POSTAL NEWS

...from various sources.

9.29.2008

Terra Ceia losing a sense of identity


"...On this island in northern Manatee County where there is no home mail delivery, the local post office has served as the social hub of the sparsely populated community for more than 50 years. More than a place to get mail, the post office is where islanders go daily to catch up on gossip, share news and shoot the breeze with neighbors...."  
Source: www.heraldtribune.com




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9.27.2008

$50,000 reward posted for information on mailings containing white powder


"...in an attempt to smoke out the culprit who mailed a series of hoax letters containing white powder this month to two west suburban police departments and a children's museum. The powder—sent to the Westmont and Willowbrook Police Departments and the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville—proved to be harmless, but..."  
Source: www.chicagotribune.com




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9.26.2008

OPM Announces Open Season for Health Benefits, Dental and Vision Insurance, and Flexible Spending Accounts


"...The Open Season also can be used by employees and retirees to enroll in supplemental dental and/or vision insurance coverage. In 2008 - in only its second year of availability - the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) had more than 1 million enrollments. Each Open Season, OPM publishes the popular Guide to Federal Benefits. This year, it identifies 42 FEHB carriers for their best-practices on health-care cost and quality transparency. OPM also will unveil a new Federal Benefits website (www.opm.gov/insure), which will let enrollees look at their overall health-related coverages and give them a better understanding of the coordination of benefits between, for instance, the FEHB Program and the supplemental dental/vision coverage...."  
Source: www.opm.gov




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9.25.2008

Direct mail campaign targets document and package shippers

IT’S TIME TO RETHINK YOUR SHIPPING


"...a free shipping kit that includes Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes and envelopes, labels and special offers from our partners Stamps.com and Endicia. With the free kit, customers can easily start shipping with USPS right away...."  
Source: liteblue.usps.gov




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Reward in mail carrier attack


"...The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person who struck and injured a mail carrier as she made deliveries on Haws Avenue on Friday morning.
The 50-year-old mail carrier ..."  
Source: www.timesherald.com




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9.23.2008

Casa de correos, correo. DURHAM, NC

New post office caters to Spanish speakers


"... the new post office is open for business at La Plaza Latina, 3801 Wake Forest Road, Suite 118. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. each weekday except Tuesday. The new office is designed to reach customers who can't travel to the East Durham Post Office, postal officials said..."  
Source: www.newsobserver.com




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Stamp out junk mail ...and get $1.00

GreenDimes


"... With GreenDimes, you can stop up to 90% of your junk mail - guaranteed. We work with you and the largest group of marketers and catalogs — over 4,500 and growing — to make sure you get only the mail you want. Give it a Try.. Get $1 This is so important, we're paying our first 5 million members $1 just to try the service, with no strings attached, and results guaranteed...."  
Source: www.greendimes.com




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15% Off ZIP Code Maps - Thru September 30th Only


"... MaponicsOnlineStore.com, the only place USPS.com refers to for ZIP Code maps, announced that now thru September 30th only, businesses will receive 15% off all ZIP Code maps purchased online. This sale includes the popular U.S. ZIP Code Map CD, which offers instant access to the most accurate ZIP Code maps for each of the 50 states (plus D.C and Puerto Rico). For one low price, up to ten employees can use this information without expensive licensing fees. ..."  
Source: www.maponicsonlinestore.com




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Reduce Shipping Costs

Cost Cutters: Reduce Shipping Costs


"... If paying 42 cents apiece to send out a direct mailer sounds pricey, then consider switching to electronic postage. By purchasing postage online via providers such as Click-N-Ship, Endicia, Pitney Bowes and Stamps.com, Express Mail customers can get a 3% price reduction..."  
Source: online.wsj.com




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Baker clerk addresses campus postal needs


"... On an average day, 300 to 400 customers use the post office in Baker University Center, so post office clerk Charlie Tholin is usually busy...."  
Source: www.thepost.ohiou.edu




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9.21.2008

Carrier Routes by ZIP Code Lookup

A great tool from MelissaData


"... Get a list of Carrier Routes by 5-digit ZIP Code.
..."  
Source: www.melissadata.com




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9.20.2008

Imagine MSN Virtual Earth for Business Mailers -- by Neighborhood

Melissa Data teams up with Maponics to create a unique, free mashup that lets businesses visualize carrier route boundaries before purchasing a mailing list


"... ..."  
Source:




Other Resources: MelissaData FREE Lookups

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USPS to deploy IPv6-capable video surveillance


"...The new video platform will be integrated into the existing USPS network. Video surveillance is critical for USPS to prevent and investigate burglaries and other security incidents that occur inside and around USPS facilities. An IP-based system offers features unavailable in traditional closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, such as the ability to view live video from remote locations through an Internet connection. ..."  
Source: www.gcn.com



