Thursday, September 30
BOG Changes quorum rules
Yesterday's Federal Register contained a notice that the USPS Board of Governors has changed its rules for determining a quorum, lowering the number of governors required for voting on rate decisions from five to four. The Board is intended to have nine members (in addition to the Postmaster General and Deputy PMG, who serve ex officio, and are not included in votes on rates). The board currently has only six members, one of whom, James C. Miller III, is a "recess" appointee, whose term will expire at the end of this year's Senate session unless he is confirmed. Chairman S. David Fineman's term actually expired last December, but was, in the absence of a confirmed successor, extended for a year.
Without the change, the BOG ran the risk of being unable to make rate decisions after December.
Without the change, the BOG ran the risk of being unable to make rate decisions after December.
Postcom plans Washington ''Tea Party'
Gene Del Polito in war paint? In a follow up to yesterday's call to mailers to lobby Congress for postal reform, Postcom.org today has this:
CALL TO ACTION!
POSTAL PATRIOTS
COME TO A “WASHINGTON TEA PARTY”
HELP PREVENT AN UNNECESSARY RATE INCREASE!
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET FLEECED!!
"Time is running out, and Congress may leave town before considering the issues causing upward rate pressure. Don’t let it happen! An unnecessary, capricious postal rate taxation looms on the horizon if we remain complacent. Postal ratepayers will be forced to pay an onerous, discriminatory tax in excess of $6 billion for no good reason.
This is wrong! Plan to attend this emergency meeting on Friday, October 1, 2004 at 1:00pm at:
The Carmen Group Offices 1301 K Street Eighth Floor East.
PostCom Chairman Vince Giuliano and President Gene Del Polito will outline the challenge and steps that need to be taken by us now!"
Stay tuned!
POSTAL PATRIOTS
COME TO A “WASHINGTON TEA PARTY”
HELP PREVENT AN UNNECESSARY RATE INCREASE!
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET FLEECED!!
"Time is running out, and Congress may leave town before considering the issues causing upward rate pressure. Don’t let it happen! An unnecessary, capricious postal rate taxation looms on the horizon if we remain complacent. Postal ratepayers will be forced to pay an onerous, discriminatory tax in excess of $6 billion for no good reason.
This is wrong! Plan to attend this emergency meeting on Friday, October 1, 2004 at 1:00pm at:
The Carmen Group Offices 1301 K Street Eighth Floor East.
PostCom Chairman Vince Giuliano and President Gene Del Polito will outline the challenge and steps that need to be taken by us now!"
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 29
PhotoStamps to cease taking orders
Stamps.com was asked today by the U.S. Postal Service to conclude its market test and to cease taking customer orders for PhotoStamps(TM) as of October 1, 2004 "We are disappointed with this outcome as it puts the PhotoStamps program into a state of limbo as the holiday season approaches, however we acknowledge the Postal Service's request to evaluate the program before additional orders are taken," said Stamps.com president and CEO Ken McBride.
An estimated 100,000 sheets, or 2,000,000 individual PhotoStamps, ordered during the approximately seven weeks of the market test which began with the public launch on August 10.
Press release
An estimated 100,000 sheets, or 2,000,000 individual PhotoStamps, ordered during the approximately seven weeks of the market test which began with the public launch on August 10.
Press release
Report: Postal reform too expensive for Bush?
According to the Postcom.org web site, "Word has it that the Administration has told the House government reform committee chairman that it would strongly oppose his postal reform bill -- that it does not provide enough reform to justify the budget cost."
Postcom has also posted this suggested letter for mailers to send to Congress, with the admonition: "Unless Congress acts quickly to prevent it, the stage will soon be set for the Postal Service to propose and pass on to postal ratepayers one the most needless and punishing postal rate increases in American postal history. It's time to act. The business you save could be your own."
Postcom has also posted this suggested letter for mailers to send to Congress, with the admonition: "Unless Congress acts quickly to prevent it, the stage will soon be set for the Postal Service to propose and pass on to postal ratepayers one the most needless and punishing postal rate increases in American postal history. It's time to act. The business you save could be your own."
Tuesday, September 28
Monday, September 27
Under the Radar Screen
"There should be no doubt that under Postmaster General Jack Potter's leadership the U.S. Postal Service has learned how to spot and cut out some of its own fat. Potter's USPS is much leaner than it's been under any PMG before him."
Gene Del Polito in DIRECT
Gene Del Polito in DIRECT
Hurricane Impacts Mail Service in Florida
"Hurricane Jeanne is working her way through Florida resulting in plant and customer service facility closures along her path. As Jeanne moves through the state, this site will be updated with closure information. Mailers are advised that drop shipment appointments into most plants and customer service facilities in Florida are suspended and that drivers should not attempt to deliver a drop shipment without telephone confirmation."
