Thursday, March 14, 2024
Learn more about the Thrift Savings Plan
Employees can participate in informational webinars and courses
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) has announced its slate of 2024 informational webinars and online training courses, which Postal Service employees can participate in.
The topics will include TSP contributions, death benefits, distributions, investment funds, in-service withdrawals and loans.
The webinars will last one hour, and the courses are 2½ hours.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Both the webinars and courses are free, and registration is not required.
For more information about dates, times and webinar and course descriptions, employees should go to the TSP website’s Online Learning page.
Postal Posts delves into investment scams
The latest entry on Postal Posts, the USPS blog, was written by Eric Shen, an inspector in charge for the Postal Inspection Service.
Shen describes how get-rich-quick schemes have evolved along with technology. Phone scams, while still common, now compete with social media and artificial intelligence hoaxes.
“Postal inspectors are on the front line bringing these scammers to justice,” Shen writes.
He advises victims to reach out to the Inspection Service at uspis.gov or by sending a direct message through the organization’s social media channels on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.
Off the Clock
Shamrocking out
This employee uses his communication skills to promote Irish culture
My name is John Hyatt and I’m a San Diego-based writer and editor for Corporate Communications.
When I’m not at work, I volunteer for the Irish Congress of Southern California, a group that promotes Irish history and culture. It organizes San Diego’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, which draws about 25,000 people each year.
I’ve been a volunteer with the Irish Congress for about 25 years. I started out organizing Irish dancing on one of the stages, then moved on to organizing all the entertainment and events. In 2009, I was chairman of the entire parade and festival. This year, I’m handling media, social media and advertising.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s really rewarding to see people enjoying and connecting with their heritage — or if they’re not Irish, enjoying being Irish for the day.
What attracts me to the community? The openness and hospitality. You feel like you’re always welcome.
That’s how I got involved, actually. Here in San Diego, we have a park with a bunch of little cultural community centers. One day I went into the Irish one, House of Ireland. The woman who greeted me there made me feel so at home, so welcome, that I kept coming back. They got me into Irish dancing.
I’m a member of the House of Ireland and have also been writing for the Irish Herald, the oldest Irish newspaper on the West Coast, for about 21 years.
My mother’s side is Dutch, and King’s Day is Saturday, April 27. It’s sort of the equivalent of St. Patrick’s Day for Dutch people. I’m involved with the planning for that celebration, too. I’ve been going nonstop after work and on the weekends!
“Off the Clock,” a column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits, appears regularly in Link.
Explore the Underground Railroad
A new video includes historical background and a montage of the 10 stamp subjects
The Postal Service has released a video about its new stamps honoring 10 heroes and heroines of the Underground Railroad, a network of secret byways and safe houses that helped lead enslaved people to freedom before the Civil War.
The six-minute video features comments from Ronald A. Stroman, a member of the USPS Board of Governors who spoke at the dedication ceremony, followed by a montage of the 10 inspirational figures highlighted on the stamps: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Catharine Coffin, Thomas Garrett, Laura Haviland, Lewis Hayden, Harriet Jacobs, William Lambert, Jermain Loguen and William Still.
Also in the video are Kate Clifford Larson, a historian and writer; Anthony Cohen, president of the Menare Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Underground Railroad; and Angela Crenshaw, director of the Maryland Park Service.
WestPac, California 6 lead in scanning data
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.22 percent during the week ending March 8, down 0.40 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected March 13.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.05 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 94.86 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, California 6, part of WestPac Area, ranked first with a 97.78 percent rating, while Georgia, part of Southern Area, ranked last with an 88.58 percent rating.
Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost loyalty and drive revenue.
To see the latest data, go to the Informed Visibility website and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan Performance.” Postal Service employees must request Informed Visibility access through eAccess.
Have surplus wooden pallets? Here’s what to do
The USPS Asset Accountability team is reminding Postal Service facility managers of the proper procedure for recycling wooden pallets.
Stack unbroken pallets of similar sizes together, no more than 25 feet high, and store them away from buildings.
Facility managers should then contact the nearest asset accountability service center to provide photos of and information about the pallets.
An inventory control specialist will list the pallets on the GovDeals government surplus auction website. The specialist will monitor the auction, answer questions from potential bidders, schedule onsite inspections, if needed, and arrange for payment and removal.
The Asset Accountability Blue page has more information.
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What's included
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Learn more about the Thrift Savings Plan
Employees can participate in informational webinars and courses
-
Brief
Postal Posts delves into investment scams
-
Off the Clock
Shamrocking out
This employee uses his communication skills to promote Irish culture
-
Explore the Underground Railroad
A new video includes historical background and a montage of the 10 stamp subjects
-
Brief
WestPac, California 6 lead in scanning data
-
Brief
Have surplus wooden pallets? Here’s what to do