USPSNEWS@WORK

Superman flying into Post Offices today

The Postal Service is issuing 39-cent DC Comics Super Heroes commemorative stamps on July 20 in San Diego, CA.

Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, CA, designed the colorful stamps, featuring Superman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, Supergirl and other familiar stars from the world of DC Comics. The super heroes' fantastic adventures provide an escape from the everyday while simultaneously encouraging readers to feel that individuals can make a difference.

These super stamps go on sale nationwide on July 21 in 20 designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps.

All characters and related elementsTM & DC Comics. SUPER HEROES is a jointly owned trademark.

VOE surveys mailing next week

Voice of the Employee (VOE) surveys are being mailed out next week. If you're among the many Postal Service employees who will receive a VOE survey this quarter, don't forget to complete it and send it back before the deadline. The surveys help the Postal Service identify workplace issues that need to be improved - that's good for employees and for our customers.

Let your voice be heard. Fill out your VOE survey - on the clock.

Completed VOE surveys must be received by August 28.

Scio, NY, Post Office renamed for fallen hero

From left, Rep. Randy Kuhl(R-NY), Scio, NY; Postmaster Karen Kania; and Jason Dunham's parents, Deb and Danny Dunham, unveil the plaque renaming the Post Office

In April 2004, Marine Corporal Jason Dunham used his body to shield his men from an attacker's grenade in Iraq. He died days later. To remember the sacrifice of this 22-year-old hero, Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) introduced legislation in Congress to rename Dunham's town Post Office in his honor. President Bush signed the bill into law in March.

To the almost 500 family members, friends, children and members of the Scio, NY, community who attended the ceremony, it was obvious that Dunham's life, and ultimately his death, made a difference to many. Nearly the entire town, along with government representatives and fellow Marines, attended the Scio renaming ceremony.

Shared Energy Savings will help avoid $110 million in costs

The Postal Service, through the Shared Energy Savings (SES) program, recently issued ten energy conservation contracts to six companies that will receive a percentage or "share" of the dollar savings from the projects, in return for assuming all implementation costs. The SES suppliers will identify, finance and install energy conservation measures that will help USPS avoid an average of $11 million a year in energy costs over 10 years - or a total of $110 million.

The SES suppliers in these contracts are BGA, Chevron, ConEdison Solutions, Energy Services Group, Honeywell and Noresco.

"The Postal Service established the SES contracting mechanism not only to trim energy dollars, but also to improve energy efficiency," said Supply Management VP Susan Brownell. "This program also was designed to produce environmental benefits and improve facility conditions for employees and customers," she added.

Associate Supervisor Program updated

The Associate Supervisor Program (ASP) is designed to attract, select and train the best possible candidates for first-line supervisory positions. The curriculum was recently updated to cover current Postal Service programs and operations. It also allows candidates to concentrate on specific job areas such as customer service, processing and distribution or Bulk Mail Center operations.

The National Center for Employee Development hosts national ASP sessions at its Norman, OK, campus. Selection of participants for national ASP offerings are completed at the district level, similar to selections for local ASP offerings. On the Postal Service computer network, see the ASP Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/hrisp/ed/asp/welcome.htm. Contact your local ASP coordinator or Lisa Roth for more information.

Developing supervisors not only supports the Strategic Transformation Plan - it helps drive USPS business success.

May financial results released

USPS revenues for May were 1.1%, or $67 million, over plan, and 11.5% more than May 2005. Expenses for the month were $114 million, or 1.9%, above plan and 7.7% more than May 2005, resulting in a net loss of $6.2 million before the escrow allocation. The net deficiency after the escrow allocation is $256.2 million. For the month, there was one more delivery and business weekday compared with May 2005. Additionally, total mail volume for May increased by 8% compared with same period last year (SPLY).

Revenue through May is 3.8% higher than SPLY and $411 million above plan, while expenses are 4.4% higher than May 2005 and $281 million over plan. Year-to-date (YTD) net income before escrow allocation is $1.65 billion. However, our net deficiency after the escrow allocation is $354 million.

Total YTD mail volume is 1.3 billion pieces more than SPLY. First-Class Mail volume is 0.6% below last year. Standard Mail and Priority Mail volume are 2.1% and 5.6% above last year, respectively.

Full results are posted on USPS.com at http://www.usps.com/financials/fos/welcome.htm.

Bywater Station re-opens in New Orleans

Left to right, Letter Carrier Miguel Pickney, Retail Associate Diane Sanchez, and Letter Carriers Joe Wilson and Leroy Rogers were ready for business at Bywater Station yesterday. The facility is so close to the water that it was designed with vehicle parking on the roof of the building.

A Post Office in one of New Orleans' most heavily damaged neighborhoods re-opened recently. Bywater Station in the city's Ninth Ward - ZIP Code 70117 - welcomed customers and employees bright and early that morning.

Bywater is near where a levee breached, and the building was flooded with three feet of water after Hurricane Katrina. "Returning to this postal facility in the center of such massive devastation provides tangible, visual evidence of our ironclad commitment to the people of New Orleans," said New Orleans Postmaster Alan Cousin.

Another New Orleans station, Lake Forest, serving ZIP Codes 70127 and 70128, re-opened July 3.

USPS National Emergency Hotline

Is you facility operating? Call 888-363-7462