Thursday, March 28, 2024
USPS dedicates its Save Manatees stamp
The release aims to raise awareness of threats to the marine mammal
The Postal Service marked Manatee Appreciation Day on March 27 by dedicating its Save Manatees stamp in Silver Springs, FL — home to the sort of clear, warm springs that the marine mammals frequent.
Manatees are large and gray with flat, paddle-shaped tails.
They have two flippers — each with three or four nails — and their faces are wrinkled, with a whiskered snout. Their closest land relative is the elephant.
Manatees are considered one of Florida’s keystone species whose behavior can alert researchers to environmental and habitat changes that may otherwise go unnoticed in the state’s waterways for extended periods of time.
“This adorable stamp will increase awareness and hopefully encourage people to learn how they can help save manatees, too,” said Patrick Rose, executive director of the Save the Manatee Club and one of the speakers at the dedication ceremony.
Within the United States, manatees are concentrated in Florida in the winter.
During the summer months, they can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, but sightings in the southern states are more common. The animals prefer shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas — particularly where seagrass beds or freshwater vegetation flourish.
Florida manatees were first protected under state law in 1893 and are covered by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act. On a federal level, they are protected by both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Manatees were reclassified from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2017.
Despite these legal protections, manatees still face considerable threats. They are often accidentally hit by motorboats in increasingly crowded waters, and sometimes they become entangled in fishing nets.
Water pollution is killing the seagrass that manatees rely on for food.
Since 1974, more than 41 percent of manatee deaths have been human-related — with 34 percent due to watercraft collisions.
Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the Save Manatees stamp using a digital illustration by Nancy Stahl. The stamp is available in booklets of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
“It is our hope that these stamps bring further awareness to the plight of this beautiful animal,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, the Postal Service’s stamp services director.
Off the Clock
Attic artist
World War II is a favorite subject when this employee puts brush to canvas
My name is Don Doheny and I’m a distribution operations manager at the Eastern Shore Processing and Distribution Center in Easton, MD.
I started my career with USPS in 1996. I worked as a supervisor in Post Offices throughout Pennsylvania, Maine and Delaware while balancing a yearning to be an artist.
I began by taking art classes at a community college. It took me some time but eventually I earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine art.
When I’m not commuting and working, I squeeze in time for my latest oil painting. It relaxes me and I go into a whole different world in my attic studio at home in Bridgeville, DE.
I have been particularly interested in World War II since I was 5 years old. I pay tribute through my paintings to the men and women who served. My “Sounds of Silence” painting depicts “sweating out the mission” — a term for ground crews waiting to see how many aircraft would make it back.
Another one of my works is a master study of an original work by artist Jack Leynnwood from the 1960s. I have always loved doing master studies to learn how a work was done and to learn from the artist who did it.
I also specialize in portraitures. I’m a fan of USPS stamp artist Michael J. Deas. I enjoyed watching a recent story about him on “CBS Sunday Morning.” I’m inspired by his work, particularly the recent Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamp.
The ideas for my paintings often start as a doodle. I then research and find models and reference photos to work off to create the finer details in paint. I typically work on a large stretched canvas that measures over 3 feet by 5 feet, but if it’s a flat surface, I’ll paint it.
My wife, children and granddaughter are all supportive of my work. I often paint with my cat on my lap and my dog at my side. They serve as an inspiration for the pet portraits I also paint.
I display my latest works on my two Instagram accounts: djdohenyfineart and yourpetportriats.
“Off the Clock,” a column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits, appears regularly in Link.
April 4, 2024
Datebook
‘USPS: Medicare + FEHB’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that will examine how Medicare works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
The session, “USPS: Medicare + FEHB,” will be held Thursday, April 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from GEHA, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees who have questions can email the Benefits and Wellness team.
WestPac Area, Washington District lead in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.28 percent during the week ending March 22, down 0.27 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected March 27.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.14 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 95.30 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, Washington, part of WestPac Area, ranked first with a 97.76 percent rating, while South Carolina, part of Southern Area, ranked last with an 89.72 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.
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USPS dedicates its Save Manatees stamp
The release aims to raise awareness of threats to the marine mammal
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Off the Clock
Attic artist
World War II is a favorite subject when this employee puts brush to canvas
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April4Datebook
‘USPS: Medicare + FEHB’
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Brief
WestPac Area, Washington District lead in scanning