Ordering Information: Following is the list of postal stock numbers (PSNs) to use when ordering copies of the Postal Bulletin from the MDC:
PB 22070: 7690-05-000-4835
PB 22069: 7690-05-000-4834
PB 22068: 7690-04-000-5675
PB 22067: 7690-04-000-5674
PB 22066: 7690-04-000-5673
PB 22065: 7690-04-000-5672
PB 22064: 7690-04-000-5671
PB 22063: 7690-04-000-5670
PB 22062: 7690-04-000-5669
PB 22061: 7690-04-000-5668
PB 22060: 7690-04-000-5667
PB 22059: 7690-04-000-5666
PB 22058: 7690-04-000-5665
PB 22057: 7690-04-000-5664
PB 22056: 7690-04-000-5663
PB 22055: 7690-04-000-5662
PB 22054: 7690-04-000-5661
PB 22053: 7690-04-000-5660
PB 22052: 7690-04-000-5659
PB 22051: 7690-04-000-5658
PB 22050: 7690-04-000-5657
PB 22049: 7690-04-000-5656
PB 22048: 7690-04-000-5655
PB 22047: 7690-04-000-5654
PB 22046: 7690-04-000-5653
PB 22045: 7690-04-000-5652
PB 22044: 7690-04-000-5651
PUBLICITY KIT
|
Item in Kit
|
Page
|
|
Overview
|
4
|
|
Publicity Ideas to Interest the Media
|
4
|
|
Event Planning Checklist
|
5
|
|
Stamp Artwork
|
5
|
| Pictorial Cancellation
|
5 |
| Stamp Products |
7 |
| Suggested Public Relations
Timeline |
8 |
| Area Public Affairs and Communications
Managers |
8 |
| Art References |
11 |
| News Releases and Media Advisories
|
15 |
| Speech Segment |
21 |
| Sample Letter to Local Newspaper Editor
Thanking Community for Support |
22 |
| Participation of Public Officials
|
23 |
| Sample Invitation to Public
Officials |
24 |
| Sample Thank-You Letter to Public
Officials |
25 |
| Government Relations Contacts |
26 |
On
April 4, 2002, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Greetings From America stamps in conjunction with
National Card and Letter Writing Month. The self-adhesive 34-cent Greetings From America stamps will be available in panes
of 50, featuring one design for each of the 50 states. The designs are
reminiscent of the retro "large-letter" postcards popular in the 1930s and
1940s. Each state is portrayed by a bright montage of images related to some of
its many attractions. Interesting details about each state appear on the back of
the stamps' backing paper.
The
Greetings From America stamps will be issued at first
day ceremonies held on April 4 in every state's capital city and at the Postage
Stamp Mega-Event stamp show in New York City. But the fun shouldn't end there.
The release of the stamps offers an ideal opportunity for communities elsewhere
in each state to celebrate their heritage and make friends with residents and
community leaders. In addition, local events tied to National Card and Letter
Writing Month can help develop more business for the Postal Service by
encouraging participants and attendees to revisit the fine art of letter writing
by sending more cards and letters to family and friends, whether as part of a
local promotion or as a or school project.
The
Postal Service is partnering with the Travel Industry Association of America
(TIA) to promote the issuance of the Greetings From
America stamps. In addition to their support of the 51 first day events, TIA
and some of its partners - Orbitz, Best Western, and Hertz - are sponsoring the
SeeAmerica.org "Win Your American Dream Vacation"
sweepstakes, which will feature a travel prize from each of the 50 states. Entry
to the sweepstakes will be through the SeeAmerica.org
Web site. Promotion will include posters displayed in postal locations and
elsewhere by TIA and many of its member organizations.
There are many ways to generate local media interest in the
Greetings From America stamps and National Card and
Letter Writing Month. Here are some methods to capture customer and media
attention:
•
Host a Greetings From America celebration of the
diversity of your local community. Invite community members to display ethnic
foods and arts and crafts and perform music and dance. Invite caretakers of
local historic and scenic venues (historic buildings, lighthouses, state
forests, large parks, lakes, etc.) to have displays at the celebration.
