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New Postmaster Takes Oath In Oakhurst

OAKHURST – Postmasters and postal employees from all over the area turned out to celebrate the swearing in of Holly Baker as the new Postmaster at the Oakhurst Post Office on Friday, Nov 16.

Baker was appointed Postmaster on Oct. 6, but this was her day for officially taking the oath of office.(Photo – Shea Owens, PM Selma; Erin Campbell, PM Dos Palos; Richard Garcia, PM Clovis; Victoria Delsid, PM Kerman; Joanne Brewer, PM Chowchilla; Ranjit Hans, PM Madera; Holly Baker, PM Oakhurst; Kuldip Chatha, PM Orange Cove; Shari Hetzler, PM Pioneer; Deeann Nolan, Pm North Fork; Julie Beshears, PM Sanger; Patti Kascht, PM Ahwahnee; Cheryl Ollier-Holecheck, Officer in Charge Coarsegold)

The installation took place at the Oakhurst Post Office, with about 40 co-workers, friends and family in attendance.

Two previous postmasters from the Oakhurst office, Kerry Abbott and Verlaine Elinburg, praised Baker as an outstanding worker and an excellent and inspiring manager who was well deserving of the position.

“This is a fantastic office, a wonderful community, and I know Holly is going to enjoy her detail here,” said Abbott.

Baker began her postal career as a rural carrier associate in 1976 in the Sacramento District. Her first assignment as a supervisor was at the Woodward Park station in Fresno, followed by Dos Palos and Coarsegold.

District Manager Al Santos addressed the gathering, noting that, “There’s a lot of tradition with the title of Postmaster. They have been around since the Revolutionary War.” He also pointed out that the title “Postmaster” applies to both men and women; “Postmistress” is a misnomer.

Holly Baker being sworn in as Oakhurst Postmaster 11-16-12It may surprise some to know that Postmasters take the same oath of office as the U.S. Congress and the military:

“I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of which I am about to enter.”

Postoffice Trophies 11-16-12The postal employees in Group 5 of the Sacramento District describe themselves as a very close knit group, and how well they work together is evidenced by the display of trophies they have garnered. The trophies are given in recognition that these folks in the zip code areas beginning with “936” are the best of the best in performance of their duties.

Baker’s advice from the boss was very simple, “Make sure you collect and deliver the mail every day, and make sure your employees come back safe at the end of their shift and get home safely.”

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Sierra News Online

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