Grand Central Terminal Turns 100

On February 1st––as part of the centennial anniversary of New York’s Grand Central Terminal–– the U.S. Postal Service commemorated the landmark railroad station by releasing the Grand Central Terminal Express Mail stamp in the terminal’s main concourse under the vaulted constellation ceiling.

USPS VP Richard Uluski (2nd from right) and NY District Mgr. William Schnaars (extreme right) unveil Grand Central Terminal Express Mail stamp with dedicating official at 100 year anniversary event

The all day event featured a variety of guest speakers and musical performers.

“This beautiful stamp captures both the universal appeal and excitement of travel and architectural grandeur that is uniquely New York,” said USPS Northeast Area VP Richard Uluski at the ceremony.

“Stamps are a unique and beautiful way for us to honor our common American heritage,” said dedicating official NY District Manager William Schnaars. “They focus attention on the significance and beauty of great cultural icons like Grand Central Terminal. Every stamp sends a message. Our message today is; it’s time to celebrate the 100 years of the positive, historic impact that Grand Central Terminal has made in the development of our great city.”

As evidenced by the large number of people who lined up in the lower concourse to buy the Grand Central Terminal Express Mail stamp, the message was heard loud and clear.

“It’s not just philatelists who are lining up to buy these Express Mail stamps,” said Special Events Supervisor Deborah Hart who estimates that her team sold more than 55,000 stamps on Friday alone. “There are historians, architects, and people who love New York City and appreciate this building.”

“This stamp is just beautiful,” said artist and native New Yorker Ann Redmond. “The art deco design, the way the light streams through the huge windows, it’s just perfect.”

“I had to come today to buy these stamps,” added Wanda Chambers who works for the MTA. “You only turn 100 once.”

to see more photos of event Click HERE

Ordering First Day-Of-Issue Postmarks

Customers have 60 days to obtain first-day-of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at usps.com/stamps, or by calling 800-STAMP-24 (800-782-6724). They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:

Grand Central Terminal Station

Postmaster

380 W 33rd Street Room 4032

New York NY 10199-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by April 1, 2013.

Ordering First-Day Covers

The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online at usps.com/stamps, or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:

US Postal Service

Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products

There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

§  116010, Keepsake (Pane & Digital Color Postmark Set), $220.95.

§  116016, First-Day Cover, $20.39.

§  116021, Digital Color Postmark, $21.10.

§  116031, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.

Customers may view the Grand Central Terminal Express Mail stamp, as well as many of this year’s other stamps on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, on Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2013-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

Hub Letter Carriers Make the Connection

Letter Carrier Victor Lozada receives recognition from
MCSO Halbert Clark

Hub Letter Carriers Victor Lozada, Eugene Wright and Jean Carrenard (not pictured) submitted leads through Customer Connect that resulted in $63,109 in Quarter 3 FY12.
"I always talk to the businesses on my route," said Wright. "After hearing about EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail), the owner of Wash & Dry started mailing to 10455,10456 and 10459. They are interested in mailing their ad pieces to all of the Bronx."

MCSO Halbert Clark poses with Letter Carrier Eugene Wright 

"Med Dental Supplies was using a competitor for their package deliveries," said Lozada. "I talked to them, told them about Priority Mail and submitted a lead. Once he started using our services, he told me he sees a great savings. He like that we have no surcharges and fuel fees."
Customer Connect allows Letter Carriers to submit lead cards to customers on their route while trained sales personnel follow up with an attempt to close the sale.
Since the program was launched in 2004, more than $100 million in projected annualized revenue has been generated from nearly 50,000 Carrier leads.

"Customer Connect has helped bring back some of the business we lost over the years," said Wright. "Anything we can do to help generate more revenue is a good thing."

This Valentine's Day, Support Operation Bear Hug

The United States Postal Service is planning a surprise for the students of the

John C. Thompson School (PS-52) of Staten Island NY, one of the areas hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy.

You can help bring a bear-sized smile to these kids.

Send a Valentine's Day card to:

Operation Bear Hug

PO Box 10213

Staten Island NY 10301

Your cards will be delivered to each of the 650 students by the USPS “I Love You” Bear mascot on Feb.14^th, along with as many hugs as they can bear.

Latest Tracking Technology Deployed in New York

Pairing IMD scanner to cell phone enables GPS technology
 to transmit near real-time tracking data 

New York is one of only five Districts nationwide to be selected for the initial deployment of the IMD Wireless scanning initiative.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) based program will provide customers with added visibility and near real-time scan information on all track-able products.

“Until now, when a Letter Carrier scanned a package as attempted or delivered, scan information was not available to the customer until the Carrier returned to the office and downloaded their scanner” explained Operations Programs Specialist Khandokar Ali. “With IMD Wireless, scan data will be transmitted wirelessly every 15 minutes to our Product Tracking System (PTS) and will be available on the web while the Carrier is still out on the street.”