•
Host a press conference announcing the issuance of the Greetings From America stamps and the availability of
the sweepstakes, March 23 through June 30. Participants might include the
postmaster, head of the local Chamber of Commerce, and
owners/operators/employees of local travel agencies.
•
Develop a "Greetings From [insert your state name here]" display at your Post
Office and invite owners or operators of local tourist attractions (lighthouses,
wineries, historic houses, renovated factories, riverboats, etc.) and local
Chambers of Commerce to contribute images for a colorful patriotic and tourism-
oriented display.
•
Plan an event at the local library or other public location and include a
display of an enlargement of the new stamp for your state. Invite appropriate
speakers, and/or present special awards to local tourism magnets. Ask
Congressional, civic, and community leaders to participate.
•
Present a framed enlargement of the new stamp to your Chamber of Commerce,
Visitor Center, or Convention and Visitors Bureau. Also present them with a Greetings From America sweepstakes poster to post in
their facility.
•
Coordinate groups of children - children of postal employees, Boy Scout and Girl
Scout troops, 4H Clubs, etc. - to write and illustrate "Letters to America" to
be displayed on the Post Office bulletin board and published in the local paper,
about "What [insert your state name here] means to me" or "You should visit
[insert your state name here] because..."
•
Coordinate groups of children to create and write "Postcards to America" to be
displayed in the local library, written to a real or imaginary friend about
"Great things to see and do in [insert your state name here]."
•
Work with a local school to initiate a writing project encouraging students to
write and exchange letters with senior citizens from a nearby retirement center.
Suggest a field trip to the center after the letter exchange, providing a chance
for the new "pen pals" to meet, take photos, and build friendships.
•
Work with local schools to develop a letter exchange between schools in another
state. Suggest that the students make a collage similar to the Greetings From America stamp for their state to show
their pen pals some of the highlights of their state.
Implement any of these ideas, combine them, or brainstorm
with your employees and come up with ideas of your own. Be sure to publicize
each and every event to your local newspaper, radio, and television stations via
the press releases, media advisories, and letters to the media contained in this
publicity kit. Don't forget to make follow-up phone calls.
Postal Service employees can find an electronic version of
the Community Relations publicity kit for Greetings From
America/National Card and Letter Writing Month on the Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov; click on References, then scroll down and click on Postmaster Toolkits. Select the .doc (MS Word) version
to easily complete the fill-in-the- blank publicity materials included in this
kit.
Event Planning Checklist
When
planning Greetings From America stamp events, keep
the following suggestions in mind:
a. Begin planning immediately.
b. Set a date (April 4, 2002, or any date after
that).
c. Secure participants (postal employees who are interested
in writing, art, or travel; head of the local Chamber of Commerce, local
politicians, owners/operators of local travel agencies and tourist attractions,
etc.).
d. Order enlargements of the stamp image, flyers, and other
supplies for the event.
e. Prepare a pictorial cancellation from the approved design
provided in this kit.
f. Secure staging and sound equipment, if applicable.
g. Plan signage, including a podium sign and banners.
h. Launch a local publicity campaign using the materials in
this kit.
i. Draft a sequence-of-events agenda and remarks for
speakers.
j. Plan retail opportunities encouraging sales of the
stamp.
k. Prepare ceremony programs and invitations.
l. Send news clippings to your Area Public Affairs and
Communications representative.
To
obtain stamp artwork, including color transparencies and enlargements,
contact:
DAN
TRACY
DODGE COLOR
4827 RUGBY AVE
STE 100
BETHESDA MD 20814-3028
Phone: 301-656-0025
Please plan ahead and allow enough time for production and
shipping.
The
Postal Service has authorized a pictorial cancellation design for field use to
help spread awareness about the Greetings From
America stamps. Post Offices planning events are encouraged to use the
design depicted below. Offices can offer this cancellation through mail-back
service for 30 days.
