USPSNEWS@WORK

Look who's talking: VOE survey lets you be heard

It's VOE survey time again. Your chance to let your voice - the voice of the employee - be heard.

Why fill out the VOE survey? Well, what we do for our customers is very important to our livelihood. And, it's just as important that we work in an environment that helps us do our best for our customers. Knowing what you think about a wide range of job-related issues can help us do that.

The USPS® Transformation Plan recognizes that improving workplace relationships is a key part of that effort. That's where the VOE survey comes in. The survey is sent to one-fourth of USPS career employees each quarter. This quarter it could be you.

If you receive a survey, fill it out on-the-clock and return it in the reply envelope so that it's received no later than Sept. 1, 2004.

It's your opportunity to let us know what you think in key areas that are important to all of us. We can't fix something if we don't know it's broken. By telling us what areas you think need to be improved, we can begin working together to make improvements happen.

Don't be shy. The VOE survey is confidential. Just fill it out and send it in. Remember, when you don't speak for yourself, someone else speaks for you.

Windy, wet and wild: Prepare for the worst during hurricane season

The first hurricane of the season reminded us of the importance of emergency preparedness. Postal ServiceTM employees in coastal regions should be prepared - both at home and in the workplace - for maintaining a constant state of readiness during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through November.

• At home, make sure you have emergency supplies of water, food, medicine, flashlights, batteries, lumber and other essential provisions on hand. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase crucial items that you might need to weather a storm.

• Know your community's emergency management plans for evacuation should you need to seek shelter and plan in advance where you will be staying. Also, keep your vehicles in tip-top shape and filled with fuel.

• At work, make sure your Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) are updated to address possible service disruptions and ensure that adequate equipment and supplies are available to safeguard employees, customers and the mail.

For tropical storm tracking and updates on other natural or man-made hazards, visit www.fema.gov.

For more information on preparing for coastal storms visit www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes/.

Thanks a million: Carrier pickup, Customer Connect and Click-N-Ship - a winning combo

There are milestones. . . and then there are milestones. Customer Connect and Click-N-Ship® service helped carrier pickup online notification reach a mega-one recently - its one millionth package picked up. That's a lot of convenience for our customers.

The mailer, a candle-maker in Augusta, GA, was identified through the Customer Connect program. Letter Carrier Horace Taylor submitted the lead and Account Manager Rod Spelts handled the follow-up.

CandleNuts specializes in unique, colorful, scented candles that are hand-poured into real coconut shells. Owner Sheila Roker tried several delivery services, but turned to USPS after being sold on the benefits of Priority Mail® service with Delivery ConfirmationTM service via Click-N-Ship - free pickup, free shipping supplies and free delivery confirmation.

"It's a great way to ship," Roker says. "Whether it's a 1-pound box or a 45-pound box, my letter carrier can pick up everything when he delivers my mail. The free shipping supplies were a bonus and the great rates were a big boon also."

New revenue for the Postal Service is forecast at $8,000 annually - with the potential for even more. It's the classic customer combo - Customer Connect, Click-N-Ship and carrier pickup online notification.

Supply and demand: USPS-TV supplies the news you need - On Demand!

Did you see the USPS-TV News Special Edition on our 96 percent External First- Class (EXFC) score? How about the latest Marketplace!, COO Briefing or Spotlight on IT?

These are just a few of the news and information programs available - on demand and at your convenience to help you stay abreast of the latest Postal Service news.

USPS-TV On Demand is available at nearly 200 sites around the country - 40,000 desktops at most district offices and major plants.

Check the latest Newsbreak - or see the current edition of Delivering Results. There is also a full slate of infor- mation on safety, health, products, services and USPS newsmakers.

USPS-TV On Demand can help you fulfill your training requirements. Registered training courses are available and account for one VOE credit.

Demand more? Get the full viewing guide at http://blue.usps.gov/corporate/uspstv/ondemand.htm.

USPS-TV takes the law of supply and demand seriously, with a full supply of news and information - On Demand.

Self-sufficient saving: Buy U.S. Savings Bonds year-round with PostalEASE

USPS employees can now buy I or EE bonds anytime throughout the year with PostalEase.

Why should you consider bonds? They're competitive, safe, affordable and accessible.

Bonds earn competitive rates of return. Bonds are registered - the U.S. Treasury can replace them if they're lost or stolen. You can start saving money for as little as $2.50 per pay period.

If you already have bonds, you can make changes to payroll deductions, bond denomination amounts and bond cancellations through PostalEase, Central Kiosks or the interactive voice response phone system, at 1-877-477-3273.

Download bond enrollment forms at http://wwws. publicdebt.treas.gov/NC/FoRMSHome?FormType=SBF. Don't have access to a computer? Stop by your local personnel office to pick up a form.

U.S. Savings Bonds are a great way to supplement retirement funds or higher education savings.

Administrative Services

Directives and Forms Update

Effective immediately, Publication 223, Directives and Forms Catalog (June 1999), is revised. The tables below contain the document ID, edition date, title, PSN (Postal ServiceTM stock number), and the Postal Service and public supply source for all new, revised, and obsolete directives and forms. Use this article to keep Publication 223 current. Information on how to order directives and forms is available in chapter 1 of Publication 223.

Publication 223 is available electronically at www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub223.pdf.

New Directives

Memorandums of Policy

Notices

New Forms

Revised Directives

Labels

Posters

Publications

Revised Forms

Obsolete Directives

Memorandums of Policy

Notices

Publications

Obsolete Forms

- Policies and Procedures Information, Public Affairs and Communications, 8-19-04

Customer Relations

Mail Alert

The mailings below will be deposited in the near future. Offices should honor the requested home delivery dates. Mailers wishing to participate in these alerts, for mailings of 1 million pieces or more, should contact Business Service Network Integration at 202-268-2225 at least 1 month preceding the requested delivery dates. The Postal ServiceTM also offers electronic Mail Alerts via ADVANCE. For more information, see the ADVANCE Notification & Tracking System Technical Guide on the Internet at http://www.ribbs.usps.gov/files/advance/ADVTECH.PDF or contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-458-3181.