Martha Carson, Guysville, OH
It was motivating to read “Semper Fidelis,” the article about fellow Marine veteran Chal Kim, a Los Angeles Postal Police officer. It’s always interesting to learn how someone’s military service shaped their life. […]
Mike Milligan
Posts by Mike Milligan
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.98 percent during the week ending Nov. 12, unchanged from one week earlier. The data was collected Nov. 17. Central led the four areas with a rating of 97.31 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a 96.74 percent rating. Among the […]
Elder fraud
The Postal Service wants employees to be aware of scams that target seniors, whom online criminals often view as easy marks. Adults 60 and older are particularly susceptible to elder fraud because they often “have financial savings, own a home and have good credit,” according to an FBI report. Of the approximately 800,000 complaints of […]
Gifts from the heart
Registration has opened for USPS Operation Santa, the annual program that allows people to “adopt” letters to help Santa Claus grant holiday wishes for people experiencing hardship. Beginning Nov. 15, anyone wanting to adopt a letter can go to USPSOperationSanta.com, select the registration link and follow the prompts. For security reasons, all prospective adopters must […]
Danny Smith, Kansas City, MO
“Semper Fidelis,” the profile of Chal Kim, the Los Angeles Postal Police officer and Marine veteran, was very good. I’m a veteran, too, and the story touched a spot that other military people will understand. […]
Lott spots trouble
Washington, DC, Acting Strategic Communications Specialist Felicia Lott was off duty one day in April when she noticed something unusual in a large retail parking lot. She spotted a parked car with the driver’s door open. Seeing no sign of anyone approaching the vehicle, Lott decided to take a closer look. She found the driver […]
New prices
The Postal Service has announced Shipping Services price changes for next year. If reviewed favorably by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the changes would take effect Jan. 9. Here’s a list of current and planned prices: • Priority Mail small flat-rate box: $8.45 (current), $9.45 (planned) • Priority Mail medium flat-rate box: $15.50 (current), $16.10 […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.88 percent during the week ending Nov. 5, down 0.09 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Nov. 10. Central led the four areas with a rating of 97.16 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a 96.7 percent rating. […]
Better shop around
To help Postal Service employees compare health plans during this year’s open season, the organization is offering access to Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The online comparison tool has information about all plans available through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The guide allows you to find the right health plan […]
Tom Burnett, Dryden, WA
Thanks to Link for letting Postal Service employees know about the stamp releases planned for 2022. In the past, USPS has distributed retail display posters that show forthcoming stamps. I hope the organization will do so again next year. […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.76 percent during the week ending Oct. 29, down 0.10 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Nov. 3. Central led the four areas with a rating of 97.07 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.44 percent rating. […]
60 years of generosity
In a new video, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and leaders of postal unions and management associations highlight the importance of the Combined Federal Campaign, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The campaign, also known as the CFC, represents thousands of charities under one umbrella. It began Sept. 1 and concludes Jan. 15, 2022. This […]
Sharing your thoughts
Employees will soon have an opportunity to participate in a focus group about the Postal Service’s new advertising campaign. The organization will provide details soon. […]
VP appointments
The Postal Service appointed two new vice presidents last week. Jimish I. Kothari was named Business Solutions vice president, reporting to Chief Commerce and Business Solutions Officer Jacqueline Krage Strako. In this role, Kothari has been tasked with finding new ways for the Postal Service to monetize its assets. He joined USPS from the private […]
What do you think?
Employees have an opportunity to provide feedback for a new USPS advertising campaign by completing a survey. “Employee engagement is an important goal for the Marketing team. We want the ads to resonate with all audiences, including our workforce,” said Marketing Vice President Sheila Holman. The survey is open to all employees, who can volunteer […]
Peak prep tutorials
The first-ever online classes to prepare for peak season are underway now. The tutorials, which began Oct. 14 and will continue through Nov. 4, are geared to employees of Retail and Delivery Operations but are open to everyone. The 44 sessions range from 10 minutes to a half-hour in length, with each zeroing in on […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.74 percent during the week ending Oct. 22, down 0.41 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Oct. 27. Central led the four areas with a rating of 97.05 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.47 percent rating. […]
Learning about diabetes
To mark Diabetes Awareness Month in November, Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn practical ways to keep blood sugar in check by managing carbohydrate and protein intake. The session, “Eating for Prediabetes or Diabetes,” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2, at noon EDT. Melanie Berdyck, a nutritionist for the Giant […]
Stage fright
When Jeffrey Kyer II saw that his local theater company planned to stage “The Addams Family: A New Musical,” he didn’t think twice about what part to audition for. Gomez Addams is “the role of a lifetime,” in his view. In practical terms, though, winning the part — which he did — meant taking on […]
Don’t share
The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to protect the passwords they use to access USPS online accounts and to not share them with anyone, including co-workers. Passwords are basically the digital keys that secure online accounts. The stronger the password, the more secure the account. However, it’s estimated that 68 percent of Americans […]
Stay informed
Want to stay on top of the latest Postal Service news? Link mobile can help. The mobile-friendly version of the Link website offers news reports, feature stories and informational videos, including coverage of Delivering for America, the organization’s new 10-year plan, and the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic. The site is particularly helpful to […]
Staying safe
Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale has a message for Postal Service employees: Be careful out there. “To say the last year and a half has been challenging is an understatement,” Barksdale said, citing statistics that show violent crime has surged during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, FBI data show murders are up 30 percent. […]
Magic touch
The Postal Service is generating holiday spirit with a direct mailing that highlights the important role its employees play during peak season. “The magic is in you” is the message on the mailer for the holiday season. While USPS is known for connecting people throughout the year, the organization emphasizes its service during the holidays. […]
Connie Reece, Taylors, SC
Way to go, Todd Griffin! The Attleboro, MA, letter carrier highlighted in “On his toes” has a super second career as a dancer. […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.99 percent during the week ending Oct. 15, up 0.03 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Oct. 20. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.24 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a 96.77 percent rating. […]
Systematic searching
The USPS Corporate Library will host webinars Tuesday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday, Oct. 27, on using Lexis, an online research database available via the library’s Subscription Databases page on Blue. The sessions, which will be conducted by LexisNexis Government Solutions, are open to all employees. Here’s the schedule: • Tuesday, Oct. 26, from 1-2 p.m. […]
New acting VP
Garrett M. Hoyt has been named acting Technology Applications vice president. He will assume the post previously held by Marc D. McCrery, who is now the Customer Experience vice president. “Garrett has led technical transformations throughout his career, leaving him well positioned for this new role,” Chief Information Officer Pritha N. Mehra wrote in a […]
Package service standards
In light of the coronavirus pandemic and the delta variant’s effect on customers, the Postal Service will announce the implementation date for the revised First-Class Package Service standards after the holiday shipping season. The new service standards, announced in June, are designed to improve use of surface transportation, while decreasing reliance on costly and less […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.75 percent during the week ending Oct. 8, down 0.09 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Oct. 13. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.08 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.49 percent rating. […]
Innovators honored
Two business customers were honored with USPS Next Generation Campaign Awards at the virtual National Postal Forum in September. The awards honor the most creative and effective business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) mail campaigns. The Grand Champion Award, honoring the most innovative and effective B2C campaign, went to Frintz, a free-to-user service that prints physical […]