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.
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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!
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
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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."
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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 PressComment
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.
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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."
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