USPSNEWS@WORK

A star is reborn: Transformation Plan's guiding principles are Delivering Results. See the new Star on Blue and the program on USPS-TV

We've all seen the Star. Its five points focus on five key areas - developing people, managing costs, improving service, growing revenue and pursuing reform. The Star says a lot about who we are as an organization - it defines our values and our goals.

We've been transforming ever since we first saw the Star, with some incredible results to show for it. That's why there's a new star on the horizon: http://blue.usps.gov/corporate/deliveringresults, the Delivering Results Star. This new star shows what we've accomplished by staying on plan - the Transformation Plan.

"We've accomplished a great deal since the postmaster general introduced the Star two years ago," said Vice President of Strategic Planning Linda Kingsley, "but some of you have been telling us that we should be talking more about our Transformation accomplishments. That's what the new Delivering Results Star is all about. I can assure you that you'll be hearing a lot more specifics about how Transformation is making the pieces fit together and moving us down the road to success in the coming months."

Just how well you're delivering results is the focus of a new USPS-TV program, Delivering Results. It reviews the successes we've achieved through transformation efforts - and takes a look at what's ahead.

Delivering Results is hosted by Kingsley and Azeez Jaffer, V.P. of Public Affairs and Communications. PMG Jack Potter, special guest on the first broadcast, talks about what we've achieved through transformation, shares feedback he's received from USPSŪ employees across the country about the Transformation Plan and shares his expectations for the future.

The 20-minute program is airing on USPS-TV and on USPS-TV On Demand, on the Postal Service™ Intranet page.

USPS-TV On Demand: News and information where you need it, when you want it

Need TV when you want it? Turn to your desktop computer for the latest news and information about the Postal Service now appearing on USPS-TV On Demand.

USPS-TV On Demand is available at 191 sites across the country, including most district offices and major plants - about 40,000 desktop computers.

Just click your mouse and watch COO Field Updates, MarketPlace!, Spotlight on IT, COO Briefing and, coming soon, a new program with PMG Jack Potter called Delivering Results, which focuses on the Transformation Plan.

You get the best of USPS-TV news plus information about safety, health, emergency management and much more. Best of all, time is on your side. USPS-TV On Demand lets you tune in any time - whenever viewing fits your busy schedule.

Visit the Postal Service Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov/corporate/uspstv/ondemand.htm.

USPS-TV On Demand. Stay tuned. Stay informed.

Hydrogen-powered partnership: USPS, General Motors team up to test fuel-cell-powered vehicle

Here's a vehicle that's got a little something for everybody - motorheads, techies and the environmentally concerned. USPS is leasing a GM fuel-cell-powered minivan to deliver mail on various routes around the Washington, DC, area.

Fuel-cell technology converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity to power vehicles. The hydrogen fuel-cell minivan has a tested efficiency of 36 percent compared with 20 percent for a conventional gasoline engine. And with no emissions, fuel-cell-powered vehicles are great for the environment. Hydrogen refueling will be done at retail gas stations instead of a central refueling facility.

USPSNEWS@WORK

USPS is an ideal early customer because of its presence in every community and its flexibility to use more of the hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered vehicles as they become available.

APPS makes the grade: Automated Package Processing System passes first test

The Automated Package Processing System (APPS) has passed its first test at the Twin Cities Metro Hub in Minneapolis, MN, and begins national deployment next month.

APPS combines the latest in automated package sorter technology with optical character reader, barcode reader and video coding capabilities to process a wider range of packages and bundles - even irregularly shaped ones.

APPS will improve processing efficiency and network effectiveness, allowing USPS to continue to deliver mail affordably and accurately to everyone, everywhere, every day.

National deployment will begin at the annex in Oklahoma City, OK, in July. A total of 74 APPS will be deployed to 70 mail processing facilities by fall 2005.

Boxy, but good: Flat-rate Priority Mail boxes proposed

There are toy boxes, music boxes, sand boxes and, of course, mailboxes. And soon there could be flat-rate Priority MailŪ boxes.

Building on the success of flat-rate Priority Mail envelopes, USPS has filed a plan with the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) to try the same idea with boxes. The proposal calls for a two-year trial of the boxes with a $7.70 flat-rate, regardless of package weight or destination.

The rate was chosen for customer convenience: two $3.85 Jefferson Memorial Priority Mail stamps will cover the exact postage - with no need to look up zone charts or weigh the parcel.

If approved, USPS will test two sizes of boxes: one similar to a clothing gift box (14 x 12 x 3.5 inches), and one similar to a shoe box (11.2 x 8.75 x 6 inches). The dimensions will give customers the same packing space with different shapes to choose from.

