Saving Lives - It's all in a day's work

Fall River Letter Carrier Gil Canuel Honored

Fall River Letter Carrier Gil Canuel, a 25-year postal veteran, began the new year on a high note. Canuel was delivering mail in his Flint neighborhood of Fall River MA when he noticed the mail piled up at  the home of one of his customers.  He notified authorities and rescue workers found the 82-year-old customer on the floor suffering from a broken hip and dehydration.

Canuel was honored by the city for his heroic efforts last month. The customer's son expressed his appreciation to the Letter Carrier at an event at city hall to honor the postal employee. "I can't thank you enough," said the son, adding, "I had not planned on visiting my very independent father for a few more days. We know what could have happened."

The customer is recovering in a rehab center and Canuel is back on the route keeping an eye out for the rest of his customers.  "I'm glad I was able to help," Canuel said. Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan presented the Letter Carrier with a citation and said that if it were not for Canuel's alert actions, the outcome may have been much different. "I believe he saved his life," said the Mayor.

New Canaan Postmaster Nancy Cornelio wins Q1 Business Connect Contest

Congratulations to Nancy Cornelio, Postmaster New Canaan, CT.  Nancy has been recognized as the Quarter 1 Business Connect Contest Winner, and is the proud recipient of a trip for two to the National Postal Forum in Orlando, Florida this upcoming April. 



The Focus of this contest for Quarter 1 was Every Door Direct™ (EDD) and International Shipping. The objective -  conduct a minimum of five Business Connect activities, to include three customer meetings or events about International Shipping services and two customer meetings or events promoting Every Door Direct  (EDD).



Nancy Cornelio was randomly selected as the Business Connect grand prize contest winner from 262 other qualifying managers whose names were also entered into the contest drawing.



During Quarter 1, Nancy met with 21 customers and conducted a total of 59 Business Connect activities, of which 15 were bonus activities which exceeded the qualifications for the Business Connect Contest and generated $165,000 in new revenue. Nancy is commended for educating and promoting the benefits of Every Door Direct (EDD) and  International Shipping  to small businesses and customers in her community. 

So, hats off to you, and to all postmasters who continue to participate in the Business Connect program. 

Centuries of Safe Driving

 As most of us know, the U.S. Postal Service has the largest fleet of vehicles outside of our military. And those who drive them are consummate professionals.  Many of our letter carriers have driven more than a million miles to deliver mail to the customers on their routes - often without a single accident.  Some of those who were honored for that distinction include the following.

Westport, CT, Post Office honored Frank Mantlik, a 34-year postal veteran and Robert Rotty, a 30-year postal veteran. Neither has had a motor vehicle accident during their entire career. In In Waterford CT, 3 letter carriers were also honored for more than 30 years of accident free driving.  They are Dale Herrick, 32 years; Walter Kaika, 31 years and Marshall King, 30 years

All were inducted into the National Safety Council’s “Million Mile Club." To be qualified for the Million Mile distinction, a professional driver must have driven without a preventable motor vehicle accident for either 30 years or a million miles.

Safe driving is a life long lesson according to Rotty, who said, "When I was in the Army I had an eye opening experience. I was driving home from Fort Devins, N.J. and fell asleep at the wheel while driving 75 mph. wound up hitting a car and am lucky to be alive to talk about it. Ever since then, I made it a point to be aware of my surroundings and not to take my eyes off the road."

Westport CT Letter Carriers Smile for Safe Drivers