Mark Wahl, Washington, DC
Link is a great source of information that all Postal Service employees can read and share. It lets you start your day with positive, engaging news. […]
Shawn Selby
Posts by Shawn Selby
Stage presence
Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan was joined by a host of Postal Service employees to help ring the closing bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York City Dec. 27. The group included employees who performed acts of heroism this year, including Chicopee, MA, Letter Carrier Todd Bettgenhauser, who detected a gas leak; and […]
Scan for success
The Postal Service wants employees to understand the importance of accurate scanning to Mail Condition Visualization (MCV), an Informed Visibility module that will provide near-real-time conditions of mail and packages in processing facilities. The data delivered by MCV is closely linked to the manual scan “events” captured through Surface Visibility (SV). This means failure to […]
Pass it on
Passwords are so 2018. The CyberSafe at USPS team is recommending employees kick start 2019 by using online passphrases, which are more secure than passwords. A passphrase is a memorable set of words that serve as your password, making it more difficult for cyberintruders to access your account. Passphrases are difficult for hackers to guess […]
Distinguished members
The 116th U.S. Congress, which convenes this week, is expected to have 131 women members — a record. Here’s a look at the four female members of Congress who have appeared on stamps. 1. Sen. Hattie Caraway. Caraway, a Democrat, was appointed to represent Arkansas in the Senate after the death of her husband, Sen. […]
Got your back
This year brought many stories of Postal Service employees who were there for each other in difficult moments. Phoenix Mail Processing Clerk Corrine Slater; Nashville, TN, Maintenance Mechanic Christopher Scott; and Clarkston, MI, Retail Associate Ebony Turonek were among those who performed the Heimlich maneuver on colleagues who were choking. Worcester, MA, Mail Processing Clerk […]
Constance Tellefson, Minneapolis
Although she says otherwise, Westland, MI, Retail Associate Nina Jones fits the definition of a hero. She’s a hero to the 87-year-old customer who she prevented from being scammed. […]
Autumn’s accomplishments
Postal Service employees demonstrated their dedication to their customers as 2018 drew to a close. In October, employees marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month by promoting the Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp and participating in events at USPS facilities across the nation. Employees also delivered millions of ballots, voter registration cards, polling place information and campaign […]
Pictures perfect
This was another year of moving images in Link. Here’s a roundup of some of the best photos, including shots from delivery routes, postal plants, stamp dedication ceremonies and mailing industry events. Select each thumbnail to see a larger version of the image. […]
Good work
Postal Service employees discussed their contributions to the organization through Link’s “On the job” series this year. Judy Huelsing, a custodian in St. Louis, talked about the pride she takes in keeping her workplace neat and orderly. “I believe having a really clean facility promotes a good work environment and positively affects employees’ attitudes. It […]
Children’s choice
Young people highlighted the mail’s ability to build relationships, uplift spirits and even right wrongs this year. Dallas third-graders formed special pen-pal relationships after turning to a local retirement community for help with cursive writing lessons. Meanwhile, students at a Foxborough, MA, charter school continued their efforts to collect postage stamps to honor Holocaust victims. […]
Jane Gray, Haviland, OH
Thank you for the “Proceed with caution” article. It was a very helpful explanation of the Postal Service’s rules on exchanging gifts in the workplace. […]
Caring for kids
Kids in distress were able to rely on Postal Service employees for kindness and caring in 2018. Cottage Grove, WI, Rural Carrier Becky Illgen helped a scared child at the wrong school bus stop. In Wells, MI, Retail Associate Jenny Mileski came to the aid of a girl stranded on a snowy day, telling her: […]
Winter’s wallop
The first three months of 2018 brought major snowstorms to many parts of the United States, but the Postal Service’s dedication to its customers never wavered. The streak began in January with rare snow in the South and bone-chilling temperatures in the Midwest. The wild weather continued in March, when the Northeast was hit with […]
Making things better
Postal Service employees and retirees served their communities throughout 2018. Melvin White, a retired St. Louis letter carrier, honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by revitalizing streets named after him, while Melvin McCoy, a Memphis, TN, auto technician, honored his late father, who participated in a 1968 strike to improve conditions for African-American […]
Pro tips
