"Going Postal" Setting the Record Straight

From www.usps.com

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January 28, 2005

Ms. Katie Couric
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112-0036

Dear Ms. Couric: In recent days, I have received a number of complaints from Postal Service employees and customers about your public use of the phrase "going postal" in a derogatory manner. I ask you to take a moment and reflect on what that term really means.

The Postal Service is very proud of our 225-year tradition of linking America's communities together. To us, "going Postal" means the hard work of our more than 700,000 employees, in every city and town in America, who deliver the mail, your mail, to every address in this great nation, no matter what. Last year, those employees set records in every measurable category for on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.

"Going Postal" means the "never give up" attitude of Lance Armstrong and his six consecutive Tour de France victories.

"Going Postal" means the pride we feel in the over 200,000 Postal employees who have served in our nation's military, and the 3,500 employees currently on leave protecting our freedom around the world.

"Going Postal" means the more than $38 million our employees pledged in the 2004 Combined Federal Campaign to support local charities and community organizations.

"Going Postal" means the more than 70 million pounds of food for food banks and shelters our carriers collected last year in cooperation with the National Association of Letter Carriers annual food drive.

So, obviously we see the term "going Postal" in a very different light. On behalf of our 700,000 employees, who are rightly proud of the public service they provide, I hope you will find it in your heart to mention us in a more positive manner.

Thank you.

(Signed)Azeezaly S. Jaffer,
Vice President,
USPS Public Affairs and Communications