The U.S. Postal Service recently appointed an Industry Member for the Postal Customer Council Advisory Committee (PCCAC).
 
Mark Fallon is currently a member of the PCCAC Education committee and has accepted the Member-at-Large position also. 
 
Mark is President & CEO of The Berkshire Company which is an independent consulting firm specializing in mail and document processing strategies.  A Certified Mail & Distribution Systems Manager, Mark was a recipient of the Mail Systems Management Association Manager of the Year and Distinguished Service Awards, and the National Postal Forum's Mail Center Manager Award.
 
A frequent speaker at the National Postal Forum, National Association of College and University Mail Services, National Association of College Auxiliary Services, local Mail Systems Management Association and PCC organizations, he has received numerous top speaker awards. From 2001-2002, Mark served on the US Postal Inspector’s Industry Task Force for Mailroom Security and from 2016-2017, he served on the Postmaster General’s Mailer’s Technical Advisory Committee’s Workgroup #177: Improvements in Address Quality Methodologies and ACS Best Practices. 
 
Mark has written articles for Mailing Systems Technology, Document Processing Technology; MAIL: The Journal of Communication Distribution; and Parcel Shipping and Distribution.  He is also the author of the eBooks: 110 Tips to Improve Your Mail Center and Addressing the Mail.
 
Mark is a current member of the Greater Boston PCC since 1992 and a member of its Executive Board from 1998 – 2018.
 
Please join us in congratulating Mark on his appointment. 
 
Industry Engagement and Outreach, Marketing
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Postal Service Operations on Christmas Eve
  
Postal Service operations will remain open for business and mail delivery will continue as usual on Monday, Dec. 24 as the Postal Service continues to deliver nearly 16 billion mail and package deliveries this holiday season. 
 
Post Office retail counters will be open until noon nationally on December 24.  However, some retail offices may be open later due to customer needs.  Local hours are posted at all Post Offices.
 
Postal Service operating status for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is available at: http://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2018/pr18_099.htm.

Join the Education PCC Advisory Committee for their quarterly educational training WebEx.  Our topic will be on the:
                                                                                                    
Business Customer Gateway (BCG) Redesign Summary
 
The Business Customer Gateway Redesign is an ongoing initiative to reimagine and streamline the access to USPS’s Commercial Services online.  With an all new customer focused design, the new Business Customer Gateway will feature live data from the Enterprise Payment System, Mailer Scorecard, and PostalOne! right on the homepage.  Along with performance enhancements and improvement to account management, the new Business Customer Gateway will make the world of mailing and shipping easier for new and experience mailers alike.
 
This webinar will be interactive and allow participants to contribute and ask pertinent questions. Please plan to join us on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 2:00 PM EST.  Information is below on how to join the meeting.     
 
Please note, you do NOT need a WebEx account to join the meeting.
 
Meeting Number: 743 655 230
Meeting Password: This meeting does not require a password.
 
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To join this meeting (Now from mobile devices!)
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1. Go to https://uspsmeetings.webex.com/uspsmeetings/j.php?MTID=m6303a4a928ebcd804451ef04457b862d
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: This meeting does not require a password.
4. Click "Join".
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
 
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Teleconference information
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Provide your phone number when you join the meeting to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can call:
Call-in toll-free number: 1-855-8607461  (US)
Call-in number: 1-678-3172063  (US)
Show global numbers: https://www.tcconline.com/offSite/OffSiteController.jpf?cc=7377194840
Conference Code: 737 719 4840
 
Any questions regarding this Webinar should be directed to Cathy Scocco at:  cathy.m.scocco@usps.gov
 
This WebEx presentation will be available for viewing on PostalPro after completion on January 11, 2019.  We look forward to your participation as you share your comments, concerns and feedback.

The Postal Service recently filed notice of a change to the weight limitation for First-Class Mail International (FCMI) Large Envelopes (Flats), which would result in the maximum weight limit for FCMI Large Envelopes (Flats) being 15.994 ounces, instead of the current 64 ounce limit. 
 
That request is still pending review.
 
Thus, the 64 ounce weight limit for FCMI Large Envelopes (Flats) will remain in effect, and not be revised as part of the rates that will be implemented on January 27, 2019.  As previously announced, dimensional weight changes will be implemented on June 23,  2019.
 
Additional information will be provided regarding  the prices associated with this change in weight restriction when it is available.

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Registration is now open for PCC Executive Board members to attend PCC Boot Camp 2.0 being held in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.  The Boot Camp is designed to provide you with best practices to get the maximum value from your local PCC.  This session will teach you how to leverage your PCC membership and how to use the PCC to increase your knowledge about Postal products and services. 
 
This interactive session is taught by USPS staff and award-winning industry members from PCCs nationwide.  During the course of a day, the instructors review successful communication and membership strategies to strengthen your local PCC. 
 