Remember that the Postal Service must endeavor to make all
unusual postmarking services widely known to collectors through advance
publicity to avoid limiting the availability of those postmarks. Therefore, all
pictorial cancellations must be reported to Stamp Development 3 weeks prior to
local events. Please use the announcement form on page 9
to report your use of the cancellation.
To
finalize the Greetings From America Station pictorial
cancellation art, insert the date and the city, state, and ZIP Code of the
physical location of your event within the postmark circle. Overall dimensions
of the pictorial cancellation must not exceed 4 inches horizontally by 2 inches
vertically. Collectors prefer the dimensions 3 ½ inches by 1 inch.
First Day Cover (Full Pane) - $19.00
Uncut Press Sheet - $34.00
Pane of 50
with plate number - $17.00
The
Greetings From America products listed below are
available under exclusive license from:
US
ALLEGIANCE
63004 LAYTON AVENUE
BEND OR 97701-3735
Telephone: 541-330-6282
Fax:
541-330-6268
Web site: www.greetingsfromamerica.com
I. Available for all 50 states
Postcards
Acrylic Key Chain
Acrylic Magnet
Metal Magnet
15 oz. Ceramic Mug
16 oz. Travel Mug
II. Larger States Only
All of No.
I above plus:
10 Note Card Stationery Set
Magnetic Notepad w/Collector Pencil
Collector Pen
Place Mat
III. Greetings From
America Retail Web Site Only
All of No. II above plus:
Classic Canvas Tote Bag with Nylon Handles
Deluxe Canvas Tote Bag with Zipper and Pocket
T-Shirt
Sweatshirt
IV. Special Order Only
All of No.
III above plus:
Playing Cards
Coasters
Information about the availability of other licensed
products will appear in future issues of the Postal
Bulletin.
Note: If
you have any questions or need assistance with any of these items, please
contact your area's Public Affairs and Communications representative.
| Action: |
Suggested
Timing: |
| 1. Send invitations to local and area
dignitaries. |
A few weeks before event. |
| 2. Send announcements and invitations to
employees. |
A few weeks before event |
| 3. Distribute public service announcement
to radio/TV. |
A few weeks before event. |
| 4. Distribute news release. |
A few weeks before event. |
| 5. Distribute media advisory to all news
media. |
1 week before event. |
| 6. Remind invited dignitaries about event
via telephone. |
5 days before event. |
| 7. Redistribute media advisory to all
news media. |
1 to 2 days before event. |
| 8. Make follow-up calls to local news
media. |
1 day before event. |
| 9. Distribute day-of-issuance news
release. |
Day of event. |
| 10. Send letter to newspaper editor thanking
community. |
1 day after event. |
| 11. Send newspaper clips to area Public Affairs and
Communications manager. |
Within 1 week after event.
|
Ralph Stewart
Manager, Public Affairs
& Communications
Eastern Area/U.S. Postal Service
PO Box 40593
Philadelphia, PA
19197-0593
215-931-5054
Helen Skillman and Deborah Yackley
Public Affairs and Communications
Capitol Metro/U.S. Postal Service
10320 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Ste 308
Columbia, MD 21044-5210
410-715-0070
Diane Todd
Manager, Public Affairs
and Communications
NY Metro Area/U.S. Postal Service
421 Eighth Ave., Rm. 5114
New York,
NY 10199-9681
212-330-3118
Debra Hawkins
Manager, Public
Affairs and Communications
Northeast Area/U.S. Postal
Service
6 Griffin Rd N
Windsor,
CT 06006-9876
860-285-7265
Earl
C. Artis, Jr.
Manager, Public
Affairs and Communications
Southeast Area/U.S. Postal
Service
225 North Humphrey Blvd
Memphis, TN 38166-0832
901-747-7544
Jim
Mruk
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Great Lakes Area/U.S. Postal Service
244 Knollwood Dr, 4th Floor
Bloomingdale, IL 60117-2208
630-539-6565
Dan
De Miglio
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Pacific Area/U.S. Postal Service
390
Main Street, Ste 200
San Francisco, CA 94105-8000
415-536-6490
David Mazer
Manager, Public Affairs
and Communications
Pacific Area/U.S. Postal Service
7001 S Central Ave, Room 364A
Los
Angeles, CA 90052-9641
323-586-1212
Cesta Ayers, Jr.
