USPSNEWS@WORK

A STAR IN OUR EYES: PMG's five-point plan continues to drive success

The key to the Postal Service'sTM continued success is summed up in the five points of Postmaster General Jack Potter's star: Develop people, grow revenue, improve service, manage costs and pursue reform. See the star at www.usps.com/news/online/starplan.htm.

COMMISSION UPDATE: Bush administration recommends five principles for reform

It's been a year since President Bush issued an executive order establishing the President's Commission on the U.S. Postal Service. The commission's purpose was to "identify the operational, structural and financial challenges facing the Postal Service; examine potential solutions; and recommend legislative and administrative steps to ensure the long-term viability of postal service in the United States."

The nine-member bipartisan commission held public meetings, met with stakeholders and heard testimony from USPS® officials, mail industry leaders, union representatives and postal experts. After eight months, the commission issued its final report July 31.

The president met recently with commission members, thanking them for their service and hard work. Postmaster General Jack Potter also was in attendance.

The president urged Congress to enact postal reform legislation based on five principles that were in the commission's final report:

• Implement Best Practices: Ensure that the Postal Service's governing body is equipped to meet the responsibilities and objectives of an enterprise of its size and scope.

• Transparency: Ensure that important factual information on the Postal Service's product costs and performance is accurately measured and made available to the public in a timely manner.

• Flexibility: Ensure that the Postal Service's governing body and management have the authority to reduce costs, set rates and adjust key aspects of its business in order to meet its obligations to customers in a dynamic marketplace.

• Accountability: Ensure that a Postal Service operating with greater flexibility has appropriate independent oversight to protect consumer welfare and universal mail service.

• Self-Financing: Ensure that a Postal Service operating with greater flexibility is financially self- sufficient, covering all of its obligations.

WELCOME : Returning activated military members entitled to five days leave

President Bush recently issued a directive authorizing five days of administrative leave for federal employees returning from active duty in Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The Postal Service supports this directive and appreciates the service and sacrifice of its employees who are members of the Reserve Forces and the Air and Army National Guard. Even though USPS employees aren't covered by the president's directive, the Postal Service will provide the same benefit to its members of the Reserve and National Guard who were engaged in these operations.

Who qualifies? If you're a career employee who served on active military duty for more than 30 consecutive days under official orders dated on or after Sept. 11, 2001, for Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom or any other military operations later established under Executive Order 13223, you're eligible for five days of administrative leave.

Employees need to provide a copy of their orders to their manager to establish eligibility. Leave should be taken as five consecutive days, not intermittently.

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES PAY OFF: USPS exceeded FY 2003 financial plan

USPS exceeded its financial plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 by $300 million - despite declining mail volume and an expanding delivery network - thanks to operational efficiencies employed during the year. The Postal Service finished the year with a total net income of $3.9 billion when the recently enacted change to retirement funding is incorporated.

USPSNEWS@WORK

Speaking at the December Board of Governors meeting, Chief Financial Officer Richard Strasser said that $3.8 billion of the net income was used to pay down Postal Service debt.

Based on the audited financial results, USPS had an unprecedented fourth straight year of productivity gains. Productivity was twice that anticipated by the financial plan.

Strasser credited the year's success to Postmaster General Jack Potter's continued focus on implementing the Transformation Plan, the Postal Service's blueprint for the future.

KUDOS FOR USPS.COM: Web site honored with government technology leadership award

Top honors for USPS.com! The Postal Service Web site has been recognized for leadership in the innovative application of information technology to improve service to the public and make it easier for citizens to do business with government agencies.

At a recent awards ceremony in Washington, DC, the Web site was named by Government Executive magazine as one of the winners of this year's Grace Hopper Government Technology Leadership Awards.

The awards honor government organizations that use information technology to improve service to the public, lower the cost of government and improve overall organizational performance.

Currently, www.usps.com averages more than 650,000 visits and 40,000 paid transactions each day. During the holiday season, it's expected that visits to the Web site will peak near 1 million a day.

GOLDEN RETIREMENT: America's oldest man, retired postal clerk, turns 113

Fred Hale is more than a mere centenarian - he's a super-centenarian. Maybe his longevity is due to 39 years of good, honest work. After all, he retired as a railway postal clerk in 1957. That was 46 years ago.

Hale is recognized as the oldest man in America and the world's ninth-oldest person, said the Associated Press. The retired postal worker was born Dec. 1, 1890.

Until 1995, he lived independently in South Portland, ME, the article said. That year, Guinness World Records named him the world's oldest licensed driver at age 107. Up until that time, Hale "walked a mile each day, mowed his lawn, tended a vegetable garden and fruit trees and kept honey bees," said the article.

Four generations of his descendants gathered this week to celebrate his 113th birthday at a small, quiet party near Syracuse, NY, the article said. Among party-goers was Hale's son, 83-year-old Fred, Jr.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: USPS employees to report for work Dec. 26

President Bush issued an Executive Order closing federal agencies Friday, Dec. 26. The order also permits agency heads to determine if certain offices should remain open to meet the needs of the public. Upon careful review, USPS has determined that, as a critical element of the nation's communications infrastructure, we will operate as normal Dec. 26.

