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May 19 — Issue 209

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MISSION CARES ABOUT ME COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

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Mission Viejo, CA, Vehicle Maintenance Facility Manager Manuel “Junior” Agapito made face coverings to help protect everyone on the team.

My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.

INSIDE STORIES:

New USPS Coronavirus Website HERO Self-Development Expressions of Gratitude Employee Appreciation Engagement EMVPs

BEST FRIEND EXPECTATIONS RECOGNITION

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New USPS Coronavirus Website for Customers and Employees

Heart of the Matter

The Postal Service has introduced a website to provide customers and employees with the latest information on the organization’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The site, available at about.usps.com/newsroom/covid-19, explains how USPS — an essential public service during the crisis — is continuing operations while striving to protect employees and customers. Customers working from home, small-business owners and commercial mailers will find information on a variety of postal products and services, including instructions on using Informed Delivery and having mail held at a local Post Office.

Employees will find several resources, including links to the COVID-19 LiteBlue page and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which offers a list of symptoms, recommendations, updates and more. Also included are videos on new safety procedures for vehicles, mail carriers and Post Offices, as well as “Thank You for the Thank-You’s,” a series of 30-second videos that showcase messages from customers who are grateful for the organization’s service. Links to several government resources, including coronavirus.gov, the federal government’s primary website on the pandemic, are also included.

In today’s workplace, caring is an expectation. Please ask someone: “How are you holding up? How are your loved ones?” Listen with compassion and validate their feelings. Later, take a moment to reflect upon how they responded and how that made you feel.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” — Plato

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HERO Self-Development and HEROProfile Live Demos

Memorial Day Honors Those Who Served

Memorial Day, a federal holiday to remember members of the armed forces who died while serving the nation, will be observed Monday, May 25. Approximately 100,000 veterans are employed by USPS. The organization is one of the largest civilian employers of former and current members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Memorial Day was first widely observed in 1868. For many years, the commemoration, known as Decoration Day, honored fallen soldiers from the Civil War.

Congress made Memorial Day a national holiday in 1887. After World War I, the day was expanded to honor service members who died in all American wars. In 1968, Congress changed the annual observance from May 30 to the last Monday in May. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs site has more information, including a detailed history of the holiday.

Don’t miss your chance to register for a 15-minute session covering HERO Self-Development. We will provide a live demonstration showing you different ways to access courses in HERO. Begin exploring this free benefit immediately. Another option available is a 30-minute session covering HEROProfile. In these sessions, we will walk through how to maximize your HEROProfile and give you valuable helpful hints to elevate your HERO experience. We look forward to empowering you.

Register for HERO Self-Development Live Demos (15-minute session) Click here Self-Development Frequently Asked Questions Self-Development Navigational Guidance Self-Development Video (5 minutes) Register for HEROProfile and Self-Development Live Demos (1-hour session) Click here HEROProfile Frequently Asked Questions HEROProfile Video (2 minutes)

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Expressions of Gratitude

The Edinburg, VA, Post Office held a coloring contest for the community using the latest engagement postal thank-you coloring page and posted all the submissions in the customer lobby for all to enjoy.

Don’t miss your chance to register for a 15-minute session covering HERO Self-Development.We will provide a live demonstration showing you different ways to access courses in HERO.Begin exploring this free benefit immediately. Another option available to you is a 30-minute session covering HEROProfile.In these sessions, we will walk through how to maximize your HEROProfile and give you valuable, helpful hints toelevate your HERO experience. We look forward to empowering you.

Register for HERO Self-Development Live DEMOs (15-minute session) Click here Self-Development Frequently Asked Questions Self-Development Navigational Guidance Self-Development Video (5 minutes) Register for HEROProfile and Self-Development Live DEMOs (1-hour session) Click here HEROProfile Frequently Asked Questions HEROProfile Video (2 minutes)

The walls of the Orlando, FL, plant are adorned with coloring pages drawn by employees’ children. Distribution Operations Supervisor Bojan Lucic stands next to artwork by his son, Ashton.

Ashburn, GA, Rural Carrier Mary Ann Nolan received a “Not all Heroes Wear Capes” coloring sheet from a customer’s child.

New Matamoras, OH

Hemet, CA

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Thanking Plant Employees

Mississippi Senior Plant Manager Henry Dominguez (above) recently mailed personal thank-you cards to more than 400 postal employees. “I wrote to every single employee in my plant, including EAS, whether they are at work or on leave. Every one of them is special for what they do every day,” he explained. “I wanted to personally thank them and recognize them. I can’t do it in person because of social distancing,” he said. He said he has received positive feedback from his employees. A few employees have even stopped him on the floor to say, “Thank you, Mr. D. It was really nice of you. I really appreciate it.” “This is probably the first time that I’ve done something like this,” he said. “Heroes work here, but all anyone ever really sees are letter carriers. What about the folks inside — the clerks, mail handlers, motor vehicle drivers, maintenance mechanics, support functions, supervisors and managers — the ones who get the mail processed for the carriers to deliver to each of our customers? They’re heroes, too!”