(A) Manager, Public
Affairs and Communications
Southwest Area/U.S. Postal
Service
7800 N Stemmons Freeway, Ste 450
Dallas, TX 75247-4220
214-819-8710
Scott Budny
Manager, Public Affairs
and Communications
Western Area/U.S. Postal Service
1745 Stout St, Ste 400
Denver, CO
80299-7500
303-313-5130
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com
Public Service Announcement for Radio
[INSERT CITY] Post
Office Invites Community to Celebrate Release of New Greetings From [INSERT
STATE NAME] Stamp
[INSERT CITY] -
It's time to celebrate the greatness of America .... and our great state of [INSERT STATE]. The Postal Service is issuing some
beautiful new stamps called Greetings From America,
with one colorful and exciting stamp honoring each of the 50 states.
After you've added the Greetings From America stamps to your collection, get
out your pens, pencils, and stationery because April is National Card and Letter
Writing Month.
The employees of the [INSERT CITY] Post Office invite everyone to come on
down on [INSERT DATE] to a free community celebration
at their location at [INSERT STREET ADDRESS]. The fun
starts at [INSERT TIME].
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com
Greetings From
[INSERT STATE] Postage Stamp to be Celebrated in [INSERT CITY]
[INSERT CITY] -
Residents of [INSERT CITY] will have the opportunity
on [INSERT DATE] to join the employees of the [INSERT CITY] Post Office in a celebration of the
issuance of the Greetings From [INSERT STATE] postage stamp.
The stamp is one of 50 different designs that
will be available on a pane of self-adhesive stamps highlighting each state's
history and points of interest.
The Greetings From [INSERT STATE] stamp event will be held on [INSERT DATE] at [INSERT LOCATION
AND STREET ADDRESS]. The event is free and open to everyone.
"With these colorful, educational stamps,
we're recalling the warm and friendly tradition of postcard and letter greetings
exchanged through the mail between friends and family across the miles," said [INSERT NAME AND TITLE] of the Postal Service.
"These stamps will also serve as a lasting
reminder of the Postal Service's commitment to its role in binding the nation
together through universal service at affordable rates, whether you live in a
major metropolitan area or anywhere in rural America," said [INSERT LAST NAME].
The Greetings From
America stamps combine flora and fauna with local points of interest into
collages that celebrate the unique character of each of the 50 states. The
designs are reminiscent of the retro "large letter" postcards popular with
tourists in the 1930s and 1940s. The flipside of the stamps' backing paper will
list each state's bird, flower, tree, capital city, and date of statehood.
The release of the stamps on April 4, 2002,
will mark the first issuance of a pane of 50 stamps in 10 years. The Wildflowers stamps issued in 1992 continue to hold their
place as the second most popular commemorative stamps of all time, behind the Elvis stamp.
The bright colors and creative designs of the
Greetings From America stamps hint at the romance of
travel and discovery and convey a nostalgia for all aspects of popular American
culture.
The stamps were illustrated by Lonnie Busch of
Franklin, North Carolina. Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Arizona, was the art
director. Busch's art was inspired by the postcards that were used to advertise
cities, states, or tourist attractions. Bearing the legend "Greetings from,"
these retro postcards featured depictions of local scenes inside big letters
that spelled out the name of the place or attraction. Some cities are now
reproducing large letter postcards.
The Postal Service is partnering with the
Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) for the issuance of the Greetings From America stamps. To enter the Greetings From America/SeeAmerica.org "Win Your
American Dream Vacation Sweepstakes," visit the TIA Web site at SeeAmerica.org.
Go to www.usps.com/shop. Under "Collector's Corner," click on
Release Schedule to see the Greetings From America stamps and other 2002 issues, or
click on Stamp Issues to see images of many past and
future stamps.
