"...The service will offer early retirement to 150,000 workers across the country. In addition the agency said it will eliminate 1,400 management jobs...."
This Article is From: www.ohio.com
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
U.S. Postal Service to offer early retirement
This Article is From: www.ohio.com
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Will Proposed S.F. Anti-Junk Mail Measure Be Death Knell of Post Office? Environmental Group Says USPS Is Already Dead.
"...approved of a proposed "Do Not Mail" registry that would, in theory, spare city dwellers from the acres of junk mail that clog our post boxes yearly..."
This Article is From: blogs.sfweekly.com
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Postal Service Cuts, Chief's Compensation Getting Closer Look
"...Given the sad shape of the Postal Service, tough questions certainly should be raised about Potter's compensation, particularly the bonus and 40 percent raise...."
This Article is From: www.washingtonpost.com
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Monday, March 23, 2009
Postal District Closings, Voluntary Early Retirement, and Reductions
On March 20, the US Postal Service announced District Closings, Voluntary Early Retirement, and Reductions. The announcement reads as follows:
USPS ANNOUNCES ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE CLOSINGS, EARLY RETIREMENT OFFER AND
STAFFING REDUCTIONS
Today the Postal Service has announced it will close six of its 80 district offices. USPS is also
eliminating positions across the country and offering another round of voluntary early retirements.
These actions are expected to save the Postal Service more than $100 million annually.
The six offices closing — located in Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Washington State — house administrative functions and will not adversely affect
customer service, mail delivery, Post Office operations or ZIP Codes. The functions of these offices will
be assumed by 10 surrounding districts.
The Postal Service’s districts are being re-aligned as follows:
�� The Boston and Connecticut districts will assume the operations of the Massachusetts District.
�� The Northern New England (formerly Maine) District will assume the operations of the New
Hampshire/Vermont District.
�� The Western Pennsylvania (formerly Pittsburgh) District will assume the operations of the Erie
District.
�� The South Florida and Suncoast districts will assume the operations of the Central Florida
District.
�� The Seattle and Salt Lake City districts will assume the operations of the Spokane District.
�� The Northern New Jersey and Southern New Jersey districts will assume the operations of the
Central Jersey District.
USPS will reduce administrative staff positions at the district level nationwide by 15 percent. In addition,
more than 1,400 mail processing supervisor and management positions at nearly 400 facilities around
the country will be eliminated, and nearly 150,000 employees nationwide are being given the...
The Mandatory Stand-Up Talk reads as follows:
Mandatory Stand-Up Talk
District Closings, Staffing Reductions and VER Announced
With the economic recession resulting in the Postal Service ending fiscal year 2008 with a loss of nearly $3 billion, we
are facing an extremely difficult financial challenge.
Streamlining operations and improving efficiency throughout the Postal Service is a constant, ongoing process. Over
the past year, we have refined this process by modifying networks, consolidating functions, adjusting delivery routes
and restructuring administrative and processing operations. Today, Postmaster General Jack Potter announced new
steps to further our efforts. These actions are expected to save the Postal Service more than $100 million annually.
First, the Postal Service is closing six district offices.
These six administrative district offices were chosen based on their proximity to other districts that could absorb the
additional workload without compromising the delivery, retail and mail processing functions of the Postal Service.
Today, more than 500 employees were notified by their area vice president and/or district manager that their district
offices were closing.
An opportunity for voluntary early retirement (VER) also is being offered.
This nationwide offer is open to nearly 150,000 employees who meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
conditions, and who are at least 50 years of age with 20 years of creditable federal service, or any age with 25 years
of creditable federal service. An annuity estimate will be mailed to all VER-eligible employees starting April 6, 2009.
Another step being taken is instituting a 15% administrative staffing reduction of positions in all remaining 74
district offices.
Postal headquarters already has reduced its employee complement by approximately 15% and the area offices are in
the process of a similar staffing reduction.
At nearly 400 of our mail processing facilities around the country, more than 1,400 supervisor and
management positions are being eliminated.
Reduction in force (RIF) avoidance strategies will be in place for employees impacted by district closings and staffing
reductions.
There are no signs of an early economic recovery. Financial projections call for a continued decline in mail volume and
revenue.
Now, more than ever, we all must look for ways to do our jobs more efficiently and help to continue the service
performance and customer satisfaction improvements we have gained in recent years.
By doing so, we can help ensure that the Postal Service will continue to deliver for America now and in the future.
