Thursday, May 23, 2024
More stamp releases are on the way
USPS has announced dates and locations for the next batch
The Postal Service has announced release dates for more of this year’s stamps, along with cities where dedication ceremonies will be held:
• Hank Aaron: Wednesday, July 31; Atlanta;
• Dungeons & Dragons: Thursday, Aug. 1; Indianapolis;
• Pinback Buttons: Thursday, Aug. 15; Hartford, CT;
• Autumn Colors: Friday, Aug. 16; Hartford, CT;
• First Continental Congress: 1774: Thursday, Sept. 5; Philadelphia;
• Christmas Madonna and Child and Holiday Joy: Saturday, Sept. 14; Washington, DC;
• Hanukkah: Thursday, Sept. 19; Washington, DC; and
• Kwanzaa: Wednesday, Sept. 25; Pittsburgh.
Additionally, USPS will release Low Denomination Flowers on Thursday, July 18, and Winter Whimsy on Thursday, Oct. 10. No national dedication ceremonies are planned.
The release dates and ceremony locations are subject to change.
The ultimate sacrifice
Memorial Day pays tribute to those who died defending the country
Memorial Day, a time to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to the country, will be observed on Monday, May 27.
The first national commemoration was held in 1868, after Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union soldiers and sailors, called for May 30 to be set aside “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating” the gravesites of those who died defending the country in the Civil War. This is why the holiday is sometimes referred to as Decoration Day.
One hundred years later, Congress changed the date from May 30 to the last Monday in May as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
The Postal Service has long paid tribute to military service and sacrifice through its stamp program. One example is Honoring Extraordinary Heroism: The Service Cross Medals, a set of stamps released on Memorial Day 2016.
The four stamps — the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross and the Coast Guard Cross — honor those who died or were grievously wounded as a result of acts of valor.
Fearing that the holiday was becoming more associated with barbecues and shopping than honoring the fallen, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000.
The act calls for Americans to pause at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day for a moment of silence to remember the fallen.
About 10 percent of USPS employees have served in the military.
May 30, 2024
Datebook
PSHB virtual seminar
USPS employees and annuitants may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program.
The session will be held Thursday, May 30, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern and from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern.
PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
USPS employees, annuitants, and eligible family members are required to enroll in this new program.
The MyHR website has more information, including the Zoom links and passcodes to participate.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees can also receive updates by texting “PSHBP” to 39369.
May 30, 2024
Datebook
‘FEHB Program and Medicare Advantage’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that will explain Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage plans and how they work with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
The session, “FEHB Program and Medicare Advantage,” will be held Thursday, May 30, from 1 to 1:45 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, Michigan 2 District on top in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.29 percent during the week ending May 17, down 0.15 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected May 22.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.58 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.58 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, Michigan 2, part of Central Area, ranked first with a 98.54 percent rating, while Georgia, part of Southern Area, ranked last with a 93.40 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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What's included
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More stamp releases are on the way
USPS has announced dates and locations for the next batch
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The ultimate sacrifice
Memorial Day pays tribute to those who died defending the country
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May30Datebook
PSHB virtual seminar
-
May30Datebook
‘FEHB Program and Medicare Advantage’
-
Brief
WestPac Area, Michigan 2 District on top in scanning