All current stamps and other philatelic
products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll
free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items
are available online at the Postal Store.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com
Media Advisory
[INSERT CITY] Post
Office Invites Community to Celebrate Release of New Greetings From [INSERT
STATE] Stamp
WHAT: In honor of
the issuance of the Greetings From America postage
stamps and National Card and Letter Writing Month, the [INSERT CITY] Post Office is hosting a community
celebration. The event is free and open to everyone.
WHO: [INSERT NAMES AND
TITLES OF EVENT PARTICIPANTS]
WHEN: [INSERT DATE AND
TIME]
WHERE: [INSERT NAME OF LOCATION AND COMPLETE ADDRESS]
BACKGROUND: The Greetings From America stamps combine flora and fauna
with local points of interest into collages that celebrate the unique character
of each of the 50 states. The stamps will stimulate interest in local tourism
and will help inspire letter writers to share the history and cultural influence
of their state with friends and family in the U.S. and abroad.
To see the Greetings
From America stamps, go to www.usps.com/shop;
under "Collector's Corner," click on Release
Schedule.
CONTACT: [INSERT YOUR
NAME, OR THE NAME OF YOUR AREA PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS
REPRESENTATIVE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER]
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com
[INSERT CITY] Helps
Postal Service Launch New Greetings From [INSERT STATE]
Postage Stamp
[INSERT CITY] -
Residents of [INSERT CITY] today showed tremendous
pride for their state when they joined the U.S. Postal Service in a community
celebration honoring the issuance of the Greetings From
[INSERT STATE] postage stamp.
The stamp is one of 50 different designs that
are available on a pane of 34-cent self-adhesive stamps highlighting each
state's history and points of interest.
The Greetings From [INSERT STATE] stamp event was held at the [INSERT CITY] Post Office and was one of many ceremonies
held across the country saluting both the issuance of the stamps and National
Card and Letter Writing Month.
"With these colorful, educational stamps,
we're recalling the warm and friendly tradition of postcard and letter greetings
exchanged through the mail between friends and family across the miles," said [INSERT NAME AND TITLE] of the Postal Service.
"These stamps will also serve as a lasting
reminder of the Postal Service's commitment to its role in binding the nation
together through universal service at affordable rates, whether you live in a
major metropolitan area or anywhere in rural America," said [INSERT LAST NAME].
Joining [INSERT LAST
NAME OF POSTAL OFFICIAL] at the ceremony were [INSERT
NAMES OF ANY OTHER NOTABLES].
The Greetings From
America stamps combine flora and fauna with local points of interest into
collages that celebrate the unique character of each of the 50 states. The
designs are reminiscent of the retro "large letter" postcards popular with
tourists in the 1930s and 1940s. The flipside of the stamps' backing paper will
list each state's bird, flower, tree, capital city, and date of statehood.
The release of the stamps marks the first
issuance of a pane of 50 stamps in 10 years. The Wildflowers stamps issued in 1992 continue to hold their
place as the second most popular commemorative stamps of all time, behind the Elvis stamp.
The bright colors and creative designs of the
Greetings From America stamps hint at the romance of
travel and discovery and convey a nostalgia for all aspects of popular American
culture.
The stamps were illustrated by Lonnie Busch of
Franklin, North Carolina. Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Arizona, was the art
director. Busch's art was inspired by the postcards that were used to advertise
cities, states, or tourist attractions. Bearing the legend "Greetings from,"
these retro postcards featured depictions of local scenes inside big letters
that spelled out the name of the place or attraction. Some cities are now
reproducing large letter postcards.
The Postal Service is partnering with the
Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) for the issuance of the Greetings From America stamps. To enter the Greetings From America/SeeAmerica.org "Win Your American
Dream Vacation Sweepstakes," visit the TIA Web site at SeeAmerica.org.
Go to www.usps.com/shop. Under "Collector's Corner," click on
Release Schedule to see the Greetings From America Stamps and other 2002 issues, or
click on Stamp Issues to see images of many past and
future stamps.
All current stamps and other philatelic
products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll
free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items
are available online at the Postal Store.
# # #
The following suggested speech segment is for use at local
ceremonies and events. Feel free to customize it to fit your local event and
community.
