Girl Scout stamp challenge

On June 9, 2012, a forever stamp commemorating the 100th year of the Girl Scouts will be unveiled.

On this day, over 200,000 Girl Scouts and their supporters from all over the world will be gathering in Washington, D.C., for Rock the Mall to participate in the world's biggest sing-along and to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary.

The Girl Scouts was formed in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. The year before in England, she had met Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting, and wanted to bring the same types of values and activities to young women, too.

When she returned to Savannah, Georgia, Low called her cousin and said, ""I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"

What began in 1912 with 18 girls has grown into a worldwide organization with over 3.7 million current Girl Scouts in 145 countries and over 50 million participants overall in the last 100 years.

In the US and across the world, scouting stamps are big: big in popularity, and big business, too.

According to the PENPEX & Sequoia Stamp Club, "There are now over 1500 [1977 total] Boy and Girl Scout [Guide] stamps issued by over 100 different countries.  New Scout Stamps are issued every year by one country or another."

At the Vintage Girl Scout Online Museum, you can see a nice collection of US Girl Scout stamps and philatelic memorabilia called Girl Scouts On Stamps - What Have You Done For Me Philately? by clicking here.

So why are we telling you all this two months before the stamp unveiling?

Because we want you to have time to do something special. We challenge all offices to have a Girl Scout event this year. Right now, there are about 25,000 Girl Scouts active in Alabama, not to mention how many former scouts there might be across the state.

Here is your office's chance to get involved in your community and to raise revenue.

If you are interested in doing something for this stamp release but don't know where to start, you can talk to leaders of your local scouting troop, contact the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama or the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, or contact us for help.

Postmarks will do our best to provide what support we can and to cover every event.

Mail Processing Clerk Bill Michulek: 80 and going strong

We don’t get enough stories from or about employees who work in mail processing facilities, and that’s why we were particularly glad when a co-worker of the fellow we’re about to tell you about stopped us and said, “Y’all need to do an article about Mr. Michulek.”

When she told us why, we wholeheartedly agreed.

Any of us who have ever worked in a plant know that being on any of the machines is no joke. When the machines are running, you’re trying to keep up with the constant flow of mail. There’s always lots of heavy pushing and lifting. And just because the machine stops doesn’t mean that you do: it’s now time to make a dispatch, gather equipment, and set up for the next run.

Birmingham Mail Processing Clerk Bill Michulek began his postal career rather late in life. Twenty years ago at age 60, to be exact. His wife (they will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary later this year) started working here first, and “I saw how much she was making,” he said.

Before coming to the Postal Service, Michulek had been an accountant. “I kept the books for some very small companies. I made very little money and had very little security.”

Having a steady job with a decent wage and benefits for the first time in his career was appealing, so even though his wife retired for health reasons, he stayed on.

His late-life income boost has allowed him and his wife the freedom to fulfill some of their dreams.

Almost a decade ago, he suffered from a serious heart attack. After his recovery, Bill told his wife, “If we’re going to travel, we better do it now.”

And travel they have: in recent years, they have visited China, Hawaii, Greece and other parts of Europe.

At 80, Mr. Michulek’s work ethic puts many younger employees to shame. “He is dependable; he always comes to work, “said Sharon Davis, his supervisor. “He will do anything I ask of him.”

Does he ever have any problem working on the fast-paced machines? “I keep up fairly well,” he said. “I’m a little slow, but I was always a little slow.”

“I always try to do the best that I can,” he said. “To me, just killing time is just killing myself.”

If it’s up to him, retirement won’t be coming soon. “I keep working because if you don’t keep working, pretty soon you don’t move.”

What’s his advice to younger employees?

“Do your job, and do it well."

The crafty craft: Alabama clerks participate in pilot program

WASHINGTON--Alabama Postal employees are the first to participate in a new mailing container concept called Crease to Increase.

As part of the widely successful Green Initiative, sales associates are being trained in the fine art of Japanese origami. Now, for an extra dollar per item, customers can opt to have their letters professionally folded for envelope-free mailing.

"If this takes hold, it's a win-win situation for us," said District Marketing Coordinator Yule Aff. "We will make money by providing a new service, and our customers will not only be happy with the result but will also want to return for the entertainment value alone."

As part of the test initiative, Origami Master Shigatsu Baka was flown over from Japan to instruct the willing clerks.

Montgomery Secretary and skilled balloon artist Ziann Goree was the first to volunteer.

Goree is pictured above putting the finishing touches on her first origami eagle.

"I think that it's a great idea," Goree said. "The only problem I've experienced so far is that it's sometimes hard to know where to put the stamps. But we'll make it work."

Hartselle SSA Janna Martin, pictured below with her handcrafted LLV envelope, sees a world of potential in the new service.

"We could fold advertising mail in the shapes of what our customers are selling--shirts, pizzas, shoes, whatever--and this could take the concept of 'commemorative envelope' to a whole new level."

But the supply of clerk volunteers may be limited: the American Postal Workers Union has voiced its strong opposition to the initiative. A commercial entitled We Won't Fold is due to begin airing on multiple cable channels sometime next week.

To see a photo album of Alabama clerks learning origami, click here.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

"To Kill A Mockingbird" event April 13, 2012, in Monroeville, AL

The town of Monroeville will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird on April 13, 2012.

