Roger Barnes, Omaha, NE
I commend Rural Carrier Abby Puckett for saving the life of a young woman who was being attacked by five dogs in Corinth MS. I hope the owners of the dogs have been held accountable. […]
Shawn Selby
Posts by Shawn Selby
Streamlined service
The Postal Service will soon introduce an online portal to help expedite service inquiries sent by consumers to U.S. lawmakers and their staffers. The Congressional Inquiry Portal, slated to debut in May, will feature a user-friendly interface that streamlines the process for resolving inquires, while replacing the need for follow-up phone calls and emails. Here’s […]
New design
The Postal Service is reminding employees about a new Click-N-Ship label design that features an updated marking in the upper right-hand corner. Customers can bring mailpieces with these labels, which debuted last summer, to Post Offices and other sites. The labels are legitimate and should be handled in the same manner as other Click-N-Ship labels. […]
Lose contact
Starting April 9, Postal Service employees who use government-issued Citibank GSA SmartPay 3 travel cards will automatically receive a contactless version when their current ones expire. Contactless payment cards allow purchasers to pay for items by tapping — rather than swiping or inserting — cards on a merchant’s contactless-enabled card reader. The contactless feature helps […]
Sustainability success
The Postal Service is seeking nominations for its refreshed USPS Sustainability Excellence Awards, which honor areas, districts, facilities and teams that help foster sustainable workplaces. This year, one winner will be selected from each of the eight organizations overseen by the Postal Service’s executive leadership team: • Chief Retail and Delivery Officer Kristin Seaver • […]
Fearsome fivesome
Rural Carrier Associate Abby Puckett was recently delivering mail in Corinth, MS, when she came upon an 18-year-old customer being attacked by five dogs. Puckett used repellent spray to safely end the attack, then called 911 after carrying the teenager to the postal vehicle to get out of harm’s way. Emergency responders rushed to the […]
Christopher Roberts, Ludington, MI
“Lifesaving letters,” the article about how thoughtful letters can reduce the likelihood of suicide among military veterans, hit home for me. I did five tours in the Middle East and I can tell you: Mail was hugely important. It was a connection to home, country and sometimes a lifeline from lonely feelings. […]
Got the time?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. The Postal Service wants to change the guaranteed delivery time for Priority Mail Express products to that time on the committed delivery day? a) 10:30 a.m. b) Noon c) 3 p.m. […]
Espresso delivery
The Postal Service will celebrate the nation’s love of coffee when it releases its Espresso Drinks stamps on April 9. The 20-stamp booklet features four designs that each illustrate a different drink — espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte and caffe mocha. The stamps, announced last fall, aim to capitalize on the popularity of espresso beverages. The […]
Eric Woods, Washington, DC
“Drum solo” was a great story about Chris DeLisa, a Los Angeles mail handler who also has a musical career. It showed how postal workers positively touch the lives of others, both in and out of the workplace. […]
Like father, like son
When Gary Thompson hung up his satchel last week, it marked the end of an era. His rural route in the village of Savona, NY, has been carried by a Thompson for 75 years. His late father, Warren, began his postal career on his return from World War II, and Gary took over after his […]
Simple solutions
You’re about to use your ACE computer to begin working when programs in Office 365 inexplicably freeze. This usually occurs when the programs start to load before they have a network connection. Before you call the IT Service Desk, there’s a faster solution: Turn off your startup applications. To do this, type “startup” in the […]
In the mail
The Postal Service is mailing employees a postcard with information to help them learn more about the organization’s new 10-year plan. The plan, called Delivering for America, aims to modernize the organization while increasing its role and relevance. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced the key components March 23. The postcard has a QR code that […]
Coping mechanisms
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to learn about how stress affects our health. Everyone experiences some level of stress, which refers to how the body and brain respond to demands and challenges. For instance, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has caused many people to stress about their health, as well as the health of […]
Pania Heimuli, Denver
I absolutely loved “Shadow partner,” the profile of Pittston, PA, Letter Carrier Tom Tomsak and his friendship with Andy Cooper, a 40-year-old with a cognitive disability. Their story brightened my day. […]
Rainfall rescue