The Postal Bulletin - Help Us Save Paper and Money

The Postal Bulletin has been around for 123 years, and it's the most relied-upon, trusted source of information in the Postal Service TM today.

In the 1970s, when our nation became more concerned about our environment, the Postal Service began using recycled paper to print the Postal Bulletin. We have also tried over the years to print just the right number of copies to save our nation's resources.

Despite our efforts, some offices tell us that they receive too many copies. We need to do something about this.

Reducing or Canceling Your Subscription

Therefore, if you want to reduce the number of copies your office receives or if you want to cancel your subscription altogether, send an e-mail to pbulleti@usps.gov or call 202-268-5776 (if you reach a recording, be sure to leave a message with your name, telephone number, and ZIP CodeTM). Please be assured that we will not reduce or cancel your subscription unless you ask us to do so.

As we review our subscription list, we will begin calling facilities that seem to have duplicate subscriptions. If we call your facility, please help us determine if we can reduce your subscription.

Accessing the Postal Bulletin Online

Remember, each issue of the Postal Bulletin since 1995 is available online. To access the online version of the Postal Bulletin, please follow either of these routes:

• On the Intranet: Go to the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim; click on View Postal Bulletins.

• On the Internet: Go to www.usps.com; click on About USPS & News, then Forms and Publications, then Postal Bulletin.

More Information

For more information on the Postal Bulletin, please see our article in Postal Bulletin 22097 (3-6-03, pages 5-6) titled "The Postal Bulletin - Your Source for Trusted Information."

We started publishing this article in early April, asking you to let us know if we can reduce or eliminate your subscriptions. Since April of this year, many of you have responded, and together we have reduced the total number of printed copies by more than 15,000!

We've come a long way, and we'll continue to evolve with the times. Our job is to make your job easier. As you know, the Postal Bulletin is here to serve you, as it has been for almost 125 years.

- Policies and Procedures Information,
Public Affairs and Communications, 12-25-03

Customer Relations

Mail Alert

The mailings below will be deposited in the near future. Offices should honor the requested delivery dates. Mailers wishing to participate in these alerts, for mailings of 1 million pieces or more, should contact Business Service Network Integration at 703-292-4041 at least 1 month preceding the requested delivery dates. The Postal Service TM also offers electronic Mail Alerts via ADVANCE. For more information, see the ADVANCE Notification & Tracking System Technical Guide on the Internet at http://www.ribbs.usps.gov/files/advance/ADVTECH.PDF or contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-458-3181.

NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK

February 2-7: Get Rich Quick...Don't Count on It!

What Is National Consumer Protection Week?

The primary goal of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is to inform consumers of how they can protect themselves and their privacy from unscrupulous individuals who make a living out of defrauding unsuspecting victims. February 2-7, 2004, has been designated as National Consumer Protection Week. For five consecutive years, the U.S. Postal Service® Office of the Consumer Advocate and the Postal Inspection Service have jointly pulled their resources together to educate consumers about mail fraud, which rears its ugly head in many forms. This year's consumer outreach campaign is focused on the top five fraudulent schemes identified by the Postal Inspection Service. The theme is Get Rich Quick...Don't Count on It.

What Are the Top Five Mail Fraud Schemes?

With promising opportunities for "hitting the jackpot," consumers are unknowingly falling victim to a variety of scams. The Postal Inspection Service has identified the following top five scams that can deplete a lifetime of hard- earned savings:

• Free prize schemes.

• Foreign lotteries.

• Multi-level marketing.

• Investment fraud schemes.

• Work-at- schemes.

How Does the Postal Service Help to Prevent Mail Fraud Scams?

The Mail Fraud Statute is the oldest and most effective weapon against mail fraud. Postal inspectors have been using it since its passage in 1872. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service preserves the integrity of the U.S. Mail for consumers through vigorous law enforcement, public education, and crime prevention. Postal inspectors work with a variety of bank and credit card issuers, financial institutions, retail merchants, credit bureaus, and other industry sources to help prevent financial schemes and provide guidance to potential victims.

What Can Consumers Do to Protect Themselves From Becoming Innocent Victims?

Every year thousands of people and businesses are victimized by fraudulent schemes. Consumers should be skeptical of any offer that sounds "too good to be true." The following questions can help consumers evaluate questionable offers:

• Do you have to pay to receive your "prize" or enter a sweepstakes?

• Do you have to give any personal or financial information?

• Are you a "guaranteed" winner, or told "no risk is involved?"

• Are you pressured into responding or investing right away?

• Are you asked for advanced payment or cash only?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, be extremely wary. Ask that all statements about the product or service be provided in writing. Check out offers with consumer protection agencies located nearest to the company.

There is no easy way to wealth. A consumer's good judgment is the last line of defense against the con artist.

What Can Postmasters and Facility Managers Do to Help Educate Consumers?

Postmasters and facility managers are encouraged to support this annual consumer awareness effort by sponsoring local activities during the designated week of February 2-7, 2004.

