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Archive for the ‘press releases’ Category

SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON PLAN TO REDUCE POSTAL DELIVERY SERVICE
 
March 2, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Postal Service today announced that it will propose cutting Saturday mail delivery as a way to trim its large budget shortfalls. It also proposes to reduce overtime and to cut its workforce by about 30,000. Senator Susan Collins, R-Me., Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has oversight of the U.S. Postal Service, issued the following statement:
“The Postal Service is the only financially troubled business I know that would focus on cutting service rather than on trying to serve its customers better. The Postal Service needs to increase its volume and attract more customers. It cannot expect to gain more business if it is reducing service.

“The Postal Service is the lynchpin of a $900 billion mailing industry, providing nine million jobs nationwide. Given its critical role in our economy, the Postal Service should do everything it can to develop new revenue streams, to become more competitive and to improve services for both individual and business customers.

“I am concerned that cutting delivery days could force businesses to seek alternatives for their communication needs. Such a migration of customers will only increase the erosion in the Postal Service’s shrinking mail volume, which will prompt greater postage rate hikes and renew calls for even more truncated delivery services. It is a vicious cycle that will only exacerbate the Postal Service’s dire financial problems. We must break this death spiral.

“Despite the relief Congress provided to the Postal Service in 2003, 2006 and 2009, it is seeking to wish away more of its liabilities. It also has been slow to take advantage of the tools provided in the 2006 reform act to improve its financial situation. It also is clear that the USPS must continue to address its workforce-related costs, which account for about 80 percent of its total

PRC Press Release

Washington, DC – The Postal Regulatory Commission yesterday issued a Notice establishing Docket SS2010-1 to conduct a review of the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension liability of the United States Postal Service.

“This is an important study which will provide information regarding the financial health and viability of the Postal Service, and it will assist the Commission as it analyzes the mounting financial losses the Postal Service is projecting,” said Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway.

The Commission action is called for under section 802(c) of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which directs the Commission, upon request of the Postal Service, to promptly procure the services of an actuary qualified to evaluate pension obligations to conduct a review in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles and to provide a report to the Commission containing the results of the review.

Upon the Commission’s receipt and approval of the actuary’s report, together with any comments the Commission may choose to make, the report shall be submitted to the Postal Service, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and Congress.

OPM is responsible for calculating the Postal Service’s CSRS pension liability. The Postal Service filed its request with the Commission on February 23, 2010.

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMMISSION REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 802(c) OF THE POSTAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENHANCEMENT ACT
(March 1, 2010)

On February 23, 2010, the United States Postal Service (Postal Service) filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission (Commission) pursuant to section 802(c) of
the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA). Pub. L. No. 109-435, 120 Stat. 3250 (2006), not codified; see 5 U.S.C. 8348 note.1 The Postal Service requests that the
Commission initiate a review of determinations made by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding the Postal Service’s Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) liabilities and
matters raised in a recent report of the Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), The Postal Service’s Share of CSRS Pension Responsibility, January 20, 2010.2

Section 802(c) directs the Commission, upon request of the Postal Service, to promptly procure the services of an actuary qualified to evaluate pension obligations to conduct a review in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles and to provide a report to the Commission containing the results of the review. Upon the Commission’s receipt and approval of the report, together with any comments the Commission may choose to make, the report shall be submitted to the Postal Service, OPM, and Congress.

1 Request of the United States Postal Service for the Commission to Conduct a Review Pursuant to PAEA Section 802(c) of OPM Determinations Regarding CSRS, February 23, 2010 (Request). Although the Postal Service submitted its filing as Docket No. PI2010-2, the Request is for a “Special Study” and will be docketed as Docket No. SS2010-1, a designation the Commission has used previously.

2 The report is available at http://www.uspsoig.gov/foia_files/RARC-WP-10-001.pdf.

Section 802(c) directs OPM to reconsider its determinations in light of the report and make appropriate adjustments. Thereafter, OPM is to report the results of its reconsideration
to the Commission, the Postal Service, and Congress In support of the Request, the Postal Service states that the OIG report raises serious questions about the appropriate calculation of the Postal Service’s CSRS liabilities and that the magnitude of the amounts is more than sufficient to color debate on the true state of the Postal Service’s present and future financial health. Request at 1-2.

Pursuant to the Postal Service’s Request, the Commission shall acquire the services of an actuary, obtain a report, and take other actions consistent with the provisions of section 802(c) of the PAEA.

Shoshana M. Grove
Secretary

ORLANDO, FL—The president of the 300,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) today opposed the proposal by Postmaster General John E. Potter to eliminate Saturday delivery to American homes and businesses, and urged Congress instead to take steps that would provide “financial breathing room” while a better plan can be developed.

