O
USPS Inspector Robert Boyer (far left) offered an informative slide show on suspicious packages.
ur first KC MSMA 2001 meeting focused on the subject of suspicious mail and packages. It took place at the Dodson Group in Kansas City. Inspector Robert Boyer, from the USPS Inspection Service gave our members quite a eye opening slide show and plenty of good information about identifying suspicious packages you might receive through the mail.
Everyone who attended walked away with valuable information. The presentation was followed by a tour of the Dodson Group mail services department, headed by Terrell Bix, CMDSM.
We all enjoyed a catered lunch, and spent time networking and talking about experiences with "suspicious" packages.
Thanks to Inspector Boyer from the USPS on a very good presentation. And thanks to the PSI Group for donating one
of the door prizes, a massage package that was won by none other than Chuck Zeikle.
We would also like to thank the Dodson Group for letting us use their facility and providing us with a tour of their mail operations.
MID MISSOURI BRANCH OF THE KC-MSMA IS LAUNCHED
by Chuck Zeikle, CMDSM
I had the honor of attending the site-tour meeting held by the Mid-Missouri Branch of the KC-MSMA on April 4th. There were ten present at the meeting including eight new MSMA members. Zen Thomas, Vice President of the Mid-Missouri Branch, hosted the site-tour for this meeting at Shelter
Insurance Company.
Shelter Insurance Company has been in the insurance business for over 50 years. It was originally founded by seven farmers from the Missouri Farmers Association (MFA). The original building where these farmers met (The Newcomer School House) actually sits on the grounds of Shelter Insurance
Company in "The Gardens." This operation serves a territory of 13 states.
The area of the site-tour included "Inbound USPS Mail" and "Outbound USPS Mail." Shelter receives approximately 55,000 pieces of mail per month, but their outbound USPS mail volume exceeds one million pieces per month. Shelter presorts all of their own outbound USPS mail letters, taking advantage of the maximum discount available to them. When mail comes off their automated inserting equipment it is then run through their 32-pocket sorter. Zen's department estimates that Shelter Insurance Company saves approximately $520,000 in annual postage cost with their automated mail program. This was a very impressive site-tour!
The companies represented at this meeting were:
* AAA Mailing Service, Jefferson City, MO
* Columbia College, Columbia, MO
* Midwest Mailing Service, Columbia, MO
* Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance, Columbia, MO
* Scholastic, Inc., Jefferson City, MO
* Shelter Insurance Company, Columbia, MO
* University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO
Future meetings that are planned include site-tours to Missouri Department of Revenue (IRS) and Scholastic, Inc. (both located in Jefferson City, MO). The Mid-Missouri Branch has some great things planned for MSMA members located in the Columbia/Jefferson City area. Look for the dates of future meetings in the "Calendar of Events" section of future newsletters. Our congratulations to Zen and her committee for the success of the Mid-Missouri Branch of the KC-MSMA!
Chapter Business Meetings
April 18, 2001 October 24, 2001
June 6, 2001 December 5, 2001
August 15, 2001
National Conferences
September 19-21, 2001 MailCom, Chicago, IL
October 14-17, 2001 National Postal Forum Denver, Co
EW MEMBERS WANTED!!!
We are very fortunate to have so many active members in the Kansas City MSMA Chapter. Being a member gives you the opportunity to network with other professional mail managers. To receive more information about being a member, contact
Leecil Anson, at 913-888-6245 or e-mail her at
lanson@psigroupinc.com.
A
PRIL NATIONAL LETTER WRITING MONTH
The Postal Service has designated April 2001 as National Card and Letter Writing Month. Writing, sending, and receiving letters, postcards, and greeting cards is a tradition that has preserved our nation's history and changed lives. Unlike other communications, card and letter writing is timeless, personal, and immediately tangible.
