PCC Management Insights

“Staying in the Know”

Recommended Guidelines for Postal Customer Councils 
May 2009
Planning Your  National PCC Day Program
National PCC Day
This annual event, held the third Wednesday in September, provides a venue to communicate the power of mail through educational programs and to celebrate the contributions and successes of PCCs across the nation.   In addition, customers have the opportunity to learn about current and future postal initiatives directly from the Postmaster General and to network with local Postal Service executives and industry leaders.  Through your support, over the years, National PCC Day is now considered the premier industry event of the fall.  
Planning a Successful Event
Where possible, we would like National PCC Day to be a full day of networking and education scheduled around the live broadcast with the Postmaster General.  In some instances it may make more sense to combine efforts with other PCCs and hold a joint event.  This can help control costs and increase attendance.  The goal is to have 100% participation by all PCCs through individual or joint events.    
Workshops
The National PCC Team provides a minimum of two required workshops to support the educational component of National PCC Day.  Many PCCs incorporate additional workshops providing attendees a Professional Certificate for attending the event and workshops.  The PMG keynote address may be used as part of the certificate program.  Contact the PCC Program Office pcc@usps.gov for additional information regarding the Professional Certificate Program or visit www.usps.com/pcc and select Professional Certificate Program under “PCC Education” on the landing page.    
Sample Agendas
When planning your agenda all efforts should be made to ensure there are no interferences before or during the live broadcast.  It is best to avoid serving food up to and during the live broadcast, as this can be disruptive.  It is recommended that everyone be seated 10 to 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the broadcast.  Typically this is also the time when a recap of the prior year award winners occurs and various PCC event photos are shared.  To assist you in your planning, several sample agendas are provided below that may help you schedule your day.  Feel free to modify as needed.
Pacific Standard Time
PCC Day	05:00AM – 07:15AM		Vendor Setup
		07:30AM – 08:30AM		Registration
		07:45AM – 08:40AM		Continental Breakfast
		08:40AM – 10:00AM		Welcome & Opening/Simulcast
		10:15AM – 11:15AM		Vendor Exhibits
		11:30AM			* Door Prizes
		12:00PM – 01:00PM		Lunch & Awards
		01:00PM – 01:45PM		Keynote
		02:00PM – 03:00PM		Vendor Exhibits & *Door Prizes
		03:10PM – 04:10PM		Vendor Exhibits
		04:15PM – 04:30PM		Vendor Exhibits, Wrap-up & *Door Prizes

Central Standard Time
		07:00AM – 10:15AM		Registration
		07:30AM – 07:45AM		Ribbon cutting
		07:45AM – 08:15AM		Keynote Speaker (Exhibit Hall)
07:45AM – 09:00AM	Exhibit Hall Center (Continental Breakfast)
		07:45AM – 10:15AM		Exhibit Hall Opens
		09:00AM – 10:00AM		Education Sessions (4 concurrent)
10:15AM – 01:45PM	Exhibit Hall: Closed for broadcast and luncheon
		10:30AM – 12:00PM		Ballroom: General Session (Broadcast) 
(mandatory for certificate)
12:00PM – 12:30PM	Ballroom: Clear ballroom for setting luncheon
12:30PM – 01:45PM	Ballroom: Luncheon and Award Presentations
		01:30PM – 05:00PM		Exhibit Hall Opens
		01:45PM – 02:15PM		Exhibit Hall (Dessert & Coffee Served)
		02:15PM – 03:15PM		Education Sessions (4 concurrent)
		03:30PM – 04:30PM		Education Sessions (4 concurrent)
		04:30PM – 05:00PM		Exhibit Hall (Drawings & * Door Prizes)

Eastern Standard Time
07:00AM – 08:30AM	Registration/Continental Breakfast/Networking
		08:30AM – 08:55AM		Opening Comments
		08:55AM			* Door Prize Drawing
		09:00AM – 09:30AM		Guest Speaker
		09:45AM – 10:15AM		Session 1 – Workshops (3 concurrent)
		10:30AM – 11:00AM		Session 2 – Workshops (3 concurrent)
		11:00AM – 11:45AM		Networking
		11:55AM			* Door Prize Drawing
		12:00PM – 01:00PM		National PCC Day Broadcast
		01:00PM – 01:30PM		Lunch
		01:30PM – 02:15PM		Executive Presentation
		02:15PM – 03:15PM		Networking
		03:00PM			* Grand Prize Drawing

As mentioned previously, National PCC Day is always held the third Wednesday in September.  In creating your annual planning calendars you will want to include the following future dates for National PCC Day:
•	Wednesday, September 15, 2010
•	Wednesday, September 21, 2011
•	Wednesday, September 19, 2012
•	Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The National PCC Team is looking forwarding to working with all PCCs to ensure National PCC Day 2009 is a huge success!

*  Prize drawings and raffles may only be conducted if participants are not required to pay any sort of fee or amount to enter.  Postal employees who participate in PCC events are not eligible to receive awards, prizes, free admission, or other gifts unless such awards, prizes, etc. are paid for in their entirety with Postal Service funds (Fundraising Events to Benefit the PCC, Publication 286, page 14).