watch. By completing complaint resolution worksheets, publishers can also receive assistance from one of the Periodicals service improvement coordinators. In 2003, the first year of ePUBWATCH, 11,290 complaints were posted to the database and over 10,300 publication watches were monitored and completed.

     The Collection Box Management System (CBMS) provides a monitoring tool for delivery unit management to ensure adherence to our collection box schedules and policies. The system consists of a data collection device that scans a barcode located inside a collection box to collect time, location and date information. The information collected by the scanner is placed in a data transfer device at the delivery unit for down-loading into the delivery unit computer. The data is then loaded into the CBMS software program, which allows management to quickly ascertain the status of each collection point. Plans are currently underway to move the present CBMS application into a Web-based environment.

     The ADVANCE Notification and Tracking System, commonly referred to as ADVANCE, is designed as a manual Delivery Confirmation system to meet the time-sensitive mailing needs of Standard Mail and Periodicals mailers. ADVANCE tracks the delivery performance of qualified Standard Mail and Periodicals mailings in over 7,500 delivery units and in over 11,000 five-digit ZIP Code locations. In 2003, 5.5 billion mailpieces were tracked using ADVANCE.

     The Postal Service is pursuing a number of initiatives to reduce the occurrence of mail theft and identity theft by enhancing the security of delivery and collection equipment. One such effort has been the development and deployment of a high security cluster box unit (HSCBU) that has proven to be highly

successful at reducing the number of incidents. Another initiative has been rewriting the engineering standards in 2003 to change the dimensions and improve the security of apartment panels used for delivery in apartment buildings. This will result in a more customer-friendly apartment panel able to accept a wider array of mail, such as flats and parcels, with improved security.

     In 2003, the Postal Service continued to meet customers' and collectors' needs and demands for postage stamps that appeal to the nation's diverse population. Each stamp issued begins as a request to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) through the Office of Stamp Services. CSAC and the Postal Service receive approximately 50,000 proposals annually. If the proposal meets the established stamp subject selection criteria, it is researched and presented to CSAC for discussion and subsequent action. If approved, the subject is presented to a staff of Postal Service art directors, who make decisions about designs for the stamp.

     The 2003 stamp program introduced 19 new, commemorative stamp issues that total 55 new designs. With this program the Postal Service acknowledged a variety of people and their achievements in the American experience. There are nostalgic and cultural American icons and leaders whose lives were devoted to the betterment of others. Also represented are significant historical events of the nation and celebrations of its natural beauty and wildlife.

     There are many individual stamp issues along with continuations in several designated series topics that continue to draw an ever-increasing number of collectors who look forward to each year's new addition to their respective collections. The 2003 stamp program began with the 26th in the Black Heritage series when the Postal Service introduced the Thurgood Marshall commemorative stamp.