Additional information — and questions and answers — about all of these new changes can be found under the Hot
Topics section on Blue. VER information can be found under the Hot Topics section on LiteBlue.
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Sunday, March 22, 2009
U.S. Postal Service offering early retirement to 150,000 workers
"... would reduce management staff by 15%, which would eliminate more than 1,400 processing, supervisor and management posts at nearly 400 facilities...."
This Article is From: www.latimes.com
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Saturday, March 21, 2009
USPS to close 2 New England district offices
"...U.S. Postal Service district administrative offices in North Reading and in Manchester, N..H. will be among the six to be closed across the nation under the postal service cutbacks announced today...."
This Article is From: www.boston.com
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Arizona City News - important information regarding the Postal Service's decision to proceed with residential delivery
This Article is From: www.zwire.com
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"...important information regarding the Postal Service's decision to proceed with residential delivery..."
This Article is From: www.zwire.com
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New Threats To Postal Service
"...another group of threatening letters.It's the second round of threats to area post offices this year...."
This Article is From: www.keyc.com
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Does your mailbox need an extreme makeover?
By Anne Murray, Postmaster Fort Myers/Cape Coral
This Article is From: www.northfortmyersneighbor.com
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"...The Fort Myers/Cape Coral Consumer Advisory Council will judge the entries for creativity and compliance with postal regulations. Two winners will be announced on April 16-one each from Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The winning photos will be on display in the Page Field and Cape Coral Central Post Offices during May. The winning mailboxes will be featured on postage stamps and the owners will receive two sheets of First-Class mail customized postage stamps...."
This Article is From: www.northfortmyersneighbor.com
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APWU Presidents Make a Difference From Legislative Conference to Capitol Hill
"...The Employee Free Choice Act, which would give workers greater freedom to choose to form unions and bargain for a better workplace, was introduced in the Senate (S. 560) and the House (H.R. 1409) on March 10. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA) introduced the bill, which is the top legislative priority of the APWU and the labor movement. It currently has 222 sponsors in the House and 39 in the Senate...."
This Article is From: www.apwu.org
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Bronx Letter Carrier Arrested in $90 Million Tax Refund Scam
"...OIG Special Agents, along with Postal Inspectors, FBI and IRS agents, arrested a Bronx letter carrier and two accomplices, in the crack-down of a massive tax-refund scheme to defraud the IRS out of more than $90 million. At the time of arrest, the carrier had 75 bogus refund checks in his possession. The scam worked like this..."
This Article is From: www.uspsoig.gov
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Early outs, again?
"...There is a strong rumor out there that there will be another VER coming soon. At this point it is just that, a rumor, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Postal Service, in an effort to continue downsizing in response to reduced volumes, announces another VER...."
This Article is From: www.postmasters.org
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Monday, March 16, 2009
CATALOGS BY MAIL A BIG HIT WITH GARDENERS
"...It’s likely the presence of these catalogs in the mailstream will increase. According to USA Today, gardening is on the rise. The number of people growing vegetables in 2009 will jump more than 40 percent compared to two years ago. Vegetable seed sales are up by double digits at the nation’s largest seed sellers...."
This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov
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Monday, March 9, 2009
Collecting stamps of Ottoman and Turkish vintage
"...Postal services have existed for millennia as part of the need to provide communications for the rulers of countries or empires so large that it took days to cross. Systems were set up with horses kept at various stages somewhat like the famed Pony Express in the United States in modern times and men would ride as fast as possible over a set route..."
This Article is From: www.hurriyet.com.tr
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Heavy smoke at Westfield Post Office
"...The United States Postal Service has an investigative unit on the scene, and the local fire department is assisting in the investigation. The post office is open for business, the roof is okay, but the basement is closed to employees...."
This Article is From: www.mycentraljersey.com
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Post office to cut jobs, operations in Athens
"...The U.S. Postal Service plans to cut 17 positions and move some operations out of the Athens post office, which has been without a postmaster since the end of January. The post office will hold a public meeting in two weeks to explain its plan to move mail-processing operations from Athens to a postal service processing and distributing center in Duluth, post office spokesman Michael Miles said..."
This Article is From: onlineathens.com
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Sunday, March 8, 2009
Postal Hike To Favor Direct Mailers, Disadvantage Newspapers
"...the NAA filed comments with postal regulatory commission. The NAA expects the commission to determine if the rates are illegal in a few weeks. If the commission declines to comment, the NAA plans to file a complaint, explained Boyle.