Good [INSERT "MORNING"
/ "AFTERNOON"].
It's a great honor for me to represent the
United States Postal Service today as we dedicate the Greetings From America stamps and celebrate National
Card and Letter Writing Month. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our
beloved state's greatness...and to encourage people of all ages to write cards
and letters to each other.
With these stamps, the Postal Service
continues its tradition of celebrating our nation's natural features, historical
places, and cultural diversity. And with these stamps, the Postal Service
recalls the warm and friendly tradition of postcard and letter greetings
exchanged through the mail between friends and family across the miles.
Writing, sending, and receiving letters,
postcards, and greeting cards is a tradition that has preserved our nation's
history and has changed lives - particularly in times of war and times of
personal triumph and tragedy.
Unlike other forms of communication, card and
letter writing is timeless, personal, and tangible. Beautiful cards and letters,
or just heartfelt words penned on a blank page, can be saved to become cherished
heirlooms to be read and re-read by generations to come.
Furthermore, the colorful Greetings From America stamps will serve as a lasting
reminder of the Postal Service's commitment to our role in binding the nation
together through universal service at affordable rates, whether you live in a
major metropolitan area, a small town, or anywhere in rural America.
And now, if [INSERT
NAMES OF CEREMONY PARTICIPANTS] would join me in unveiling the Greetings From America stamps...
I appreciate this opportunity to introduce
these stamps to our customers and friends in this community. Thank you again for
taking the time to join us here today for this joyous occasion.
# # #
Day after the
event:
SAMPLE LETTER TO LOCAL NEWSPAPER EDITOR THANKING COMMUNITY
FOR SUPPORT
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT NAME]
[INSERT TITLE]
[INSERT NAME OF
PUBLICATION]
[INSERT STREET
ADDRESS]
[INSERT CITY, STATE,
ZIP+4]
Dear [INSERT TITLE
AND NAME]:
The employees of the [INSERT CITY NAME] Post Office wish to thank the
citizens of [INSERT CITY NAME] for their enthusiasm
and support in making yesterday's release of the Greetings From America postage stamps and celebration of
National Card and Letter Writing Month such a successful event for our community
and for the U.S. Postal Service.
Writing, sending, and receiving letters,
postcards, and greeting cards is a tradition that has preserved our nation's
history and changed lives - particularly in times of war and times of personal
triumph and tragedy. Unlike other communications, card and letter writing is
timeless, personal, and immediately tangible.
Our nation's commemorative stamp program
has been developed over the past 100 years largely through the participation of
the American people. Your stamp ideas and suggestions are instrumental in
helping the Postal Service honor some of the greatest achievements and achievers
that have made our country great.
We believe the Greetings From [INSERT STATE]
stamp, and the 49 other Greetings From America
stamps, represent important steps in our effort to recognize the history and
beauty of our great country.
Whether by providing universal mail service
to everyone, everywhere, every day, or through our responsibilities as a
community leader, the Postal Service will continue to work hard to deliver
quality communications services across the country and right here in [INSERT CITY NAME].
Sincerely,
[SIGN]
[INSERT POSTMASTER'S
NAME]
Postmaster
U.S. Postal
Service
[INSERT CITY, STATE,
ZIP+4]
Greetings From America stamp events are a perfect opportunity to involve elected
officials in an important and positive local event. They are likely to take a
keen interest in the event, as it provides elected representatives a chance to
interact with constituents in a friendly civic setting with guaranteed media
coverage.
You
are encouraged to reach out directly to your federal, state, and local elected
officials. Government Relations representatives are
available to assist you in coordinating political involvement and would be
pleased to help in any way.
This
Greetings From America publicity kit contains basic
guidelines, sample letters, and the names and telephone numbers of your
Government Relations contacts.
Send a written invitation 4 to 6 weeks before the event to your two U.S. Senators,
your congressional representative, your state governor, and the mayor of your
community. Please include any other local elected officials you feel would be
appropriate. The local postmaster or district manager should sign the
invitations.
