Alabama window clerks walk (and run) for a cure in Aliceville

Every day at work, postal employees serve our communities, and many of us go the extra mile in our off time, too.

Aliceville Postmaster Ed Virden shared the following pictures and story:

On a cool, windy Saturday morning (last Saturday, April 21),  SSDA Sarah Johnson from Aliceville and SSDA Kim Spencer from the Carrollton Post Office took part in the 1st Annual Aliceville Walk for A Cure. 

Kim Spencer walking and waving. 

An energetic Sarah Johnson escorted at the head of the pack. 

This was a 2.5 mile course through the streets of Aliceville.  There were over 200 walkers and some runners.

$2600 was raised on this single event. All Proceeds went to Relay For Life, which is a team event to fight cancer.

Our thanks to Ed and especially to Kim and Sarah: it's a boost to everyone's morale to know that we work side by side with some good people.

The Birmingham BURRP

Last Friday, employees at the District offices in Birmingham responded to the Earth Day call to Bring UR Recyclable Paper from home (BURRP) to add to the revenue that we grow through the USPS Green Initiative.

The response was amazing. All departments participated. In fact, there was so many staff members who showed up with their bags full of paper from home that we had to turn some of them away when it came time to take the picture in the confined upstairs entrance.

As promised, those who brought paper from home were entered into a drawing for a chance to win a gift basket. The winner was Injury Comp Specialist Suzanne Hutchinson.

Do you know what would be even better? If somehow, we could get every Alabama employee involved. Wouldn't it be an incredible accomplishment if we could motivate all 9,000 (approximately) of us to bring in just one pound of paper from home every Friday for a year?

How could we do that? If you have any ideas, please submit them to Postmarks by clicking above on Contact Us.

(re)Addressing fabric postcards, and something special just for you

A few weeks ago, we continued our Fun Ways to Increase Revenue series by introducing you to retired postal employee Chris Wheeler and her passion for Trading Fabric Postcards.

Since then, we have received several questions and comments about the making and mailing of these mailable works of art, so we posed them to Chris. Below are her responses.

I would love to participate in the postcard exchange, but I don't know how to sew. 
You do not have to sew to make one of those cards. The peltex is doubled sided glue and You could just use pinking shears to go around the card. Some have used paint.

How do you mail them? 
We sometimes mail them "naked" (not us but the card) if they do not have embellishments on them. Then, you can open the clear envelope and take out the card. Some do mail them in regular envelopes since they come from overseas. But mostly, we mail in clear envelopes.

How much does it cost to mail one? 
In the USA, if we mail them "naked," it cost a first class stamp.. If we put them in clear envelopes, it can't go through automation (or if we dont want to go through automation), and it is 20 cents extra.

At first, some of the exchange members had problems. Finally, I sat down and sent Mr. Potter (former Postmaster General) a letter containing two cards and got clarification. They are treated as first-class letters. So wherever in the world you send them, it's a  first-class stamp unless they are in clear envelopes, and then they are 20 cents extra. That is the best way to look at it. 

Once you get one in the mail, what do you do with it? 

I have a little easel  that I put mine on and change them out. They truly are works of art. I wish you could see all the ones I have in the photo boxes: some are beyond belief. 

It is just so fun and easy. 

Think of it like this. If someone gives you a birthday or Christmas card, what do you do? Keep it for a few days and throw it away.. Okay, but if I give you a fabric card, you're unlikely to toss it because you know that it is handmade and that you have the only one in existence. I can sit down and make 100 of the same card, and every one will be different in some sort of way.

And what do you know, the day after we made that first post about Trading Fabric Postcards, one that had been made especially for us arrived in our mailbox. 

From Chris Wheeler to you--

Back: 

Notice that ours was encased in a clear envelope, just like she explained above.

Front:

Wasn't that a lovely surprise? Our photos don't do it justice. Thanks, Chris -- we love it!

If you would like to see many more examples of these beautiful creations and to be inspired to make your own, you can visit Trading Fabric Postcards by clicking here.

There are LOTS of mothers out there

Oneonta OIC Jeff Glass sent us pictures of Oneonta's Mothers' Day lobby display.

Along with the pictures, Jeff wrote, "Oneonta SSA Sharon Johnson designed this Mothers' Day display behind her retail counter.  It's actually more prominent than it appears in the photos, and she has added a few extra touches since the photos were taken.  It's really quite nice. "


"I'm proud of her work and just thought we'd share the idea."

