Other Information

Need to manage your business mail better? Business solutions are at your service. Visit usps.com for more information.

TSP Request for Retroactive Contributions form also found on blue.usps.gov/formmgmt

2004 International and Military Mail Christmas Mailing Dates

To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by December 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas and to international addresses, we suggest that mail be entered by the recommended mailing dates listed below. Beat the last minute rush by bringing your mail to your Post OfficeTM by these suggested dates.

Military Mail Addressed To	Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)^1/	First-Class Mail® Letters/Cards	Priority Mail®	Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) ^2/	Space Available Mail (SAM) ^3/	Parcel Post®
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092	Dec 20	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 4	Nov 27	Nov 13
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093	N/A	Dec 6	Dec 6	Dec 4	Nov 27	Nov 13
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098	Dec 20	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 4	Nov 27	Nov 13
APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340	Dec 20	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 4	Nov 27	Nov 13
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966	Dec 20	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 4	Nov 27	Nov 13

1/ EMMS: Express Mail Military Service is available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to your APO/FPO of address.

2/ PAL: A special service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. PAL is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid, in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

3/ SAM: Parcels paid at Parcel Post postage rates are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis. The maximum weight and size limits are 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined.

International Mail Addressed to	Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG)⁴^/	Global Express MailTM (GEM)⁵^/	Global Priority Mail® (GPM)⁶^/	Global Airmail® Letters and Cards	Global Airmail Parcel Post	Global Economy (Surface)
Africa	Dec 20	Dec 11	Dec 16	Dec 6	Dec 6	Oct 14
Asia / Pacific Rim	Dec 20	Dec 17	Dec 16	Dec 13	Dec 13	Oct 28
Australia / New Zealand	Dec 20	Dec 17	Dec 16	Dec 13	Dec 13	Oct 28
Canada	Dec 21	Dec 18	Dec 16	Dec 13	Dec 13	Nov 19
Caribbean	Dec 20	Dec 17	Dec 16	Dec 13	Dec 13	Nov 5
Central & South America	Dec 20	Dec 11	Dec 16	Dec 6	Dec 6	Oct 29
Mexico	Dec 20	Dec 17	Dec 16	Dec 13	Dec 13	Nov 5
Europe	Dec 20	Dec 11	Dec 16	Dec 13	Dec 10	Nov 5
Middle East	Dec 20	Dec 17	Dec 16	Dec 13	Dec 13	Oct 21

4/ GXG: Global Express Guaranteed is available to more than 200 countries via a partnership with Federal Express. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries and money-back guarantee details, visit http://www.usps.com/global/globalexpressguaranteed.htm. Some restrictions apply.

5/ GEM: Global Express Mail is available to most countries with delivery in 3 to 5 business days. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries or visit www.usps.com/global/globalexpressmail.htm. Some restrictions apply.

6/ GPM: Global Priority Mail is an accelerated airmail service available for items up to 4 pounds to 51 countries. The service is available in two attractive sized envelopes. Customers can also use their own packaging by adding the Global Priority Mail sticker. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries or visit http://www.usps.com/global/globalprioritymail.htm. Some restrictions apply.

PLEASE POST ON ALL BULLETIN BOARDS.

- International Network Operations,
Network Operations Management, 9-30-04

Priority Mail bundles. Visit usps.com for more information.

Are you in the who, where, when business? Priority Mail service with Signature Confirmation service - $5.65 and up. Visit usps.com for more information.

(See article on page 3.)

Thrift Savings Plan Open Season and PostalEASE
When and Who	October 15 through December 31, 2004 - all career employees
Contribution Limits for Calendar Year 2005	IRS Annual Deferral limit for 2005 is $14,000. FERS Contribution limit is 15% of basic pay for 2005. CSRS & CSRS Offset limit is 10% of basic pay for 2005. Reminder: If you are age 50 or older during calendar year 2005, to participate in the TSP Catch-Up Contribution election you must have either a regular election on file to contribute the maximum percentage of basic pay, or an election on file where the maximum IRS elective deferral limit will be reached during the calendar year.
TSP Contribution Elections and Cancellations (USPS PIN)	Use the PostalEASE telephone system or the PostalEASE employee Web site during TSP open season to begin contributing, to change contribution amount or percentage, or to cancel TSP contributions. To use PostalEASE, you will need your Employee ID (this number is found on your earnings statement) and USPS personal identification number (PIN), available only from PostalEASE. Call toll free: 877-4PS-EASE (877-477-3273). Don't know your USPS PIN? Call PostalEASE; press 1; enter Employee ID (this number is found on your earnings statement); when prompted to enter PIN, pause, then press 2. Your USPS PIN will be mailed to your address of record, usually by the next business day. Career employees who have trouble using PostalEASE, or who are unable to use a telephone, may contact local personnel office for help.
TSP Fund Investment Elections (TSP PIN)	Contact TSP directly, during or outside TSP open season, to change investment of future TSP contributions or money already in account. Go to the TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov, or call the TSP ThriftLine toll-free at 877-968-3778. Or mail TSP-50, Investment Allocation, to TSP, available from your local personnel office (election not effective as quickly). To use the TSP Web site or TSP ThriftLine, you must know your TSP PIN, available only from TSP. Don't know your TSP PIN? Request it from www.tsp.gov - choose Account Access. Or via TSP ThriftLine at or TSP Service Office at 877-968-3778. and then follow the instructions. Your new TSP PIN will be mailed to your address of record.
PostalEASE and TSP Information Mailed to Career Employees	A TSP leaflet with PostalEASE instructions is mailed to all career employees. If you do not receive the mailing by mid-November, contact your local personnel office. In addition, a TSP Summary, cover letter, and PostalEASE instructions are mailed to all newly hired career employees soon after their accession PS Form 50 action is processed.
Closing Date and Time	PostalEASE closes 5:00 P.M. Central Time on December 31, 2004, for TSP open season elections.
PLEASE POST ON ALL BULLETIN BOARDS