Helping Hand
PERF offers aid to Sandy’s USPS victims

  

Donations by credit card or check — as well as quick contributions by texting just a few numbers on a cell phone — can go a long way towards directly helping postal employees whose homes have been damaged and families uprooted by Hurricane Sandy.

The Office of Personnel Management has authorized a “Special Solicitation” beyond the normal Combined Federal Campaign procedures to assist Hurricane Sandy’s victims. PMG Pat Donahoe has designated the Postal Employees’ Relief Fund (PERF) as the charity to receive these contributions.

One-time credit and debit card donations to PERF to specifically aid Postal Service victims of the devastating storm are accepted at the fund’s website (www.postalrelief.com) or by sending a check to the following address:

Postal Employee’s Relief Fund
PO Box 7630
Woodbridge, VA 22195

Postal employees also can text 50555 on their cell phones to make a one-time donation of $10 to PERF.

Employees may make donations specifically to aid Hurricane Sandy victims through Nov. 21.

PERF provides assistance grants to employees who are victims of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, wild fires and earthquakes. Established in 1990, PERF has distributed more than $16.2 million in grants to employees in need.

Southern Area takes first in end-to-end scanning scores

Southern Area takes first in end-to-end scanning scores

The Southern Area has captured first place in the end-to-end scanning performance ratings. Its score of 95.2 percent (as of Nov. 7) was almost two points higher than the national average for the week ending Nov. 2.

Arkansas was NUMBER ONE in the nation at the end of  FY 2012, with a score of  99.26 percent.

“I applaud every employee in the Arkansas District for this outstanding performance,” stated Kim Quayle, Arkansas District Manager. “It takes every person doing the right thing to achieve this level of excellence. Thank you.”

ELECTION DAY MAIL PROCESSING

The Postal Service plays a crucial role in the processing and delivery of Election Mail, which is critical to the American democratic process. On election night — Tuesday, Nov. 6 — employees must follow strict guidelines when turning over Business Reply Mail (BRM) ballots to voter registration officials.

Managers should make sure employees are aware of and adhere to these guidelines. Click here for a stand-up talk outlining these rules.

Additional information on Election Mail is available at Election 2012 on Blue.

NEVER TOO EARLY TO MAIL
2012 HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES

USPS has released its suggested mail-by dates to help customers make sure their packages, cards and letters arrive in time for this year’s holiday season.

The first holiday mailing deadline is Nov. 13 for customers sending Parcel Post packages to APO and FPO addresses. Space Available Mail must be mailed by Nov. 26, regardless of the APO or FPO address.

Last-minute shoppers have until Dec. 22 — the deadline for Express Mail packages — to send mail in the U.S. But they would be wise to send their mail earlier. “We suggest customers mail domestic and international holiday gifts early to beat the rush and avoid the lines,” said Domestic Products Vice President Reblin.

Reblin recommends using Priority Mail products. “The Priority Mail Flat Rate Box is available in a variety of sizes and is always free,” he said.

DON'T DELAY THOSE BALLOTS

USPS is reminding employees to deliver all Election Mail ballots to election officials, regardless of whether postage is due.

According to Postal Operations Manual 171.3, absentee ballots materials are handled differently than other unpaid or short-paid mailpieces. According to the policy, absentee ballots addressed to an election office — with or without sufficient postage — must be delivered and cannot be held for postage payment.

In addition:

• Short-paid and unpaid absentee balloting materials must not be returned to the voter for additional postage. Postage is collected from the election office upon delivery or at a later date.

• Account for absentee ballots with insufficient or no postage using existing procedures for postage-due mail. Try to collect the postage due from the election office at the time of delivery. However, absentee ballots must be delivered even if the receiving election office refuses to pay.

• Military and overseas absentee ballots bearing indicia “US Postage Paid 39 USC 3406” are not short-paid. No additional postage is needed.

• Willful delay of absentee balloting material or other election material is a violation of policy, ethics and the law.

For additional information, read the stand-up talk on the handling of absentee ballots with insufficient or no postage. Also refer to the stand-up talk for Business Reply Mail ballots for information on delivering ballots and collecting unpaid or short paid fees at later dates.

Combined Federal Campaign

What is CFC (Combined Federal Campaign)?

CFC is a yearly pledge drive that is available to all federal employees. The pledge runs for 1 calendar year. You, as an employee, gets to determine who you pledge to and how much.

Pledges can be made via payroll deductions or a one time pledge. When you pledge you can chose up to 5 different charities/organizations your pledges can go to.

There are two ways to pledge: pledge form or at https://www.cfcnexus.org/_cfcgreaterarkansas/ Charities and Organizations can be found in the Organization Booklet or at the website listed above. The website is super user friendly.

If you or your employees need a book(s) and pledge form(s), please let me know and I will get you them ASAP. I am in the Little Rock area this week and travelling for the next few weeks to various parts of the state.

Charities and Organizations have to request via the CFC application process in order to be eligible for the Campaign.

The Charities and Organization listed (1000+) are local (to your respective areas), state wide, national, and international. Most of your common causes are eligible.

And depending on the size of your pledge there are incentive awards that you may receive. All pledges need to be made by December 1st.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me or call. We can make a difference and I believe we will.

Thank you all,

John Putt, III
AR District CFC Coordinator
109 Main Street
Swifton AR 72471-9998

870-485-2627 (office)
870-897-1113 (cell)
870-485-2740 (fax)

SOUTHERN AREA EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT

Kim Quayle has been named District Manager for the Arkansas District in Little Rock, Arkansas. As District Manager, she will manage more than 5,400 employees, oversee the processing of more than 2.7 billion pieces of mail annually at the Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville Mail Processing and Distribution Centers, and manage all delivery operations in 614 Post Offices /stations /branches with a budget of $375 million.

Kim will replace David Camp who has been named District Manager of the Dallas District in Dallas, Texas. She has been in the position of Postmaster, Milwaukee, Wisconsin since December 2010. Kim began her postal career in 1983 in Fort Worth, Texas as a City Letter Carrier. In 1995, she was named Supervisor, Customer Services in Fort Worth, a position she has held in Burleson and Weatherford, Texas, and Placerville, California. She also has served as Postmaster at Rocklin, California and Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been Manager of Customer Services in Hollywood, Florida and Wyoming, Michigan. She was named Postmaster at Kalamazoo, Michigan, and then promoted to Manager of Post Office Operations for the Greater Michigan District in 2009.

Kim has held detail assignments as Officer-in-Charge at the Citrus Heights, California Post Office; AMSOP Coordinator for the South Georgia District; Manager of Post Office Operations for the Sacramento and South Georgia Districts; Station Manager in Columbus, Georgia; an as a member of the Service Improvement Team in Chicago, Illinois.

Using her vast experience in delivery operations, Kim has developed a comprehensive and effective approach to reducing overtime at the delivery units she has managed. These techniques are now being taught to delivery unit managers and supervisors throughout the Southern Area. She earned Vice President’s Awards in 2008 and 2011. Kim is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Please join me in welcoming Kim to her new assignment.