The corrugated fiberboard flat-rate boxes would be available at Post Offices™ and on USPS.com.

Getting the green light: Pacific Area wins Green Government award

The Pacific Area brought a 2004 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Champions of Green Government award for innovative energy efficiency measures at 24 Postal Service facilities - saving a whopping $14 million in annual energy costs.

And that's just the start. The Pacific Area has awarded 56 more projects, with another $14 million in projected savings, for a total of about $28 million each year.

One project noted by the EPA award is the Southern California Shared Energy Savings contract that saves $1.5 million a year (see USPS News Link Online for 4-9-04 on the Postal Service Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov/news/link/2004apr09_3.htm).

Other projects are retrofitted and upgraded equipment, insulation, solar power panels to be installed at the Sacramento Processing and Distribution Center, and LED circuits in exit signs. None require up-front capital funding. And, all will be paid off in energy savings in less than 10 years.

The first 24 projects will be complete by this September - reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4.9 million pounds - and saving enough electricity to power 1,300 s in the region.

Learn more about government and the EPA Champions award online at www.epa.gov/Region9/ cross_pr/fedfac/cga.html.

Stamp it Success! NALC Stamp Out Hunger food drive collects millions of pounds of food

More than 70 million pounds of food - 70,852,149, to be exact - were collected during the 12th annual National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

City and rural letter carriers collected the food. Clerks, mail handlers, maintenance employees, supervisors and postmasters helped load and unload delivery vehicles brimming with donations. And, our own tractor-trailer operators helped deliver trailer loads of donations to local food banks to help families in need.

Buffalo/Western New York NALC Branch 3 collected the most donations, topping 1.7 million pounds of food. Campbell Soup Company, a major supporter of the food drive contributed one million cans of soup.

[D-LINK]

Administrative Services

Directives and Forms Update

Effective immediately, Publication 223, Directives and Forms Catalog (June 1999), is revised. The tables below contain the document ID, edition date, title, PSN (Postal Service™ stock number), and the Postal Service and public supply source for all new, revised, and obsolete directives and forms. Use this article to keep Publication 223 current. Information on how to order directives and forms is available in chapter 1 of Publication 223.

Publication 223 is available electronically at www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub223.pdf.

New Directives

Management Instructions

Publications

Revised Directives

Handbooks

Publications

Obsolete Directives

Management Instructions

- Policies and Procedures Information,
Public Affairs and Communications, 6-24-04

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™ 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.

NALC "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive Collects Millions of Pounds of Food

More than 70 million pounds of food - 70,852,149, to be exact - were collected on May 8, 2004, during the 12th annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive.

City and rural letter carriers collected the food. Clerks, mail handlers, maintenance employees, supervisors, and postmasters helped unload delivery vehicles brimming with donations and loaded trailers heading for the food banks. Our own tractor-trailer operators helped out by delivering trailer loads of donations to local food banks to help families in need.

The Buffalo/Western New York NALC Branch 3 collected the most donations, totaling 1,751,470 pounds of food. Campbell Soup Company, a major supporter of the food drive contributed 1 million cans of soup.

"The generosity of Americans in this food drive was truly remarkable. Many food banks and pantries desperate for supplies now will be able to continue helping needy families throughout the summer months," said NALC President William Young.

Newburyport, Massachusetts, Letter Carrier Ray Gillissen was just one of many employees who made this year's food drive a success.

- Policies and Procedures Information,
Public Affairs and Communications, 6-24-04

Half a Million Packages Can't Be Wrong - Carrier Pickup Service Picks Up a Milestone

Carrier Pickup service has "picked up" more than 500,000 packages. And those numbers are only going to keep on growing because the service is quick, easy, and convenient. If our customers can't make it to the Post Office™, we'll bring the Post Office to them.

Here's an example. When Honolulu restaurant Eggs'n Things was featured on Japanese television, it was swamped with online orders for its "taste of aloha" products. USPSŪ quickly turned this situation "sunny side up" for the restaurant. Kaneohe Carrier Glen Pang saw a restaurant employee packaging orders in her garage and pitched Carrier Pickup service to her.

"Satisfying customers is my job," said Pang. "As long as the customer is happy, I know I'm doing my job."

This satisfied customer has spent $50,000 extra with USPS since its business increased.

Are businesses booming in your area? Let them know about Carrier Pickup service. They could be one in a million - the first million served by Carrier Pickup service!

Carrier Pickup keeps Eggs'n Things from getting scrambled.

- Policies and Procedures Information,
Public Affairs and Communications, 6-24-04