Remittance Mail Advisory Committee (RMAC) 
Meeting Notes
August 26, 2008

Industry Attendees:
Tracy Allen, Vice President and Regional Manager Remittance Processing Services, Union Bank
Craig Beckman, Vice-President/Site Manager, Wachovia
Mike Bichler, Director Solution Consulting, Symcor USA
JoAnn Blackshire-Little, Senior Manager, Administrative Services, American Funds Service Co.
Jeff Bowen, President, OPEX Corporation 
Michael Campbell, Remittance Consultant, American Family Insurance
Shirley Choy, Vice President & Site Manager, Union Bank of California
Susan Dore, Vice President, Wachovia
Deb Fisher, Sales Executive, Remittance, Alliance Data 
Jeanne Foy, Senior Manager, Fulfillment Systems Planning, Publishers Clearing House
Michael Freeman, Enterprise Network Operations Manager, Bank of New York Mellon
Chuck Green, General Manager, Is It There Yet?
Mary Hays, Vice President, Comerica Bank
Cindy Jensen, Senior Vice President, US Bank
Charles Kelly, President, RemitPros Consulting, LLC
Rick Krauss, Associate Consultant, Allstate Insurance Company
Lex Litton, Senior Vice President, Phoenix-Hecht
Robert Mancini, Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank
Jack Noonan, Director, Business Development, Is It There Yet?
John Smith, Service Consultant, Allstate Insurance
Steve Nugent, Director, First Data Corporation
Joe Sass, Senior Regional Manager, US Bank
Deb Slater, First Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon
Eric Stellmack, Assistant Vice President, American Funds Service Company
Mark Stevens, President, OPEX Corporation
Tim Sturman, Operations Director, Alliance Data
April Sumner, RPS Product Manager, Regulus
Les Young, Vice President, Senior Product Manager & Team Lead, US Bank
Frank Valenzuela, Vice President, Vice President

USPS & USPIS Attendees
Greg Beckel, Senior Operations Support Specialist (Orlando, FL)
Ruby Bridgeforth, Senior Plant Manager (Orlando, FL)
Margaret Choiniere, Operations Research Analyst
Susan Dudley, Program Manager, Remittance Mail
Karen Hebert, Business Service Network Operations Manager (Central Florida District)
Terry Ireland, USPIS Team Leader, Miami Division
Karen Key, Manager, Expedited Operations
Robert L. Moore, National Accounts Manager
Prat Shah, Operations Specialist & Program Manager, Remittance Certification
Don Shellenberger, Program Manager & Postal Inspector, Security & Crime Prevention Group
Karen Tucker, Manager, Correspondence & Transactions

Opening Remarks/Welcome:

Charles Kelly, Industry Co-Chairman opened the meeting with an overview of the Remittance Mail Advisory Committee (RMAC) and an open invitation to join one of the new subcommittees. Mr. Kelly briefly discussed the newly formed subcommittees-Communications, Performance Metrics/Certification, and New Technology, Products and Services.  Each subcommittee has the responsibility of making recommendations for appropriate action and to carry out actions in their area of responsibility in promoting the interests and needs of the membership.  

Postal Service Update:

Prat Shah, USPS Operations Specialist and RMAC Postal Co-Chairman provided a brief update on the remittance mail processing site certification process. The validation of the proposed certification methodology has begun in Atlanta, GA with an introduction of the proposal. Once the process is finalized, 12 of the top 34 high volume remittance mail processing sites will be certified using local and area teams and the remaining 22 through self-audits. Other details include an action plan to correct any deficiencies with specific plans to correct identified items, seeding of mail pieces to track performance, audit processes and de-certifications and re-certification procedures to ensure that standards are consistently met.

Phoenix-Hecht Survey:

Lex Litton, Senior Vice President, Phoenix-Hecht and RMAC Performance Metrics/Certification Sub Committee Chairperson reviewed the 2008-1 Postal Survey results.  The previous survey conducted in the fall of 2007 noted that, “the results showed impressive and historically contra-indicted fall delivery improvement.  The level of improvement in fact begs for the next survey to either confirm or refute its sustainability.”  Mr. Litton stated that the 2008-1 survey confirmed the improvement noting that despite economic turbulence, there appears to be no short-term indicators of anything but continued strong performance for remittance mail.  In addition, there appears to be an indication that better coordination between mail processing and caller box access can notably improve delivery times.

US Postal Inspection Service
Protecting your Client’s Mail, “It’s Personal-It’s Private”: 

Postal Inspector Don Shellenberger, Security and Crime Prevention Group, discussed corporate security and risk management as well as new initiatives and collaborations including:
•	Improved courier security
•	Envelope design evaluations
•	Continuity of operations plans, critical infrastructure/key resources, communication
•	Adopted Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), risk council, risk groups
•	New security for new market areas: wholesale lockbox and specialized lockbox operations

Inspector Shellenberger shared with the group the key elements of the USPIS Disaster Recovery Plan including the organization’s approach to a Comprehensive Security Plan (CPS) and key risk areas.  

USPS Intelligent Mail® Barcodes: 

Margaret Choiniere, USPS Operations Research Analyst provided the group with an introduction to Intelligent Mail®.  Ms. Choiniere noted that the Postal Service has a long history of leadership in innovation. Intelligent Mail products and services are using technology to give even more value to the mail as a communications vehicle. Intelligent Mail enables large mailers to follow the progress of their mail through the many stages of processing all the way to delivery. This information can help businesses better manage their resources, reduce operating and marketing expenses, adapt to market conditions, increase efficiencies, and be more responsive to customers.  

USPS Redirection Service Initiative: 

Karen Key, USPS Manager of Expedited Products, delivered a presentation on how remittance mailers can use Express Mail Reshipment Service to redirect their mail.  Ms. Key explained that recent enhancements allow reshipment from a street address as well as a PO Box. In addition, mailers can establish the frequency of reshipment making this service a viable to help speed remittances to their new delivery destination.

Wrap Up and Next Steps: 

Mr. Kelly concluded the meeting by thanking everyone for their active participation.  Charles Kelly also noted that the sub committees are forming now and additional participants are needed.  Sub committees play a major role in promoting the interests and needs of the membership. 

By working collaboratively, this committee and postal management will continue to provide recommendations for improving mail processing and performance and for meeting the emerging needs in the remittance industry.

Approved by 
Charles Kelly and Prat Shah
RMAC Co-Chairmen
09/05/2008