Other Resources: www.gcn.com


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9.19.2008

Former UPS worker awarded $2.63 million

Former UPS worker awarded $2.63 million


"...lost his job as a package car driver after he suffered a shoulder injury and sought workers’ compensation. Jones had a history of work-related injuries and workers’ comp claims. After his October 2003 injury, Jones claimed his immediate supervisor asked him if he “knew what work comp fraud was” and said he was harassed by other UPS supervisors. ..."  
Source: www.kansascity.com




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9.18.2008

Mail theft prevention posters in the mail


"... The poster includes the national toll-free OIG Hotline telephone number, 888-USPS-OIG, for employees and contractors to anonymously — or confidentially — report situations that could compromise the integrity of the Postal Service and the mail. Additional copies of the poster can be obtained at no charge from the Topeka Material Distribution Center (MDC) in Topeka, KS. Refer to General Poster 239...."  
Source: liteblue.usps.gov




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Postal Service Outlines Plan to Tackle Tough Times, Reach New Heights

Postmaster General Cautions of Perfect Economic Storm


"... Citing fluctuating oil prices, inflation in paper prices and the strife in the financial markets, Potter described challenging economic conditions as the most difficult time since the 1960s. The additional move of hardcopy messages to the Internet and questions about mail’s environmental impact have led to a volume decline of 9 billion pieces this year...."  
Source: www.usps.com




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9.17.2008

Federal workers owe billions in unpaid taxes


"...The agency with the most delinquent employees is the US Postal Service. With more than 747000 employees, the postal service is the largest employer in the federal government, but with a 4.16 percent delinquency rate, it is a full 1 percent above the average compliance rate this year. ..."  
Source: www.wtop.com




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9.14.2008

USPS May Introduce New Flat Rate Box


"... A spokesperson said, "There are no official plans right now for the box you describe below..."  
Source: blog.auctionbytes.com




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9.12.2008

stolen post office safe

Reward offered for tip on stolen post office safe


"... safe was stolen recently from the Makaweli Post Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000..."  
Source: www.honoluluadvertiser.com




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Fall Ride Post Office Ceremony

Tomahawk Fall Ride


"...Terry Hinds, a fall ride participant says, "I collect stamps, so I look at ceremonies for new stamps and this not only is a good benefit, but also a chance to get a first day issue of a new stamp, so it works out good." ..."  
Source: www.wjfw.com




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9.09.2008

Downers Grove post office to curb noise, lights for condo residents


"...constant complaints from nearby residents, the Downers Grove post office has reached an agreement with the village that will reduce the early morning disturbances coming from the facility...."  
Source: www.chicagotribune.com




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Gustav precautions put burden on Postal Service

Mail was evacuated from harm's way too


"...Workers are now dealing with a very high volume of mail at the Loyola Avenue center, Comeaux said. On Sunday night, 3.5 million pieces of mail came through the center. Since Katrina, 2.8 million pieces is considered a very high volume night ..."  
Source: www.nola.com




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9.08.2008

Postal Service offers early retirements

Buyouts not an option


"...Vegliante said paying employees to retire early isn’t an option. The agency anticipates a $2 billion deficit for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.
“There’s absolutely not going to be an incentive,” he said. “Economically it doesn’t make any sense at this point. It would cost us too much money, and right now we’re not in the position.” ..."  
Source: federaltimes.com




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9.07.2008

Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP)

Description


"...The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Authority, also known as buyout authority, allows agencies that are downsizing or restructuring to offer employees lump-sum payments up to $25,000 as an incentive to voluntarily separate. When authorized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), an agency may offer VSIP to employees who are in surplus positions or have skills that are no longer needed in the workforce who volunteer to separate by resignation, optional retirement, or by voluntary early retirement, if approved. By allowing employees to volunteer to leave the Government, agencies can minimize or avoid involuntary separations through the use of costly and disruptive reductions in force (RIFs). Agencies such as the Department of Defense that have been granted agency-specific VSIP authority are not required to seek OPM approval for their use of this option. ..."  
Source: www.opm.gov




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9.06.2008

Postal worker suspected of embezzling $15,000

GRAND RAPIDS --


"...An employee at the U.S. Postal Service's Kentwood branch is suspected of embezzling $15,000 by failing to record sales of stamps and pocketing customers' cash from the transactions, court records show. ..."  
Source: www.mlive.com




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9.04.2008

Ex-postal workers cite problems

Postal Service says grievance process wasn’t utilized


"... the postal service has grievance procedures established with the unions. That’s why it’s there and everybody gets their fair say and due process. And then there is a record and upper management and the unions can go back and see what’s involved and how’s it being handled.”Without using the process how will it affect change..."  
Source: www.stjoenews.net




