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May 27 — Issue 210

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In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.

INSIDE STORIES:

Postal Service Mission Statement Heart of the Matter USPS Cartoonist Retires All You Need is Love Appreciation from Across the Nation

BEST FRIEND EXPECTATIONS RECOGNITION

In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.

Los Angeles processing and distribution employees sent signed “care” banners to postal employees in cities impacted by COVID-19, including Chicago, Detroit and New York.

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The Postal Service now has a mission statement that describes the organization’s history, its duties and its status as an essential part of the federal government. In April, the USPS Board of Governors adopted the mission statement — the first in the Postal Service’s history — as part of the governors’ work to conduct long-range planning and set strategic policy for the organization. “For more than two centuries, the Postal Service has helped bind the nation together by providing prompt, reliable and efficient delivery services. The new mission statement reflects these values and articulates the organization’s vital role as a trusted part of the federal government in every community across the nation,” said Board of Governors Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan. The statement describes three parts of the Postal Service’s mission:

To serve the American people and, through its universal service obligation, bind the

nation together by maintaining and operating its unique, vital and resilient

infrastructure.

To provide trusted, safe and secure communications and services between the

government and the American people, businesses and their customers, and the

American people with each other.

To serve all areas of the nation, making full use of evolving technologies.

Additionally, the statement explains how USPS will carry out its mission, including remaining an integral part of the U.S. government and providing all Americans with universal and open access to its unrivaled delivery and retail network; using technology, innovation and, where appropriate, private-sector partnerships to meet its customers’ changing needs; operating in a modern, efficient and effective manner, and remaining an employer of choice, including attracting and retaining high-quality employees. The Postal Service’s mission and purpose are also described in Section 101 of Title 39 of the U.S. Code, originally enacted in 1970. The full mission statement is available on usps.com.

Employees who strongly agree that their opinions matter at work are 58 percent more likely to be engaged. Please show someone on your team great respect by asking them for their opinion about how to accomplish something at work. Make sure you actively listen to their reply. Follow up with feedback. Take a moment to reflect upon how they responded and how that made you feel.

USPS Mission Statement

Heart of the Matter

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Earl Musick has just about done it all. Since joining the Postal Service as a retail associate in 1987, Musick has held several jobs, including serving as a letter carrier, a Postmaster, an engagement ambassador and an Eastern Area human resources specialist, his current position. He probably is best known, though, for his role as a USPS cartoonist. Musick has drawn illustrations for many local and national postal publications through the years, including the Engage Weekly newsletter and an annual coloring page that employees hand out to children at Post Offices across the nation during the holidays.

Now, after 33 years, Musick plans to retire at the end of May to pursue a full-time career in media and entertainment. “The Postal Service has allowed me to chase my dreams. It has been wonderful to me, provided me with a steady paycheck and helped me to raise my two kids,” he said. “It’s the best job in the world.” Musick has been drawing most of his life, inspired by childhood heroes like “Beetle Bailey” cartoonist Mort Walker and “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz, who Musick eventually met and counted as a friend and mentor. “We talked over the phone often and would see each other once or twice a year and exchange letters through the mail,” Musick said. “He was really good to me.” Through his membership in the National Cartoonists Society, Musick has also gotten to know other cartoonists. “It’s a great group. We share tips with one another,” he said. When he is off the clock from USPS, Musick works as a freelance artist. He recently designed the cover for “Retirement: Twice the Time, Half the Money,” a book by Gene Perret, an Emmy-winning comedy writer for Bob Hope, Carol Burnett and others. It’s not uncommon for Musick’s other clients — which have included the FBI, ABC television and the Walt Disney Co. — to call him with a late-night, last-minute request. “They’ll say, ‘We need a drawing of an elephant dancing.’ So you do it,” he said. Musick also works as a motivational speaker and stand-up comic, entertaining audiences at state and county fairs, corporate meetings and other venues. His comedy routines are “clean,” he said, reflecting his Christian faith. For his final drawing projects for the Postal Service, Musick created a coloring page to honor the letter carriers who are continuing to deliver mail and packages during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as an Engage Weekly illustration that depicts the variety of postal workers who are stepping up to the plate during the health crisis. Mark Wahl, an organizational development analyst at USPS headquarters who previously worked with Musick in Eastern Area, praised his drawings and his ability to connect with people. “Earl has that gift to find someone in an audience that needs a hug or a smile,” Wahl said, adding that Musick is his “Q10,” a shorthand term for an employee’s best friend in the workplace. “He was my Q10 at work, and now he’s my Q10 outside of work.” In his post-postal life, Musick plans to spend more time with his family, including his wife, Debbie, and their sons and daughters-in-law (Matt and Miranda, and Mark and Meghan). Musick lives in Ohio and plans to stay there, noting that he can work on comedy and cartoons anywhere. “I’m not trying to be famous,” he said. “I’m just trying to make them laugh.”

USPS Cartoonist Retires After 33 years

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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)

From left, Pike Road, AL, Postmaster Gretchen Byrd, David Love and Retail Associate Kristen Allen.

Montgomery, AL, Mail Processing Clerk David Love, who recently spent 11days in the hospital due to COVID-19, thanked co-workers and hospital staff with a box lunch meal. Love donated 255 meals from a local deli for everyone he works with at the Montgomery processing plant, 20 meals for the employees of the Pike Road, AL, Post Office, and 45 meals for the overnight staff at Baptist Medical Center East. “If the donation made just a single worker understand how much they mean to me, then I know what God sent me to do was worth every penny spent. We stand together as the backbone of every community, city, and state, along with first responders and (health care workers).”

