS stands for Ultimately Supplying Phenomenal Service.” […]
Sharon Wilson, Mountain View, OK
I am so happy to see the Flowers From the Garden stamps. I have more requests for flower stamps than anything else. […]
Need to know
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.82 percent during the week ending Aug. 18, up from one week earlier. Dakotas (99.2 percent) topped the districts, while Western (98.07 percent) led the areas. To see the latest results, go to the Enterprise Analytics site and select “Scanning” on the left hand side, and then “DES […]
New labor deal
The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has ratified a contract that covers approximately 1,100 USPS employees in Information Technology and Accounting Services. The employees work in Postal Service data centers in St. Louis; Eagan, MN; San Mateo, CA; and Wilkes-Barre, PA. “Overall, this agreement is in the best interest of our employees, customers and the […]
Deep dive
In a new video, USPS goes behind the scenes of the recent Sharks stamp dedication ceremony. The 1-minute, 30-second segment features remarks from Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Williamson and other speakers at the July event. “We hope that you will not only purchase these stamps to mail lots of letters and cards, but that you […]
Ship and sure
The Postal Service has introduced Automated Package Verification (APV), a system to detect postage due on parcels with postage paid via a PC Postage or Click-N-Ship label. Here’s what you should know: • APV improves the collection of postage due. The new system automates the postage due process for packages paid through Click-N-Ship or these […]
Deborah Jedynak, Grand Rapids, MI
Informed Delivery is the best idea since the ZIP Code. […]
Fuquay-Varina, NC, Postmaster Dean Roberts
“I’ve assisted many employees looking to advance. It is satisfying to help employees find a suitable career path.” […]
True blood
San Antonio Letter Carrier Marcos Perez III delivers more than mail. He also delivers the gift of life. Every two weeks for the past 34 years, Perez has set aside two hours of his own time to donate blood platelets, a blood component that allows him to donate more often than if he were giving […]
Don’t get locked out
The Postal Service will shut down remote.usps.gov access to USPS online applications Monday, Aug. 28. The shutdown is part of the Postal Service’s ongoing effort to protect its networks. Employees who use remote.usps.gov will need to request Virtual Private Network (VPN) access to connect remotely. Similarly, USPS suppliers or contractors will need to request Business […]
Balancing act
For many people, balancing work and life is an ongoing struggle. The Postal Service encourages employees to regularly evaluate their sense of overall wellness, which includes mental and physical, financial, social and career health. The Wellness team offers these suggestions to find balance in each of these areas: • Mental and physical. Take time to […]
Carrollton, GA, Retail Associate Joey Musick
“Being courteous doesn’t cost you anything, but it goes a long way.” […]
Read More… from Carrollton, GA, Retail Associate Joey Musick
JoAnn Humphrey, Casper, WY
Letter Carrier JoAnn Humphrey recently came to the aid of a Casper, WY, sanitation worker who was seriously injured in a trash truck accident. Humphrey was delivering mail when she heard the woman screaming for help. The Postal Service employee investigated and soon discovered that the worker had gotten pinned against a pole by the […]
Norman Simons, Chicago
I’m so proud of Richard Brooksher, the employee profiled in “Blessings.” He is doing his part to repair the world. […]
Postal pathways
MaRita Tubbs wasn’t sure what to expect when she attended a Postal Service career conference this spring. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise. “It gave me a chance to meet postal employees — executive, management and craft employees — that otherwise, I may have never met,” said Tubbs, a distribution clerk in Birmingham, […]
Helping hands
The Postal Service recently received praise from another shipper after several employees worked together to honor a disabled customer’s special delivery request. A San Marcos, CA, resident who was expecting a FedEx SmartPost package contacted the company with delivery instructions. The woman is disabled and has a hard time accessing the front of her home, […]
Need to know
The graduate. San Antonio Letter Carrier Francisco Gaytan recently made a special delivery to a new graduate on his route. Beth Ann Duque had anxiously waited for more than a month for the arrival of her bachelor’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word. When Gayton delivered the white envelope containing her diploma, Beth […]
Paddle up
When Margarita Jackson isn’t managing and restoring the Avalon, CA, Post Office, she’s racing canoes. Jackson, a member of the Catalina Island Outrigger Canoe Club, recently competed in San Diego’s Outrigger Iron Championship Race. “I try to be an active member of the community,” said Jackson, one of Catalina Island’s 4,500 year-round residents. “Anything fun […]
Millicent Hawkins, Bedford Park, IL
“Step by step” was a beautiful story. I was especially moved to learn how Howard Rogers regained the use of his lower extremities after being paralyzed. […]
Eastover, SC, Rural Carrier Demario Simmons
“When I start my day, my main priority is making sure I inspect my vehicle. In order to deliver to my customers, my vehicle has to be ready to go.” […]
Richelle Dube, Lisbon, ME
A Postal Service employee in Lisbon, ME, recently saved a customer’s home from destruction. City Carrier Assistant Richelle Dube was delivering mail when she spotted a fire on the man’s front porch. Dube summoned him to the door and told him to call 911. She then safely attempted to extinguish the blaze until firefighters arrived. […]
Need to know
Hold the phone. Do you know how to look up employees’ mobile phone numbers? It’s easier than you might realize. To start, go to the Blue home page, choose “Essential Links” on the left side and scroll down to the “Phone directory” link. Fill in the information, then click the search button to find the […]
Can you spot it?
USPS is reminding employees to remain vigilant against malware attacks on electronic devices, including desktops, mobile phones and tablets. Malware is often used to steal sensitive information and compromise network systems. New malware threats are emerging every 4.2 seconds, according to new research by G Data, a security software company. To safeguard your devices, the […]
Anita Ramirez, West Sacramento, CA
Congratulations to Anthony Giannone, the Bronx, NY, letter carrier who has accumulated more than 4,100 hours of sick leave. That is quite a commendable accomplishment. […]