Alabama District Marketing Manager Bridgett Carroll agrees with Jeff's feelings of pride. "This is exactly the type of initiative and drive we need in our employees if we are going to grow retail revenue."

Okay, we've got three weeks until Mothers' Day, which is plenty of time for every office to do their best to design a promotional reminder in the lobby.

It will be well worth the effort. If Postmarks can't convince you, perhaps these facts about Mothers' Day will do the trick:

1. 96% of Americans participate in Mothers' Day.

2. There are over 85 million mothers in the United States alone.

3. Every year, approximately 133 million greeting cards are sent to mothers through the USPS.

4. Mothers' Day is the second highest gift-giving event in the US.

5. According to Hallmark, in Hispanic communities, Mothers' Day ranks first in card-sending occasions.

Prichard is special

...and they've got the March traveling trophy to prove it!

For the month of March, the Prichard Post Office down in Mobile made the highest percentage score of 63.3 on Special Services for Levels 22-24 offices.

In the front row are Prichard Sales and Service Associates Eunice Bush, Robbie Coate, Beatrice Williams, Mike Hamilton, and Dorrenda Morrissette. Behind them are Manager Michael Carlin and MPOO Reginald Capers.

Earth Day Facts and Birmingham BURRP-ing contest

Birmingham Contest Announcement sent by Sandy Scott: 

Earth Day is organized around low-cost and no-cost actions we can take to conserve our natural resources and save money, too! This campaign complements the Go Green Stamps theme launched in 2011. If you feel as if there’s not much one person can do to make a positive impact — You are wrong! 

“BURRP” (Bring UR Recyclable Paper) was started to promote and encourage postal employees to bring in their Recyclable Paper from Home.  Everyone should have a blue reusable SOAR Bag for recycling.  If not, contact Roy Davis at 521-7925 or email roy.r.davis@usps.gov . 

This Friday, April 20^th fill your SOAR bags.  For each bag that is presented, your name will go into a drawing for a goodie basket!  This event will take the place of the BURRP day normally initiated by Roy.   

Meet us at the BURRP drop location near the second floor elevators between 10:00 am & 10:30 am this Friday, April 20^th to get your name in the drawing for the basket!!!

Items you may include are:

Newspapers

Magazines

Phone books

Color or white paper

Greeting cards

Wrapping paper

Do not include:

Financial transactions or sensitive information of any kind

Documents that include Social Security Numbers

Food contaminated paper

Waxed paper, milk cartons or juice cartons

Oil soaked paper

Carbon paper

Sanitary products or tissues

Thermal fax paper

Stickers or plastic laminated paper

Pet food bags

Plastics bags and liners

Laminated paper

Community Helpers' Day

Last Friday was Community Helpers' Day at New Life Christian Academy in Bessemer, Alabama. Complaints and Inquiry Clerk Lasabria Smith (pictured below with the kids) represented the USPS and was kind enough to share the following pictures and to tell us about the fun-filled morning.

Lasabria wrote: " I explained to the kids how the Postal Service was active in the community by delivering mail to millions of people and how we process it.  I also brought them Postal coloring books and Postal crayons.  The teacher, Ms. Poe, has relatives that work for the Postal Service as well. They provided her with the hat, shirt, and satchel, making her look like a real Postal employee.  I really thought she was."

Lasabria was right: the teacher and everyone else in the picture above could definitely pass as Postal employees.

Carla Dudley, a parent to one of the children, told us more about Community Helpers' Day as a whole.

The Learning Center at New Life celebrates Community Helper's Day annually during the month of April.  The purpose of the day is to make the students aware of the many people who serve the citizens within the community in which they live and go to school.  

On Friday, April 13, The Learning Center welcomed the U. S. Postal Service, Bessemer Fire Department, Home Depot, doctors and nurses from a local clinic, Police officials, the U. S. National Guard and more.  Each Pre K-3 and K-4 class had a different community helper theme.

 The classrooms were decorated, themed goodies were passed out, and the students were dressed in theme.  It was an awesome day and an awesome way to acknowledge those who give so much of themselves daily.  It is also an excellent way to develop relationships and community partnerships alike.

The USPS is proud to have been invited to Community Helpers' Day in Bessemer and we hope that everyone had a fun, educational morning (it sure looks like they did!)

Our thanks to Lasabria Smith and Carla Dudley for sharing the morning with us, too.