NALC President Fredric V. Rolando, in this city for the mid-winter meeting of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, said such a drastic move is both unnecessary and counter-productive and that other steps should be taken to bolster the Postal Service’s financial situation while all stakeholders examine viable long-term changes that will assure continued universal service throughout the country.

“I do not believe that weakening our commitment of six-day service to the public will enhance the long-term position of the Postal Service as a critical element in our nation’s economic infrastructure,” Rolando said. “In view of the January report released by the postal Inspector General that showed that the USPS was overcharged by $75 billion for postal pension costs, Congress instead should take immediate steps to correct the error.”

“If Congress takes such action, the Postal Service will have the financial breathing room needed to develop a more successful plan,” Rolando added. “The NALC stands ready to join in discussions with other principal stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy for the long-term viability of the Postal Service and continued high-quality service to the American people.”

The non-tax supported U.S. Postal Service views the safety and well being of its employees as its top priority. In situations where employees have been injured on the job, we make every attempt to provide necessary work that meets their physical limitations until they are able to return to their regular work assignment.

These jobs are referred to as limited duty or rehabilitative duty assignments and often involve sorting mail by hand.

Two issues have virtually eliminated these positions — advancements in mail sorting technology and the dramatic decline in mail volume as a result of the downturn in the economy. Mail volume peaked nationwide in 2006 with 212 billion pieces as contrasted with 175 billion pieces in 2009.

The National Reassessment Process (NRP), launched nationwide by the Postal Service in October of 2006, reviews assignments of injured ON THE JOB workers to ensure they are performing duties that fit the operational needs of the U.S. Postal Service. If necessary work is unavailable, employees are advised of their right to file for compensation with the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) under the U.S. Department of Labor.

Employees who obtain injury compensation benefits from the OWCP may participate in the OWCP Vocational Rehabilitation program for placement in a new job with other federal agencies or private sector employment.

If NRP affected employees obtain a new non-postal job paying less than what they made at the Postal Service, they receive the difference through the Department of Labor which forwards the cost to the Postal Service.

The decision to pay employee compensation or to participate in the Vocational Rehabilitation program rests with the OWCP.

The U.S. Postal Service has worked closely with the OWCP and the U.S. Department of Labor in administering the NRP.

The NRP matter remains in continuing litigation. To ensure the integrity of that legal process, and in keeping with its employee personnel rules and privacy statutes, the U.S. Postal Service cannot comment on any specific NRP situation or NRP-affected employee.

source: U.S. Postal Service via KCNC TV Denver

CLINTON, IOWA (February 24, 2010) – Ashford University has entered into a national alliance agreement with the U.S. Postal Service.

Through the agreement, Ashford University, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, is a recognized higher educational partner. The Postal Service’s 623,000 employees will receive significant cost savings through the waiver of application, technology and Prior Learning Assessment fees.

“Ashford University is proud to be one of a dozen of the Postal Service’s carefully selected education partners. We look forward to offering its employees the opportunity to enroll in Ashford’s excellent academic programs and take their education to the next level,” said Dr. Jane McAuliffe, president and CEO of Ashford University. “The Postal Service is the nation’s second largest employer, and we are excited to welcome its diverse and talented employees into our student body.”

“The Postal Service is pleased to be part of this innovative partnership with Ashford University” said Susan LaChance, vice president, Employee Development and Diversity for the USPS. “The Postal Service has a long tradition of developing employees and valuing education. This partnership will allow our employees to leverage their years of work experience along with formal education to earn a degree – this benefits both the employee and the Postal Service.”

For more information on this agreement, please visit success.ashford.edu/usps or call 888.214.9881.

Global Shipping Helps Small/Medium-Sized Businesses Grow

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service is expanding its partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce to support the newly established National Export Initiative (NEI). Through its Global Business team, the Postal Service will build on its alliance partnership with the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) to encourage and support small- and medium-sized businesses interested in establishing or expanding exports of their products to markets worldwide.

“The global market for goods produced in the U.S. is open to businesses both large and small,” said John E. Potter, Postmaster General and chief executive officer for the U.S. Postal Service. “Our global shipping services open the gateway to the globe for American exports. We’re pleased to participate in the NEI to support economic growth here at home.”

At a speech before the National Press Club on Feb. 4, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced a series of new proposals for the NEI. “Today, less than 1 percent of America’s 30 million companies export — a percentage that is also significantly lower than all other developed countries,” said Locke. “And of U.S. companies that do export, 58 percent export to only one country.”

Working with the ITA, the Postal Service will expand its outreach to small- and medium-sized businesses interested in entering into new export markets through global shipping solutions.

The Postal Service is a leading provider of international delivery services, providing business mailers with the ability to expand their markets by shipping packages and sending letters, documents and advertising mail to 191 countries.

INDIANAPOLIS – Ricky L. Alsip, 53, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to two yearsof probation by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young following his guilty plea to theft of mail by a postal employee. This case was the result of a investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office
of Inspection General.

