US Postal Service working with Oklahoma's fastest growing minority group

The Hispanic population is the fastest growing minority group in Oklahoma. <br><br>Businesses providing services to Hispanics are hard pressed to keep up. News on 6 reporter Rick Wells says the US Postal

Thursday, April 15th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Hispanic population is the fastest growing minority group in Oklahoma.

Businesses providing services to Hispanics are hard pressed to keep up. News on 6 reporter Rick Wells says the US Postal Service in Tulsa is way ahead of the curve with Oklahoma's first bi-lingual post office.

Juan Mejia is El Tarjetero, the card man. He's also the phone man, the satellite TV man, he transfers money and most recently he and his wife Maria run Oklahoma's only Spanish language contract US Postal outlet. "It's a very good business and the people are very happy." His customers and the US Postal Service too.

USPS spokesperson Becky Wolfe: "We know we have customers who need postal services, who speak Spanish. We don't do that very well." So, they went to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, they recommended El Tarjetero.

He began offering postal services last August. It has grown into his second busiest service. "The phone cards, post office and transfer money, and the three together is number one." The phone cards are still number 1. He sells six or 8 different kinds. He's been selling them almost since he arrived from Columbia five years ago.

He sold them door to door and then out of his apartment. Customers would call him, El Tarjetero, the card man. He got so busy; the apartment management asked him to move. So he opened his store. Next month he'll add mail boxes inside to give customers a more permanent address.

So this is more than just a story about Oklahoma's first Spanish language post office, it's also a story of America and its promise for those who come here. "I am very happy here. I like Tulsa, I like Oklahoma, and I like the people, the North American people, very good for me and my family."

El Tarjetero is open everyday from 9am to 9pm.