Seattle, WA, Vehicle Maintenance Facility employees (above) were recently thanked with pizza, cake and a thank-you letter for their “exemplary service and dedication” by Seattle Carrier Annex Manager, Customer Services Eddie Lee Smith and postal employees, who wrote: “When our customers think of the Postal Service, they typically see an image of a letter carrier or a retail associate. Little do they know that if it were not for you keeping our vehicles rolling, our transportation network would be crippled. You do some of your best work behind closed doors and out of the view of the public, yet what you do is definitely essential which makes you a hero. “On behalf of the Seattle Post Office, we say, ‘I can’t be a hero without you! Thank you very much for running an excellent shop. It is because of technicians like you that every person who drives a postal vehicle should be proud that you are on our team.’”

All You Need Is Love

‘I can’t be a hero without you’

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Temecula, CA, Rural Carrier Gloria Muro received a hero recognition and thanks.

Castle Rock, CO

Worthington, MN

Stillwater, OK, Rural Carrier Anthony Chambers says, “This was a banner stretched across several boxes; I had such a gleam on my face, and it made me feel so proud.”

Stuart, FL

Lewisburg, OH, Rural Carrier Steph Kuth received some postal soaps from a customer on her route.

Appreciation From Across the Nation

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Takoma Park, MD

San Francisco, CA, Lakeport Station Letter Carrier Eddie Todd

Dallas, TX, NDC Manager Nimrod Salazar recognized postal employees with a heroes’ welcome as they enter the facility.

Corona, CA

A Mesquite, TX, customer created new mail boxes to honor essential workers.

Rogers, AR, Rural Carrier Nina Garrett was honored with homemade signs from her customers.

Messages of Support

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Did you miss one of the previous Engage Weekly newsletters? Click here. 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.

Philadelphia, PA, Southwark Station Letter Carrier Richard Effing Jr. received his 50-year Service Award from District Manager Judy Herrick.

Celebration Submissions

Engagement Resources and Contact Information

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May 1 Scott Psuty Lead automotive technician Edison, NJ May 10 Crystal Sensabaugh Retail associate Columbus, OH May 13 Victoria Henry Supervisor, customer services Ridgewood, NY May 14 Victor Soto Letter carrier Rego Park, NY May 20 Sharon Davis Mail processing clerk Philadelphia May 22 Aguy Imperial Lead automotive technician Edison, NJ May 23 Sheri Gallet Retail associate Lafayette, LA May 23 Joseph Daily Storekeeper auto parts Edison, NJ May 24 London Crosby Mail processing clerk Captial Heights, MD May 26 Geneva Sanders Product information quality analyst St. Louis May 27 Evalani Kipilii Reatil associate Honaunau, HI

Yolanda Wells and Olney Saffold were married this month. Yolanda is a customer care agent in Los Angeles.

Sherman and Nicole James will celebrate their third wedding anniversary this month. Sherman is a

manager, maintenance operations and Nicole is a training technician, both in Dayton, OH.

Crystal and Roy Sensabaugh celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary. Crystal is a retail associate

in Columbus, OH.

Nancy and Gregory De Angelo celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. Nancy is a training

technician and Gregory is a customer care agent, both in Troy, MI.

6 years Kristy Barron Retail associate Bull Shoals, AR 22 years Monica House Retail associate Campbellsburg, IN 22 years Richard Schneider Mail handler Oak Creek, WI 24 years Roger Skinner Vehicle operator maintenance assistant Edison, NJ 25 years Sheri Gallet Retail associate Lafayette, LA 27 years James Fairchild Lead automotive technician Edison, NJ 27 years Sandra Willis Human resource specialist Detroit 35 years Mark Wallace Manager, marketing Nashville, TN 40 years Gail Lewis Manager, learning development and diversity Detroit 40 years Gary Kahler Rural carrier Dexter, MN

17 years of service Mildred Ross Maintenance support clerk Mobile, AL

20 years of service Angela Black Retail associate South Bend, WA

37 years of service Willie Davis Maintenance electrician Mobile, AL

RETIREMENTS

POSTAL ANNIVERSARIES

BIRTHDAYS

WEDDINGS/ANNIVERSARIES

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Patriotic The Postal Service employs more than 100,000 veterans and is one of the largest employers of veterans in the country. The organization has issued more than 140 stamps honoring the nation’s military history, including the Service Cross and Purple Heart Medals Forever stamps.

Social

The Postal Service is present and active on social media.

Facebook: facebook.com/usps

Twitter: twitter.com/usps

Instagram: instagram.com/uspostalservice

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/usps

YouTube: youtube.com/usps

The Postal Service has released a video for National Military Appreciation Month that recognizes military veteran employees for their contributions to the nation and USPS. “Every day, you show your true grit, stand in the gap, perform in critical roles and continue that spirit of service,” Employee Resource Management Vice President Simon Storey says in the video. “Every day, you show why you are vital to our mission of binding the nation together.”

The Postal Service will highlight the video in the next issue of Mail Call Quarterly, the organization’s newsletter for employees who served in the armed forces. The newsletter will feature a QR code that, when scanned, will allow the recipient to watch the video online. Additionally, to express its gratitude, USPS distributed to veterans certificates of appreciation and thank-you letters, both signed by Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan. Veterans marking five years of service with the organization this year will receive a letter from the Postmaster General, a thank-you card and a #PostalProud challenge coin by mail.

The Postal Service Is …

USPS Video Praises Veterans for Service

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