How Do Postmasters and Facility Managers Sponsor Local Consumer Awareness Activities?

This national consumer education initiative can be your "Gateway to the Consumer" in developing or improving local relationships. The following are some guidelines to help you start your program:

• Appoint a planning committee. Whenever possible, involve Customer Advisory Council members in planning events.

• Partner with your local Postal Inspection Service office to plan events and identify current scams that occur in your district. Visit their Web site at www.usps.com/postalinspectors for more information.

• Work with the Public Affairs and Communications representatives to plan media events and help you promote consumer tips to avoid mail fraud scams.

• List planned events. Set a date for each event and work backward, incorporating a contingency plan for possible last-minute changes. If you are ordering postal or non-postal-related materials, remember to allow enough time for delivery.

• Visit the dedicated Web site at www.consumer.gov/ncpw for information related to financial literacy and related NCPW topics.

• Identify potential audiences (e.g., residents, businesses, students, or special interest groups) and plan an event pertinent to each audience.

What Types of Activities Are Suggested for National Consumer Protection Week?

Following are some suggested activities:

• Have an NCPW kick-off and open house. Hand out consumer publications such as the following:

- Publication 162, Because The Mail Matters.

- Publication 280, Identity Theft, Safeguard your Personal Information.

- Publication 281, Consumer Fraud by Phone or Mail.

- Publication 300-A, Consumer and Business Guide to Preventing Mail Fraud.

- Publication 370, Extra Services.

- Publication 546, Sweepstakes Advertising.

Have a Postal Service TM representative available to answer questions about how to get the most from our products and services. Consider including brochures that provide information on consumer issues from other federal and state agencies and local consumer bureaus, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

• Focus activities on the top five fraud scams.

• Partner with other federal agencies, community groups, educational institutions, and businesses to sponsor educational workshops or seminars for consumers with special needs.

• Hold a joint press conference with another consumer agency and include a local postal inspector. The postal inspector can discuss the latest postal-related scams in your community.

• Ask the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to participate in a seminar about the different methods used to stamp out fraudulent practices in the marketplace. Provide materials that explain the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's role in mail fraud investigations.

• Work with a local postal inspector to inform senior citizens about get-rich-quick schemes. Hold seminars at local retirement communities. Postal inspectors can discuss recent fraudulent schemes, steps to help senior citizens avoid becoming victims and potentially losing their life savings, and other issues that affect the elderly.

• Design a check stuffer to include with employee paychecks with information about NCPW activities planned for your area. Ask employees to participate in NCPW activities.

• Educate customers about the other consumer services we offer, such as mail forwarding service, the new Internet Hold/Redelivery service, money orders, stamp service, and stamp collecting information. Suggest customers visit www.usps.com.

• Partner with a local restaurant or food franchise to provide refreshments during a "Conversation with the Postmaster" session(s).

• Celebrate or announce something recently completed to improve local service and enhance customer satisfaction. For example, promote extended hours, an expanded Post Office box section, or an improved facility featuring modifications for disabled customers.

• Hold a special training session on mail preparation for business and nonprofit mailers.

• Establish a Consumer Advisory Council. Refer to the Consumer Advocate's intranet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/caweb/ for access to the Consumer Advisory Council Handbook (to access the handbook, click on Consumer Affairs Operations, then Consumer Advisory Councils, and CAC Guidelines). A good first project for the council would be to link consumer protection efforts with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and local law enforcement.

• Set up a booth at a busy shopping area and have publications about fraud, identity theft, and the Postal Service available as handouts.

Who Can Help Us Plan Activities for National Consumer Protection Week Activities?

Postmasters and managers planning NCPW activities can consult with their local District Consumer Affairs and Claims Manager. The District Consumer Affairs and Claims office also serves as the clearinghouse for additional information and materials.

When and Where Can I Submit My Entry to the Internal Recognition Program?

The Office of the Consumer Advocate and the Postal Inspection Service developed a program to recognize efforts to publicize NCPW. Applicants must complete the application on page 26 and return it to the following address by March 12, 2004:

ATTN MICKIE MORIARTY
CONSUMER AFFAIRS
US POSTAL SERVICE
475 L'ENFANT PLZ SW RM 5801
WASHINGTON DC 20260-2202

Are There Any Publications That I Can Use for National Consumer Protection Week?

A list of Postal Service notices, publications, posters, and kits that may be useful as handouts for customers during NCPW is on page 7. They also serve as good resource material for postmasters and managers when preparing for the week's events.

The publications (except for Publication 225) are available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site; go to http://blue.usps.gov; click on More References, then PUBs. They are also available on the Internet; go to www.usps.com; click on About USPS & News, then Forms & Publications, then Browse All Periodicals & Publications, and then Publications (either PDF Format or Text Format).

You can also order these publications from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) by using touch tone order entry (TTOE): Call 800-332-0317, option 2.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message. (Wait 48 hours after registering before placing your first order.)

Use the following information to order these publications:

- Field Support and Integration,
Office of Consumer Advocate, 12-25-03