USPSNEWS@WORK

Swearing-in: Patrick R. Donahoe is new Deputy PMG and Chief Operating Officer

It's official. Patrick R. Donahoe is the Postal Service'sTM 19th deputy postmaster general and chief operating officer.

Donahoe took the oath of office Wednesday, June 22, during a swearing-in ceremony in the Hall of Flags at Postal Service Headquarters, Washington, DC. Donahoe was sworn in by Postmaster General (PMG) Jack Potter.

Announcing Donahoe's appointment earlier this year, Board of Governors Chairman James Miller and PMG Potter said Donahoe's performance, experience and commitment to the continued transformation and success of the Postal Service make him uniquely suited to the role.

Donahoe joined USPS® as a clerk in 1975. He has been senior vice president of Operations, senior vice president of Human Resources and vice president of Area Operations for the former Allegheny Area. He was appointed chief operating officer (COO) in Sept. 2001.

"Pat has gained an invaluable perspective on the challenges facing the organization and developed a real-world approach to meeting them," Miller and Potter said.

Donahoe is credited with helping USPS achieve record levels of service, with overnight on-time delivery performance at 95 percent and customer satisfaction at 94 percent. Over the same period, USPS experienced sustained workplace improvements and is on track for a sixth straight year of productivity gains.

In his new position, Donahoe serves as a member of the USPS Board of Governors and retains responsibility for mail processing, transportation and delivery, field operations, engineering, delivery and retail, facilities and network operations - all activities he performed as COO.

Donahoe has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pittsburgh and earned his master's degree as a Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Diversity honor: USPS Law department recognized, credits HR programs

The USPS Law department was honored for its commitment to diversity with a 2005 Special Achievement Award from the Minority Corporate Counsel Association on June 14 in Washington, DC.

The association is an advocate for diversity in the legal sector of corporate America. Each year it honors industry leaders who have been successful in creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace.

"This award reflects the Law department's adoption of Postal Service-wide diversity policies and programs instituted by Human Resources and steps we've taken to integrate diversity into our workplace," says Senior Vice President and General Counsel Mary Anne Gibbons. "This award reflects very favorably on the entire Postal Service."

Stacking up packages: Carrier Pickup tops 10 million

Carrier Pickup Online Notification is perfect for customers who don't have time to go to the Post OfficeTM - like the Potomac, MD, toy company that shipped the 10 millionth package as a result of the program, and countless others.

The feature was launched nationally in February 2004 and six months later marked 1 million packages picked up. Carrier PickupTM is attracting customers in droves - packages have topped a million a month since March 2005!

Connecting with success: More than 13,000 letter carriers have submitted leads

Letter carriers know a good lead when they see one - or thousands.

The Customer ConnectTM program continues to celebrate million-dollar weeks, documenting annualized sales of more than $1.4 million during the week of June 11 through June 17. This brings fiscal year (FY) 2005 Customer Connect revenue to more than $48 million.

"That's spectacular," says Customer Development Manager De-Borah Honore. "The number of letter carriers participating in the program continues to increase. Carriers are motivated. Small business specialists and sales personnel are doing a great job closing the deals."

Since Customer Connect was launched January 2004, it's brought in $89 million in revenue for the Postal Service. Carrier participation has increased to 26%. More than 13,000 letter carriers have submitted leads.

Expect the numbers to grow. The program will expand to an additional 3,000 sites by the end of FY 2005.

Recursos en español utilizables por el postmaster: Outreach articles available in Spanish

Marketing Strategy and Support, along with Employee Development, and Diversity's Hispanic Program partnered to bring you the 2005 Postmaster Toolkit USPS Outreach Articles, all 64 in Spanish.

Each article covers a specific postal topic, explains new products and services, and provides tips and useful information that make it easier for household and small business customers to use the Postal Service.

The articles also can help you open and maintain positive communications with the editors of your local newspapers, news directors of local radio stations and Postal Service customers.

Check out the Postmaster's Toolkit in Spanish.

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov/corporate/outreach/
welcome.htm.

• Click on Spanish Translations.

Skin cancer: Are you at risk?

Sun seekers, take heed. Too much fun in the sun may mean overexposure that can lead to skin irritation, sunburn - even skin cancer.

The American Academy of Dermatology says one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.

At risk are people with fair to light skin tones or a family history of skin cancer. Darker skins tones contain greater concentrations of melanin, the substance that produces skin tone. While melanin is activated in the sun, it is not a repellent to the sun's potentially harmful rays.

"Everyone can benefit from wearing sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15," says USPS National Medical Director David Reid.

Dermatologists also recommend these tips to avoid the searing effects of too much sun:

• Avoid peak sunlight hours. Plan outdoor activities early or late in the day.

• Wear protective, tightly woven clothing.

• Apply sunscreen of at least SPF 15 on all exposed parts of the body.

• Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going out and every 90 minutes thereafter.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

• Seek shade whenever possible.

Examine your skin monthly, looking closely between toes, on the soles of your feet, under your arms and on your scalp and back. Watch for unusual moles or discolorations of the skin. And get checkups every six months. The American Academy of Dermatology has more information at 888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.

Safe, consumer-friendly surfing: USPS wins Web award for usps.com

An independent organization has cited the Postal Service as having the most consumer- friendly Web site, naming usps.com "The Best of the Web - Government" winner for 2005.

WiredKids.com and the WiredSafety Group also gave the Postal Inspection Service its "Wired Cops Award" for aiding in the successful recovery of a kidnapped child.

"We are honored to be among those recognized for this important work to improve Internet safety and ease of use," said Acting Consumer Advocate Mike Spates.

Hot wired! USPS VP Jaffer is setting the record straight

Public Affairs and Communications Vice President Azeezaly Jaffer "Set the Record Straight" for Wired News editor Xeni Jardin. In her article "Your Identity, Open to All," Jardin erroneously reported that whenever someone fills out a change-of-address card, USPS records the date of move and new address, and then sells that information to brokers on the open market.

It's simply not true.

In his letter to her, Jaffer explained what USPS does and doesn't do with change-of-address information. To her credit, Jardin will be running Jaffer's response in an upcoming issue of Wired News. You can read it at Setting the Record Straight on usps.com.