..."
This Article is From: www.editorandpublisher.com
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Saturday, March 7, 2009
Seabiscuit Stamped Envelope
Famous racehorse memorialized by USPS on stamped envelope
This Article is From: www.willitsnews.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...The United States Postal Service has announced that concurrently with the standard postage stamp increase to 44 cents, they will also release, on May 11, a Seabiscuit Stamped Envelope showcasing the champion racehorse printed on a 44-cent stamped envelope commemorating his win against the Triple Crown Winner, War Admiral. ..."
This Article is From: www.willitsnews.com
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J.P. Morgan and U.S. Postal Service Expand Cash Management Relationship
"..."The USPS cash collection and concentration system is one of the largest and most complex in the world," said Robert Pedersen, Treasurer, USPS. "By consolidating our cash management service, we have greater insight into our daily working capital and have improved cash forecasting capabilities."..."
This Article is From: www.finchannel.com
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Friday, March 6, 2009
US Postal Service Says Winning Share Amid Shipping Decline
"...Market share for USPS' priority mail service registered about 15% as of Sept. 30, the close of the agency's 2008 fiscal year. Reblin contended that the percentage has gone up since then, although he added that the gains haven't been quantified yet...."
This Article is From: money.cnn.com
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Thursday, March 5, 2009
Postal Service draws criticism for $1.2 million home buy
"...The 8,400-square-foot, six-bedroom home on Lake Wateree, about 30 miles north of Columbia, is likely to be the last million-dollar home purchased by the Postal Service. A $1 million cap on homes eligible for the relocation program took effect in February, Frey said...."
This Article is From: cnn.com
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USPS Employee -vs- Employer Benefit Contributions
President Obama FY 2010 Budget has postal employees picking up larger portions of benefit expenses. Below you will find a copy of Table S-6 of the of "Mandatory and Receipt Proposals" of the 2010 Budget. Click the image to enlarge.
Read our latest posts!
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Postmaster starts stamp club
First meeting for people who are interested is set for March 26 in Aumsville
This Article is From: www.statesmanjournal.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...The first meeting of the Aumsville Stamp Club is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 at the Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville. The meetings will be held the last Thursday of the month. People who are interested in philately from Mill City to Scio are invited to the meeting, or can contact Aumsville Postmaster Raymond Berg at (503) 749-1133 or raymond.p.berg@usps.gov for more information...."
This Article is From: www.statesmanjournal.com
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Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Savannah’s New Postmaster
"...in Savannah history continues to be made as the city sees its first African American Postmaster. When you visit the Fahm Street Post Office branch you will probably see Barbara King working alongside mail clerks and doing what’s necessary to stay ahead. King started her career with the U.S. Postal Service in Birmingham, Alabama 23 years ago...."
This Article is From: www.wsav.com
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Postal Service, museum in dispute over photos
"...it was ironic that the Postal Service, which was a full governmental agency when the murals were painted, would charge to produce an image of artwork created with tax dollars. The Postal Service, which now operates without federal support, told the museum in a letter that it had the right to restrict access to its property...."
This Article is From: www.philly.com
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Monday, March 2, 2009
USPS National Reassessment Process
Here is a great "Flash" presentation by the Colorado APWU on the Postal Service National Reassessment Process
This Article is From: www.cpwu.org
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"...File Format: Shockwave Flash
USPS Unleashes NRP The following article first appeared in the ... If moves (labor distribution codes) were not used to track the actual duties performed..."
This Article is From: www.cpwu.org
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
USPS Missing Package...
Oh where, oh where has my package gone?
This Article is From: www.seacoastonline.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...The post office people I'm NOT cool with are those working in the Providence, R.I., mail processing facility and since I know you're just dying to know why I'll tell you: They appear to be holding my daughter's Valentine package hostage...."
This Article is From: www.seacoastonline.com
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USPS Unveils Black History Month Stamps
"...the Postal Service chose the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History for the unveiling. The hope is these stamps will deliver you here to learn their backstories...."
This Article is From: wjz.com
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USPS Cuts Post Office Hours, Upsetting Customers
"...across the nation post offices have to find many ways to cut back, and so far they've avoided layoffs. But the cuts are affecting workers and causing more inconvenience for USPS customers. Starting Monday, all post offices will close at 5 p.m. Many post offices in Charlotte keep late hours, some open until 10 p.m., and employees and customers alike said the change be a real inconvenience...."
