Garland Gralow has seen a lot of changes during the past 60 years. The Melrose Park, IL, letter carrier has had the same route since beginning his postal career in 1957. The job is much different now. “Everything is automated,” Gralow said. “You need to concentrate a lot more these days. There’s also a lot […]
A simple text message from your bank could be a hacker’s cleverly disguised “smishing” attempt. Smishing is a form of phishing that uses text messages to scam mobile device users into clicking on malicious links or revealing personal information. These schemes often involve hackers impersonating a familiar organization or individual. For example, hackers recently scammed […]
Total Eclipse of the Sun, the new stamp that celebrates next week’s total solar eclipse, isn’t the Postal Service’s only astronomical connection. Here are five more, courtesy of “The list.” 1. Mail has been postmarked on the moon! In 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts cancelled envelopes on the moon while USPS issued its Space Achievement stamps […]
Although mail volumes declined overall last year, advertising mail remained a popular method to reach the nation’s consumers, new research shows. Approximately 3.8 billion advertising pieces were sent through First-Class Mail last year, up 6 percent from 2015, according to the latest edition of the Postal Service’s annual household diary study. More than 70 billion […]
“Before the box” showed how Informed Delivery is the future of the mail unfolding before our eyes. We’re all witnessing something special. […]
“We take time to know our customers — and you know, they love it.” […]
Postal Service employees in Iowa and Alabama recently made a difference in their customers’ lives. Letter Carrier K.C. Kruse was delivering mail in an Urbandale, IA, residential neighborhood when he spotted smoke. Kruse identified the house and alerted firefighters, who were able to save it from destruction. In Prichard, AL, an 85-year-old customer who fell […]
Read More… from K.C. Kruse, Urbandale, IA; Delray Williams, Prichard, AL
Karen Hebert believes good leadership is about inspiring people to always do their best. The Oviedo, FL, Postmaster says showing employees you care is one way to achieve this. “I try to foster a sense of commitment among my employees by demonstrating my commitment to them. That builds trust, and employee commitment follows,” Hebert says. […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees about two labels for mailpieces that are heavy or require special handling: • Caution Heavy (Label 035CH) is for packages that weigh 35 pounds or more. Retail associates should affix this label to packages at retail counters. Business mailers can order these free labels from the online Postal Store. • […]
I liked the “Heroes’ corner” story about Winfield, KS, Letter Carrier Jack Landrum. It’s sad that the customer died, but I’m thankful that Landrum tried to look after her as best he could. […]
“It’s absolutely essential that we develop our most important resource — our people.” […]
Read More… from Sacramento District Manager Jeffrey Lelevich
Rural carrier associates Michelle Winkley-Creamer and Amy Mcleod were delivering mail together recently on a cold, wet day in Waldoboro, ME, when they discovered a customer in distress. The woman, who has Alzheimer’s disease, had wandered away from home and fallen alongside a road. The Postal Service employees helped the stranded customer get back inside, […]
Read More… from Michelle Winkley-Creamer and Amy Mcleod, Waldoboro, ME
USPS recently tracked down a rare rock ’n’ roll memento that went missing in the mail: a poster autographed by the late Chris Cornell and other members of the grunge group Soundgarden. An Arizona music memorabilia firm shipped the poster May 18, the day Cornell’s death was reported. A few weeks later, the company contacted […]
The recent discovery of several 1940s love letters stashed inside a wooden box has shed new light on one family’s role in American history. The letters were written by sweethearts Martha Kekauililani Matsuda and Richard Goo in 1947, when Matsuda lived in Honolulu and Goo was a soldier stationed in U.S.-occupied Japan. The notes — […]
USPS operates more than 35,000 Post Offices across the nation. Here’s a look at seven unique locations, courtesy of Postal Facts. 1. Ochopee, FL, has the smallest Post Office. At about 62 square feet, the office has been housed in a former toolshed since 1953. 2. The largest Post Office can be found — where […]
An older Postal Service customer in Joplin, MO, who had recently returned home after being hospitalized told his companion he would be OK by himself while she ran an errand. Yet that was not the case for the ailing man, who fell in the garage, losing his cane and glasses. He managed to drag himself […]
Jack Landrum, the Winfield, KS, letter carrier who watched out for a customer in declining health, is a caring, conscientious employee. I’m proud to be associated with someone of his exceptional character. […]
“I am motivated every day to give my customers the service they deserve and to be the best role model for the Postal Service.” […]
Read More… from East Peoria, IL, Letter Carrier Debbie Warren
A South Carolina employee who recently concluded a Postal Service career that spanned a half-century received a sendoff from top leaders in his community. Howard Rogers retired from the Cheraw Post Office, where the retail associate spent his entire 50-year tenure with USPS. “The Cheraw Post Office was a great place to work, and I […]
Want to know more about the creatures featured on the Postal Service’s new Sharks stamps? Dive in. Sharks are known for light, flexible skeletons of cartilage; teeth replaced without limit; and skin covered by a hydrodynamic surface of tiny tooth-like structures. They can use their keen senses to detect electrical signals given off by prey. […]
Postal Service employees accepted 75 million pounds of donations during this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Here’s a look at the National Association of Letter Carrier (NALC) branches that collected the most food, in approximate pounds. 1. Los Angeles, Branch 24 (2 million) 2. Central Florida, Branch 1091 (1.5 million) 3. San Juan, PR, […]
I really liked “Good housekeeping,” the “Best practices” story about the importance of keeping retail lobbies clean and pristine. It’s nice to know other employees care as much as I do about keeping Post Offices tidy. […]
“I enjoy getting up in the morning and having a good job to go to. Where else can someone go where people are happy to see you every morning?” […]
Read More… from Sacramento District Business Mail Entry Supervisor Bob Tunstall
St. Paul, MN, Letter Carrier Michael Ochs recently delivered mail to a house where he was accustomed to the fresh scent of fabric softener emanating from the dryer vent. But on this particular day, the vent emitted a pungent odor, as well as smoke instead of steam. Ochs spoke to the neighbor next door, who […]
A bright pink bus recently arrived at the Atlanta Processing and Distribution Center to offer employees an important health screening — mammograms. Atlanta District, part of Capital Metro Area, arranged the screening to accommodate workers with hectic schedules. Several employees received their first mammograms on the bus, including Letter Carrier Veronica Humphrey, who was happy […]
Greater Michigan District’s largest facility recently introduced recycling equipment that is helping the Postal Service save money and boost efficiency. The Grand Rapids, MI, Processing and Distribution Center installed two compactors and dumpers that allow the facility to recycle mixed paper from other sites throughout the district, which is part of Great Lakes Area. Since […]
To celebrate the new Disney Villains stamps, “The list” looks at eight other releases that honored the magic of Disney. 1. Walt Disney. A 6-cent stamp issued in 1968 commemorated the cartoonist, film producer and creator of many beloved Disney animated characters and movies. 2. Art of Disney: Friendship. In 2004, USPS issued four stamps […]
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.72 percent during the week ending July 14, down from one week earlier. Dakotas (99.17 percent) topped the districts, while Western (98.09 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 […]
Thanks so much for the “Pride pioneers” story that highlighted just a few of the many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who’ve appeared on U.S. postage stamps. As a member of the LGBT community, I was very happy to read about them. […]
Postal Service employees delivering mail in Wisconsin and New York recently made right calls in moments of crisis. La Crosse, WI, Letter Carrier Rebecca Rude noticed signs of trouble at an older customer’s home. Although the woman’s car was there, her mail was piling up and there was no answer at her door. Rude alerted […]
Read More… from Rebecca Rude, La Crosse, WI; Cassandra Mazur, Rome, NY