PARS COMING. USPS awarded a contract to Siemens Dematic to automate the handling of undeliverable-as-addressed mail with a system called PARS - the Postal Automated Redirection System. PARS has the ability to identify and intercept letters that are undeliverable-as-addressed, at origin, during their initial handling on automated equipment. This mail is then processed on equipment that automatically applies the new mailing address label.

Roughly 17 percent of the nation's population moves each year, resulting in about 43 million change-of-address cards and over 5 billion pieces of mail that must be either forwarded, returned to sender or handled alternatively. The total cost attributed to this activity exceeds $1.5 billion annually. Phase I for PARS deployment - beginning July 2003 and scheduled for completion in May 2004 - will include 53 processing plants covering nearly one-fourth of all forwarded letters.

  NEW REFORM MEASURE VOTED DOWN. The Postal Service expressed disappointment that the movement of critical reform legislation doesn't appear possible during the closing months of this Congress after the House Committee on Government Reform last week voted down a new postal reform measure, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Regardless, USPS promises to continue doing everything possible within the limits of existing law to protect the right of every American to affordable, accessible, universal mail service.

  SUPPLY MANAGEMENT. Purchasing and Materials has been restructured and renamed Supply Management, reflecting the success of supply chain management (SCM) as a business strategy. The new organization integrates supply and purchasing functions into a single process, says VP Keith Strange. "Working with customers and suppliers, dedicated category teams will reduce costs and improve service," he says.

In the last fiscal year, SCM-related cost reductions and avoidance totaled over $150 million. "Our past success demonstrates what we can do together by carefully managing the supply chain," Strange says. "The new Supply Management organization, with purchasing and supply strategies contained in the Transformation Plan, will achieve much more."

  JULY BOARD MEETING. The Board of Governors of USPS will conduct its monthly meeting at the Hotel Captain Cook, 4th Avenue at K Street, Anchorage, AK, on Monday and Tuesday, July 1-2. While the Monday meeting is in closed session, the public is welcome to observe Tuesday's meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. local time in the hotel's Fore Deck Room. Agenda items Tuesday will include quarterly reports on both financial performance and service performance.

  MAIL-ORDER STAMPS. The new issue of USA Philatelic is now available. The catalog is the most comprehensive listing of U.S. postage stamps, postal stationery and related products available from USPS. The Fall 2002 issue includes all the new stamps and stationery items for the new rates that take effect June 30, along with an advance look at many of the stamps upcoming through September 2002. Stamps can be ordered by mail or by telephone at 1-800-STAMP-24. Order forms from the catalog also may be faxed to 1-816-545-1212. Catalogs may be requested by phone at 1-800-STAMP-24 or online at www.usps.com/shop. Many of the stamps and products also may be purchased online at www.usps.com/shop.