Wheaton, MD, Letter Carrier Robert Lewis
“This award is a great accomplishment. I credit the defensive driving training I’ve received for my accident-free career.” […]
Mike Milligan
Posts by Mike Milligan
Postal Bulletin
Just in time for the summer vacation season, the Postal Bulletin’s latest issue features a primer on passports and tips for traveling overseas. The cover story includes an explanation of the differences between passport books and cards. The article also advises customers to apply for the documents as early as possible at Post Offices. Additionally, […]
Hit parade
Growing up in Philadelphia, Denny Palandro was fascinated by the city’s Mummers Parade, an annual festival in which musicians and other performers don bright costumes and march along Broad Street. Palandro — a Philadelphia District field account representative — is now a regular participant in the parade as captain of the South Philly String Band. […]
On the waterfront
Mark Lipscomb has one of the Postal Service’s most unusual routes: He delivers mail to 180 homes along a 31-mile stretch — by boat. Magnolia Springs, AL — where Lipscomb is a highway contract route carrier — is one of the few towns with year-round boat delivery. Residents have mailboxes at the end of their piers […]
VIP visit
Three Postal Service employees recently helped President Obama commemorate the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary. The president visited Yosemite National Park in California, where the audience included Yosemite Postmaster John Reynolds, Hilmar Postmaster Donna Geary and Sacramento Customer Relations Coordinator Candi Cheathon. All three employees work in the Golden State. “Shaking hands with President Obama […]
Carol Banker, Brownville Junction, ME
Brownville Junction, ME, Retail Associate Carol Banker sensed something was wrong recently as she observed a customer pack a Priority Mail Express envelope with a large amount of cash. After talking to her, Banker suspected the woman was being scammed. Banker contacted postal inspectors, who intervened and returned cash totaling around $4,000 to the woman’s […]
Locking computer screens
Before you step away from your workstation, lock your computer screen by pressing the “L” and Windows logo keys simultaneously. You can unlock the computer by pressing “Ctrl,” “Alt” and “Delete” simultaneously. The CyberSafe at USPS site has more information. […]
Bobbie Bertholf, Bakersfield, CA
“Lifesaver” was a wonderful story about a human caring about another human being. If we could all show such empathy, the planet would be a much better place to live. Kudos to you. […]
Great Lakes Area VP Jacqueline Krage Strako
“We anticipate that Post Offices across Indiana will greet many customers who are thrilled at the opportunity to affix a piece of their state’s history to the upper right corner of every piece of their mail.” […]
Take note
Many professionals rely on networking to advance their careers, but networking doesn’t always happen face-to-face. You can also build successful business relationships through the mail. Max Leibman, an imaging supervisor in the Midwest, tries to write 5-6 thank-you notes per week. The practice started as a way to express gratitude, but it has turned into […]
Bigger and better
Customers can now purchase bigger mailboxes that accommodate larger packages delivered by USPS. The curbside boxes are available from online retailers. The usps.com mailbox page has ordering information. The bigger boxes are part of the Postal Service’s efforts to grow its package delivery business amid changes to the mail mix. USPS also wants to reduce […]
Mail drop
Early airmail pilots faced treacherous and deadly conditions to deliver the mail, the Atlas Obscura news site noted last week. When the first airmail pilots took to the skies in 1918, they became pioneers of today’s aviation industry. Storms, fog and snow threatened airmail pilots who flew planes from open cockpits without lighting to guide […]
Contingency plans
The Postal Service is monitoring a possible strike or work stoppage affecting Canada Post. Canada Post performs delivery in Canada of U.S. shipments of First-Class Mail International service, First-Class Package International Service, International Priority Airmail service, International Surface Air Lift service, Priority Mail International service, and Priority Mail Express International service. If a full strike […]
John Loch, Wilkes-Barre, PA
“Mailbox champ” was a great story. It showed the true compassion of Muhammad Ali. […]
Dennis Poer, Corpus Christi, TX
A stolen package was recovered recently and the suspects were apprehended, thanks to sharp-eyed Corpus Christi, TX, Letter Carrier Dennis Poer. Poer contacted police after he noticed someone walking through a neighborhood carrying a large parcel that he had left on a customer’s porch earlier in the day. After closely observing the suspect and an […]
