PMG Delivers 10-Year Business Plan

Revenue and mail volume projections point to continuing and dramatic losses in the billions. If the Postal Service takes no action, it could face a cumulative $238 billion shortfall by the year 2020.

To meet these challenges over the next decade and beyond, the Postal Service today presented its action plan — “Ensuring a Viable Postal Service for America” — to adapt to America’s changing mailing habits and preferences.

“The Postal Service understands that to best serve the American people in 2020 and beyond, it must be leaner and have the ability to quickly respond to customer mailing needs,” said PMG Jack Potter.

The plan, presented by Potter and senior USPS executives to an audience of more than 200 congressional and mailing industry stakeholders, calls for the Postal Service to focus on several main areas where change is needed to become a flexible, agile agency able to respond to change.

Restructure retiree health benefits prefunding to “pay-as-you-go,” comparable to what is used by the rest of the federal government and the private sector.

Adjust delivery frequency to better reflect current mail volumes and customer habits.

Expand access to postal products and services through self-service kiosks, partnerships with other retail outlets, and a world-class website — usps.com.

Workforce flexibility that allows USPS to put the right people at the right place and at the right time.

Ensure pricing of Market Dominant mailing products is based on demand for each individual product and its costs, rather than capping prices for every class at the rate of inflation.

Expand Products and Services by allowing USPS to evaluate and introduce more new products consistent with its mission and compete more effectively in the marketplace.

Lea Loves Little Letters

In a world where the biggest and the best most often garner attention, along comes the World’s Smallest Post Office (WSPO). Actually, it’s not a Post Office — it’s a miniature desk that business owner Lea Redmond carries to cafes and shops in San Francisco and uses to produce really, really small letters for passers-by. Each letter is transcribed by WSPO in the tiniest of script, sealed with a miniscule wax seal with the sender’s initial pressed into it, packaged with a magnifying glass in a glassine envelope and finished off with a large wax seal. Each package containing the wee writings is addressed large enough for anyone to read.

Got Tubs? USPS Can Save $$$ With Your Help

Postal equipment has been misused in many ways --- from office file cabinets to garage tool collections --- but a flat tub as a planter is a first!

The Postal Service spends $10 million each year to purchase new flat tubs. That’s because every year, customers fail to return 68 percent of the Postal Service’s flat tubs. They’re very handy containers --- flat tubs can be used for all kinds of purposes --- even as planting pots.

Here’s what employees can do to help keep flat tubs in the USPS network and save us some money:

Don’t give flat tubs to customers for hold mail and caller service mail.

Don’t leave flat tubs near collection boxes, customer mailboxes and doorsteps.

Avoid leaving flat tubs with business customers.

If you see postal equipment outside the postal network, send an e-mail to hqmte@usps.gov listing the location, type and quantity.

Bill Renames Pompano Beach Main Office as 'Elijah Pat Larkins Post Office Building'

At 11 am on Saturday, March 20, the U.S. Postal Service will join Congressman Alcee L. Hastings in renaming the Pompano Beach Main Office as the “Elijah Pat Larkins Post Office Building.”

A dedication ceremony will take place in front of the Main Office located at 2351 W. Atlantic Blvd in Pompano Beach. Following the ceremony, refreshments will be available in the Post Office Box Lobby.

Last year the Congressman introduced a bill designating the Post Office in honor of Pompano Beach’s first African-American mayor, Elijah "Pat" Larkins, who died on February 14, 2009, after losing a 16-month battle with brain cancer. Throughout his more than 25 years of public service, Mayor Larkins made significant contributions to the Civil Rights movement and to the lives of the many Floridians he served.

(Employees are reminded that this is an off-the-clock activity.)

'Dollars and Sense Rated 'A' for All Ages' ... Now That's Your Consumer Protection Ticket!

National Consumer Protection Week is March 7-13. This year’s theme, "Dollars and Sense: Rated 'A' for All Ages,” highlights consumer education for every stage of life --- from grade school to retirement.

The U.S. Postal Service Office of Consumer Affairs and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are working to educate consumers about identity theft and fraudulent schemes and to provide them with the information needed to combat these frauds. During National Consumer Protection Week, other federal, state, and local consumer protection agencies --- together with consumer organizations and industry associations --- are launching consumer protection and education efforts in South Florida and around the country.

District Manager Tammy J. Autenrieth will kick off the week’s observance at 10 am on Monday, March 8, in the South Florida Retail Unit Lobby, 16000 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines. She will give opening remarks and welcome participants, including guest speakers Mike Galvin, Vice President, Communications, Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida and the Caribbean; Hope Hinds, Director, Compliance and Risk Management Services, Compliance and Mitigation Strategies; and Inspector Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. A Deputy Chief and two Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the U.S. Attorney’s Office also will speak.

From 10 am to 2 pm, postal personnel and subject matter experts from the FBI, Miami-Dade Police Department, City of Miami Police Department, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, and National Insurance Crime Bureau will be stationed at informational tables in the lobby. Help prevent identity theft by discarding your documents --- at no charge --- at the onsite truck provided by Cintas Shredding Company.

During the weeklong observance, Postal and Inspection Service personnel will distribute fraud prevention material at the following locations:

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm, Atlantic Branch,8801 W Atlantic Blvd, Coral Springs; 1 pm - 3 pm , Boca Rio Branch, 8185 Via Ancho Rd, Boca Raton.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 12 Noon - 2 pm, Fort Pierce Main Office, 5000 W Midway Rd, Fort Pierce; 1 pm - 3 pm, Chesterbrook Academy, 14900 NW 20 Street, Pembroke Pines.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 10 am - 2 pm, Miami Beach Post Office, 1300 Washington Ave, Miami Beach; 1 pm - 4 pm, Fort Lauderdale Main Office, 1900 W Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale.

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 9 am - 1 pm, Miami Killian Senior High School, 10655 SW 97 Ave, Miami; 1 pm - 3 pm, West Palm Beach Main Office, 3200 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach.

(Employees are reminded that these are off-the-clock activities.)