USPS employees shared peer-to-peer wisdom through Link’s “Best practices” column this year. Here’s a look at some of their tips: • Take it outside: Apple Valley, CA, Postmaster Bobby Kimball delivers stand-up talks in his Post Office’s parking lot, where employees are required to stand in a circle so everyone faces each other. “It’s great […]
Postal people
Link tells stories about great Postal Service employees every day. Here are 10 favorites from 2018. 1. Good service. Los Angeles Mail Handler Willie Clemmons, 91, marked 68 years as a postal employee in August — and said he has no plans to retire anytime soon. 2. End of an era. Samuel Mitchell made history in January when […]
Phyllis Isaacs, Dallas
Thank you for the inspiring “Heroes’ corner” story about the Western New York District Human Resources team members who saved the life of Marie McDonnell, a co-worker who suffered a medical emergency. […]
Catherine Blair, Marine City, MI
Marine City, MI, Rural Carrier Catherine Blair was recently delivering mail when she saw an oncoming vehicle moving erratically before striking a guardrail and flipping over into a ditch. Blair stopped, called 911 and rushed to aid the driver, who was alone in the car. The Postal Service employee freed the woman from the vehicle […]
News quiz
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. Approximately how many packages does USPS expect to deliver from Dec. 17-23? a) 2 million b) 20 million c) 200 million d) 900 million 2. By what percentage is […]
Need to know
There’s still time. It’s not too late to make a charitable donation during the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season, which is underway through Jan. 11. Go to the CFC online giving portal to choose from more than 8,000 charities that could use your time or money. There are several new contribution options this year, including […]
Positive press
The holiday season is the time for more mail and packages. It’s also the season for the news media to shine a spotlight on Postal Service employees. William Salzman II, a letter carrier at Lockhill Station in San Antonio, told KSAT-TV last week about the pride he takes in delivering holiday mail and packages. “I like […]
Inspection Service chief
Gary Barksdale will serve as acting chief postal inspector, effective Dec. 31. Barksdale, a 19-year Inspection Service employee, has served as deputy chief inspector for the past three years. Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan announced his appointment in a memo this week. The current chief postal inspector, Guy Cottrell, will retire Dec. 31. “Gary has […]
Ho-ho-ho help
Postal Service employees make holiday dreams come true in more ways than one. In addition to accepting, processing and delivering packages filled with gifts, USPS workers in many cities are participating in Operation Santa, an annual program that allows participants to help families in need by “adopting” their letters to Santa Claus and fulfilling their […]
Nina Jones, Westland, MI
A Detroit NBC station recently opened a news report with these words: “A U.S. Postal Service employee is reminding us you don’t have to have a heroic job to help your neighbors.” They were referring to Retail Associate Nina Jones, who came to the aid of an 87-year-old customer at the Westland, MI, Post Office […]
Gathering together
Kwanzaa, the subject of a new stamp from USPS, begins Wednesday, Dec. 26. Here are five things to know about the annual celebration. 1. Kwanzaa began 52 years ago. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at California State University, established Kwanzaa as a cultural celebration of African heritage and family in 1966. 2. Kwanzaa […]
Treats for troops
USPS employees and customers are working together to send cheer to service members during the holidays. The organization expects to process more than 16 million pounds of mail for overseas Department of Defense and Department of State recipients during this year’s holiday season. In St. Paul, MN, employees recently participated in a two-day Shop, Ship […]
Happy holidays
The following message is from Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan: I want to take a moment to thank you for your dedication and service to our customers this holiday season. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, you will deliver more than 15 billion pieces of mail and 900 million packages. Many of those mailpieces are […]
Hail to the chief
Chief Postal Inspector Guy Cottrell will retire Dec. 31 after more than three decades with USPS, including eight-and-a-half years leading the Inspection Service. Under Cottrell’s leadership, the Inspection Service played a larger role in dealing with cybersecurity crimes and shaping the nation’s response to the opioid crisis, including preparing the organization for expanded authority under […]
Western New York District Human Resources Team, Buffalo, NY
Seven members of the Western New York District Human Resources team were recently recognized for coming to the aid of a colleague, Marie McDonnell, who experienced a life-threatening medical emergency last year. Field Recruiter Kathy Deneka alerted others when she discovered McDonnell collapsed and unresponsive. District Complement Coordinator Frank Filipski and Safety Manager Daniel Welch […]
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