Going pink on Sand Mountain

In addition to being Halloween, today is also the final day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So many Alabama offices have participated and have been kind enough to share their events with us that we'll be writing pink stories well into November. Please be patient as we catch up; everyone who submitted pictures or who invited us to their events will have their turn being posted here within the next week or so.

Dawson may be a tiny community (population: less than 2,000), but the Dawson Post Office went all out to do things in a big way.

The following was submitted by Dawson Postmaster Brenda Nelson:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important one for us and for our customers. I thought that you would like to see how we decorated.

Kristi Brothers (Pictured below) is an RCA who has been here at Dawson for the past 10 years. 

For the past 4 years, I have been decorating the office with Kristi's help.

This just goes to show that no matter how large or how small, every office can play an important role in helping to educate our communities about and funding a cure for breast cancer.

The awareness month may be coming to a close, but that doesn't mean that we have to stop.

Positively Pink in Montgomery

By Montgomery Secretary Eve Golden:

On Monday, October 24, 2011, the Montgomery Main Post Office hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness Event to pay tribute to the many individuals who have fought the battle. Postmaster Donnie Snipes informed the audience of the many contributions provided from the sales of the Breast Cancer Stamp as well as gave a brief history relating to the origin of the stamp and its design.

Our guest speaker, Mrs. Dena Childrey, a breast cancer survivor with the American Cancer Society, shared the story of her battle with the disease. She emphasized the need for early detection through frequent exams. “Men and Women, both are at risk. Self exams play a major role in early detection, and if you are not familiar with the procedure, you should get in touch with your physician," Mrs. Childrey stated.

At the conclusion of her talk, Postmaster Snipes present Mrs. Childrey with a framed sheet of Breast Cancer Stamps.

The pink balloons which adorned the beautiful lobby were taken outside. There, Postmaster Snipes prayed for the breast cancer survivors, and the pink balloons were released into the glistening sunshine.

Afterwards, the guests were treated to cake decorated with the Breast Cancer Stamp accompanied by pink raspberry punch.

You can view all of the pictures that were sent to us by Eve Golden and Ziann Goree by clicking here.

CFC Bake Sale in Birmingham next Wednesday

Come indulge your craving to give!

A face for the cure

It’s the last week of October. Postal employees across Alabama are giving that final push as they compete for the top positions in the Breast Cancer Awareness stamp sales contest.

Even if you have not yourself or had a friend or family member in your life suffer from breast cancer, motivation for continuing the drive to fund the cure is not hard to find.

Close to home and to the hearts of many of us already is an example of why we need to keep striving to sell the Breast Cancer Awareness stamps for the rest of October and beyond.

Postmarks introduced you to Terri Davis back in 2010 when we spoke with her at the Birmingham Main Post Office’s breast cancer awareness event (click here to revisit).  She had just returned to work after her first successful, grueling encounter with the disease.

Between then and seeing her at this year’s event earlier this month, Terri was re-diagnosed with cancer and has been through a lot more.

We asked Terri to tell us about her experience and, gracious and helpful as always, she agreed.

“When I was diagnosed, I couldn’t find anybody who wanted to talk about it unless I was at the hospitals,” Terri said. “As far as people on the workroom floor, I couldn’t find anybody to share their story.”

“I don’t know why we don’t talk about breast cancer, or any cancer, that we have.”

Two years ago, Terri discovered the lump on her breast while examining herself and went have it checked out. Her doctor then also detected a lump as the result of a mammogram.

Terri ignored his repeated telephone calls. “I went into a state of shock and disbelief, like this can’t be happening. The doctor was continuously calling and telling me, ‘You’ve got to come in,’ because I wouldn’t go. I was afraid.”

A friend wouldn’t let the matter drop. “She told me that I needed to go and get everything straight.”

Two months later, Terri finally heeded her friend’s counsel and began a long and arduous journey that still is not complete.

Earlier this year, after multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and a clean bill of health, Terri's cancer returned.

Again, the person who first detected it was herself. “I tell everybody, ‘Make sure that you do your breast self exam.’  Because each time, I caught mine.”