This Boot Camp is also open to PCC members who have a lead role in their PCC, PCC committee chairs, committee members, members who aspire to serve on the board, or members who want to learn more about how to operate an effective PCC.
 
Topics covered include:
How to Grow PCC Membership
Policy Administration & USPS Sales Interface
How to Market Your Events & Meetings
PCC Education
 
Boot Camps are designed to give you an opportunity to talk about challenges your PCC faces, to collaborate with both Postal and Industry members of your PCC, and to collectively add to the networking and educational opportunities available.    
 
This is just a few of the topics discussed during the day long workshop.  The Boot Camps have been extremely successful and continue to grow.  We highly encourage you to take advantage of this interactive experience where Postal and Industry work together to achieve greatness!  
 
Date:  Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Time:  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (PDT)
 
Portland Boot Camp Location
United States Postal Service P&DC
7007 Northeast Cornfoot Road
Portland, OR 97218
 
In order to register for the Portland Boot Camp 2.0, please RSVP at pccbootcamp@usps.gov. 
Please include the following information with your registration:

• Name
• Company name and address
• Phone number and email address
• PCC name and your PCC Title/Role

    
Admission is FREE and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.
 
Portland Boot Camp Hotel Information

• Residence Inn

9301 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR 97220

• La Quinta

11207 NE Holman, Portland, OR  97220

• Embassy Suites

7900 NE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97220

• Sheraton Portland Airport

8235 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97220
 
Please direct any questions you have about attending this boot camp to Kirsten.m.sherrell@usps.gov or Debra.S.Stoops@usps.gov.
 
 
Thank you,
 
Industry Engagement and Outreach, Marketing

BMA Advisory
October 11, 2018
 
USPS Announces Proposed New Prices for 2019
 
The Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of proposed price changes to take effect January 27, 2019. The January Price Change will include price changes for Market Dominant, Competitive and International products.
 
The new prices, if approved, include a five-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail® Forever® stamp from 50 cents to 55 cents. Metered letters would have a three-cent increase.
 
The proposed prices would raise Mailing Services product prices approximately 2.5 percent, and the price increases for Shipping Services vary by product, with Priority Mail® increasing 5.9 percent, and Priority Mail Express® increasing 3.9 percent.

First-Class Package Service will move to zone-based pricing to better align with the cost of service and improve value based on distance.
The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:
 
Product Current/Proposed
Letters (1 oz.)   
50 cents/55 cents
Letters additional ounces    
21 cents/15 cents
Letters (metered)
47 cents/50 cents

The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate® retail price changes are:
 
Product Current/Proposed
Small Flat Rate Box
$7.20/$7.90
Medium Flat Rate Box
$13.65/$14.35
Large Flat Rate Box
$18.90/$19.95
APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box
$17.40/$18.45
Regular Flat Rate Envelope
$6.70/$7.35
Legal Flat Rate Envelope
$7.00/$7.65
Padded Flat Rate Envelope
$7.25/$8.00

Additional information on the January 2019 proposed price changes can be found at:
https://postalpro.usps.gov/Releases/Jan2019Release_Price_Change
 

Friday, October 12, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
​Please join Steve Monteith, Vice President, Marketing and Sharon Owens, Vice President, Pricing and Costing on Friday, October 12, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) for a high-level overview of the 2019 Price Change filing.  Attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions to the panel during this webinar.  If you would like to submit your questions prior to the call, you can submit them to IndustryFeedback@usps.gov.
 
Attendance is limited, so we ask your cooperation in having multiple attendees login from one computer in a conference room, if possible.  The webinar is:
 
Friday, October 12 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Registration is required. Click on the attendee direct URL below to complete registration.
 
ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 844-480-7651
Conference ID: 1132268
Attendee Direct URL: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea116cee3f1f972218fafeb199f85e74b
 
If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:

Alternate URL:
https://usps.webex.com

Event Number:
995 167 248

 
Browser Test: Join Test Meeting
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Dallas District
 
Update:
Due to a chemical spill, BME acceptance and drop shipment services have been temporarily suspended at the following Processing Facility until Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. CST.

• North Texas P&DC, 951 W Bethel Rd, Coppell TX 75099

All Marketing & Periodical Mail Classes have been embargoed with no redirects. All Commercial First-Class Mail Drop Shipments will be redirected to the following facility.

• Southern Area STC, 1717 W Airfield Dr. Ste. A, Dallas TX 75261            

​The following Post Offices have reopened and resumed normal operations.
 
Forest Falls Post Office
40555 Valley of the Falls Dr
Forest Falls, CA 92339-9998
 
Angelus Oaks Post Office
37696 State Highway 38
Angelus Oaks, CA 92305-9998