Follow up
on the written invitation with a telephone call to the elected official's
scheduler within a week if you have not received a reply. You may need to call
more than once.
Keep in touch with all elected officials who respond. If asked, provide
updated information to the elected official's staff as it becomes available
(such as who else is participating, where and when to meet, what his or her role
will be, etc.). Stress that remarks should be brief and limited to the unveiling
of the Greetings From America stamps and recognition
of the role the U. S. Postal Service in celebrating our nation's natural
features, historical places, and cultural diversity and binding the nation
together through affordable universal service.
Include names of all participating elected officials on the "official
program" as honored guests, and mention them in all media advisories.
Provide a courtesy copy of the program to the elected official in advance.
Send a written thank-you letter to all elected officials who participated in the
ceremony, expressing your appreciation.
Provide copies of any newspaper articles about the event to their offices.
Even though they might see those articles on their own, you can take the
opportunity to remind them of the press coverage the event received.
Provide a supply of extra cachets with the special cancellation, if applicable,
to elected officials, even to those who could not attend. These make great
give-aways and serve as a positive reminder of the event.
Obtain and frame a photo of the elected official posing beside the stamp image and
make an appointment to present it in person, if possible. A matted, well-framed
photograph stands a good chance of being hung on the wall of the official's
office, again serving as a positive reminder of the event.
Keep in touch with your elected officials. Good relationships are built
over time.
# # #
SAMPLE INVITATION TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT NAME]
[INSERT TITLE]
[INSERT NAME OF
ORGANIZATION]
[INSERT STREET
ADDRESS]
[INSERT CITY, STATE,
ZIP+4]
Attemtion: Scheduler
Dear [INSERT TITLE
AND NAME]:
On behalf of the [INSERT NAME OF DISTRICT OR POST OFFICE] and the United
States Postal Service, I am pleased to invite you to participate in the
dedication of the Greetings From America postage
stamps at [INSERT EXACT LOCATION] on [INSERT DATE] at [INSERT
TIME]. While this very special sheet of stamps honors each of the 50 states,
our ceremony will highlight the special role of the [INSERT STATE NAME] state stamp.
Greetings From
America stamps celebrate the unique character of each state. With these
colorful, educational stamps, we recall the warm and friendly tradition of
postcard and letter greetings exchanged through the mail. The designs combine
flora and fauna with local points of interest into collages that underscore the
romance of travel and discovery, and convey nostalgia for all aspects of popular
American culture.
At the dedication ceremony, you will be
invited to speak briefly about the significance of the [INSERT STATE NAME] state stamp. We plan a unique photo
opportunity for the dedication and expect significant press coverage of the
ceremony. We hope you will join us to commemorate our past and celebrate our
future by renewing the common bonds of the American experience.
Please confirm your participation by
calling [NAME OF CONTACT] at [TELEPHONE NUMBER] by [CUT-OFF
DATE]. We look forward to having you join us at the event.
Sincerely,
[SIGN]
[INSERT DISTRICT
MANAGER OR POSTMASTER'S NAME]
["DISTRICT MANAGER" OR
"POSTMASTER"]
U.S. Postal Service
[INSERT CITY, STATE, ZIP+4]
SAMPLE THANK-YOU LETTER TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT NAME]
[NAME TITLE]
[INSERT NAME OF
ORGANIZATION]
[INSERT STREET
ADDRESS]
[INSERT CITY, STATE,
ZIP+4]
Dear [INSERT TITLE
AND NAME]:
On behalf of the United States Postal
Service, I want to thank you for joining us during our special ceremony
dedicating the Greetings From America stamps. It was
a wonderful event for [INSERT NAME OF COMMUNITY], and
your participation helped make it a great success.
All of us in the Postal Service are
extremely proud of the role our organization has played as a community leader
and in commemorating many of the people, places, and events that have made our
nation great. The stamp unveiling ceremony was a wonderful way to share our
pride in our state's proud heritage with our friends, neighbors, children, and
customers here in [INSERT NAME OF COMMUNITY]. I am
enclosing 10 copies of our special pictorial cancellation [IF APPLICABLE] for you to share with your constituents,
as well as copies of press clippings and photographs that recorded the event [IF APPLICABLE].
