Each year, the Postal Service designates the months of September through December to promote its semipostal stamps, which raise funds related to the cause associated with the stamps.
The lineup is Alzheimer’s (September), Breast Cancer Research (October), Save Vanishing Species (November) and Healing PTSD (December).
Earlier this year, the Ethics Office issued a set of guidelines for promoting the stamps using input from the Brand and Policy, Finance, Legal, Licensing, Labor Relations, Retail and Delivery Operations and Stamp Services teams.
Here is a summary of the guidelines:
• Raffles and drawings are allowed only if everyone can enter for free without a purchase of any postal product being required, the prizes have been donated voluntarily by employees or paid for with authorized postal funds, and it is held to promote each semipostal stamp.
• Decorations must not include stamp images, even images of the semipostal stamps being promoted. For example, the phrases “Fund the fight. Find a cure,” “#PostalProud” and “Postal Proud” may be used on decorations for Breast Cancer Research stamp activities, as can the Postal Service pink ribbon image, which is available from the Ethics Office.
• When communicating with public and news media, employees may only use articles, press releases and marketing materials that have been approved and provided by Corporate Communications, Stamp Services and Marketing.
• Outside organizations may not distribute materials related to the semipostal stamp’s cause or hold awareness or charitable activities in Post Office lobbies or on postal property.
• USPS employees may not solicit or accept donations from customers.
Uniformed employees may wear the Postal Service’s licensed semipostal stamp T-shirts during promotional activities, with the head of the facility’s approval, but only on one business day each week. Other employees may wear the T-shirts during work hours, if permitted by the head of the facility. The T-shirts worn should correspond to the semipostal stamp that is being promoted.
Employees with additional questions about semipostal stamp promotional activities or the guidelines should email the Ethics Office.