Hats off to Postmasters Tonya Hadley and David Neilon for all of the months of planning and hard work that they have put into arranging this event.


The unsigned commemorative envelope will be $25.00, and one with Nicolosi's signature will be $40.00.

Postmarks will be there to report on the day's sure success and invites everyone to join us there, too.

To learn a little more about Nicolosi, click here.

Deaf History Month information and resources

Approximately 4,000 deaf employees work for the U.S. Postal Service, which is one of the largest employers of hearing impaired people in the country. In their honor, we would like to recognize Deaf History Month, which runs from March 13 until April 15.

Deaf History Month begins and ends when it does because of three dates that are milestones in the hearing-impaired community’s journey
towards gaining equality, acceptance, and understanding.



March 13, 1988: King Jordan became the first deaf president at Gallaudet University. His appointment was a result of the Deaf President Now week-long campus protest after Elisabeth Zinser, a hearing person, had initially been installed into the position.

April 8, 1864: President Abraham Lincoln signed the charter that allowed college degrees to be awarded to deaf students. Now, this is known as Gallaudet Charter Day.

April 15, 1817: The American School for the Deaf, which was the first permanent public school for deaf elementary and secondary students, opened its doors.

Here are some fascinating deaf history tidbits:

1. It is a widely-held belief that at the Lincoln Memorial, President Lincoln’s hands are signing A.L., his own initials. This is a reasonable assumption, considering Lincoln’s advocacy for the equality of deaf people and the fact that the sculptor’s own son was deaf. Look closely, and you be the judge. 

2. American Sign Language is the fourth (or third, depending on which source you read) most frequently used language in United States.  

3. The National Institute on Deafness estimates that over 17 million people worldwide are affected by hearing loss.  


4. In 1819, the American School for the Deaf became the first elementary or secondary institution to receive state funding for education when the Connecticut General Assembly gave the school  23,000 acres of land in the Alabama Territory. The school later sold the land for around $300,000 and used the money to construct 
buildings, establish an operational endowment, and fund the educations of deaf students from across the nation.

5. In the 1850's, it was proposed in Congress that deaf Americans be given their own state out west. This was based on the land that had been granted to the American School for the Deaf back in 1819. The proposal was soon abandoned.

Resources: 

Deaf history: History Through Deaf Eyes

Deaf organization: National Association for the Deaf

Begin to learn Sign Language online for free: Signing Savvy

EAP series: Reacting to change and how to cope

For many of us, change is on the horizon, which can be a very stressful possibility and experience.

Alabama District Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Consultant Dr. Patricia Hamilton would like to share some thoughts on how to recognize exactly what you are feeling during these times and how to cope with those feelings.

Dr. Hamilton:

Understanding Reactions to Change 

Moving through any type of transition is a process that takes time. There are a variety of normal emotions and stages that we pass through on our way towards accepting the reality of change. It is helpful to understand what these predictable reactions are and then assess where an individual may be in the process. Keep in mind that we may experience more than one emotion at the same time or move between emotions along the way.

Fear              
 Worry about the future, finances, family, and health.

Acceptance     
That was then, this is now; nothing stays the same and we have to adapt.

Denial             
Refusing to talk; stating, “It won’t happen to me,” or, "I don’t think I’ll be affected.” 

Sadness          
Low mood, withdrawal, unable to enjoy normal activities, or change in sleep/appetite. 

Curiosity        
Wonders how future will look; seems open to new possibilities.

Anger           
 Raised voice, hostility, or sarcasm.

Energized     
Embracing the changes, and feels positive about the future.

It helps to talk with others who are going through the transition to gain perspective, and to normalize your own reactions.

“Five Rs” of Dealing with Change-Related Stress 

Although it might not seem like it at the time, every change brings opportunity for growth. The following “Five Rs” can help you move forward confidently and comfortably through the change process while allowing you the time to assess your options as well as your opportunities. 

· Relax – Find ways to relax. It might be through deep breathing, meditation, or visualization exercises. Try to temporarily “park” your problems. Don’t think about them constantly. Take time out for a pleasant diversion. 

· Reflect – Reflect on your feelings about what is happening. Understand the effect that negative behavior can have. Seek support from peers and family and never be critical of how someone else is dealing with change. 

· Reassess – Assess your feelings and find someone you can talk to about them. Separate what you know from what you don’t know. In other words, dispel rumors. They will only increase your stress. 

· Rehearse – Review the steps you have decided to take in dealing with change. Prepare in advance for uncomfortable situations. Rehearsing helps alleviate stress and anxiety. 

· Routine – Keep your life as normal as possible. Maintain established routines. Continue regular family activities. Seeking out the familiar is an instant stress reliever.

How we prepare ourselves to deal with change determines whether or not we will grow through the change experience. What feels like loss now may lead to unexpected benefits in the long run. By practicing the “Five Rs,” you can face change feeling rejuvenated. 

For more information about EAP assistance programs, 

visit www.eap4you.com 

or call

1-800-EAP-4YOU

1-800-327-4968

TTY: 1-877-492-7431

Women's History Month speakers in Birmingham on March 29

Brenda Massey Brantley: founder of Helpmate Ministries. The ministry's mission is "Women Seeking Virtue."

Isabel Watkins Rubio: co-founder and Executive Director of The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, which is a "nonprofit organization dedicated to the social, civic and economic integration of Hispanic families and individuals in Alabama."

All USPS employees are invited to attend.