Card and letter writing, however, also helps improve literacy and promotes creativity among our youth. That is why, starting April 1, the Postal Service and the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., are encouraging hundreds of elementary schools to participate in a special project called "Birthday Wishes to America," which is a celebration of the nation's 225th birthday on July 4, 2001.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Judy Donnell Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance
Justin Wagner Columbia College
Janis Farnsworth Columbia College
Sue Sneller Missouri Dept of Social Services
Denise Irminger Mazuma Credit Union
Kevin Furst JCCC
Shawn Miller JCCC
Donna Frie Nations Postage Supplies
Jackie Welch Pitney Bowes
Eric Caruth Pitney Bowes
Scott Sales Butler Manufacturing Co
Andrea Hanson Butler Manufacturing Co
Deena Morris Butler Manufacturing Co
Hope to see you all at meetings soon!
UPCOMING MEETING APRIL 18TH!
Don't miss your chance to tour a paper company and learn first hand about the relationship between the USPS and Federal Express. Email or fax your meeting notice to Jerome Toson at jtoson@visitkc.com reserve your spot today!
KC- MSMA 2001-2002 OFFICERS
Roger Williams, President, Avcorp, Inc.
Executive Vice President, Terrell Bix, CMDSM, Dodson Group
Cathy Lewis, CMDSM, Vice President - Publications, Children International
Jerome Toson, Vice President - Programs, Kansas City Convention Bureau
Pat Cheatom, CMDSM, Vice President - Education, Output Solutions
Leecil Anson, Vice President - Membership, PSI Group,Inc
Zen Thomas, CMDSM, President , Mid Missouri Branch
Allen Barnett, CMDSM, Treasurer, UMB Bank
Christine Shores, Secretary, Missouri Gas Energy
Barbara Knight, CMDSM, Immediate Past President, Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Chuck Zeikle, CMDSM, Honorary Board Member, Xerox Business Services
UPCOMING 2001 EVENTS
June 6th, Night out at the Royals game
December 5th, Holiday Event
USPS – NEWS
Courtesy of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers (www.nonprofitmailers.org)
The USPS is pressing ahead with plans for another major reclassification effort. Don O’Hara, Manager of USPS Classification and Product Development has been tasked to prepare classification proposals that will lower overall costs for the USPS and offer benefits to mailers.
No news on a replacement for PMG Bill Henderson yet. The common thinking is that Deputy PMG John Nolan will assume the responsibilities in May until a permanent PMG (Nolan?) is appointed.
The USPS proposed rule on Bound Printed matter was published in the Federal Register, March 26, 2001 with a 30-day comment period.
The decision by the USPS Governors to conduct studies to measure cost savings associated with suspending Saturday delivery was met with loud opposition. The Mailers Council went so far as to say, “the Postal Service is legally prohibited from discontinuing six-day mail delivery or closing unprofitable post offices…we need the Postal Service to find ways of managing within its current legislative framework to reduce expenses.”
The next round of Postal rate increases are anticipated to be announced in the second half of 2001.
COMMENTS FROM POST MASTER GENERAL HENDERSON AT THE POSTAL FORUM IN ORLANDO
To see the full article, www.usps.com/news/2001/press/ and look for the link to PMG Henderson’s remarks on March 27, 2001
…”Despite our best efforts, and without the tools we need, it always comes down to a rate hike when we cannot meet the legal requirement that our revenues match our costs. It's not the way we want to go, but sometimes it's the only way we can go if we are going to preserve the infrastructure that supports universal service. And it looks like we may be going that way again soon, possibly filing for a rate increase of 10 to 15 percent as early as this summer. Reform, for all of its potential promise, will not come before we have to file for new rates.
But we're not taking a potential rate hike as a given just yet. I've asked Deputy Postmaster General John Nolan to explore alternatives to filing a double-digit rate hike this year. I know many of you have said there may be other options here. And John is going to help us take a close look at them. We'll keep you informed of our progress.
As uncertain as the future looks, the means exist to fix this model before we are faced with a crippling crisis. To do it will require the most significant innovation we've seen in more than 30 years. It will require comprehensive postal reform...”
Billing Information
Reminder Invoices will be going out at the end of April. If you have not already done so, please remit your membership dues. If you should have any questions regarding your membership status, please call or email Leecil Anson 913-888-6245 or lanson@psigroupinc.com
Have a safe and happy spring!
