NATIONAL PCC DAY

Postmaster General Cautions Of Perfect Economic Storm

Postmaster General John Potter challenged the mailing industry today, cautioning mailers about the severity of the current economic climate and urging them to create new growth opportunities.

Citing fluctuating oil prices, inflation in paper prices and the strife in the financial markets, Potter described challenging economic conditions as the most difficult time since the 1960s. The additional move of hardcopy messages to the Internet and questions about mail’s environmental impact have led to a volume decline of 9 billion pieces this year.

Despite the tough times, Potter called on the mailing industry to seek new sources of growth.

“We have to approach the business in a whole new way,” Potter said during a National PCC Day broadcast. “We have to develop new ways for the American people and American business to use the mail.”

Despite the challenges ahead, Potter remains confident in the strength and commitment of the Postal Service and the mailing industry as a whole.

“Once the economic storm passes, our industry will rebound,” Potter told the audience of 14,000 PCC members. “If we remain focused on the fundamentals of our industry and if we reach out to new audiences, we will again reach new heights.”

One of these goals is to continue to improve record-setting levels of service. Working with the mailing industry and the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Postal Service has developed a new set of modern service standards for each class of mail and will begin measuring performance against these standards this year. In addition, improvements in customer satisfaction, scan rates, network effectiveness and the Postal Service’s website, usps.com, will be top priorities moving forward, Potter said.

“Service is what we’re all about. It is our franchise, the very reason for our existence,” he said.

Potter also called on the mailing industry to adapt to the changing marketplace and invest in the future. The Intelligent Mail barcode is one way the Postal Service is leveraging technology to provide greater value and ease to business mailers, he said. Storing three times the amount of data of the current barcodes, the Intelligent Mail Barcode helps customers manage mail flow by uniquely identifying every piece in a mailing. The technology allows mailers to sort, track and receive address correction, all from one barcode.

Affordable prices that deliver value are a key element to retain and grow business, Potter said. The agency has reduced costs $1 billion or more for each of the past seven years and, through creative business solutions, absorbed the $700 million rise in fuel costs last year so that these costs were not passed on to customers as fuel surcharges.

“The price you see is the price you pay,” Potter said.

Reduction in costs alone will not be enough to overcome difficult economic times, he said, identifying several opportunities for growth through innovative new products, including a new, large Priority Mail Flat Rate Box and using the mail for recycling and product take-back programs.

Potter took a moment in the broadcast to recognize the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Ike and pledged the Postal Service’s continued support to victims in the areas affected by the storm, acknowledging the organization’s role to “bring a sense of normalcy” to the affected areas.

To help keep the lines of communication open, the Postal Service has launched the first official postal blog at 2blogPCC.com. Customers can discuss important topics facing the mailing industry, access the latest information and provide feedback.

PCCs recognized for service and achievement

National PCC Day showcases the work of PCCs and includes a series of awards recognizing outstanding service and individual achievement. The following award winners were announced:

PCC Industry Member of the Year: Peggy Smith, Co-Chair, Greater St. Louis.
PCC Postal Member of the Year: Victor Laudisio, Customer Relations Coordinator, Buffalo/Niagara.
PCC of the Year: A tie! Buffalo/Niagara and Greater New York (large market) and Capital Region (Albany) (small market).
PCC District Manager of the Year: Charles Howe, Greater Michigan District.
Communication Program Excellence: Greater New York and Capital Region (Albany) (gold), Buffalo/Niagara and Greater Dallas (silver) and Fort Worth and West Michigan (bronze).
Education Program Excellence: Capital Region and Greater New York (gold), Buffalo/Niagara and Greater Atlanta (silver) and Greater Cleveland (bronze).

In addition, the Premier Award winners are:

Bronze: Austin, Capitol City, Central New York, Central Pennsylvania, East Texas, Erie, Evansville River Cities, Greater Baton Rouge, Greater Flint, Greater Hartford, Greater Metro Phoenix, Greater New Haven, Greater New Jersey, Greater Philadelphia, Greater Rochester, Green Bay, Harrisburg Capital Area, Kentuckiana, Lehigh Valley, Los Angeles, Mohawk Valley Regional, New Hampshire, Northeastern Massachusetts, Northern Virginia Metro, Northwest Arkansas, Providence, Pikes Peak, Puget Sound, San Antonio, Sioux Falls Area, South Suburban, Southeast Massachusetts, Southwest Georgia, Tulsa, Washington Metropolitan (Capital District) and Western Massachusetts.

Silver: Central Massachusetts, Central Ohio, Des Moines, Greater Boston, Greater Charlotte, Greater Pittsburgh, Greater Portland, Greater Spokane, South Central Minnesota, Van Nuys and Vermont.

Gold: Buffalo/Niagara, Capital Region, Central Florida, Forth Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Cleveland, Greater Dallas, Greater Kansas City, Greater New York, Greater Oklahoma City, Greater St. Louis, Houston, Long Island, Miami-Dade County, Mid-Michigan, Northeast Florida, Northern Illinois, Sacramento, Tampa, Twin Cities and West Michigan.

New PCCAC members announced

Two industry PCC members and the newest Postal Service representative for the national PCC Advisory Committee were announced during National PCC Day. The PCCAC is the oversight body for councils across the nation.

Tracie Dunlap

Tracy Dunlap

Art Gerckens

Laurie Timmons

Tracey Dunlap of the Greater Portland PCC and Art Gerckens of the Fairfield County, CT, PCC were named new committee members. Dunlap is procurement manager for Epiq Systems in Beaverton, OR. Gerckens is manager of the Mail and Duplicating Center at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.

Also named to PCCAC was Northeast Area Customer Relations Manager Laurie Timmons, replacing Northern Virginia District Manager Mike Furey.

INFO@USPS

Your Links To Mailing Resources

U.S. Postal Service: usps.com

National PCC Network: usps.com/pcc

Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: ribbs.usps.gov

Questions? Comments? Send an e-mail to pccinsider@usps.gov

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