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WEEKLY

ENGAGE

Volume 13: Week of Aug. 22, 2016

Q6: Development

Postal Throwback visits the ‘50s

P. 4

Caught on ‘engagement camera!’

P. 7-8

Self development tips

P. 2

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Develop Yourself

Tip 1—Discover yourself: Take time to think about what it is that you are really good at; what it is that you enjoy doing. Ask others what they think your strengths are — they might be able to see it more clearly than you. Sometimes finding opportunities that play to your strengths is a more productive and profitable way to reach your goals than trying to shore up your weaknesses. But first, you must know what they are.

Tip 2—Network: Have you ever heard someone say that the people who get promoted are the people who “know someone?” Well, there is some truth to that. So what should you do? Get to know some people! Consider joining a social club at work or in your community with people of similar interests. Join professional networks like LinkedIn and start building your connections. Find a mentor whose career path has inspired you, tell him or her your goals and ask for advice. Once you start making connections, a possibility you may never have known about could present itself.

Tip 3—Take advantage of free learning: There are virtually no financial or geographic barriers to expanding your horizons through education these days. Our very own Learning Management System (LMS) has hundreds of e-learning offerings that you can take to improve your skills. Or, outside internet sites like khanacademy.org offer free courses on a variety of topics.

Development at work can mean a lot of things to different people: It could be getting that promotion, a lateral transfer to learn a different job, or perfecting a specific skill. In any case, you have the power to take control of your own personal developmental goals. Here are three simple tips to harness that power:

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Q.

Next Week’s Challenge:

How do you encourage other

employees to develop their skills

and abilities to improve team

performance?

The Engagement Challenge

As employees of USPS, we need to encourage one another to grow and develop ourselves. The Employee Engagement Team is challenging all employees to identify three co-workers who they will begin encouraging in their development. If you already are coaching or mentoring others, please share your story. Email us at engagement@usps.gov.

“When I was a T-6 — a position that today is the lead retail associate — in the late ’90s through fiscal year 2006, I realized the importance of each and every person working with me. Telling my co-workers how important they were to me played a major role in my career and I often reflect on those times for strength. We were successful in accomplishing our daily goal through the true meaning of teamwork. Eventually, I was honored to train each team member of the San Juan Capistrano Plaza Post Office on the responsibilities of a T-6. In my absence, they rotated as the T-6 in charge. I provided the opportunity for everyone to lead and to do their best when leading.

I enjoy working for the Postal Service and I take great pride in doing my part in serving my country and community. My thanks to the Postal Service for the opportunity.

Sandra L. Morehead, bulk mail technician,

Mission Viejo, CA

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Throwback Our organization has a rich history. Check out these postal throwback photos!

#Postal

Do you have a throwback postal photo to include in this month’s

newsletter? Email us at engagement@usps.gov .

Arthur E. Norsworthy, maintenance manager, Baton Rouge, LA, P&DC sent this childhood photo of himself with his father, Charles T. Norsworthy, taken around 1955. Arthur writes, “When I was very young, I asked my father to take me inside the Post Office and show me around. He did and then told me, ‘If I ever see you in here again, I’ll tan your hide for good!’ Well, now I’m a postal maintenance manager with 35 years of service and my father kept his promise because I’ve had my hide ‘tanned’ more than a few times over the years (ha!) but that’s just part of being a maintenance manager. I am very grateful for all the Postal Service has done for me and my family over the course of my career.”

Tom Day, chief sustainability officer, sent in this picture of the Facing, Cancelling and Outgoing Mail Operation at the Port Washington, NY, (11050) Post Office in March 1956. Writes Tom, “My father, William Day, worked at that Post Office for over 40 years.”

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Fire Safety The Los Angeles Bicentennial Station held a fire drill July 29, organized by Customer Service Manager Kim Ricard and National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Representative Seatress Sanders. The drill was followed by a presentation by the local fire department and a demonstration of fire extinguisher use.

NALC Representative Seatress Sanders discusses fire safety.

Fire captain Kevin Schilling encourages more drills.

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Quote

of the week

Milestones “Celebration of a rural carrier associate (RCA) becoming a citizen! Chien C. Lan, or Eric as he prefers to be called, was sworn in as a U.S. citizen Aug. 18. Our office celebrated with cake, balloons and snacks. Eric started with USPS in January, 2014. He is the kind of employee all managers enjoy having: he does a great job, is dependable and always ask if there is anything else he can do. Whatever the job I ask him to do, he never complains, he just does it! Eric is the senior RCA and always assists new RCAs in any way he can so they will be successful. Congratulations to Eric, we are all so proud of you and a big thank you for all you do!

Marla Eschbacher, Postmaster, Platte City, MO

Congratulations to the Engagement Ambassador Team for reaching a 5,000

trained leaders milestone with the Creating an Engaging Workplace at USPS course!