Alsip admitted that he had been stealing items from the mail while working as a postal carrier for a period of approximately one year. Alsip estimated that he removed 450 Netflix movies from the mail for use by himself and members of his family during this time period. Alsip also admitted taking other mail items such a magazines and catalogues for his own use.According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted the case for the government, Judge Young also ordered Alsip to make restitution in the amount of $5,413.50 and ordered Alsip to perform 40 hours of community service.

source: US Attorney’s Office

Efforts to Establish Temporary Civilian Mail Distribution Site Continue

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service is delivering letters and packages bound for members of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed to Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response. The initial wave of military mail is flowing into Toussaint Louverture International Airport at Port-au-Prince in coordination with the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) to support the overall USAID effort in Haiti.

“We’re pleased to support our military personnel serving in Haiti with the vital connection to home that comes through the mail,” said Pranab Shah, managing director and vice president, Global Business. “We’ll continue to work closely with MPSA to ensure our service members receive their mail during this challenging humanitarian mission.”

The Postal Service has assigned a total of 20 APO, FPO, and DPO ZIP Codes at the request of MPSA for the efficient distribution of mail destined for military units serving in Haiti. The Postal Service also continues to support civilian recovery efforts by donating water and medical supplies while staging vehicles, portable buildings and mail sorting equipment for deployment to Haiti.

Efforts to establish a temporary civilian mail distribution site in Port-au-Prince are continuing on an international scale through the coordinated efforts of a task force led by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (PUASP), Haiti Post and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). USPIS Chief Postal Inspector William R. Gilligan Jr. serves as chairman of UPU’s Postal Security Action Group, and U.S. Postal Inspectors recently completed an initial security assessment of mail operations and capabilities in Haiti, representing the first step in reestablishing limited mail distribution operations in Port-au-Prince in order for the civilian population to begin receiving letters and packages.

Post Offices are continuing to accept letter mail and packages addressed to the nation of Haiti. However, all mail addressed to Haiti will be temporarily held by the Postal Service until the postal administration of Haiti is able to accept mail.

Additional information regarding acceptance and movement of mail to Haiti will be provided as it becomes available. Updates are posted online at http://www.usps.com/international/serviceupdates.htm#H17 .

source: USPS

CARLSBAD, CA — 02/22/10 — In today’s challenging economy, businesses are looking for an advantage to help them pull out of the recession and avoid losses, layoffs, or worse. Companies are focusing on a single task — increasing sales. To help businesses in Texas learn how to quickly implement powerhouse direct mail marketing campaigns proven to sell, Modern Postcard is providing an exclusive opportunity to learn the tools, tricks and techniques behind capturing better leads for new customers and driving increased revenues. The Direct Mail Crash Course, a national seminar series, will be presented for the first time in Texas in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) where attendees will receive new and proven strategies to increase business leads and revenues.

Direct mail is one of the most effective types of advertising a business can do today. According to the Mail Moment™ research gathered by the USPS, 98 percent of consumers bring in the mail the day it is delivered; and according to the Direct Marketing Association, direct marketing yields an average return on investment of over 1100 percent based on the lifetime value of a new customer. Attendees will learn how to make these numbers a reality in the own marketing.

With the new technologies available in direct marketing, today’s smart marketers are learning how to better integrate new media and social media marketing, including Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, with traditional mass media, print and direct mail campaigns to maximize the effectiveness of their advertising dollars. Lead generation and customer acquisition is one of the most coveted aspects of marketing, but it must be successfully targeted to the right customers. Direct marketing can bring a company excellent results — quality lead generation for increased sales and revenues.

These unique seminars will include a complete buffet breakfast and commence in Dallas with additional stops in Austin and Houston as follows:

– Dallas: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel, 2222
Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207, from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

– Austin: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at the Courtyard Austin Downtown, 300
E. 4th Street, Austin, TX 78701, from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

– Houston: Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Houston Marriott at the Texas
Medical Center, 6580 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, from 7:30 a.m. -
12:00 p.m.

In three powerful sessions, this interactive learning opportunity will show attendees how to use direct mail to boost sales and start generating revenue immediately.

According to the U.S. Postal Service’s Household Diary study released in August 2009, advertising mail spending was at $59.7 billion in 2008, accounting for 22 percent of all advertising spending and ranked only below television.

Presenting will be a group of top direct mail experts with over 50 years of combined experience in the direct marketing industry. Keith Goodman is a 20-year direct marketing veteran who has helped companies such as IBM, Hughes and Amway increase their direct mail profitability and achieve greater return on investment for their marketing dollars. Dan Anglin, a list development expert, has 10 years of data experience and has worked with Fortune 500 firms such as Microsoft, AOL and Time Warner. Arnie Cohen has assisted businesses in effectively executing mailings for 23 years and will focus on improving mail delivery and reducing postage costs. Cohen is active in various industry groups and heavily involved with new US Postal Service technological advances.

