OSCAR MICHEAUX

PIONEERING FILMMAKER IMMORTALIZED ON POSTAGE

The Postal Service yesterday issued a commemorative stamp honoring film director, screenwriter, producer and distributor Oscar Micheaux during ceremonies in Miller Auditorium at Columbia University in New York City.

Micheaux’s unique storytelling ability shattered stereotypes and challenged film audiences with realistic representations of African Americans through more than 40 feature films. He becomes the 33rd person honored in the popular Black Heritage commemorative stamp series.

“Oscar Micheaux was a transformational filmmaker and gifted storyteller with an uncompromising technique that embraced honest depictions of African Americans,” said Delores Killette, vice president and Consumer Advocate. “His films not only entertained, they left audiences with a sense of encouragement, hope and inspiration.”

The stamp, designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, features a stylized portrait of Micheaux by artist Gary Kelly of Cedar Falls, IA. The artwork is based on one of the few surviving photographs of Micheaux, a portrait that appeared in his 1913 novel The Conquest.

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PET STAMP-EDE

ANIMAL RESCUE: ADOPT A SHELTER PET' STAMPS WIN CUSTOMER APPROVAL

Children from Camp Muddy Paws with Humane Society of Boulder Valley Chief Executive Officer Lisa Pederson and Boulder Valmont Station Manager Larry Gendreizig.

The Postal Service’s work with local animal shelters continues, as do sales of the Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet pane of stamps. To date, USPS has sold 6.2 million sheets of stamps, collecting more than $55 million in revenue.

Typical of the many events held to promote pet adoption was one hosted by the Boulder, CO, Valmont Station Post Office and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV).

During the event, Station Manager Larry Gendreizig presented HSBV Chief Executive Officer Lisa Pederson and the organization’s Camp Muddy Paws youths with a framed print of the stamps. Children from the Camp Muddy Paws HSBV pet-care program also created colorful posters depicting how the stamps promote the humane treatment of animals.

Boulder Valmont Station ranks second highest in the sale of the pet stamps within the Colorado/Wyoming District.

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MANY HAPPY RETURNS

A LOOK AT THE USPS MAIL RECOVERY CENTER

Every year, millions of First-Class Mail letters and packages never make it to their intended destination because both the sender’s and recipient’s addresses are incorrect, illegible or missing.

Chances are this mail will end up at the Postal Service’s sole Mail Recovery Center (MRC) in Atlanta, GA, the Postal Service’s 77,000-square-foot “lost and found” facility.

MRCs once were referred to as the “Dead Letter Office,” but the term has become a misnomer. The nearly 100 MRC employees — also known as mail detectives — returned about 60 percent of the 19 million pounds of mail, or 6.3 million parcels and 75.1 million letters, received in fiscal year 2009.

What happens at the MRC?
MRC employees first cull and segregate mail with detectable value from mail with no obvious value. Once mail is identified as having value, the postal sleuths glean each mailpiece, looking for clues to reunite it with either the sender or intended recipient. If successful, the employee repackages and forwards the mailpiece. Checks are never forwarded — clerks forward a facsimile copy of the check with an explanation before shredding the original check. Letters with no obvious value are shredded and recycled.

What happens to mail that can’t be returned?
“We hold mail for a minimum of 90 days in hopes customers will contact the MRC with information to match a mailpiece with its owner,” said Raymond Stankevich, manager, Mail Recovery Program. “We also hold onto mail marked as Cash on Delivery, Insured or containing cash for a maximum of six months.”

In fiscal year 2009, the MRC recycled 40 percent of undeliverable mail received. It also donated more than 50,000 pounds of undeliverable mail — merchandise samples, clothing, toys and household items — to 40 nonprofit organizations.

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LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN

USPS TO IMPROVE COMPETITIVE POSITION FOR SOME PO BOXES

USPS can offer more flexible and competitive PO Box pricing, thanks to a decision last week by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC).

The PRC approval means USPS can establish pricing for PO Boxes at 49 Post Offices that are responsive to local competition. The 32,000 PO Boxes affected by the decision represent a fraction of the 13 million PO Boxes nationwide. But it allows USPS to test consumer interest in enhancements to the current PO Box offering and will help shape future PO Box service and access strategies.

“Today’s marketplace is fast-paced,” noted Susan Plonkey, acting president, Mailing and Shipping Services. “Moving some PO Boxes into the competitive product category gives the Postal Service greater flexibility to innovate and to respond more quickly to the changing requirements of our customers.”

The plan was presented to the PRC last March, shortly after USPS outlined an aggressive business plan to meet current economic challenges. The plan includes cost reduction, increased productivity and an array of legislative and regulatory changes necessary to maintain a viable Postal Service for the future. It emphasizes the need for USPS to take advantage of opportunities under current law to increase revenue and enhance customer service. Addressing the dynamic and competitive marketplace for PO Boxes is an example of how USPS is moving ahead with its plan.

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SOLID WORK ETHIC

GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR A CUSTOMER

Salt Lake City, UT, Express Mail Service Clerk Carlos Bussell.

Carlos Bussell likes packages, sacks and scanners. It’s rewarding work for the Salt Lake City, UT, clerk, and he’s earned a reputation for satisfying customers.

So it wasn’t surprising when District Manager Ken McArthur received a letter about Bussell’s work ethic from David and Terry Dittman, business owners in Anchorage, AK.

“Our company uses Express Mail regularly,” the Dittmans wrote. They said a package sent to them from Salt Lake City needed to be recalled, adding Bussell went “the extra mile” to find and return it.

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HOME IS WHERE THE MAIL IS

PREMIUM FORWARDING SERVICE KEEPS CUSTOMERS CONNECTED

Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) is the perfect mailing option for customers planning long summer vacations.

PFS lets residential customers forward all their mail — including magazines and catalogs — to a temporary U.S. address for extended stays from two weeks up to one full year.

Mail is held and reshipped once each week using Priority Mail to the temporary location. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $15 and a weekly forwarding fee of $13.95. Customers can enroll for PFS at their primary address Post Offices.

Additional PFS advantages include:

• A customer’s permanent address doesn’t change and the temporary address isn’t provided to mailers.
• Customers won’t miss important mail while away from home and can continue to enjoy their magazine and newspaper subscriptions instead of having them pile up back home.
• PFS is reliable. The week’s mail goes out the same day every week using Priority Mail and will arrive in 2-3 business days.

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