“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.”

Babe Ruth

Submitted by Gary Baker, manager, maintenance engineering support, Kearney, NJ

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Smile! These employees have been caught on

‘engagement camera.’

Essex Fells, NJ, Postmaster Sharon M. Topchev sent this photo of her team promoting the Soda Fountain Favorites stamps. She writes, “I am proud to be the Postmaster of the Essex Fells team. Together we work hard to keep our customers satisfied in retail and delivery. We decorate the office to promote new stamps, which helps increase revenue. Our letter carriers take pride in their jobs; our office is a great place to work, the employees are always 100 percent engaged. The customers acknowledge and appreciate all their hard work which shows in our customer satisfaction index scores. I would like to say thank you to an exceptional group of employees: Retail Associate Patricia Muro, Letter Carrier Annie Venin, Custodian Eddie Wilson and (not pictured) newcomer Retail Associate Fabricio Mata and Letter Carriers Mark Fahey, Henry Lao, George Diaz and Ana Farrell for their dedication and hard work.”

“I would like to nominate Custodian, Susanne LaBelle, for being a totally engaged employee. I have known Sue for many years. She previously worked as an automation clerk while I was a supervisor in that area. I could always count on Sue to do an excellent job. She would point out any problems she saw with the mail flow or machine issues. As a custodian, Sue is responsible for outside work at the plant during the summer months. She takes her job very seriously and does a great job. Inside the plant, she continues to do a great job. She will even pull recyclables out of the trash containers that people have tossed out instead of recycling. She doesn’t do just what is needed to ‘get by.’ She has a great work ethic and is always happy to share a joke. The Postal Service is lucky to have employees like Sue.”

- Denise Edmonds, safety specialist, Central Pennsylvania District

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“The Central Illinois Sales team attended Republican and Democratic party events Aug. 17-18 at the 2016 Illinois State Fair in Springfield. During this two-day event, each party hosted special political guests, including former governors and party elected officials, candidates and Illinois special interest groups. The team met with candidates and shared how direct mail can be an effective tool for campaigns as well as fundraising.”

- Patricia Bridges, district manager sales, Central Illinois

District

“The Sarasota Post Office Suncoast District held an employee appreciation picnic Aug. 7. Officer in charge Mark Schulz and the management team provided a DJ, face painting for children, and cooked hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone who attended. Attendees who chose to also brought favorite side dishes. More than 100 employees attended and were recognized for their dedication and commitment for a job well done every day and for their continued customer service.”

Pamela West, manager customer service operations, Suncoast District

Engagement is contagious! Share your work unit’s engagement

activities and initiatives with us. Email engagement@usps.gov.

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Happy Birthday Aug. 17 Bob Franks Sales associate Columbia, TN

Aug. 22 Todd Miller Sales executive Indianapolis

Aug. 22 Peter Nosal Letter carrier Arlington Heights, IL

Aug. 22 Toni Toole Building equipment mechanic Oklahoma City

Aug. 22 LaShawn Eggleston Sales associate Elm Grove, LA

Aug. 22 Tamara Prochazka Postmaster Minneapolis, KS

Aug. 22 Charlene Maychrzak Postal support employee Scranton, ND

Aug. 22 Carol Diaz Mail processing clerk Philadelphia

Aug. 22 Joseph Medwid Letter carrier Philadelphia

Aug. 23 Paula Hood Consumer Affairs representative Tampa, FL

Aug. 23 Holland Atkinson Labor Relations specialist Minneapolis

Aug. 23 Adrian Johnson Custodian Atlanta

Aug. 23 Keary Griffin Letter carrier Duluth, GA

Aug. 23 Mike Lance Operations Support specialist West Columbia, SC

Aug. 23 Rebecca Heeter Attorney Chicago

Aug. 23 Teresa "T-Byrd" Byrd Sales associate Berryville, VA

Aug. 23 Keary Griffin Letter carrier Duluth, GA

Aug. 23 Stefanie Webb Human resources specialist Salt Lake City

Aug. 24 Tim Michalski Supervisor, Customer Services Niagara Falls, NY

Aug. 24 Christi Rhinehart Rural carrier Lyman, SC

Aug. 24 Kenneth Powchak Postmaster Gadsden, AL

Aug. 24 Debbie Petersen Administrative assistant Arlington Heights, IL

Aug. 24 David McGinley Letter carrier Arlington Heights, IL

Aug. 24 Thomas Lee King Jr. Postmaster Calcium, NY

Aug. 24 Russell Rinks Sales associate Columbia, TN

Aug. 24 Jennifer Marks Occupational health nurse Philadelphia

Aug. 24 Russell Rinks Sales associate Columbia, TN

Aug. 25 Billy Hurley Maintenance mechanic Boise, ID

Aug. 25 Helen Frerichs HCR sub driver Chappell, NE

Aug. 25 Kimberly Mungin FOIA analyst Washington

Aug. 25 Paul Guodace Maintenance technician Bismarck, ND

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Aug. 25 Lisa Gregg Manager, vehicle maintenance Paterson, NJ

