Friday, April 26, 2024
The shapes of things to come
USPS will release its latest Floral Geometry stamp April 26
The Postal Service will release its latest Floral Geometry stamp on Friday, April 26.
The art for the $1 stamp features a series of overlapping geometric shapes — including circles, ovals and triangles — that reflect the symmetry of floral patterns found in nature.
In addition to the $1 Floral Geometry stamp, USPS released $2, $5 and $10 versions in recent years.
Antonio Alcalá served as art director for the stamp, which was designed by the firm Spaeth Hill.
The $1 Floral Geometry stamp will be available in panes of 10 at Post Offices and usps.com.
Heroes
A trio took turns performing life-saving CPR on their co-worker
The rural carrier was unresponsive after collapsing
Misty Frisbie was on duty at the North Platte, NE, Mail Processing Facility in December when she heard an urgent cry for help.
Frisbie, a processing support specialist, rushed to the area and found a rural carrier who had collapsed. The carrier was unresponsive and not breathing.
After Frisbie started CPR, Matt Fhuere, a retail associate, and Trinity Turner, a mail handler, arrived to help administer chest compressions.
The three took turns until paramedics got there and took over. The National Institutes of Health recommends rescuers performing chest compressions rotate every two minutes or sooner to prevent fatigue.
The group effort likely saved the rural carrier, who had suffered a heart attack, according to the paramedics.
“The family members were very grateful to be able to spend another Christmas with this employee,” said Mail Processing Operations Manager Tamara Forrester. “The outcome would have been very different had they not done what they did.”
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
People
Her fake flowers stem the loss of walkaway pens
A retail associate nips a problem in the bud and a custodian goes ‘Above and Beyond’
The Lexington, NC, Post Office gives new meaning to the term “flowery writing.”
The office affixed artificial flowers to the pens at retail windows to prevent forgetful customers from walking away with them.
“This not only protects our resources but adds great ambience to the lobby,” said Shelly Brogdon, a retail associate who came up with the idea to nip this problem in the bud.
While peonies — er, pens — adorned with artificial flowers are not an uncommon sight at retailers, what is different about the Lexington office is that the colors and flower mixes are changed according to the season or holiday.
The practice was put on hyacinth — er, hiatus — during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pens are back in bloom in the lobby.
“Hats off to Shelly for this extra special touch of personal service,” said Teresa Scott, a North Carolina District safety specialist.
Shining through
Sean Strand, a custodian at the Madison, WI, Processing and Distribution Center, so impressed his colleagues with his work ethic and willingness to assist new employees that they recently presented him with an “Above and Beyond” certificate.
“He approaches each day with gratitude. … Sean’s work ethic is unparalleled,” said Maintenance Manager Jody Russ.
Strand credited much of his motivation to his training in the Marine Corps.
“I always strove to be the best. That drive to excel has stayed with me, and I apply it to everything I do,” he said.
His philosophy: “There’s always something to do, or not. It’s a choice.”
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
Diversity of knowledge
Do you remember these Link stories?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. Fill in the blank: The Postal Service has observed Celebrate Diversity Month every April since (blank).
a) 1997
b) 2004
c) 2011
d) 2018
2. Approximately how many taxpayers mailed their tax returns last year, according to IRS data?
a) 1 percent
b) 2 percent
c) 4 percent
d) 6 percent
3. True or false: To avoid fraudulent websites, USPS recommends that employees save the LiteBlue website address as a favorite in their browser.
a) True
b) False
4. Which Senate committee recently heard testimony from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Roman Martinez IV, chairman of the USPS Board of Governors?
a) Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
b) Commerce, Science and Transportation
c) Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
d) Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
5. Match the stamp in Column A with the city where the dedication ceremony was held in Column B.
Column A
a) Betty Ford
b) Bluegrass
Column B
I) Church Creek, MD
II) Owensboro, KY
III) Rancho Mirage, CA
IV) Silver Springs, FL
Answers: 1) b. 2) d. 3) a. 4) d. 5) a. III., b. II., c. IV., d. I.
May 3, 2024
Datebook
EAP orientation
The USPS Employee Assistance Program will hold its next online orientation on Friday, May 3, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
The orientations, held on the first Friday of each month, offer information on how Postal Service employees and their families can use the program.
Employees must register in advance on the EAP website.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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The shapes of things to come
USPS will release its latest Floral Geometry stamp April 26
-
Heroes
A trio took turns performing life-saving CPR on their co-worker
-
People
Her fake flowers stem the loss of walkaway pens
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News Quiz
Diversity of knowledge
Do you remember these Link stories?
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May3Datebook
EAP orientation