“Many marketers don’t realize how critical data is to the success of their direct mail campaigns,” said Dan Anglin, a seminar co-presenter, “and there are so many new data products available on the market that it is hard to understand when to use the different solutions. We walk the attendees through everything they need to know to tackle even complex projects such as modeling their existing database to identify prospects that most resemble their best existing customers.”

In addition to a breadth of information, there will be a special presentation from the USPS that will also provide attendees with insight into what the postal service can do to help local businesses with their mailing and shipping needs.

“Typically a recession drives small businesses to evaluate, re-design and refine their product offerings and marketing processes as they focus on cash flow, costs, customer retention and survival,” said Keith Goodman, vice president of corporate solutions for Modern Postcard. “Our goal is to help business marketers learn how to be innovative, send the right message to the right person, and create new opportunities for increasing their revenues despite the economic climate.”

Attendees will learn insightful direct mail information about understanding list opportunities, improving mail delivery and reducing postage costs, including:

– Why you should use direct mail — the numbers, benefits and expectations
– How to design a business marketing plan that will turn expectations into revenues
– How to write compelling copy targeting recipients and maximizing responses
– Using offers and a call-to-action to increase conversion rates and return on investment
– Testing and tracking direct mail successes for increasingly effective campaigns
– Identifying the right prospects
– How to enrich your customer base for better results
– How analytics can help target prospects most likely to do business with you
– Choosing from more than 40,000 available lists to get the best response rate
– Maximizing on-time mail delivery through effective address hygiene
– Identifying the “money wasters” in your mailing lists
– Taking advantage of postage discounts for mailings
– Using drop shipping to enhance delivery and cut costs
– Tracking your mail through the mail stream with Intelligent Mail Bar
Code™

Direct marketing and direct mail services can be a very powerful and cost-effective sales tool when done properly, whether you are a small business, medium-sized company, or a large corporation. The Direct Mail Crash Course is a half-day seminar that costs $59 to attend. As a special incentive, all attendees will receive $250 in free printing for their first direct mail campaign, easily recouping the cost of the seminar. Registrations are limited and can be made at: www.modernpostcard.com/seminar or by telephone at 800.959.8365 ext. 2135.

About Modern Postcard
Located in Carlsbad, California, Modern Postcard is a full-service direct marketing provider high quality printing, direct mail, email deployment, as well as emerging direct marketing applications and Web-based solutions to efficiently manage and execute campaigns.

With more than 25 years of experience, Modern Postcard manages all operations in-house from its 75,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. The company provides additional services including creative services and design, variable data printing (VDP), pURL campaigns, digital imaging, and color editing, account management, mailing lists, and mailing services. Visit www.modernpostcard.com or call 800.959.8365 ext. 2500 for more information.

Future Locations:
San Jose, CA
March 23, 2010
Santa Clara Marriott
2700 Mission College Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95054

March 24, 2010
San Francisco Marriott Marquis
55 Fourth St
San Francisco, CA 94103

March 25, 2010
Radisson Hotel
500 Leisure Ln
Sacramento, CA 95815

April 27-29 – Mid Atlantic – Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC (Northern VA)
May 25-27 – Southeast – Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans
June 22-24 – Midwest – Kansas City, St. Louis, Cleveland
August – Pacific Northwest
September – Midwest
October – Southwest
November – Southern California

The following is a press release issued by the Justice Department:

The Justice Department, FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service today announced that the investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks, which killed five individuals and sickened 17 others, has formally concluded.

Earlier today, representatives of the FBI and Justice Department provided a 92-page investigative summary along with attachments to victims of the attacks, relatives of the victims and appropriate committees of Congress. This document sets forth a summary of the evidence developed in the “Amerithrax” investigation, the largest investigation into a bio-weapons attack in U.S. history. As disclosed previously, the Amerithrax investigation found that the late Dr. Bruce Ivins acted alone in planning and executing these attacks.

The investigative summary and the attachments are now accessible to the public and have been posted to the Justice Department Web site at www.usdoj.gov/amerithrax under the Freedom of Information Act. In addition, roughly 2,700 pages of FBI documents related to the Amerithrax case are now accessible to the public and have been posted to the FBI website at http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/amerithrax.htm under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Amerithrax Task Force, which was comprised of roughly 25 to 30 full-time investigators from the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other law enforcement agencies, as well as federal prosecutors from the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section, expended hundreds of thousands of investigator work hours on this case. Their investigative efforts involved more than 10,000 witness interviews on six different continents, the execution of 80 searches and the recovery of more than 6,000 items of potential evidence during the course of the investigation. The case involved the issuance of more than 5,750 grand jury subpoenas and the collection of 5,730 environmental samples from 60 site locations.