Aug. 25 Angela Jackson Sales associate Atlanta

Aug. 25 Rosa Pearson Executive administrative assistant West Columbia, SC

Aug. 25 Vicky Schaefer Sales associate Stanford, KY

Aug. 26 Sharon Squadrito Senior sales executive Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Aug. 26 Barbara Doran PTF clerk Winnebago, IL

Aug. 26 Betty Fish Mailing requirements clerk San Diego

Aug. 26 Jorge Tavares Letter carrier Springfield, NJ

Aug. 26 Shondra Womble General clerk Charlotte, NC

Aug. 26 Steven Johnson Mechanic Atlanta

Aug. 26 Bruce Carter Rural carrier Stanford, KY

Aug. 26 Patty Armstrong Sales associate McCrory, AR

Aug. 26 Ted Ogata Budget/financial analyst Honolulu

Aug. 26 Georeen Mano-Yamada Postmaster Laie, HI

Aug. 26 Marsha Sines Sales associate Tiltonsville, OH

Aug. 27 Adrienne Woodsoon Business service network representative Salt Lake City

Aug. 27 Anthony Gonnella Manager, transportation networks Kearny, NJ

Aug. 27 Leanne Payeur Business service network representative Portland, ME

Aug. 27 Phil Fish Rural carrier St. Francisville, IL

Aug. 27 Teresa White Rural carrier Columbia, TN

Aug. 28 Joan Pallotto Mailing requirements clerk San Diego

Aug. 28 Danielle Bethune Field recruiter Philadelphia

Aug. 28 Daniel Beasley Letter carrier Cleveland

Aug. 28 Kathy Sawyer Sales associate Atlanta

Aug. 28 Sabrina Todd Customer relations coordinator Lansing, MI

Aug. 28 Jagdeep Grewal Postmaster Sacramento, CA

Aug. 28 Debbie Nickels Maintenance support clerk Oklahoma City

Aug. 28 Buddie Slone Rural carrier Waynesburg, KY

Aug. 28 Debbie Kotcher Sales associate Chrisman, IL

Aug. 28 Teri Galyen Rural carrier associate Georgetown, IL

Happy Birthday

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Postal Anniversaries 50 years Paul Anish Letter carrier Pittsfield, MA

50 years John Julian Letter carrier Waterbury, CT

50 years Vincent Neri Letter carrier Providence, RI

45 years Ruth Mcbride Mail processing clerk Hartford, CT

45 years Mary Donahue Postmaster Middlebury, CT

45 years Vincent Mastrogiacomo Letter carrier Royal Palm Beach, FL

41 years Carolyn McKnight Complaints and inquiry clerk Salt Lake City

40 years Joanne Palazzi Postmaster South Glastonburg, CT

40 years John Bourdon Postmaster Williamstown, MA

40 years Elliot Kobren Letter carrier Royal Palm Beach, FL

38 years Jacqueline Adams Mail flow controller Jacksonville, FL

38 years Mary Johnson Complaints and inquiry clerk Atlanta

38 years Barbara Stuart Mailing requirements clerk Indianapolis

38 years Patrice Kline Letter carrier Aurora, IL

30 years Tatiana Roy Manager, district marketing Hartford, CT

30 years Gayle Burns Garageman Royal Oak, MI

30 years Bernice Branch Sales associate Riviera Beach, FL

30 years David Cordes Letter carrier West Palm Beach, FL

30 years Michelle Lapp Letter carrier West Palm Beach, FL

30 years Daniel Lammers Letter carrier West Palm Beach, FL

30 years Phylliss Vruno Letter carrier Aurora, IL

30 years Karen McTamney Postmaster Cologne, NJ

30 years Tricia Ford-Jones Mailing requirements clerk Little Rock, AR

28 years Cyndi Porter Maintenance support clerk Phoenix

28 years James Freeman Distribution window clerk Aurora, IL

20 years Wendy Peteck Sales associate Sumerland Key, FL

20 years Betty Lynn Newman Sales associate Astor, FL

18 years Robin Smith Jones Distribution window clerk Malvern, PA

18 years Nita Patel Distribution window clerk Aurora, IL

18 years Usha Joseph Sales associate Aurora, IL

18 years Ya-Ling Huang Registry cage clerk Aurora, IL

18 years Lewis Pryor III Automation clerk Columbus, OH

18 yeas Stephanie Keaton Training technician Columbus, OH

18 years Steven Stackhouse Automation clerk Columbus, OH

18 years Melanie Carmichael Supervisor, customer services Columbus, OH

17 years Wayman McLemore Letter carrier Aurora, IL

15 years David Micek Rural carrier Aurora, IL

15 years Peter Essling Rural carrier Aurora, IL

14 years Sara Toombs Rural carrier Columbia, TN

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Retirements

Have an upcoming celebration, birthday shout-out or special announcement to share in next week’s issue? Please email us with the celebration type in the email subject line. Deadline for submissions for next week’s newsletter: Friday, Aug. 26

Email engagement@usps.gov.

