USPSNEWS@WORK

LiteBlue: The new color of communication

The color of communication is Blue - LiteBlue. Postal ServiceTM employees nationwide have access to the latest evolution in USPS® communications - the new Postal Service Extranet, LiteBlue.

LiteBlue lets you use your employee ID and USPS PIN to reach a lighter version of Blue, the Postal Service Intranet. But lighter doesn't mean lesser. Employees who visit LiteBlue get much of the same content seen in the everyday Blue, with a local touch.

Link Online is there. As are job openings. Looking for national news or news with a local flair? It's there, too, plus PostalEASE, employee deals and more. Best of all you can reach LiteBlue anywhere you have Internet access.

New to LiteBlue is the "Inside USPS" section, joining "" and "My Life" tabs at the top of the LiteBlue page. Under Inside USPS you'll find information about the commemorative stamp program, the USPS annual report and comprehensive statement, organization charts, USPS Board member biographies and our Transformation Plan.

So far in March, LiteBlue has logged more than 143,000 visits from employees like you. Add your visit to the count. Go to LiteBlue at http://liteblue.usps.gov.

Potter to Forum: Americans continue to turn to mail; CSRS escrow legislation will force USPS to file rate case this year

Postmaster General (PMG) Jack Potter welcomed more than 6,000 members of the mailing industry to the National Postal Forum in Nashville. "The state of the Postal Service and the

industry today and for the near term is excellent," Potter said, noting that USPS could have put off a rate increase until 2007 were it not for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) legislation requiring USPS to establish an escrow account of $3.1 billion beginning in 2006.

"We have no choice but to file a rate case to cover the amount of the escrow," Potter said. Postal Service management is recommending an across-the-board increase of between 5 and 6 percent to fund the requirement. That would raise the cost of a First-Class Mail® postage stamp by 2 cents.

Acknowledging USPS achievements under the Transformation Plan introduced in 2002, Potter said the customer will be the focus of the extended plan, Transformation Plan 2006-2010.

"This is not just about the Postal Service," Potter said. "It's about our customers." The PMG said the plan will stay focused on making it easier for customers to do business with USPS, including making them aware of the services available online at usps.com®.

Mailing Industry Task Force cites progress: Task Force co-chair Nolan honored at Forum

The Mailing Industry Task Force, a coalition of mailing industry and USPS leaders, released its 2005 progress report at the National Postal Forum.

The four-year-old task force also honored its co- chairman, Deputy PMG John Nolan, who is retiring from the Postal Service in May, saying his years of service have set a new standard for partnership between USPS and the industry.

The task force report heralds the coming of information- rich barcodes that add speed, accuracy and rapid feedback services to mail processing.

Initiatives highlighted in the report include OneCode VisionTM and OneCodeTM Address Change Services, a Premium Forwarding Service still under consideration by the Postal Rate Commission for a two-year experiment, and a pilot Retail Overnight concept being developed to provide retailers with local next-day delivery.

Tom Ridge addresses Forum: Former land Security secretary praises USPS

Tom Ridge, the nation's first secretary of the Department of land Security, praised USPS efforts and commitment immediately following 9/11 and the nation's struggle through bio- terrorist anthrax attacks also in 2001.

Ridge, a former Pennsylvania governor and first cabinet secretary responsible for coordinating all aspects of national security, addressed the National Postal Forum.

PMG Potter described Ridge as "a true friend to the mailing industry" and acknowledged Ridge's role in helping USPS coordinate a national strategy to handle anthrax threats.

Ridge was instrumental in securing funds to purchase the initial biohazard detection systems and served as the Postal Service's conduit with the rest of the country and other federal agencies, the PMG said. Potter presented Ridge with the "Partnership for Progress Award."

Be a contender: Nominees sought for Diversity Achievement awards

Wanted: Employees who make a difference. Purpose: To honor USPS achievements in diversity. Whom will you nominate?

Each year, the National Awards Program for Diversity Achievement celebrates employees who promote diversity at work and in the community with six major awards.

Employees who promote diversity among employees, customers and suppliers are eligible for the Individual Award. The Leadership Award recognizes executive achievements. The Team Award honors employees who work together to coordinate efforts to accomplish USPS' diversity mission.

The Altruism Award highlights the efforts of employees who've changed lives through work in their community. The Mentoring Award celebrates someone who uses teaching, coaching, counseling and motivation to help others succeed in their careers. And, employees who've made extraordinary contributions over a sustained period can receive the "Dot Sharpe Lifetime Achievement Award."

Submit nominations by May 5 to http://blue.usps.gov/diversitynet/awards/. For information, call your local diversity representative.

Rapido, facile, conveniente: Learn Italian in the time you save using usps.com

It only takes 30 seconds to get the message across - just about anything you can do at the Post OfficeTM, you can do on usps.com.

That half-minute message has recently been aired in USPS radio ads on seven national radio networks.

And just like usps.com, the message is quick, easy and convenient - so quick that you have "a ton of time to do other exciting things at work." The ads then invite you to take advantage of the extra time... by learning Italian.

NetPost CardStore has you covered: Nine retailers join gift card offering

With the addition of Old Navy, Foot Locker and seven other new retailers, USPS customers are covered from head to toe with retail gift cards available from NetPost® CardStore through usps.com.

AMC Theatres, Blockbuster, Foot Locker, Marriott, Old Navy, Olive Garden, SpaWish.com, The Sharper Image and Toys R Us join seven original retailers for a total of 16 gift card choices.

Gift cards are available in varying denominations to be added to any original NetPost CardStore greeting card - great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day and Father's Day, graduations or just to say "thinking of you."

Employees get a discount. Visit http://liteblue.usps.gov/news/deals/greetingcards.htm for details.

Nice doggie . . . Bites and attacks on the decline

Dog attacks and bites are on the decline so far in fiscal year 2005 - a trend USPS hopes to continue as we head into spring and summer, traditionally the worst period for this Occupational Safety and Health Administration Illness and Injury category.

Six areas are already below the same period last year in dog bites and attacks, leading the way for a 9.42 percent national reduction compared to the first quarter of 2004. They are Capital Metro, Southwest, Western, New York Metro, Eastern, and Great Lakes.

Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 15-21 this year. Get ready. Check out dog-bite awareness, prevention and defensive materials in section 3 of Publication 129, Safety Talks, online at: http://blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub129.pdf, or in Dog Bite Prevention Week Postmaster Toolkits.

Safety also will be sending out more information between now and May.

Serial sensation: DMM 300 debuts at the National Postal Forum

The latest chapter in the transformation of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is a must read for mailers - it's the DMM 300. The official name of the new DMM is Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual.

This essential source for information on USPS mailing standards has been dramatically redesigned to make it easy to read and easy to use. Features include new organization, rate charts, illustrations, a numbering system, and an expanded index.

The DMM 300 is organized around three basic concepts: shape of mail, class of mail, and topic. The new design means customers will spend less time cross- referencing and have greater confidence that they've located the information they need.

Get a move on

NetPost Mover's Postcards are the fast and easy way for customers to send moving notices. These high-quality, customized postcards are perfect to notify friends, family and others of a new address. They can be created in four easy steps with just a few clicks at www.usps.com/moverspostcards.

Moving is a stressful time, so the Postal Service and NetPost have introduced this convenient online feature to reach everyone in a customer's address book. Whether to one recipient or thousands, customized postcards - with correct postage and addresses - are printed and mailed the next business day.