Ruth Yannatta Goldway
Encyclopedia
Ruth Yannatta Goldway serves as Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission. She was first appointed by President Bill Clinton
in April, 1998, in 2002 and 2008 reappointed by President George W. Bush
to serve until 2014, and selected as Chairman by President Barack Obama
on August 6, 2009.
Goldway is currently the longest serving Senate-confirmed Presidential Appointee in a full-time position in the Executive Branch of the United States Government. She has written on postal matters for national newspapers and submitted congressional testimony. She represents the Commission on the State Department delegation to the Universal Postal Union
. Goldway is widely credited for persuading the United States Postal Stamp Service to adopt the "Forever stamp," a stamp that will be valid forever for First-Class postage when purchased at the going First-Class rate. She has advocated for wider availability of Vote by Mail, and national access to no-excuse absentee ballots in federal elections. She has also advocated for the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles for mail delivery.
Chairman Goldway has presided over the Commission during a time marked by a record caseload and the implementation of new postal laws and regulations. On her watch, the Commission has issued a number of major decisions including the first Exigency Rate Case, the first Non-Compliance Determination, and Advisory Opinions on Post Office Station and Branch Closings, and on Five Day Mail Delivery. She has established a series of monthly Commission public meetings, which are webcast, and initiated the publication of a quarterly report on rate and service inquiries. The Commission has responded to hundreds of Postal Service proposals including Rate Requests, Market Tests and Experimental Products and Negotiated Service Agreements, and has carried out its statutory International responsibilities.
Goldway has lectured on the role of women in government, Finnish culture and society, urban planning
, and consumerism
at universities and professional associations throughout the U.S., Europe
, Australia
and Japan
. She was Assistant to the Director of California's Department of Consumer Affairs during the 1970s. She was elected council member and mayor of the city of Santa Monica
from 1979 to 1983. She helped to found California's system of statewide farmers markets and expanded citizen representation on state regulatory boards. She served as Founder and Chairperson of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation from 1983 - 1994.
Goldway served as Director of Public Affairs at California State University
, Los Angeles. From 1991 to 1994 she served as Manager of Public Affairs for the Getty Trust, the largest arts and education foundation in the U.S.
In Finland, from 1994–1997, as the then-spouse of U.S. Ambassador Derek Shearer, she authored several articles that appeared in the Finnish magazine Gloria, organized seminars on women's issues and assisted in the promotion of American products and services. Her memoirs of her experiences there, Letters from Finland, were translated and published in Finland by Otava
Oy in November, 1998. In 1993, Goldway played the part of the Education Secretary in the film "Dave
".
Born in New York City, Goldway attended the Bronx High School of Science
, earned a BA from the University of Michigan
and received an MA in English Literature from Wayne State University
. She is on the board of TreePeople
and New Visions Foundation. She is a founder and Co-Chair of Women in Logistics and Delivery Services (WILDS), a networking and mentoring organization.
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in April, 1998, in 2002 and 2008 reappointed by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to serve until 2014, and selected as Chairman by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on August 6, 2009.
Goldway is currently the longest serving Senate-confirmed Presidential Appointee in a full-time position in the Executive Branch of the United States Government. She has written on postal matters for national newspapers and submitted congressional testimony. She represents the Commission on the State Department delegation to the Universal Postal Union
Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...
. Goldway is widely credited for persuading the United States Postal Stamp Service to adopt the "Forever stamp," a stamp that will be valid forever for First-Class postage when purchased at the going First-Class rate. She has advocated for wider availability of Vote by Mail, and national access to no-excuse absentee ballots in federal elections. She has also advocated for the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles for mail delivery.
Chairman Goldway has presided over the Commission during a time marked by a record caseload and the implementation of new postal laws and regulations. On her watch, the Commission has issued a number of major decisions including the first Exigency Rate Case, the first Non-Compliance Determination, and Advisory Opinions on Post Office Station and Branch Closings, and on Five Day Mail Delivery. She has established a series of monthly Commission public meetings, which are webcast, and initiated the publication of a quarterly report on rate and service inquiries. The Commission has responded to hundreds of Postal Service proposals including Rate Requests, Market Tests and Experimental Products and Negotiated Service Agreements, and has carried out its statutory International responsibilities.
Goldway has lectured on the role of women in government, Finnish culture and society, urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
, and consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
at universities and professional associations throughout the U.S., Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She was Assistant to the Director of California's Department of Consumer Affairs during the 1970s. She was elected council member and mayor of the city of Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
from 1979 to 1983. She helped to found California's system of statewide farmers markets and expanded citizen representation on state regulatory boards. She served as Founder and Chairperson of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation from 1983 - 1994.
Goldway served as Director of Public Affairs at California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
, Los Angeles. From 1991 to 1994 she served as Manager of Public Affairs for the Getty Trust, the largest arts and education foundation in the U.S.
In Finland, from 1994–1997, as the then-spouse of U.S. Ambassador Derek Shearer, she authored several articles that appeared in the Finnish magazine Gloria, organized seminars on women's issues and assisted in the promotion of American products and services. Her memoirs of her experiences there, Letters from Finland, were translated and published in Finland by Otava
Otava
Otava Publishing Company Ltd. is a major Finnish publisher of books. It was founded in 1890 and now is the second largest in Finland. It publishes fiction, non-fiction, books for teenagers and children, multimedia and teaching materials. The number of new titles a year exceeds 400...
Oy in November, 1998. In 1993, Goldway played the part of the Education Secretary in the film "Dave
Dave (film)
Dave is a 1993 comedy-drama film written by Gary Ross, directed by Ivan Reitman, and starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver. Co-stars include Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, and Ben Kingsley. Ross was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay...
".
Born in New York City, Goldway attended the Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
, earned a BA from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and received an MA in English Literature from Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
. She is on the board of TreePeople
TreePeople
TreePeople is a California based nonprofit environmental advocacy group. TreePeople focuses on promoting the creation of sustainable urban ecosystems through education and the planting and care of trees. TreePeople has been serving the Los Angeles area for over three decades...
and New Visions Foundation. She is a founder and Co-Chair of Women in Logistics and Delivery Services (WILDS), a networking and mentoring organization.