15 years Peter Essling Rural carrier Aurora, IL

14 years Sara Toombs Rural carrier Columbia, TN

12 years William "Billy" Davison Letter carrier Aurora, IL

12 years Tamara Hughes Sales associate Columbia, TN

10 years Matt Abbonizio City carrier Malvern, PA

9 years Joel Rodriguez Rural carrier Malvern, PA

9 years Victoria Hoefer Rural carrier Malvern, PA

9 years Joseph Potts Letter carrier Aurora, IL

9 years Nevil Solomon Letter carrier Aurora, IL

2 years Alyssa Parades Letter carrier Aurora, IL

1 year Jonathan Wix Letter carrier Columbia, TN

53 years James Sheehan Letter carrier Hartford, CT

36 years Kathryn Moore Postmaster Woodbury, CT

31 years Michael Cabral Letter carrier North Dartmouth, MA

31 years Gail Dolyak-Chidsey Mail handler equipment operator Southern, CT

30 years Karen Wasylyk Complaints and inquiry clerk Taunton, MA

30 years Laurianne Duquenoy Sales associate Fall River, MA

30 years Bonny Paiva Sales associate New Bedford, MA

30 years Paul Duarte Letter carrier Bristol, CT

29 years Sandra Oltran Mail processing clerk Stamford, CT

29 years Jonathan Morton Letter carrier South Dartmouth, MA

28 years Gary Tavares Sales associate New Bedford, MA

Postal Anniversaries

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Baby Births Oh baby! Congratulations to these parents on the births of their little bundles of joy.

Have an upcoming celebration, birthday shout-out or special announcement to share in next week’s issue? Please email us with the celebration type in the email subject line. Deadline for submissions for next week’s newsletter: Friday, Aug. 26

Email engagement@usps.gov.

34 years Beverly & Daniel Hall Beverly is a mailing standards specialist. Fayetteville, NC

31 years Jordonna & Wayne Collins Jordonna is a safety specialist. Detroit

25 years Shannon McMahan Shannon is a sales associate. Holgate, OH

23 years Linda & Patrick Shelby Linda is a training technician. Coppell, TX

21 years Carolyn & Charles Elrod Carolyn is a bulk mail clerk. Charles is a

mail carrier.

Cleveland, TN

18 years Joe & Janelle Guetta Janelle is a sales associate. Hampton, FL

12 years Kelly & Jennifer Murrah Jennifer is a sales associate. Peioria, IL

11 years Lodia & Anthony Merritt Lodia is a data collection technician. Detroit

Wedding Anniversaries

Jake & Ashley Hood welcomed their daughter, Ava Jane into the world on Aug.

10. Ashley is a rural carrier associate in Kingston, OH.

Kelsey Newberry and her fiance e David Rosser welcomed their new baby boy, Xavier Rosser

on Aug. 13. Kelsey is a rural carrier in Malvern, PA.

Nathan & Salena Hoge welcomed their new baby boy, Alexander Matthew Hoge.

Salena is a sales associate in Camanche, IA.

Hayley Reir & Jamie Abernathy welcomed their new baby boy, Max Dean Reier-Abernathy.

Hayley is a sales associate in Verona, OH.

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UP

CO

MIN

G

Cap Metro:

Aug. 30-31: Merrifield, VA

Eastern:

Aug. 30-31: Buffalo, NY

Great Lakes:

Aug. 30-31: Bedford Park, IL

Sept. 1-2: Bedford Park, IL

Sept. 8-9: Madison, WI

Headquarters:

Aug. 29-30: Raleigh, NC

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Raleigh, NC

Sept.9-8: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Northeast:

Aug. 30-31: Boston, MA

Sept. 1-2: Shrewsbury, MA

Sept. 8-9: Albany, NY

Pacific:

Aug. 30-31: Honolulu, HI

Sept. 1-2: Honolulu, HI

Southern:

Aug. 30-31: Tulsa ,OK

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Tulsa, OK

Sept. 7– 8: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Western:

Aug. 30-31: Kansas City, MO

Sept. 1-2: Kansas City, MO

Sept. 8-9: Kansas City, MO

1-844-303-6424

LiteBlue Suggestion Box

engagement@usps.gov

Creating an Engaging Workplace at

USPS Training course for all USPS

leaders (Executives and EAS)

EVENTS