FUQUAY-VARINA, NC – The Customer Advisory Council (CAC) of the Fuquay-Varina Post Office wants to expand in 2010.

Customer Advisory Councils exist in the Postal Service to give a voice to the community regarding ideas, recommendations, and local issues. “Customer empowerment and involvement helps the community realize that the Postal Service cares about the quality of service they provide,” says John Thompson, Acting Postmaster, Fuquay-Varina. “When the community has an open dialogue with the Postal Service, it develops a community partnership and allows for a better understanding of the process and of the organization. It also allows the Postal Service to be proactive to customer concerns, rather than reactive.”

The CAC has been active since 2006 and, according to one of its top officers, accomplished many projects since its inception, including moving the handicapped parking closer to the front door, coordinating a consumer passport day, holding a mail fraud seminar and obtaining additional monies to help spruce up the grounds around the Post Office. “When the Postal Service removed all drop boxes from downtown Fuquay-Varina, the downtown businesses and the town Mayor requested our help,” said Richard Warren, Co-Chairperson and local businessman. “It was the CAC’s letter to the district manager in Greensboro that helped bring back a drop box to downtown Fuquay-Varina.”

Members of different segments of the community make up the council, representing diverse community voices and viewpoints. Meetings for the CAC are held monthly at the Post Office or designated locations, and also include postal officials like the Postmaster and Cathel Brown, Manager, Consumer Affairs and Claims, Greensboro District.

Customers interested in participating in the CAC should contact the Postmaster at (919) 552-8693 or Brown at 919-420-5126, or via email at Cathel.s.brown@usps.gov to request an application

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