This Article is From: www.wsoctv.com
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March 2009 COLA - Postal Cost of Living Adjustment
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Update
This Article is From: www.apwu.org
Read our latest posts!
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"...After the final month of the six-month measuring period, the fifth COLA under the 2006 National Agreement and the Operating Services Agreement will be zero. ..."
This Article is From: www.apwu.org
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Mail-pilfering postal worker gets house arrest, probation
"...She was sentenced on the charge of theft of mail by a postal employee. ... a longtime postal worker..."
This Article is From: www.aikenstandard.com
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[opinion and commentary] Neither snow, nor rain, nor sleet …
"...Postmaster General John Potter recently received a $79,000 pay raise and a juicy $135,000 performance bonus which is part of an $850,000 pay and compensation package. How does one get a raise and a bonus for propelling the USPS into the economic ravine? The question remains..."
This Article is From: www.smdp.com
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Intermec wins Saudi postal contract
"...Saudi Post, the official postal operator of Saudi Arabia, has announced a contract with Intermec Technologies Inc. to provide an RFID-enabled tracking solution for its mail delivery...."
This Article is From: www.rfidnews.org
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Police find 9 roosters in house after postal tip
"...Wolf said police looked for evidence of cockfighting but did not find any...."
This Article is From: www.kansas.com
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Dothan Post Office Robbery
Suspect identified in Post Office robbery, assault
This Article is From: www.dothaneagle.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...The federal government charged Perry with the robbery and assault of the post office employee on Dec. 26, 2006. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Snyder argued Perry duct taped and attempted to sexually assault an employee during the robbery...."
This Article is From: www.dothaneagle.com
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Fall onto metal stake kills Mich. postal carrier
"...A postal carrier has died after falling and hitting his head on a metal stake while delivering mail in Kalamazoo..."
This Article is From: www.chicagotribune.com
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Saturday, February 21, 2009
USPS sets Move Update error threshold at 30%
"...For a Standard Mail mailing, this means that every piece in the mailing will be charged an additional 7 cents. For a First-Class Mail mailing, this means that every piece in the mailing will be charged at the single-piece rate of 44 cents.
The new requirements, which became effective November 23..."
This Article is From: www.dmnews.com
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Postmaster General Gets Pay Bonus as Agency Falters
"...In all his total compensation -- salary, bonuses, retirement benefits and other perks -- topped $850,000, a spokesman with the U.S. Postal Service told FOXNews.com on Wednesday. At the same time, the Postal Service, an independent federal agency, is crumbling..."
This Article is From: www.foxnews.com
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DRIVER SENTENCED IN CRASH THAT LEFT POSTAL WORKER WITH DEVASTATING INJURIES
"...crashed into a Ventnor postal worker, leaving her with horrific injuries. The victim says her life will never be the same because of one random act of carelessness...."
This Article is From: www.nbc40.net
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How does it get there? Take a free tour of Denver's general mail processing facility
"...Looking for an extraordinary educational experience? Try a tour of Denver's main mail processing facility. If you're like most people, you probably don't give much thought to our mail system. The postal service does its job and our mail arrives..."
This Article is From: www.examiner.com
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Feb. 20, 1792: U.S. Goes Postal, but It's All Good
"...The practical effect of the Postal Service Act, however, was to transform the existing colonial postal service, streamlined by Benjamin Franklin during his stint as postmaster general, into a federal agency. Its main provision granted Congress the power to establish official mail routes throughout the young nation...."
This Article is From: www.wired.com
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Thursday, February 19, 2009
USPS Smacks Nonprofit Mailers Again
"...Charities that use premiums to fundraise have again taken it on the chin from the United States Postal Service. Nonprofit parcels and Nonflat Machinables (NFM) will again bear the brunt of postal rate increases, with percentage increases ranging from almost 10 percent to 50 percent, according to analysis from the Direct Marketing Association (DMA)...."
This Article is From: www.nptimes.com
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Monday, February 16, 2009
Rare misprint US airmail stamp to be auctioned in Warwickshire
"...The 1918 US airmail stamp depicts the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aeroplane flying upside down. Auction house, Warwick and Warwick, will be selling a mint example of the stamp..."