The Postal Service will continue to provide
reliable, cost-effective service through the ongoing development of our
world-class communications network. I look forward to working with you on future
community events. If I can be of assistance with any postal matter, please
contact me at [TELEPHONE NUMBER].
Sincerely,
[SIGN]
[INSERT DISTRICT
MANAGER OR POSTMASTER'S NAME]
["DISTRICT MANAGER" OR
"POSTMASTER"]
U.S. Postal Service
[INSERT CITY, STATE, ZIP+4]
We
can help! Your Government Relations representatives are here to serve you. As
you plan your events, please let us know.
| State |
Contact
Name |
Contact
Telephone No. |
| Alaska |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| American Samoa |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| Arizona |
Renee Gadson |
202-268-7217 |
| Arkansas |
Faith Beamon |
202-268-3745 |
| California |
Bill Weagley |
202-268-3745 |
| Connecticut |
Jo Waterman |
202-268-6748 |
| Colorado |
Renee Gadson |
202-268-7217 |
| Delaware |
Jo Waterman |
202-268-6748 |
| District of Columbia |
Rebecca Sumner |
202-268-3755 |
| Florida |
Laurie Solnik |
202-268-3743 |
| Georgia |
Jim Quirk |
202-268-8468 |
| Hawaii |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| Idaho |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| Illinois |
Cynthia Puryear |
202-268-3750 |
| Indiana |
Rebecca Sumner |
202-268-3755 |
| Iowa |
Sheila Meyers |
202-268-7505 |
| Kansas |
Renee Gadson |
202-268-7217 |
| Kentucky |
Pat Irons |
202-268-3744 |
| Louisiana |
Faith Beamon |
202-268-3754 |
| Maine |
Kathy Sitterle |
202-268-6027 |
| Maryland |
Rebecca Sumner |
202-268-3755 |
| Massachusetts |
Jo Waterman |
202-268-6748 |
| Michigan |
Cynthia Puryear |
202-268-3750 |
| Minnesota |
Sheila Meyers |
202-268-7505 |
| Mississippi |
Laurie Solnik |
202-268-3743 |
| Missouri |
Sheila Meyers |
202-268-7505 |
| Montana |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| Nebraska |
Sheila Meyers |
202-268-7505 |
| Nevada |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| New Hampshire |
Jo Waterman |
202-268-6748 |
| New Jersey |
Jo Waterman |
202-268-6748 |
| New Mexico |
Renee Gadson |
202-268-7217 |
| New York |
Kathy Sitterle |
202-268-6027 |
| North Carolina |
Jim Quirk |
202-268-8468 |
| North Dakota |
Sheila Meyers |
202-268-7505 |
| Ohio |
Pat Irons |
202-268-3744 |
| Oklahoma |
Faith Beamon |
202-268-3754 |
| Oregon |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| Pennsylvania |
Rebecca Sumner |
202-268-3755 |
| Puerto Rico |
Kathy Sitterle |
202-268-6027 |
| Rhode Island |
Jo Waterman |
202-268-6748 |
| South Carolina |
Jim Quirk |
202-268-8468 |
| South Dakota |
Sheila Meyers |
202-268-7505 |
| Tennessee |
Jim Quirk |
202-268-8468 |
| Texas |
Faith Beamon |
202-268-3754 |
| Utah |
Renee Gadson |
202-268-7217 |
| Vermont |
Kathy Sitterle |
202-268-6027 |
| Virgin Islands |
Kathy Sitterle |
202-268-6027 |
| Virginia |
Pat Irons |
202-268-3744 |
| Washington |
Jennifer Alvarez |
202-268-7839 |
| West Virginia |
Pat Irons |
202-268-3744 |
| Wisconsin |
Cynthia Puryear |
202-268-3750 |
| Wyoming |
Renee Gadson |
202-268-7217 |
- Community Relations,Public Affairs and Communications,
2-21-02