Oklahoma District Manager Julie Gosdin

Oklahoma Senior Plant Manager Sean Walton

Oklahoma District Manager Julie Gosdin and Senior Plant Manager Sean Walton also expressed their appreciation for plant employees. They provided box lunches to all employees at both the Oklahoma City, OK, plant and the Tulsa, OK, plant.

Oklahoma City, OK, Plant Supervisor, Maintenance Operations Tamara Rickey

Tulsa, OK, Business Mail Entry Clerk Debbie Cottrell (above).

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Employee Appreciation

Columbia, SC, employees are also thanked daily for their dedication with a banner.

A banner inside the Casper, WY, Post Office lobby reads, “You are appreciated.” Customers attached thank-you notes all around.

Los Angeles, CA, Crenshaw Station showed their community they were #PostalProud.

Charleston, SC, plant managers showed their

appreciation for employees with a large banner.

Trabuco Canyon, CA, Post Office posts all of their customers’ thank-you notes in the same spot that they keep their COVID-19 supplies.

LeHigh Acres, FL, managers and safety captains thanked postal employees with a table full of snacks.

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Engagement MVPs

San Diego, CA, Inquiry Clerk Christina McLeod

Coppell, TX, Administrative

Assistant Rachel Baker

Morris Plains, NJ, Letter Carrier Franklin Storicks, III

Jacksonville, FL, Mail Processing Clerk Deborah Elliott

Morris Plains, NJ, City Carrier Assistant Derrick Lamar Jr.

Durand, WI, Lead Retail Associate Andy Evenson

USPS craft employees throughout the country are being recognized as Engagement Most Valuable Players (EMVPs). These bargaining-unit employees were nominated by colleagues for fostering enthusiasm, involvement and commitment in their workplaces. Each EMVP honoree will receive a lanyard, pin and certificate of appreciation.

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May 4 Charity Morris Letter carrier Long Branch, NJ May 5 Dee Moore Business development specialist San Diego May 14 Joe Mannifield Lead automotive technician Trenton, NJ May 14 Teresa Diamantouros Postal support employee Chicago May 15 Patricia Nagy Retail associate LaGrange, OH May 17 Nalei Castillo Rural carrier Driftwood, TX May 20 Erika Rohleder Retail associate Bremen, IN May 21 Elizabeth Daniel Customer care agent Troy, MI May 24 Tonya Williams Retail associate Tallmadge, OH May 25 Willie Eatman Mail processing clerk Birmingham, AL May 28 David Villwock Electronic technician Green Bay, WI May 30 Bartlett Brown General clerk Birmingham, AL

Allen and Florence Teter celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Allen is an area maintenance technician in Jacksonville, FL.

3 years Michell Shavers Lead retail associate Oak Park, MI 8 years Joe Collura Lead automotive technician Trenton, NJ 8 years Kyle Mangus Lead automotive technician Trenton, NJ 15 years Dee Moore Business development specialist San Diego 16 years Ian Blue Mail processing clerk Orlando, FL 23 years Angelina Gray Distribution clerk Jamaica, NY 24 years Mike Blackman Postal inspector Capitol Heights, MD 25 years Darlita Thomas Mail processing clerk Detroit 25 years Vanessa Evans Mail processing clerk Detroit 25 years Jacqueline Ross Mail handler Detroit 25 years Kimberly Carter Mail handler Detroit 25 years Charity Morris Letter carrier Long Branch, NJ 27 years Tommie Westbrook Labor relations specialist Milwaukee 34 years Glenn Coleto Postmaster Searchlight, NV 35 years Marilyn Townsend EEO specialist Columbus, OH 50 years Barbara Weaver Supervisor, distribution operations Linthicum, MD

38 years of service Carlos Lanchang Maintenance mechanic Bellmawr, NJ

40 years of service Sylvia Valdez Retail associate Pleasanton, TX

41 years of service Hal Johnson Business mail entry clerk Fort Wayne, IN

RETIREMENTS

POSTAL ANNIVERSARIES

BIRTHDAYS

WEDDINGS/ANNIVERSARIES

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Celebration Submissions

The Postal Service Is …

Did you miss a previous engagement newsletter? Go to the Engage Weekly site on Blue or LiteBlue. Do you have a birthday, retirement, postal or wedding anniversary you would like to announce? Log on to LiteBlue and fill out the form. Or...

Go to USPS LiteBlue and log on with your employee ID and USPS self-service password. Under Hot Topics, select Employee Engagement.

In the left column, select Employee Celebration Submission and fill in the online form.

Houston, TX, Mailing Requirements Clerk Mary Blacklock accepted her

50-year Service Award.

Data-driven The Postal Service uses data not only to ensure its operations run smoothly, but also to help businesses make better use of the mail. Our mission is to provide the right information to the right people in real time using advanced technology.

Sustainable The Postal Service is working hard to put its stamp on a greener tomorrow. Postal carriers deliver mail using alternative fuel vehicles, on foot and even on bicycles. The 2019 energy reduction in postal buildings equated to powering more than 5,000 U.S. homes. The Postal Service is expanding solar powered facilities in 2020.

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