HOLIDAY 2002 PUBLICITY KIT. The latest Postal Bulletin contains the Holiday 2002 Publicity Kit for Postmasters. In this year's publicity kit you will find important mailing information that can be shared with our customers. The kit emphasizes the convenience that the Postal Service provides as a one-stop shop for all the delivery needs of harried holiday shoppers. Included in the kit are fill-in news releases on mailing tips, extended hours, correct addressing, alternative locations to buy stamps, and a complete list of features of the postal website - www.usps.com. Access the Postal Bulletin at www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2002/pb22089.pdf

2002 U.S. SAVINGS BOND CAMPAIGN BROKE THE RECORD! With a total of 13,701 new or increased savers, this year's savings bonds campaign total exceeds last year's by more than 3,000. In addition to the standard Series EE Bonds, USPS offered the Series I Bonds. We started 4,994 new allotments for the Series I Bonds. These new Series I Bond allotments will become effective in pay period 24-02, which began Nov. 2, 2002, and will be reflected in your Nov. 22 pay check.

LET'S HEAR IT. It's time once again to fill out your Voice of the Employee (VOE) Survey. Four times a year the Postal Service asks a random sample of career employees to complete the survey. As USPS moves forward with its Transformation Plan, the Postal Service needs your feedback. Your answers are completely confidential. Market Facts, an independent contractor, will analyze responses and report the results of the survey.

HOLIDAY MAIL. Americans are expected to mail nearly 20 billion cards, letters and packages this holiday season. During the year, USPS delivers on average 650 million pieces a day. Of that, roughly 100 million are postmarked cards and letters. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that jumps up to about 150 million cancellations a day.

ELECTRONIC POSTMARK. The Wall Street Journal reports that AuthentiDate will incorporate USPS Electronic Postmark technology into Microsoft's Office XP Software. The article says AuthentiDate and the USPS Electronic Postmark technology provide content authentication services and prove the integrity of electronic data with date and time-stamping technology, digital signatures and hash codes.

PRC COMMISSIONERS CONFIRMED. Postcom reports that Tony Hammond and Ruth Goldway were confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Commissioners of the Postal Rate Commission (PRC). The PRC is an independent regulatory agency composed of five presidentially-appointed Commissioners. The PRC reviews USPS requests for new domestic mail rates, fees and mail classifications and then makes recommendations to the Postal Service Board of Governors.