This time, it was Terri who had to pursue an accurate diagnosis. The doctor who had done her reconstructive surgery told her that there was nothing to worry about, that what she felt was merely scar tissue.

"I thought okay," Terri said. "But every time I took a shower, I would go back to the same spot, and I’d say, 'Something is wrong. This doesn’t feel like scar tissue.'"

"So I went to another doctor, and that’s when he checked it. He sent the tissue to the pathologist and it came back cancer."

When discussing all that has happened with her in the past couple of years, Terri always chooses to take the positive approach. "Sometimes, when I’m alone, I sort of think, wow, Terri, you’ve come a long way, you should be proud of yourself, and then I rejoice. I know that my neighbors probably think that I’m crazy. I shout for joy."

"I don’t want to look like what I have, you know? I don’t want people to say, 'Oh, poor Terri, she had breast cancer,' and, 'Poor Terri, she got breast cancer again.' I don’t want it to be like that.

"I’m doing fine, I’m glad to be here, and I’m glad to share this with you."

UPDATE:
After more surgery and seven weeks of radiation treatment, Terri was in the process of healing when we interviewed her a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, since then, she received more bad news: a mass was found on one of her ovaries.

This week, at age 43, Terri was put in the hospital and underwent a complete hysterectomy. She says that the operation went smoothly. She and all of us are hoping for her speedy and full recovery.

If you would like to send Terri some words of cheer, you can send them to us (we don't want to put her home address on the web), and we'll make sure that she receives them right away.


Attn: Terri T'baby Davis
c/o Postmarks
PO Box 126
Birmingham, AL 35203-0126


You can also look her up on Facebook.

Coping with change, Part I

Please join Postmarks in welcoming Dr. Patricia Hamilton from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). She is going to be our first columnist!

Every so often, Dr. Hamilton is going to address issues that most of us will face at some point in our lives. This week, her contribution is about some of the ways that one can attempt to cope with the stress that is often associated with change.

Dr. Patricia Hamilton:

Change can be bad or good. It can take many forms and may affect every aspect of your life.

Change can sometimes feel overwhelming, and it may disrupt the comfort that we have in our daily routines.

Changes are new and unfamiliar. They can make us feel unsettled, afraid, and uncertain due to having an external lack of control. Frequently, when change occurs, we don’t like it.

Change can also be one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in the work environment. EAP can help with this process.

Since change is the road that we are on, let’s learn how to change the way we change by trying to view changes as challenges rather than as problems.

To keep ourselves grounded and functioning at a high level during these times, it is important to focus on the positive changes that are occurring in each of our lives, and to acknowledge that change is normal and is around us all the time.

Every day, slow down and take a moment to review the positives in our lives. Notice that the weather and the seasons change, our children grow and enter new stages, and we ourselves change as we age. Once we accept that change is a normal part of life, we can adapt ourselves, adapt our perceptions, and make plans for our futures.

Remember, change is inevitable, but we can change how we look at it and how we respond to it.

EAP is a free and confidential service open to USPS employees and their families. 24 hours a day, you can call 1-800-EAP-4YOU (TTY 877-492-7341).

Deliciously pink in Hartselle

Last Friday, the Hartselle Post Office invited us to visit their Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Or should we say one of their Breast Cancer Awareness Days because unlike most offices who only do this once in October, Hartselle is pulling out all the stops and is having events on every Friday this month.

Supervisor Heather Fairbanks, OIC Tasha Salem, Area I MPOO R. Derick King, and SSA Janna Martin stand in front of a giant pink display that is located in the Hartselle lobby. All of the items on the shelves were either purchased or donated by the Hartselle staff or their customers.

Notice the lovely t-shirts worn by Hartselle employees. They were made by Heather Fairbanks' mother especially for their events.

At the end of October, everyone who has purchased Breast Cancer Awareness stamps will be entered into a drawing for the items.

These pink fishing lures were made and donated by a customer for the end-of-the-month giveaway.

Retired postal worker Leora Gee (l) with SSA Sandra Latta, who was instrumental last year in Hartselle placing first in the state for Level 18-20 offices.

Although she could be taking it easy, Leora has shown up at the Hartselle Post Office every Friday to help out with the events this month. She did the same last year (you can click here to see her then).