IMD Wireless works by pairing the Letter Carrier’s existing IMDAS (Intelligent Mail Data Acquisition System) scanner to a proprietary cell phone via Bluetooth technology. Once paired, the cell phone will be holstered and remain with the Letter Carrier for the rest of the day. When the Letter Carrier scans an item at a delivery point, the IMDAS scanner automatically transfers the data through the cell phone to the Local Intelligent Mail (LIM) Computer, which in turn transmits it to the PTS. The IMDAS scanner features a communications screen to inform the Letter Carrier of the status of the device and gives him/her an option to commence data transfer or postpone it if they are in middle of performing scans.

“It was a simple learning curve,” said James A. Farley Letter Carrier Calvin Kuang. “It’s a good tool that will help keep the Postal Service competitive.” 

Eight sites in New York District have initiated deployment of the IMD Wireless program. They are James A. Farley (10001), Murray Hill (10016), Grand Central (10017), Radio City (10019), Franklin D. Roosevelt (10022), Ansonia (10023), Gracie (10028) and Times Square (10036).

There are 17 more sites in the District and 500 total sites nationwide scheduled to receive IMD Wireless technology in January.

“We saw an eight percent growth in package revenue in 2012,” said Manhattan Postmaster Robert Brown. “This technology will help us further enhance that side of the business and generate more revenue.” 

New York Letter Carrier Featured in Esquire.com

Esquire.com- one of the world's leading publications devoted to the male lifestyle- has posted a comprehensive article about how the U.S. Postal Service delivers a first-class letter from point A to point B. Throughout the piece, the writers express their take on the state of the Postal Service. But the most compelling part of the story is toward the end when New York District Letter Carrier Anthony Mitchell is interviewed.

Mitchell, who has worked for the Postal Service since 1984, had this to say about his 15 minutes of fame.
"The day after the photographer and interviewer left," he smiled, "I still put on my uniform and attended to my daily postal duties. In life, it's a good idea to keep things in perspective and to be balanced. But it was a lot of fun."

To read the article Click HERE

JAF Letter Carrier Anthony Mitchell gets paparazzi treatment from Esquire.com writers and photographers during interview

Big Apple Delivers the Green

The Green roof at Morgan P & DC is the largest in New York City.

The outdoor oasis is 109,000 square feet and is expected to reduce 

energy use 30 percent by 2015.

The New York District’s environmentally proactive Lean Green Team has been recognized as the top performer in the nation for achieving the highest total positive impact (TPI) to the bottom line, and for engaging the most facilities in green programs in FY12.

When you combine the total amount of money saved by adhering to programs that conserve facility energy, vehicle fuel, consumables spending and landfill costs, the Bronx earned the highest TPI in the country––$1,765,816, with Manhattan coming in second with a TPI of $486,885.

Similarly, the Bronx was first in facilities engagement with 45 of 50 stations (90 percent) participating in Lean Green Team programs and Manhattan second; with 63 out of 72 stations going green (87.5 percent).

“We are the sustainability champions,” smiled NY District Mgr. of Maintenance James Hardy.

The U.S. Postal Service is committed to a creating a culture of conservation by encouraging employees, customers, suppliers, the mailing industry, and their federal peers to adopt sustainable business practices. By deploying a Lean Green Team in every District in the nation, the Postal Service is strategically armed to reach their corporate goals of reducing facility energy, fuel consumption and water use, divert waste sent to landfills, and increase use of alternative vehicle fuel.

“As one of the largest employers in the nation, The Postal Service has to lead the way in how to go about our business with respect to the environment,” said Manhattan Postmaster Robert Brown. “We are extremely proud that the New York Green Team is recognized for their environmental contributions. It reflects nicely on all New York District employees.”

New York Beats Philly - Edwards Top-Seller in District

L to R: Supv. Toni Parkinson, SSA Cynthia Edwards,
winner of 2012 Holiday Gift Card Contest

In a friendly but intense competition between the two Districts, New York beat Philadelphia Metro in a cross-city Holiday Gift Card contest by selling 2,828 American Express Gift Cards compared to a mere 1,412 sold by the "City of Brotherly Love."

The top selling retail office in the New York City was Grand Central, which sold 322 gift cards, while the top selling Sales & Service Associate (SSA) was Rockefeller Center’s Cynthia Edwards––with 100 gift card transactions.

Edwards’ efforts helped Rockefeller Center sell a total of 175 gift cards; good enough for third place over-all in the District. 

James A. Farley Post Office came in second with 260.

  

“I kept asking my Supervisor how I was doing with card sales,” said Edwards, who is a 40+  year Postal veteran. “I was very excited about winning the contest.”

“I told Cynthia that she was in the running, but I didn’t want her to get her hopes up, so I told her she needed to sell more,” laughed Supervisor Toni Parkinson.

American Express Gift Cards are prominently displayed on counter tops in most retail offices in the District. They can be purchased in denominations of $25, $50, and $100. Standard activation fees apply.

By selling more than 2800 gift cards, New York District nearly doubled their targeted goal of 1500 units, said Marketing Manager Raschelle Parker.

“I was thrilled to learn I outsold every SSA in New York” said Edwards, who will receive a $25 American Express Gift Card. “I tell all my customers that buying these gift cards is better than shopping; one size fits all, and they don’t expire. The contest may be over,” she continued, “but I’m still selling. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, whatever the occasion, they make great gifts.”