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Analysis of a Postal Scam


"...legitimate looking (but nevertheless equally criminal and spurious) letter via the U.S. Mail. Starting with a sort of official letter, purportedly from Comcast Financial Services & Consultants, a division of Comcast LLC in Englewood, CO. I've won some money - $57,000 in fact...."  
Source: scenicroot.blogspot.com




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9.03.2008

Man Charged For Robbing Gould, Ark. Post Office


"... brandishing a firearm, entered the Gould Post Office and took $200 from an employee. If convicted of the postal robbery charge..."  
Source: www.todaysthv.com




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9.02.2008

Poll results confirm large majority opposes postal deregulation

CANADIAN UNION OF POSTAL WORKERS


"..."The public is overwhelmingly against postal deregulation and supports a
strong universal public postal system," said Denis Lemelin, CUPW National
President. "Hopefully, the review panel will remember these results when
making their recommendations."
..."  
Source: www.newswire.ca




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Postal Service Suspending Service


"... Postal Service employees in the area are being advised to check for changes to their scheduled work reporting status on a daily basis by contacting the USPS National Emergency Notification Hotline to determine if any special instructions have been issued. The toll-free USPS National Emergency Notification Hotline for U.S. Postal Service employees is: 1-888-363-7462...."  
Source: www.kfdm.com




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9.01.2008

US Postal Service: Mail will be secured during Hurricane Gustav


"...has procedures in place to help customers reestablish connection with their mail as soon as weather conditions allow. The USPS is working closely with the Social Security Administration and other agencies to continue disbursing checks that have not been received. ..."  
Source: www.sulphurdailynews.com




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8.31.2008

Gustav -v- USPS

Post Offices May Extend Holiday Closures in Preparation for Gustav


"...The Postal Service is already scheduled to suspend its operations Monday for the Labor Day holiday, but an official statement issued to the media suggests the agency may keep offices that could be affected by Gustav closed. ..."  
Source: www.myfoxhouston.com




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8.29.2008

New stamp an early sketch of Birmingham Museum of Art's Bierstadt


"...At first glance, a light-strewn image of Yosemite Valley on a new commemorative stamp is a dead ringer for Albert Bierstadt's "Looking Down Yosemite Valley" at the Birmingham Museum of Art. But don't be fooled. The stamp pictures "Valley of the Yosemite," a Bierstadt painting from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Issued Aug. 14, it is the eighth entry in the United States Postal Service's "American Treasures" series. ..."  
Source: al.com




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8.27.2008

Former postmaster compiles history of Hanover office


"...he put together a book called "U.S. Post Office History, Hanover PA 17331" outlining the Hanover Post Office's 213-year history. McManus, a native of Hanover,
..."  
Source: www.eveningsun.com




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More Postal Service Mail Processing Facility Consolidations

Article Title: No. 2 Oakland County project: U.S. Postal Service Processing Center


"... consolidated four mail processing centers that were located in Troy in one new 806,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art mail processing facility in Pontiac..."  
Source: www.mlive.com




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8.26.2008

Black Rock City Post Office for the Burning Man festival


"... The BRCPO in Center Camp, has been and is again this year, the only camp with the privilege to run the USPS mail in and out of Black Rock City for the Burning man festival. The BRCPO in Center Camp will be the only Post Office with the USPS Cancellation Permit and Burning Man Cancellation stamp. Only at the BRCPO in Center Camp may mail be deposited to be delivered off-playa with the official Burning Man 2008 cancellation stamp. This mail will be taken out daily to the USPO in Gerlach by the BRCPO Center Camp transport...."  
Source: bm.tribe.net




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APWU Recommends "No Go" on no incentive USPS Early Out Offer


"... We also can expect that if a sufficient number of employees do not accept the early-out offer, the Postal Service will still face a significant deficit, and will still be forced to find ways to reduce the workforce. In light of these factors, it would be foolish for employees to retire early without achieving all of their personal objectives. The union will continue to discuss the details of the early-out offer and will report the results of those discussions. Among the subjects to be addressed are whether all APWU-represented employees will be included and whether eligible employees will receive an incentive bonus for retiring...."  Employees Would Be Best Served by Postponing Early-Out Decision
Source: www.apwu.org




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Mark of the Eagle: Episode 2

After a narrow escape from the onslaught of office equipment, Ed, the letter carrier, must unite the people of this office for one final stand. Come back on Monday September 1, 2008 for Mark of the Eagle: Episode 3!


Episode 1

From: YouTube


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8.25.2008

National Retirement Counseling System Annuity Estimate

USPS

"...National Retirement Counseling System Annuity Estimate. This information details the postal voluntary early out retirement annuity statement that was mailed to eligible employees. ..."    



This Article is From: VER-Annuity-Estimate-Calc.html

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8.24.2008

mailbox explosions

US Postal Inspection Service seeks information in mailbox explosions


"... These most recent incidents follow a months-long string of mailbox explosions that began this spring..."  
Source: www.phillyburbs.com




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