CONTENTS

The Postal Bulletin is also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm for customers and at http://blue.usps.gov for employees.

The Chief Marketing Officer's Growth Award

Administrative Services

Handbook Revision: Handbook AS-701, Material
Management

New Management Instruction: AS-810-2002-12,
Restructuring IT Governance

New Management Instruction: AS-610-2002-14,
Maintaining a Contact Center Support Agreement

Customer Relations

Mail Alert

2002 International and Military Mail Christmas
Dates

Domestic Mail

DMM Revision: Five Percent Error Limit for Sequenced
Mailings

U.S. Armed Forces: Free Mail Program

Over the Road Containers

Overseas Military Mail

SUMMARIES OF RECENT USPS NEWS
RELEASES

Employees

Notice: 2002 U.S. Savings Bonds Campaign Results

New Edition: Employee and Labor Relations Manual
Issue 17

Thrift Savings Plan Fact Sheet

Time Is Running Out!

Finance

Handbook F-1 Revision: Refunds From Advance
Deposit Accounts

Notice: Use of the Invoice Certification Stamp

Handbooks F-1 and EL-602 Revision: Vending
Machine Commission (Randolph-Sheppard Act)

Handbook F-1 Revision: Payments to Utility
Companies

Handbook F-1 Revision - SAFR Offices Only:
Payments to Telecommunications Companies

Notice: Using I.M.P.A.C. Credit Cards for Payments

Handbook F-1 Revision: Closing Express Mail
Corporate Accounts

Notice: IRS Form 1099 - Reporting for Local
Payments

International Mail

IMM Revision: Foreign Customs Information - Customs Clearance and Delivery Fee

ICM Updates: International Customized Mail

Fraud Alert

All Personnel Processing Mail for Dispatch Abroad:
Foreign Order No. 470

Domestic Orders

Invalid Express Mail Corporate Account Numbers

Missing, Lost, or Stolen U.S. Money Order Forms

Missing, Lost, or Stolen Canadian Money Order Forms

Counterfeit Canadian Money Order Forms

Toll-Free Number Available to Verify Canadian Money
Orders

USPS NEWS @ WORK

Philately

Updated Announcement 02-F: 2002 Stamps and Postal Stationery

Pictorial Cancellations Announcement

Stamp Stock Items Withdrawn From Regular Sale and
From Sale at Philatelic Centers

Special Cancellation Die Hubs

Post Offices

Post Office Changes

Veterans Day Posters

Thanksgiving Day Posters

Retail

Revised Form: PS Form 1091-A, Post Office Box Fee
Register

All Post Offices With Rural Delivery Service: Rural
Carrier Guarantee Period

Revised Forms: PS Forms 5139, Non Postal Service
Temporary Employee, and 5140, Non Postal Service
Contractor Employee

All IRT and Debit/Credit Card Offices: Setting Clocks
for Standard Time

What's in Store

Postal Bulletin Distribution

Postal Bulletin Index

Semiannual Index PB 22081 (7-25-02)

The Chief Marketing Officer's Growth Award

Introduction

When Postmaster General (PMG) Jack Potter unveiled the Transformation Plan he called on all Postal Service employees to help secure the future of universal mail service at affordable prices. Meeting that challenge largely depends on the organization's ability to grow the business.

In the coming weeks and months, the Marketing department will introduce a number of new programs aimed at generating revenue, promoting products and services, and keeping customers informed about the Postal Service.

Along with the rollout of these new programs comes a commitment from Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Anita Bizzotto to ensure that postmasters, managers, and supervisors have the right information and tools at the right time to achieve success.

As results of all Marketing activities are measured, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pat Donahoe and CMO Anita Bizzotto also have committed themselves to recognizing postmasters, managers, and supervisors who have contributed the most toward growing the business. That recognition will come in the form of Marketing's highest honor - the CMO's Growth Award. The guidelines for participating in this award program follow.

Guidelines

What: The Growth Award, sponsored by the CMO, is nonmonetary recognition in the form of a specially designed trophy to honor outstanding marketing efforts. It is the highest marketing honor for postmasters, managers, and supervisors who are most successful in marketing activities.

Who: The program is open to postmasters and executive and administrative schedule (EAS) managers/supervisors (nonpostmasters) in performance clusters. Account representatives, customer relations coordinators, and Marketing staff members, either in the field or at Headquarters, are not eligible. Exceptions are those who are officially detailed into postmaster or customer service assignments, for example, an officer in charge or an acting station manager. Postmasters who employ customer relations coordinators (CRCs) may, by marking the submission forms, submit their CRC as a Growth Partner. Winning postmasters who have made the designation will receive a crystal Growth Partnership Award to present to the CRC.

