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February 17, 2013…This has been a very tough week. All my best intentions were sidetracked due to the aftermath of last week’s blizzard. The roads around New Haven were narrow making parking nearly impossible. Delivering the mail under such conditions was painstaking, sidewalks were not clear and I had to weave in and out of driveways to gain access to the next house over. I was averaging 11 hour days, and my desire to blog on Valentine’s Day about “love letters” simply evaporated.
I have to say, I did notice a large number of red and pink envelopes in the mail last week. Love letters were getting delivered in spite of the weather. Showing the love, I made one customer very happy by tracking down her check so she could go on vacation worry free. She said I should get the “mail carrier of the year award.” I didn’t do anything that unusual. On a whole, letter carriers are excellent public servants. I am convinced that the main reason the USPS is the most trusted agency in the government has to do with the human connection involved. People like having someone to talk to, a real human being! That connection is becoming so rare. I see it as an asset, but…
Did I ever tell you that I wrote a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe? I was optimistic and I poured out my best ideas for increasing the volume of first class letters. It was actually a binder filled with documented research and visuals to inspire someone “higher up” to pick up the ball and run with it. In response, I received a bland reply from some associate saying that my letter could not be accepted. I needed to email the postmaster my ideas through the proper channels. So what does that tell you about the focus of the postal service?
Each time Mr. Donahoe makes a comment in the press- either about eliminating Saturday delivery or closing various offices, he erodes the public’s confidence in the institution. He’s continuously promising to cut services, so the public recoils and finds another way. It’s a self-fulfilling prophesy- something like: “we’re loosing business to the internet, therefore, you can’t write me a letter. You must email me!” I say, “No, DAH!” I’m sure Ben Franklin would say something worse. And if you feel the same, contact your legislators to tell them to keep Saturday mail delivery. It’s not a done deal, yet. You can still do something if you want to receive those “love letters” on Saturday, too!
To find your Senators and Representatives go to : http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
OK, and now for the good news. I’m branching out and developing a letter writing program, AND I’M TAKING IT TO THE STREETS! I will compile all those good ideas and hopefully inspire people to start writing letters again. I’ve got a date: April 7, 2013 in a local library. I am energized by this “hands on” concept. AND, I promise that I will share with you all the elements that will be covered in this offering. I’m calling the program: “Letters mingle Souls.” More on that very soon…
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