Kathleen Gurrola, Washington, DC
I love reading Link’s “Heroes’ Corner” column. The stories make me proud to be part of the Postal Service. […]
Mike Milligan
Posts by Mike Milligan
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.84 percent during the week ending Nov. 15, down from one week earlier. Western (98.08 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (98.97 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]
Big four
Do you understand the different types of health plans available to Postal Service employees? You can enroll in four types of plans during open season, the annual period when Postal Service employees can make changes to their health coverage. The plan types are: Health maintenance organizations (HMOs), which provide care from in-network plan physicians and […]
‘You Make a Difference’
The Postal Service is helping employees get into the holiday spirit with a direct mailing that highlights their important contributions to the organization and its customers. The “You Make a Difference” mailer features testimonials that praise the Postal Service and its employees. In one story, a customer describes her experiences with Lyndon DeSilva, an Alexandria, […]
Honoring innovation
Informed Delivery was named one of the top public sector innovations during this year’s Government Innovation Awards. The free feature that provides users with digital previews of their incoming mail was honored during a ceremony this month in McLean, VA. Product Innovation Vice President Gary Reblin represented USPS at the event, where other honorees included […]
Staying safe
The Postal Service is reminding employees to do their part to prevent mercury from entering the mailstream. Elemental mercury is a dense, silver metallic liquid that is a designated hazardous material and is prohibited from the mail. To protect the safety of employees and customers and to avoid costly and disruptive spills, USPS requires employees […]
Augustine Ruiz Jr., San Jose, CA
“‘I still remember the fear,’” the article about Jessie Harris, a USPS custodian and Army veteran who survived 135 days as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, was truly remarkable and inspiring. […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.89 percent during the week ending Nov. 8, up from one week earlier. Western (98.14 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (99.21 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]
Fair share
Postal Service employees can participate in an online virtual benefits fair throughout this year’s open season, which runs from Nov. 11-Dec. 9. The fair offers information about the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB), Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), as well as flexible spending […]
To the North
The Postal Service is again helping children receive responses to their holiday letters to Santa Claus. The Greetings from the North Pole Post Office program, formerly known as Letters from Santa, allows children to mail letters to St. Nick and receive a personalized reply in an envelope with a special North Pole postmark. To participate, […]
Honoring those who served
USPS employees who served in the military were honored at recent Veterans Day events across the nation. Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan delivered remarks at a Nov. 7 ceremony at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, where she discussed the contributions of the approximately 100,000 veterans who are part of the organization’s workforce. “Veterans live, work […]
A grandmother’s love
Lynn Ackerson is thankful for the help she receives from an organization that aids people seeking foster care, guardianship and adoption assistance. Ackerson, a Wichita, KS, vehicle maintenance facility clerk, contacted the Kansas Children’s Service League last year after taking custody of her 11-year-old granddaughter, Gracie. “So many children are put into the system and […]
Sabrina Todd, Grand Rapids, MI
The story about Jessie Harris, the USPS custodian who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam era, was very touching. It has given me a new appreciation for POWs. […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.84 percent during the week ending Nov. 1, down from one week earlier. Great Lakes (97.98 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (99.1 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To […]
Poetry in motion
The Postal Service has released a video with highlights from the recent Walt Whitman stamp dedication ceremony. The stamp, the 32nd entry in the Literary Arts series, features a portrait of the beloved poet based on an 1869 photograph. In the background, a hermit thrush sits on a lilac bush’s branch. “We think the stamp […]
Gearing up
MaryAnn Basilone, a USPS field account representative, recently became the first employee to recruit a business customer to attend next year’s National Postal Forum (NPF). Basilone, who is based in Edison, NJ, signed up the customer during National Postal Customer Council Week in September. “Our PCC Week event was a great way to get the conversation […]
‘This is what life is about’
Sonya Dulan remembers the concern she felt about Operation Santa as Christmas approached in 1999, not long after a massive tornado tore through central Oklahoma. Dulan, a USPS customer relations coordinator in Oklahoma City, oversees Operation Santa in her community. The national program allows customers to aid families in need by “adopting” their letters to […]
Salute to service
The following message is from Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan: Each November, on Veterans Day, we are reminded that our nation, our personal well-being and our freedoms are defended by those willing to put themselves in harm’s way. This day provides all of us with the opportunity to express our appreciation to those who have […]
Mary Dando, Indianapolis
I like “Elysa’s Story,” the new video about an animal rescue organization that uses USPS. Who can resist a pet video? […]
Path forward
In her latest “Business Focus” video, Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan updates employees on efforts to compete in the package industry, including expanding Sunday and next-day delivery. “Online shopping will continue to increase and customer expectations will continue to evolve, and we are offering expanded shipping solutions to meet the changing needs of our business […]
Showing love
Laree Martin looks forward to the Combined Federal Campaign each year. The Postal Service attorney has donated to the annual charity drive, also known as the CFC, for more than two decades. She especially enjoys reading the CFC catalog. “It’s fascinating to see what all the organizations are doing and who or what they help,” […]
Badges of honor
To mark Veterans Day this year, the Postal Service will honor employees who served in the armed forces with a special badge and badge clip. Approximately 100,000 military veterans are employed by USPS. The badges are designed to be worn with the employee’s identification card and contain a message from Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan. […]
Relocation reminder
Postal Service employees seeking reimbursement for relocation expenses this year should submit their requests before Friday, Nov. 22. This will allow USPS to adequately capture and report all relocation expenses for 2019 tax purposes. Any relocation expense reports received after Nov. 22 will be processed for payment Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. Employees who have questions […]
Flag notice
Flag notice. Monday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, one of six days each year that Postal Service facilities are required to fly the POW-MIA flag. Because Veterans Day is a designated USPS holiday, facilities should raise the POW-MIA flag on the last business day before the holiday. The flag honors the sacrifices made by members of […]
Carolyn Leech, Rollingbay, WA
“Skippy’s home” made my day. The little dog who was rescued by Wilmington, DE, Letter Carrier Laura Domnick looks full of energy, happy and on his way to a full recovery. […]
Best buddies
Customers on Bette Stewart’s route greet her with smiles and waves, but there’s one in particular who always brightens her day. Stewart, a Springfield, PA, letter carrier, has formed a special bond with Michael Brady, an 11-year-old boy who has autism. The two met a year ago when Michael spotted her in his driveway delivering […]
Showing solidarity
More than four years after Lynn Harmon’s death from breast cancer, the passport acceptance clerk is still remembered fondly by her colleagues at the Greenville, SC, Main Post Office. “Lynn was an exceptional employee,” said Postmaster Stephanie Banks. “It was indeed a pleasure to have known her.” Banks spoke this month at a special event […]
Wanted: EMVPs
USPS is seeking nominations for a program that recognizes bargaining unit employees who have positive attitudes and who go the extra mile in their work. Engagement Most Valuable Player (EMVP), introduced in 2017, is one of several programs that help the Postal Service to engage and empower employees, a core strategy. More than 2,400 employees […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.86 percent during the week ending Oct. 25, up from one week earlier. Northeast (98.03 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (99.16 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]
Debra Brignac, Salt Lake City
“Skippy’s home” was a perfect ending to the truly heartwarming story of Skippy, the gravely ill Pomeranian mix rescued by Wilmington, DE, Letter Carrier Laura Domnick. […]