Friday, November 1, 2024
People
Making a dream come true
One employee duo earns a customer’s praise, another goes the extra mile and a carrier talks dog bites
A pair of Postal Service retail associates in Bellingham, WA, recently helped a longtime customer’s dream come true, earning his gratitude — and a glowing review.
Mike Bridges and Chris Efta were working at Mount Baker Station when the customer, Dr. John Baker, noticed the “Junior Postmaster” stickers that are kept on hand for kids.
“We gladly provided him with one, which made his day,” Bridges said.
Indeed, Baker later went online to praise Bridges and Efta.
“For 83 years, I have been hoping to achieve the honor of becoming a junior postmaster. It happened today,” Baker wrote, adding that he plans to wear his sticker “24/7.”
Efta called Baker “very friendly and courteous,” while Custer, WA, Postmaster Susan Sullivan, who oversees Mount Baker Station, praised the employees.
“I am happy to see such a great rapport with a customer,” she wrote.
Full power
The Sabinal, TX, Post Office lost power after a heavy rainstorm in September, but thanks to two employees, the work didn’t stop.
Norma Robles and Leticia Arredondo, two retail associates, scanned 103 packages on the office’s dock using flashlights.
“Leticia and Norma went the extra mile to ensure our customers were satisfied and our goals were met,” said Janice Eubanks, the local officer in charge. “As soon as the power was restored, all packages were brought inside and set up in the usual manner and delivered timely to the customers.”
Ready for her close-up
Yuhua Chen, a Cincinnati carrier technician, recently spoke to USA Today about a safety concern that she and her colleagues know all too well: dog bites.
Chen, who was attacked by a dog last year, discussed the experience, as well as the training the Postal Service provides employees and the organization’s efforts to educate customers.
“I was definitely nervous, but I was ready to talk about the experience so we can prevent this from happening to others,” Chen said.
The article is slated to be published early next year.
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
History
An evergreen theme
The first U.S. Christmas stamp was issued Nov. 1, 1962
For years, customers had requested that the Post Office Department issue a Christmas-themed stamp.
On Nov. 1, 1962, their holiday wish was granted.
Designed by postal artist Jim Crawford, the 4-cent stamp featured a simple drawing of a wreath accompanied by two lighted tapers.
The design was not overtly religious, which may have been a response to the controversy of issuing a Christmas stamp.
Critics had argued that a religiously themed stamp muddied the line between church and state — after all, the Post Office Department was an arm of government. There were legal actions to prohibit the stamps, but they were unsuccessful.
The department ordered 500 million of the stamps — the most for any special issue at the time. They were such a hit, though, that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had to pull out the stops to meet demand. By the end of 1962, nearly 862 million had sold.
The stamp was so successful that the Christmas theme became a mainstay of the stamp program. Today, two Christmas stamp styles are generally issued each year: one with a contemporary design and one with a traditional design.
In the 1990s, USPS expanded its stamp program to other religious holidays — such as Hanukkah, Eid al-Fitr, Kwanzaa and Diwali — and has regularly issued nondenominational seasonally themed stamps such as Winter Scenes, Birds in Winter and this year’s Winter Whimsy.
The “History” column appears occasionally in Link.
News Quiz
All about the Benjamins
How much do you know about the Combined Federal Campaign?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. What is the Postal Service’s fundraising goal for the latest Combined Federal Campaign?
a) $1 million
b) $2 million
c) $3 million
d) $4 million
2. True or false: Under the Hatch Act, USPS employees are prohibited from displaying a partisan political bumper sticker or partisan flags on a vehicle that delivers mail.
a) True
b) False
3. Which White House initiative did the Postal Service recently join?
a) White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
b) White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research
c) White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities
d) White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose
4. Fill in the blank: USPS employees will require a (blank) account to enroll in the Postal Service Health Benefits Program.
a) Health.gov
b) Login.gov
c) OPM.gov
d) USA.gov
5. Who was the guest on the Oct. 22 edition of the Postal Service’s “Mailin’ It!” podcast?
a) Bob Dixon, USPS delivery and retail modernization senior director
b) Adrienne Marshall, USPS election and government mail services director
c) Margaret Pepe, USPS product solutions executive director
d) Natalie Reda, a retired postal inspector
Answers: 1) c. 2) a. 3) d. 4) b. 5) c.
November 8, 2024
Datebook
EAP orientation
The USPS Employee Assistance Program will hold its next online orientation on Friday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
The orientations, held on one Friday a month, offer information on how Postal Service employees and their families can use the program.
Employees must register in advance on the EAP website.
Standard time resumes this weekend
Daylight saving time will end Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m.
In areas where the change is observed, people will “fall back” and set their clocks back one hour at bedtime on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Standard time will be in effect until March 9, 2025, when daylight saving time will resume.
Postal Bulletin covers open season
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Oct. 31, previews this year’s open season benefits enrollment period that begins soon.
Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included.
Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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People
Making a dream come true
One employee duo earns a customer’s praise, another goes the extra mile and a carrier talks dog bites
-
History
An evergreen theme
The first U.S. Christmas stamp was issued Nov. 1, 1962
-
News Quiz
All about the Benjamins
How much do you know about the Combined Federal Campaign?
-
November8Datebook
EAP orientation
-
Brief
Standard time resumes this weekend
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin covers open season