This Article is From: www.birminghampost.net
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Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Postal Employee Retirement Community - Nalcrest, Florida 33856
Where does a postal employee go to retire? Some postal retirement seekers look to Florida for retirement living ...and where better to live than in a postal retirement community with nothing but other retired postal workers living next to you? No dogs allowed! The community is restricted to union letter carriers. Residents must be members in good standing with the National Association of Letter Carriers(NALC). The postal community offers a strong sense of community, a golf course is a half-hour away, twice a day a Nalcrest van transports residents to Lake Wales for a nominal fee for shopping, doctor appointments and other errands, and its 500 apartments are clustered in 66 one-story buildings spread over 153 acres around two large lagoons popular with residents who fish and boat. Another 150 acres of undeveloped land surrounds the complex. Sunny Florida breezes sweeten the air with the aroma of retirement. 
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UAW rejects GM, Chrysler proposed changes
This Article is From: www.ajc.com
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"...The autoworkers union is rejecting changes to a retiree health care trust proposed by General Motors and Chrysler, saying the companies want to shortchange workers to benefit bondholders...."
This Article is From: www.ajc.com
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Saturday, February 14, 2009
AMERICAN STAMPS AIRS ON PBS NEXT WEEK
AMERICAN STAMPS AIRS ON PBS NEXT WEEK
"... information on the history of stamps in America and how stamp subjects are selected and checked for authenticity. And Wilson Hulme, curator of Philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, talks about the fun of stamp-collecting and the printing errors that have made some stamps worth considerably more than their face value...."
Reference: liteblue.usps.gov
Read our latest posts!
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"... information on the history of stamps in America and how stamp subjects are selected and checked for authenticity. And Wilson Hulme, curator of Philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, talks about the fun of stamp-collecting and the printing errors that have made some stamps worth considerably more than their face value...."
Reference: liteblue.usps.gov
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Granular data and direct mail pay off for event company
"...The company uses a variety of purchased postal mailing lists coupled with e-mail marketing. Specifically, it looks for lists that contain individuals that have subscribed to something or attended another event...."
This Article is From: www.btobonline.com
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Endicia
If You Can Send It At The Post Office, You Can Print It With Endicia
Endicia: If You Can Send It At The Post Office, You Can Print It With Endicia
"... Endicia lets you print complete, prepaid postage for any single-piece domestic mail class offered by the US Postal Service, including military (APO/FPO) addresses. Whether it’s First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Express Mail, Media Mail, Library Mail, Bound-Printed Matter, or Parcel Post – choose your mail class and print with Endicia to save time. Endicia computes the exact postage you need, so you don’t overpay for postage or risk your packages arriving to your customer postage-due. ..."
Article Reference Source: www.endicia.com
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Endicia: If You Can Send It At The Post Office, You Can Print It With Endicia
"... Endicia lets you print complete, prepaid postage for any single-piece domestic mail class offered by the US Postal Service, including military (APO/FPO) addresses. Whether it’s First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Express Mail, Media Mail, Library Mail, Bound-Printed Matter, or Parcel Post – choose your mail class and print with Endicia to save time. Endicia computes the exact postage you need, so you don’t overpay for postage or risk your packages arriving to your customer postage-due. ..."
Article Reference Source: www.endicia.com
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Thursday, February 12, 2009
FERS Sick-Leave Bill
"...The “FERS Sick Leave Equity Act” (H.R. 958), introduced by Rep. Jim Moran (D) and Frank Wolf (R), provides Federal Employees Retirement System employees a sick-leave benefit equal to that received by employees under the Civil Service Retirement System. For the purposes of determining an annuity during retirement, the benefit adds unused sick leave to the number of years an employee has worked. ..."
This Article is From: www.apwu.org,
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Mail Monitoring
Question: Are there companies that provide mail monitoring services? ...As an individual running a small direct mail service I have a need to monitor the timely delivery of my mailing campaign(s). Specifically I need to know the receipt date of the mail I send out. This will assist me in providing the quality of service I need to provide my customers
Answer: Yes, there are is a multitude of companies that offer Mail monitoring services. We recommend you shop around for companies providing the services you need. We also recommend that you continuously alter the service you use to get a truer perspective of your direct mail program. One company, for example, is US Monitor. US Monitor describes their services as follows:
This Article is From: The Postal Newsgroup
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World’s largest mailbox?
Take a trip to the "Your Postal Blog" website and check out what Rural Carrier Nick Romey, of Dedham, claims is the world’s largest mailbox. What do you think?
This Article is From: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com
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