was particularly emphasized and a series of sessions on mail center safety and security were offered.

     Each forum's training and education program offered customers approximately 80 business sessions and workshops in the following categories: Mail Production Specialist, Mail Technology Specialist, Mail Marketing Specialist, Industry Mail Specialist, Mail Security Specialist, and Mail Center Management Specialist.

     As part of the Postal Service's commitment to continuing education, four certificate programs were offered to attendees: the Mail Center Professional Certificate was earned by those who attended required sessions in specific mail preparation and mailing operations areas; the Mail Center Safety and Security Certificate was earned by those who attended four safety-related educational sessions; the Periodicals Professional Certificate was designed around a special program moving novice and seasoned periodicals professionals to the forefront of their discipline; and the Mail Piece Design Certificate was offered to those individuals attending four sessions focused on mailpiece design. To date, approximately 1,500 individuals have participated in these certificate programs. Complementing the forum's educational program was the exhibit floor, which featured approximately 110 companies at each forum, displaying the latest in mailing supplies, services, mail automation equipment, software, and computer hardware.

     In response to input from the mailing industry, the Postal Service has partnered with mailing industry professionals and nationally-recognized training experts to develop the U. S. Postal Service Executive Mail Center Manager program. This elite mailer education curriculum provides attendees with expertise in mail center operations. The program has been operational since December 2001, and to date, approximately 120 mailing industry professionals have completed the training.

     Postal Customer Councils (PCC) are local, grassroots organizations comprised of businesses that use the mail to reach their business goals. PCCs provide networking and educational opportunities to help businesses effectively and efficiently communicate with and enhance their relationship with customers, and to identify prospective customers through the mail. They also provide the Postal Service the opportunity to enhance its working relationship with local businesses and to better understand their needs. During 2003, more than 250 local PCCs held more than 1,700 customer meetings. Many PCCs more actively sought the participation of small- and medium-sized businesses through the Direct Mail Seminar Program. As a result of these 51 nationwide seminars, approximately 500 individuals became new PCC members.

     As an insert in the monthly Memo to Mailers, Keeping Posted, the national PCC newsletter, now reaches more than 175,000 customer and company addressees, almost all of whom are members of PCCs. Complementing the newsletter is the national PCC Web site at www.usps.com/nationalpcc. This site was redesigned and re-launched in late 2003 to make it easier to navigate. The site is targeted to help businesses find the location of their closest PCC or to enable veteran PCC members to locate valuable information on how to build stronger PCCs. The PCC Web site also houses a Speaker's Bureau that allows PCCs to employ knowledgeable, experienced Postal Service officers and managers as presenters at their local functions.

     The Mailers' Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) consists of association representatives of all segments of the mailing industry and has a 36-year history of finding solutions to major postal issues. The purpose of MTAC is to share technical information, advice, and recommendations on matters concerning transformation of mail-related