Customer Eva Eddy (l) with Heather Fairbanks behind the table of pink goodies that was available in the lobby. It's hard to see in this picture, but Heather made the deliciously pink raspberry-jalapeno cheese spread that was only one of the treats offered to customers along with information about preventing and detecting breast cancer.

Area I MPOO R. Derick King was a good sport about being willing to show his team pride, even when the head paint began to drip.

Customer Linda Harrison (l) with Sandra Latta

Customer Mary Chandler with SSA Janna Martin

Janna Martin selling Breast Cancer Awareness stamps to customer Alvin E. Prince

We don't yet have the day's totals, but from the looks of how busy it was in the short time that we were there, we're sure that they were great.

"Going into last week, we already had $8,000 in Breast Cancer Awareness stamp sales," said Hartselle OIC Tasha Salem. "We're hoping to slide in and beat Eastbrook at the last minute." 

Special delivery in Orange Beach

The Guardians of the Ribbon are a group of firefighters, police officers, and community leaders who have made it their mission to raise awareness and money for the fight against breast cancer.

One way that they work towards this admirable goal is their Pink Heals 2011 Tour.

On October 16, a pink firetruck in Orange Beach, Alabama, picked up Postal employee and breast cancer survivor Pam Shaver and delivered her to the Orange Beach Post Office on their Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

Pam Shaver arriving at the Orange Beach Post Office

Pam signing a local pink firetruck that is dedicated to breast cancer survival

Orange Beach Postmaster Patti Meyer with a lovely spread that was provided in the lobby. Nothing gets people's attention like pretty pink food.

Orange Beach Post Office stands together in promoting breast cancer awareness, prevention, and fundraising for research.

To learn more about the pink firetrucks and the Guardians of the Ribbon, click here.

Our thanks to David Dilbeck and Patti Meyer for sending us the pictures and information.

Working together to fund the cure

Last week, Hunter Security was mailing 2012 calendars to their customers. Sharon Huton, a representative from the company, called the Daphne Post Office to see if 2,000 84-cent stamps were available for purchase.

Daphne Postmaster Kelly Jones checked, but she didn't have that many 84-cent stamps in stock.

"Do you have 4,000 44-cent stamps?" Sharon asked Kelly. The company was in a hurry and was willing to pay a little extra to ensure that the calendars had enough postage.

Kelly told her that yes, they did have that many 44-cent stamps in stock and then asked, "Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?"

Sharon said that she did indeed and that many women employed at Hunter had been stricken with the disease.



Hunter Security Representative Sharon Huton purchasing Breast Cancer Awareness stamps in Daphne, Alabama

 From here, we'll let Kelly tell the rest of the story:

"I asked if she would be interested in paying 11 cents additional for each stamp and that the $ .11 goes towards breast cancer research.

She said, "I have to ask the boss, would you like to hold?" I said sure.

She came back and said that her boss, Scott Hunter, said that it was okay.

$2200.00 was sold by one of my clerks on behalf of all Daphne employees."

That just goes to show that our customers want to help find a cure for breast cancer as much as we do: sometimes, all we have to do is to ask for their help.

A big thank you to Hunter Security in Daphne and to Postmaster Kelly Jones for sharing this great story and the picture with us.

Thinking Pink in Summerdale

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and post offices across Alabama are doing everything that they can to increase awareness of the disease, raise money for breast cancer research by promoting the Breast Cancer Awareness semi-postal stamp, and compete for first place in the friendly yet competitive sales contest.

Last Thursday, the Summerdale Post Office brought the message to their community. Manager of Post Office Operations David Dilbeck sent us this article that was in the Baldwin County newspaper.

Think Pink!
Post offices selling stamps in October to raise money for breast cancer research

By John Underwood
independent@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

SUMMERDALE, Ala. ---Members of the Summerdale Post Office welcomed firefighter Asher Michon and the pink fire truck from the Orange Beach Fire Department on Thursday to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Summerdale Post Master Carol Miller said post offices throughout Baldwin County are selling breast cancer awareness stamps throughout the month of October. Proceeds from the sale of the stamps will go toward breast cancer research, Miller said.