Letter Carrier Viktor Luna was delivering mail on a stormy day last summer in Colorado Springs, CO, when he spotted a boy in trouble. The lad had been riding his bicycle on a neighborhood street when he got caught in a downpour, falling into a gutter and struggling against rushing rainwater. Luna hurried to the […]
Drum solo
Chris DeLisa has always drummed to his own beat. The Los Angeles Processing and Distribution Center mail handler, 62, grew up in White Plains, NY, where he remembers creating music wherever he could. “I was always banging on pots, pans and anything to pound,” DeLisa said. His father, Aldo, a 35-year letter carrier, noticed his […]
Bottom line
April is Financial Literacy Month, a time to learn how to improve your financial well-being. Sound financial principles can help you prepare for future savings goals and unexpected emergencies while providing you with flexibility to enjoy life. According to the Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission, the five financial principles are: • Earn. Understand your […]
What’s the plan?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. What is the name of the Postal Service’s new 10-year plan? a) Delivering for America b) Post Haste c) This is US(PS) d) You’ve Got Mail 2. True or false: The […]
Shadow partner
The relationships that Postal Service employees develop with customers sometimes turn into friendships. But Tom Tomsak, a Pittston, PA, letter carrier, stumbled into something more: a working partnership. And the unusual setup has made the local TV news. Tomsak met Andy Cooper in 2005 on the first day of a new route. “He just walked […]
Keys change
Shavon Keys was named acting sales vice president this month. The position was most recently held on an acting basis by Christine Bailey, who is retiring from the Postal Service. Keys was most recently sales director for Great Lakes Area, a position she held since 2014. She created the Sales Leadership Summit — the foundation […]
Holding pattern
The Postal Service has extended its restrictions on business travel, including travel for training, until at least June 7. Exceptions are permitted only in situations of critical importance and for which a physical presence is required and cannot be postponed. Officers should review all travel requests with this policy in mind. When travel is necessary, […]
Help when you need it
The USPS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offering updated suicide prevention resources for postal workers. The EAP website has a section devoted to suicide prevention that includes handouts addressing suicide during the coronavirus pandemic and other topics, as well as workplace posters. EAP introduced several of these resources last year during National Suicide Prevention Week. […]
Hot spot
San Antonio Maintenance Mechanic Xavier Alexander was outside the city’s Main Post Office one day last summer when he grew concerned about a landscaper working there who looked unwell. Alexander checked on the man, who was feeling faint and experiencing nausea and cramps. Suspecting heat-related illness, the Postal Service employee immediately led him to a […]
Ralph Wareing, Weed, CA
The Postal Service’s next-generation delivery vehicle has a great design. […]
Memories to keep
The Postal Service is offering an official souvenir envelope to commemorate the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala D. Harris. The No. 10 envelope features portraits of Biden and Harris, along with an illustration of the White House. The words “59th Presidential Inauguration” are also included, along with a U.S. Flag […]
Graves to retire
Greg Graves, Western Pacific Area’s vice president, will retire April 2 after a federal career of nearly 42 years, including 37 years with the Postal Service. “Greg has been an instrumental member of the leadership team in driving the transformation of retail and delivery to support our overall organizational goals,” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy wrote […]
One for all
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. According to Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett, how can employees help the Postal Service achieve long-term financial stability? a) By improving efficiency b) By pursuing innovation c) By reducing costs d) […]
Upside down
The Postal Service wants facilities to change the way unusable plastic trays and buckets are shipped to the Topeka, KS, Material Distribution Center (MDC) for recycling. The MDC recycles trays and buckets previously used on automated flat sorting machines and flats sequencing systems. Under new guidelines, plants are required to stack blue rigid captive trays […]
Where’s CARE?
The Postal Service’s Counseling At Risk Employees (CARE) tracking tool currently located on the Safety Dashboard will move to the HERO platform, beginning April 1. CARE allows managers to talk to employees about safety-related matters and provide them with coaching, training and information to identify and report potential hazards. The tool helps the organization to […]