Chesapeake, VA, Postmaster Richard Green
“I am not the most important person in the Chesapeake Post Office — that would be the employees. We’re committed to providing quality service and delivering safely each and every day.” […]
Telephone courtesy
Answer the phone within three rings, offer a friendly greeting, provide assistance and always end calls by thanking customers for using the Postal Service. Remember to keep necessary reference material close to the phone to better serve customers. […]
Fast money
The Postal Service is processing customers’ bill payments faster than it did a year ago, new research shows. Employees have reduced the amount of time it takes to process this type of mail — also known as “remittance mail” — by approximately 2.6 hours. Remittance mail is the largest segment of First-Class Mail and also […]
Coming up aces
Tony Strangeland took a risk a few years ago when he gave up a career as a blackjack dealer to join the Postal Service. The gamble paid off. “I love it. It’s fun for me,” Stangeland, a retail associate in Albert Lea, MN, told the Tribune newspaper this week. As a blackjack dealer and casino […]
Keep it clean
An Illinois Postal Service facility is using new tools and training to create cleaner, healthier workplaces. The Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center has introduced Custodial Team Cleaning, a national program that combines tried-and-true approaches with environmentally friendly processes. “This is a new era of cleaning,” said JoJo Francisco, a custodian at the facility. The […]
Child’s play
Reminder: The internet isn’t a playground. It’s important to teach your children about online safety. If you’re a parent, the CyberSafe at USPS team offers these suggestions: Talk to your kids about online safety. Encourage children to come to you if they see something online that makes them feel uncomfortable. Emphasize the concept of credibility. […]
What is PFS-R?
Premium Forwarding Service-Residential allows customers to ship mail from a domestic primary residential address to a temporary address. […]
David Helmich, Jacksonville, IL
Jacksonville, IL, Letter Carrier David Helmich was driving an LLV recently when it caught fire. Helmich secured all of the mail and safely exited the vehicle. Firefighters later extinguished the flames. Helmich didn’t sustain injuries and no mail was lost. […]
Greensboro, NC, Retail Manager Tammy Apple
“I would like to thank all of our retail associates for their attention to customer service. Our customers are [important] and we need to constantly remind them that we value their business.” […]
Sheila Lozon, Pekin, IN
My daughter lives in Orlando and works in the entertainment industry. She lost four co-workers in the recent tragedy. […]
Record results
USPS employees collected more than 80 million pounds of food during this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive, a new record. The total, announced June 20, surpasses the previous record of 77 million pounds. The annual drive has collected 1.5 billion pounds since it began in 1993. “These results are gratifying because they mean that even […]
Postmaster praise
Carl Junction, MO, Postmaster Sharon Clark received widespread praise in the press upon her retirement this month. “I just love this community,” Clark said in a segment aired by the local Fox station. Carl Junction leaders proclaimed June 1 Sharon Clark Day and honored her at a ceremony where customers spoke on her behalf. “She’s been […]
Take care
The Smart Business Moments site has expanded to include daily safety tips. The new tips are part of an overall initiative to promote safety as a core value, reduce accidents, and engage employees in the process of enhancing the Postal Service’s safety culture. “Smart safety moments provide employees with quick reminders on ways to perform their […]
Mission upgrade
The Postal Service’s Computer Incident Response Team, which safeguards USPS computer assets and systems, has expanded its mission to become the CyberSecurity Operations Center (CSOC). CSOC will identify and monitor security threats to USPS computer systems. The Postal Service created CSOC to establish a coordinated, world-class security program to protect USPS systems from online attacks […]
IT reminder
Reminder: Information Technology will update some of the Postal Service’s email distribution list names Wednesday, June 22, at 5:30 p.m. EDT. If a list’s name includes a tilde (~), the tilde will be removed. If a list’s name has a pound sign (#), the sign will be replaced with an underscore (_). The process will […]