“We all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, either a friend or a relative,” she said. “It’s kind of a friendly competition between the post offices to sell the most stamps, so we want everyone to come out and buy from us!”

Pictured with Miller and Michon are postal employees (in no order) Wade Durant, Pam Durant, Monica Walser, Lisa Dixon, Kim Heaton, Karin Suarex and Belinda Long. 

Every employee's involvement is important: selling stamps helps the Postal Service which in turn also helps all USPS employees, too, but deciding to get involved and participate in breast cancer awareness and fundraising like the Summerdale staff can lead towards making a difference in the world. 

"I didn't realize that y'all were closed on Columbus Day."

Postmarks returned from vacation today to find these photos in our inbox. They were sent to us by Anniston OIC Sheila Laney.

A customer in the white Ford caught one of her flipflops beneath the brake pedal and then accidently mashed her accelerator.

Thank goodness that it was a holiday: no staff or customers were in the building. 

Anniston Supervisor Kevin Kea good-naturedly picks up a crumpled trash can. Kevin, Oxford Supervisor Kristie Grant, and Sheila Laney cleaned up the giant mess.



Sheila Laney documenting the damage. In this photo, it's really obvious how many people could have been hurt had this been a regular Monday morning.

Funding the cure for breast cancer in Birmingham

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and yesterday, the lobby of the Birmingham Main Post Office was packed with customers and staff who want to do their part to fund the cure.

The Breast Cancer Awareness stamp was introduced as the first semipostal  in 1998 (which means that the cost of the stamp is a little higher than the price of a regular first-class stamp in order to fund a charitable cause).  $2.20 of every booklet sold goes directly towards funding breast cancer research. So far, over $73.5 million has been raised.

The main speaker was Thelma Brown from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She is pictured above with Birmingham Postmaster Mike Allison. After Ms. Brown spoke about how many lives are affected by this disease and stressed the need for early detection,  Allison presented her with a gift of appreciation.

Later on in the event, breast cancer survivors were asked to stand and be recognized. From left to right: Thelma Brown, Clerk Terri Davis, Mike and Stefany Allison, and Retail Specialist Gloria Conaway-Jones.

Attendees lined up to learn more about breast cancer and...

for cake and pink lemonade, too, of course. 

Clerk Terri Davis (l) is embraced by Donna Gaines. Many of you may remember Terri from last year's Birmingham event and from our newsletter. Terri's battle with breast cancer began again this year, and she has gone through a lot.

Terri graciously agreed to share in depth her story with us, so within the coming week, we'll post a feature article about her and her struggles and triumphs with this disease.

Marketing Manager Bridgett Carroll with Reginald Capers. Carroll challenged every employee to purchase a book of breast cancer awareness stamps during the month of October on our quest to fund the research that will find a cure for breast cancer. 

Note: If any Postal employees are running next Saturday in Birmingham in this year's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, let us know so that we can all arrange to meet up together.

Meet the Challenge Lead Submission Contest

Passport Days across Alabama

September 17 was Passport Day in the USA. Several post offices in Alabama participated: Anniston, Arab, the Birmingham Main Post Office, Dothan, Haysland Station in Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, and Sylacauga.

The events were a great success: in half a day, these offices raised $11,890 in revenue.

Here are pictures from some of them:

Dothan

Fees: $800

Passport photos: $450

Sylacauga:
Fees: $175
Passport photos: $60

SSA Bethany Roland helped customers complete their applications.

Montgomery
Fees: $1,650
Passport photos: $810

LD&D Specialist Adrienne Brown holds a balloon airplane created by Montgomery Secretary Ziann Goree.

Passport clerks working were Lisa Hartman and Sharon Henderson. They were assisted by Deborah Andrews, Danielle Colvin, Eve Golden, and Adrian Brown. Postmaster Donnie Snipes, Supervisor Ellen Aretz, and Supervisor Neva Rambo helped, too.

Huntsville
Fees: $1600
Passport photos: $885

Thanks, everyone, for sending us the pictures and information, and if you know the names of anyone in these photos, please drop us a line.

Thursday: Birmingham Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We look forward to attending many of the events across Alabama. Please let us know when your office is having one so that we can be there, too.

We CAN be number one this year in Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp sales!