Inside the pages of this United States Postal Service 2001 Annual Report, we will tell you a story of unity. We'll explain how we at the Postal Service — all 800,000 of us — are focused on developing people, improving service, managing costs, growing revenue and pursuing reform. And we will show you how that focus is helping to ensure a more efficient and highly responsive Postal Service — one positioned to continue fulfilling our mandate of universal service to the people of America.

We've worked to make sure this report contains the facts that you need to know about your Postal Service.

You'll find our financial highlights below. Page 3 contains a summary of the years business and operational highlights. Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer John E. Potter, and Robert F. Rider, Board of Governors Chairman, have written a letter to America on page 4. In it, they talk about our efforts to continue our long tradition of trust, innovation and service. They address our accomplishments and challenges and outline our plans for the future. The pages that follow contain a thorough review of our performance through a very challenging period. Then page 15 begins an in-depth discussion of our finances.

Throughout 2001, the Postal Service has continued to build on a solid record of accomplishment. We kept service at record heights, achieved greater levels of efficiency and kept pace with the needs of a growing nation. Despite the limitations of a legislative charter more than three decades old, the Postal Service carries almost half of the world's mail — and does this huge job in a business-like manner — without operational subsidies.

This is the story of your Postal Service in 2001.