When: The calendar year for the Growth Award begins the first day of AP 01 and ends the last day of AP 13. Participants must obtain all revenue numbers from official financial records. Revenue numbers will be compared to the previous fiscal year. Participants must submit all other supporting documentation, such as published outreach articles and seminar participation, to Headquarters within 3 weeks of occurrence.

Where: Marketing will announce the Growth Award winners at the legislative conferences sponsored by the National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) and the National League of Postmasters of the United States (the League). Postmasters attending the legislative meetings will receive their awards at those events. Area Marketing managers will arrange appropriate ceremonies for postmasters not attending and for EAS managers/supervisors who win in their categories.

Why: The Postal Service, as outlined in the Transformation Plan, is committed to building on current efforts to achieve growth through added value to customers, improved operational efficiency, and an enhanced performance-based culture. Postmasters and other field supervisors are the Postal Service's link to the Preferred (20 million small businesses around the nation) and Household segments. Postmasters' and supervisors' efforts are vital to our success, and this award recognizes their outstanding results.

How: There are five levels of competition within each area, and Marketing determines winners using a cumulative point system within three growth categories - Revenue Generation, Marketing Initiatives, and Marketing Outreach. Points will be given for documented activities important to the Postal Service's growth strategies. Marketing will describe additional marketing initiatives throughout the year in official Postal Service and Marketing publications, and will provide participation ideas and instructions on how to document. Headquarters Marketing will monitor and verify documented points, which are subject to the rules outlined by Marketing. To qualify for consideration, participants must meet minimum-point requirements and have at least one point in each growth category. After the program ends each year and all points are tallied, Marketing will inform area vice presidents and district managers of the participants with the highest number of points. After district managers approve individual winners, Marketing will notify those winners. Marketing will evaluate the program each year, and any updates or changes to the program will be outlined in the Postal Bulletin.

Competitive Levels Within Each Area

Customer relations coordinators are not eligible to win a CMO Growth Award. However, any winning postmaster with a customer relations coordinator (CRC) on staff can request and receive a special Growth Partnership Award for that CRC by including the CRC's name in the space provided on the submission form.

Growth Categories

The three growth categories are Revenue Generation, Marketing Initiatives, and Marketing Outreach. To be eligible, participants must have at least one point in each of these three broad categories.

Revenue Generation

• Maintain revenue level of the past Fiscal Year = 1 point.

• Percentage of increased revenue (each percent of increase = 1 point).

• Increase in walk-in revenue (WIR) over same period last year (SPLY); (WIR per transaction, each percent of increase over last year's total = 1 point).

• WIR divided by LDC45 workhours improvement over previous year. If base is below 75%, each percentage of improvement = 1/2 point. If performance to goal is 75-85%, each percentage of improvement = 1 point. If performance to goal is 86-99%, each 1/2 percentage of improvement = 1 point. If performance to goal is 100%, 10 points are given for maintaining 100%.

• Sale of Express Mail Corporate Account (Express Mail and Global Express). Each account = 1 point.

Revenue points will be based on numbers shown on the FY printout. Participants must send a copy of last year's (FY02) and current year's (FY03) printouts together with one submission sheet.

Marketing Initiatives

• Promotion of Stamps by Phone and Stamps By MailŪ. One point for each percentage of increase in revenue through these channels.

• Increase in sales of packaging materials. One point for each percentage of increase over previous year.

• One point for revenue generated through the Inside Sales program. For levels 21 and below, and for the nonpostmaster category, each $100 of revenue generated = 1 point. For levels 22 and above, each $500 of revenue generated = 1 point.

• Participate in other Marketing initiatives throughout the year, as described in Grow!, Postal Bulletin, or other official Postal Service publication.

• Maintain at least the national average in Mystery Shopper = 1 point.

Marketing Outreach

• Newspaper articles (these articles are generated through the Marketing Outreach articles published by Marketing for local use). Participants must submit the form with a copy of the article, along with publication name, location, and date. Each published article = 1 point.

• Marketing-approved presentations made to the local business community. Each presentation = 1 point.

• Promotion resulting in participation of local business in larger Marketing seminar or event, such as Small Business Seminars, Direct Mail Seminars, Postal Customer Council meetings, and National Postal Forum. One point for each customer participating.

• Postmaster/manager participation in Postal Customer Council (PCC) meeting. One point for each meeting attended.

• Tip of the Month published in Grow! Each tip published = 1 point for person submitting.

• Participation in local revenue-generating activities as described in Grow!. Watch the publication throughout the year for activities and points.

Growth

G - goals
R - revenue
O - outreach and opportunity
W - win
T - teamwork
H - runs and base hits to help win the game

- Implementation and Outreach,
Pricing and Classification, 10-17-02