USPS.com Service Updates web site
USPS.com Service Updates web site
View From the DM Right
"Richard Viguerie, one of the most conservative thinkers in this country, has performed an important service for Howard Dean and John Kerry. No, he hasn't become a liberal at this late stage. But he did develop the direct mail art that elected Ronald Reagan and enabled the GOP to take Congress in 1994. And he feels that liberals have since caught up."
DIRECT
DIRECT
Sunday, September 26
Nation's largest direct mail company seeks even greater growth
Advo Inc., the largest direct-mail marketer in the United States, sends out half a billion pieces of mail a week, 27 billion a year.
Associated Press
Associated Press
Saturday, September 25
Postage Experiment Faces Cancellation
More on the shaky future of PhotoStamps, from the Washington Post.
Friday, September 24
IG questions workers on Postal Service VP’s involvement in contract
The U.S. Postal Service’s inspector general has questioned witnesses about whether an agency vice president improperly aided a company bidding on a $635 million contract to manage seven call centers.
Federal Times
Federal Times
Thursday, September 23
Galligan is new VP for Delivery
Postmaster General Jack Potter announced the selection of Bill Galligan Vice President, Delivery and Retail. Galligan has been acting in the position since November 2003. He has held a variety of USPS positions in Connecticut throughout his career, most recently serving as Connecticut District Manager.
APWU Publishes Potential Excessing Impacts
Click on the headline for a brief explanation from the APWU on Article 12 Impact Statements, and links to the actual documents covering the Northeast and New York Metro Areas.
Click these links for impact statements for the other regions:
Central
Eastern and Cap Metro
Western
Click these links for impact statements for the other regions:
Central
Eastern and Cap Metro
Western
Wednesday, September 22
USPS Financial Plan for 2005
The Postal Service's Financial Plan for fiscal year 2005 (beginning October 1) was presented at the National Postal Forum
Tuesday, September 21
Are losses permanent for postal jobs?
Posts worldwide have shed a million employees in the last decade- more from the UPU meeting in Bucharest, courtesy of the International Herald Tribune
French postal staff strike against post offices closures
Expatica.com
Meanwhile, in Israel, .postal workers have joined other government employees in a general strike
Meanwhile, in Israel, .postal workers have joined other government employees in a general strike
Mail Should Be in Every Company's Marketing Mix, Potter Says
DMNews.com
Also at the forum, marketeer Howard Draft told attendees: "It used to be 'The customer is King. Well, nowadays the customer is a dictator."
Click here for Draft's presentation, or here for the text of his remarks.
Also at the forum, marketeer Howard Draft told attendees: "It used to be 'The customer is King. Well, nowadays the customer is a dictator."
Click here for Draft's presentation, or here for the text of his remarks.
Neither rain nor sleet but, ouch, the Net!
More from Bucharest and the Universal Postal Union meeting
International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
Monday, September 20
A room divided
"The sorting room in south Fargo’s Prairiewood Station Post Office became a miserable place to work. That much letter carriers on opposite sides of a federal lawsuit seem to agree on when describing their workplace environment."
Fargo Forum
...more on the story from the Associated Press
Fargo Forum
...more on the story from the Associated Press
Sunday, September 19
UPU: Postal sector forecasts mail growth over next five years
The Universal Postal Union says postal operators are optimistic about mail volume trends despite a drop in volumes in 2003. Click the headline for the press release, or here for the UPU report 'Postal Market 2004 Review and Outlook. Also released at the UPU's meeting in Bucharest were background papers on 'The Global Postal Market Past Present and Future', and 'The worldwide postal network in figures'
What's Getting Lost in the Mail
Bill McAllister writes in the Washington Post that "the Postal Service, that semi-independent federal agency with a civilian workforce almost as big as the Pentagon's and a mission that predates the Constitution, may be in more trouble than its leaders recognize."
USPS Launches Third Phase of Small Business Campaign
DIRECT reports on a USPS direct mail campaign to encourage small business to use Priority Mail and the Click-N-Ship online service.
Saturday, September 18
USPS Could Benefit From Thinking Small
In a commentary for DIRECT, Postcom's Gene Del Polito suggests that the USPS should pay some more attention to small business customers.
USPS sets overseas holiday mailing dates
The Postal Service today made available its 2004 Holiday Season recommended mailing dates for delivery to military overseas APO/FPO addresses and international destinations by Saturday, Dec. 25.
Mailer Groups Question Timing of Potter Remarks
DIRECT reports that mailers are upset about PMG Jack Potter's renewed commitment to hold rates steady until 2006: "They fear it could delay passage of reform legislation that's now before Congress."
Friday, September 17
Hurricane Ivan update
Hurricane Ivan: The latest mail service updates
USPS web site
Postal service delivers most mail until 1 p.m. in Birmingham area
Birmingham News
Ivan shuts down access to TSP
TSP web site
USPS web site
Postal service delivers most mail until 1 p.m. in Birmingham area
Birmingham News
Ivan shuts down access to TSP
TSP web site
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