Rural Carrier Associate Janine Kikla was recently delivering mail in Sutton, WV, when she grew concerned about a customer whose mail was piling up. Kikla contacted local Postmaster Steven Jackson, who called police. Responding officers checked on the man and found that he was gravely ill. Paramedics were immediately dispatched to take him to a […]
The Postal Service is increasing the safety and security of its collection box procedures. The organization is modifying the long-standing Aviation Mail Security Rule, which was established in 1996 and called for packages weighing 16 ounces or more to be presented in person to a retail associate or letter carrier. The rule was introduced to […]
To help mark the release of the Literary Arts stamp honoring Walt Whitman (1819-1892), here are some facts about the man hailed by many as the father of modern American poetry. 1. Printing inspired Whitman’s passion for the written word. Born in present-day Huntington Station, NY, Whitman attended public schools in Brooklyn. At age 12, […]
Network Specialist James Tracey was on the job recently at the Middlesex-Essex Processing and Distribution Center in North Reading, MA, when a co-worker experienced a medical emergency. The man, who had been operating a forklift, lost consciousness while sitting upright, leaving him unable to breathe when his head fell forward. While 911 was called, Tracey […]
I really enjoy Link. I look forward to its good information every day. […]
Tim Reisch joined the Army National Guard in 1978 when he was just a few years out of high school. More than 40 years later, he retired as a two-star general with the South Dakota National Guard. Now Reisch, who served as adjutant general when he stepped down in June, has embarked on a new […]
Just in time for Thinking of You Week, a campaign that encourages consumers to mail a greeting card each day from Sept. 23-29, the Greeting Card Association has released updated facts on the industry. Here are some highlights: • U.S. consumers purchase approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards each year, generating $7 billion-$8 billion in annual […]
Platinum PR Awards. The Postal Service’s Corporate Communications department was honored twice last week during the Platinum PR Awards competition. The 2018 Annual Sustainability Report was the winner in the annual report category, while the department’s Social Business Intelligence program won the social listening award, which honors excellence in the use of social media. Additionally, […]
Here’s Link’s latest “News Quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Under the Hatch Act, USPS employees are prohibited from which activity or activities? a) Being candidates in partisan elections b) Engaging in political fundraising c) Using their postal authority […]
The “Full Throttle” video highlighting how USPS is bridging physical mail and digital communication makes me feel postal proud of the organization. […]
Rural Carrier Associate Jayson Himes was recently delivering mail in Neoga, IL, when he spotted a truck outside a residence rolling backward with its hood up. Upon closer inspection, Himes found that a customer had been crushed by the vehicle while working on it. The Postal Service employee immediately called 911 and comforted the man […]
Amanda Constantine of Abbeville, LA, knew one thing her daughter Laney Bourque would love to receive on her 18th birthday: a mailbox full of greeting cards. Bourque, who has brain damage resulting from frequent epileptic seizures early in her life, has grown fond of getting mail, Constantine recently told the local ABC station. But Bourque […]
The winter months can seem drab, but if you look closely you may find some of the most beautiful plant growth of any season. This is the message speaker after speaker delivered during last week’s dedication ceremony for the Winter Berries stamps. “Although much of nature’s bold imagery gets muted by winter’s cold temperatures and […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a federal law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Here’s what USPS wants you to know: • The law allows the public to request access to records from any federal agency. This includes the Postal Service, which is required […]
To help mark Thinking of You Week, Link asked USPS employees why greeting cards still resonate with them. Here’s what some had to say. 1. They get the words just right. “I often think ‘I couldn’t have said it better myself’ when I find the right one,” said Anchorage, AK, Business Mail Entry Manager Beverly […]
“Wall of fame” was a beautiful story about Roger “Buck” Hill, whose music brought happiness to so many lives. […]
West Virginia teenager Jason Thomas had to overcome significant obstacles before he was able to graduate from Sissonville High School last spring. And he couldn’t have tackled perhaps the toughest one — homelessness — without the help of a Postal Service employee: Meredith Taylor. The Kenna, WV, retail associate and her husband decided to foster […]
Here’s Link’s latest “News Quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Fill in the blank: The (blank) Center is a USPS centralized help desk that assists commercial customers with their mailing and shipping needs. a) Business Acceptance Performance b) Business […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees to follow proper procedures when reporting hazardous chemical spills that could affect the environment. Employees are required to immediately notify a manager or supervisor if they see evidence of a hazardous material spill. Employees must never take action to contain a spill unless it’s for their protection or unless […]
The Postal Communicator’s Toolbox has new content. The Toolbox is a Blue page that offers fact sheets, talking points, customizable speeches, presentation templates, logos, videos and more. USPS managers and supervisors can use this material to communicate about the organization during meetings with employees and customers, as well as during activities like National Postal Customer […]
Alison Potenzo, Western New York District’s acting customer relations coordinator, was driving to work in Buffalo, NY, one morning in May when she witnessed a motorcycle accident. The rider collided with a deer, leaving both of them sprawled out on the New York State Thruway long before sunrise. Potenzo and another passerby immediately stopped to […]
Link did a great job with “The List” of nine events that shaped 1969. That was the year I graduated from high school. Thanks for the flashback. […]
USPS will test a service that allows customers to ship returns to merchants when they no longer have the original packaging for the item. The Package Less Returns service will be tested at 53 sites in Southern Area’s Dallas District that are equipped with Retail Systems Software (RSS) workstations. The returned merchandise will be shipped […]
As the eyes of the nation turn toward the fall TV season, here are nine times postage stamps featured beloved shows and characters. 1. Early TV Memories. These 2009 stamps recalled 20 favorites from television’s “Golden Age,” including “Howdy Doody,” “Dragnet,” “Lassie,” “The Lone Ranger,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Twilight Zone” and “The Honeymooners.” […]
The 2020 presidential primary season is around the corner, and so USPS is reminding employees to follow the rules established under the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act is a law that prohibits postal and other federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty, while wearing a uniform, while on federal property, or while […]
Grace Flannery has admired letter carriers since she was a child. The 21-year-old Cincinnati resident, who has Down syndrome, has “always liked watching [carriers] and going to get the mail,” her father, Michael, said. He recently contacted his local Postal Service facility, Westwood Station, to ask if Grace could deliver mail for a day. Employees […]
The recent “Best Practices” column about John Blair, the Vienna, VA, letter carrier who treats customers like friends, was excellent. I printed the article and put it on a bulletin board for our carriers to see. His tips were spot on. […]
Retail Associate Bertie Faulkner was on duty recently in New Albany, IN, when a man attempted to cash a money order that had apparently been altered. Faulkner alerted authorities, but the suspect and an accomplice left before law enforcement officers got there. Several weeks later, the suspect returned to the Post Office. Faulkner recognized him […]
Mark Guilfoil has been named supply management vice president, a position he has held on an acting basis since April. Guilfoil will manage the organization’s supplier relationships, including more than $12 billion in annual spending. He will report to Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett. Guilfoil previously served as supply management infrastructure manager, a role responsible […]
The Postal Service wants employees to take precautions to prevent hackers or other unauthorized listeners from accessing WebEx conference calls. Like hackers who attempt to attack USPS networks or mobile devices, unauthorized listeners who lurk unannounced on WebEx virtual meetings could learn sensitive information that could compromise the organization. To secure WebEx calls, the CyberSafe […]