How Are Winners Selected?

The Point System

Headquarters Public Affairs and Communications uses a cumulative point system to determine the winners. Each documented and qualifying activity, event, newspaper clip­ping, and Postal Service appearance noted above will count as one point. Headquarters Public Affairs and Com­munications verifies entries. When more than one radio or television station airs a story, the participant will receive one point for each station. Because this is an award for individual recognition, only participants involved in the activities will receive points, and not their employees, coworkers, or supervisors.

The point system evaluates participants on six levels divided into two categories, postmaster and nonpostmas­ter. Participants must meet the minimum points required for their category and level. The following table shows the six level point requirements.

Final Selection

Category

Minimum Point Requirement

Non-postmaster

EAS managers and supervisors

25 points

Customer relations coordinator

55 points

Postmaster

Postmaster, level 16 and below

35 points

Postmaster, level 18 and 20

45 points

Postmaster, level 21 and 22

55 points

Postmaster, level 24 and above

65 points

Within each area, participants with the highest number of points in the six levels will be selected as winners. Each area may have one winner per level and so may have up to six winners. Headquarters notifies district managers of all winners before it notifies the winners directly. All decisions are final.

Limit on How Many Times a Person Can Win

A participant who has received the Benjamin Award three consecutive times is not eligible to compete for the two consecutive years immediately following the third win.

Awards Presentations

The awards are presented at the national conventions of the League of Postmasters, the National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS), and the National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS). If a win­ner is not scheduled to attend one of these conventions, Headquarters Public Affairs and Communications will send the Benjamin Award to the field Public Affairs and Commu­nications manager, who will coordinate a presentation cer­emony with the appropriate officials.

How Do I Prepare a Submission?

Submit entries that are local and pertain to the area in which you work. Entries must include clippings or narrative descriptions plus your contact information. Your entries must mention your name or your Post Office and must clearly show that you are promoting the Postal Service. For newspaper articles, submit either the original or a copy of the article showing the date, name, city, and state of the newspaper. For appearances at the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and similar meetings, you must provide a contact and telephone number for verification.

All entries must include a completed submission cover sheet, which you can get from Headquarters Public Affairs and Communications via fax or e-mail or you can get the submission form from Postal Bulletin 22180 (5-11-06, page 18). Use one submission sheet for all the entries sent in one envelope.

For Additional Information

For additional information on the Benjamin Award:

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message. (Wait 48 hours after register­ing before placing your first order.)

Paul Smith
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Eastern Area US Postal Service
615 Chestnut St 15th Fl
Philadelphia PA 19197-0593

Telephone: 215-931-5054

Monica Hand
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
NY Metro Area US Postal Service
421 Eighth Ave Rm 5114
New York NY 10199-9681

Telephone: 212-330-3167

Debra Hawkins
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Northeast Area US Postal Service
6 Griffin Rd N
Windsor CT 06006-9876

Telephone: 860-285-7265

Earl Artis Jr
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Southeast Area US Postal Service
C/O Postmaster
8920 Eves Rd
Roswell GA 30076-9998

Telephone: 770-998-3571

Jim Mruk
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Great Lakes Area US Postal Service
244 Knollwood Dr 4th Floor
Bloomingdale IL 60117-2208

Telephone: 630-539-6565

Don Smeraldi
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Pacific Area US Postal Service
11255 Rancho Carmel Dr
San Diego CA 92197-0100

Telephone: 858-674-3149

McKinney Boyd
A/Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Southwest Area US Postal Service
7800 N Stemmons Freeway Ste 450
Dallas TX 75247-4220

Telephone: 214-819-8740

Scott Budny
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Western Area US Postal Service
1745 Stout St Ste 1075
Denver CO 80299-7500

Telephone: 303-313-5125

Deborah Yackley
Manager Public Affairs and Communications
Capital Metro
16501 Shady Grove
Gaithersburg MD 20898-9998

Telephone: 301-548-1465

We encourage you to participate. Spread the word about the many good deeds that you do in your community every day. Make it a yearly resolution to: Catch the Benjamin Fever.

Did you know? Nearly 363 million people visit USPS.com every year.