Jason Brain, Wisconsin District’s Post Office operations manager; Bloomer Postmaster James Rowley; and Baldwin Postmaster Rondell Hybben used the district’s Job Center on Wheels to recruit job applicants at the Piece County Fair.

Maybe Pickles the Clown is considering a career change?

The Wisconsin District’s Job Center on Wheels made a stop at the Pierce County Fair in mid-August.

The fair featured Pickles, a demolition derby, goat judging, cotton candy and the USPS mobile recruitment center — positioned in prime real estate on the midway.

Attracting and retaining new employees is a focus of Delivering for America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan.

Postmasters from western Wisconsin saw it as a good way to start a conversation with a varied audience on working for the Postal Service.

“The fair brings a diversity of people,” said Osceola Postmaster Jen Macknick. “This gives us a good outlet to people we don’t always see.”

St. Croix Falls Postmaster Diana Kiser said she saw the fair as an opportunity to draw people into discussions about postal careers.

“I talk with people about vacancies in my office,” Kiser said. “Or we can direct them to other team members,” depending on their circumstances, she said.

While it is too early to know if the discussions yielded any potential new hires, it is estimated that postal personnel spoke with more than 100 people during the fair.

Share your feedback at uspslink@usps.gov. Your comments could be included in the “Mailbag” column.

Experts recommend keeping a supply kit on hand for emergencies.

During National Preparedness Month, the Postal Service is encouraging employees to put together an emergency supply kit for their homes.

Such a kit is a collection of basic items to meet the needs of your family — including pets — for at least 72 hours.

These items should be packed in a portable container, such as a plastic bin or duffel bag, in the event you need to evacuate. Everyone in your household should know where the kit is kept.

At minimum, experts recommend that an emergency supply kit has the following:

• One gallon of water per person, per day;

• Nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food;

• Medications and any needed medical items;

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight and extra batteries;

• First-aid supplies;

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation);

• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities);

• Cellphone with chargers and a backup battery;

• Copies of personal documents (medication lists and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed or home lease, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies); and

• Other items needed by family members and pets.

The USPS National Preparedness website has more information.

The Sept. 29 session will help employees prepare for retirement.

Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar on preparing for retirement.

The session, “Retirement 101,” will be held Sept. 29 at noon EDT.

An Aetna representative will conduct the webinar, which will cover how retirement benefits work, including tools and resources to help employees plan for changes.

Participants must register before the event on the webinar website. Following the session, every registrant will receive an email with a link to a recording of it.

Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees may only participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.

The USPS Wellness LiteBlue page also has retirement planning information.

For more information, email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.

The cover of the debut issue of The Eagle from the fall of 2021.

The Eagle magazine is one year into helping employees understand the Postal Service’s Delivering for America plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence, and the editorial team would like to find out how much you’ve learned.

How will the Postal Service transform delivery units to accommodate the growth in package delivery? How can employees apply for vacant supervisor positions?

Check your answers to these questions and others by scanning the QR code at the bottom of Page 2 of the most recent issue to take a short quiz or by visiting the Delivering for America survey page.

The Eagle is available on Newsroom, the USPS online news hub.