ELECTION 2010

ELECTION 2010

Tag 191, used for domestic and international mail–in ballots.

Tag 57, used to identify campaign mail.

The mid–term election season is well underway. Already, more than half of the states have conducted primaries and are planning for Election Day, Nov. 2.

In addition to local issues, voters in this year’s elections will cast votes for 36 Senate seats, 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 37 governors.

The Postal Service is playing an increasingly active role in support of the electoral process. “During this time, it’s critical that employees maintain their usual high level of service and make sure all official election mail and political campaign mail is processed and delivered in a timely manner,” said Karen Tucker, manager, Transaction Mail.

Tucker says employees should be on the look out for mailbags with a Tag 191, used to identify domestic and international mail–in ballots. Also important is Tag 57, which identifies political campaign mail.

“We need the help of employees nationwide to continue the tradition of providing superior service to the entire election community,” said Tucker.

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CURE FOR MEDS DISPOSAL

PRESCRIPTION MAIL-BACK PROGRAMS WORK

In 2007, USPS joined the University of Maine’s Center on Aging to start a first-in-the-nation pharmaceutical return-by-mail program . The plan provided consumers with free merchandise return envelopes to mail old or unneeded medications to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency for safe disposal.

The one–year program launched in early 2008. A year later, 150 pharmacies in all 16 of Maine’s counties were distributing the return envelopes. The state received more than 244,000 over–the–counter and prescription drugs.

This month, Maine’s Center on Aging released a report stating that without the program, 83 percent of the drugs returned during its first year — about 1,800 pounds — would have entered the state’s landfills and water supplies. The report concluded the program could serve “as a model for future use nationally by other organizations and states.”

Based on these results, the Maine program has been extended through 2010.

A report published by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) discusses the Maine program’s success and also focuses on the growth of prescription drug use and the disposal problems such growth create without solutions like mail–back programs. A decade ago, more than $1 billion worth of medicine was discarded each year. Since then, according to the report, pharmaceutical purchases in the U.S. have increased 72 percent. “Today, the average American takes 12 different prescription drugs each year, with more than 3.8 billion prescriptions purchased annually,” said the AARP report.

The Maine program is being followed by a second mail–back project. This time, USPS is working with the Veterans Administration (VA). Announced two months ago, the pilot project offers a prescription mail–back option to more than 780,000 veterans living in Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD and West Virginia. Using specially designed, postage-paid envelopes inserted in prescription fulfillment packages, veterans are sending unused medications to the VA for safe disposal.

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celebrated Flag Day at the Main Post Office.

PATERSON, NJ, HONORS ITS OWN. 

Three Paterson, NJ, employees took center stage June 14 when congressional, community, veterans and postal representatives celebrated Flag Day at the Main Post Office.

“As we honor our nation’s flag, it is important to also express our sincere appreciation and pay tribute to those men and women who have served in the military, those who are currently serving and especially to those who gave their lives in defense of our freedom,” said Paterson Postmaster Timothy Kennedy. The ceremony opened with recognition of the military service of Customer Service Supervisor Bob Santana, Maintenance Manager Wilfredo Ruiz and Retail Associate/Acting Supervisor Eliezer Viera.

The ceremony included presentations by Northern New Jersey District Manager Priscilla Maney, NALC Branch 120 President Don Hill and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ).

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NEW MAILING RULES

LEGAL CHANGES RESTRICT MAILING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS

To comply with legislation passed this year by Congress and signed into law by the president, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products will be subject to new mailing regulations beginning June 29. Public Law No. 111-154 — Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act — was signed March 31.

With only a few limited exceptions, packages containing cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products can no longer be mailed. The ban extends to cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco. The prohibition does not include cigars.

The law does permit infrequent lightweight shipments by age-verified adults to recipients who can purchase tobacco legally. Shipments between businesses in the tobacco industry also will be permitted, as well as cigarettes sent to consumers age 21 and above for testing or public health purposes. Photo identification and age verification wil be required at the shipment's destination. Shipments entirely within Alaska or Hawaii are also permitted.

With the exception of shipments entirely within Alaska and Hawaii or from the United States to APO/FPO/DPO destinations, mailings are only permitted using Express Mail Hold For Pickup service.

NEW MAILING STANDARD. The new issue ofPostal Bulletin contains a Field Information Kit on the PACT Act: Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter. .

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JUST A PEEK

From left, Sacramento District Manager Bill Hodson, Pacific Area Vice President Drew Aliperto and Sacramento Postmaster Al Santos.

The Postal Service presented a sneak preview of the new “Negro Leagues Baseball Stamps” prior to a recent Sacramento Rivercats and Tacoma Rainiers minor league baseball game. The unveiling took place at Raley Field, home of the Rivercats.

The two new 44-cent First-Class Mail stamps pay tribute to the all-black professional baseball leagues that operated from 1920 to about 1960. The stamps will be officially introduced July 15.

Unveiling the new stamps were Sacramento Postmaster Al Santos, District Manager Bill Hodson and Pacific Area Vice President Drew Aliperto, who also threw out the first pitch.

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WHO’S THE GREENEST OF THE GREEN?

PMG SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS NOMINATIONS OPEN

USPS has a number of goals to reduce its carbon footprint. Lowering greenhouse gas emissions, using less petroleum-based fuel and decreasing facility energy use are three of the major ones. Reaching those goals will take a coordinated effort from everyone in the Postal Service.

A number of employees are already helping USPS achieve its green goals. To recognize their efforts, the Postal Service is accepting nominations for the first-ever “Postmaster General Sustainability Excellence Award.”

There are eight categories open for nomination — waste reduction, recycling and pollution prevention; purchasing; facility operations and maintenance; transportation; mail processing and delivery operation; IT and electronics stewardship; employee engagement in sustainability; and selling green value to our customers.

Nominations are due July 31. Up to eight awards will be presented to successful individuals or teams based on area and headquarters submissions. 

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PEBBLE BEACH WINNERS

The Golden Bear envelope.

The U.S. Open 100th Anniversary envelope.

PEBBLE BEACH          WINNERS. 

The best drive of this year’s U.S. Open will be to the Pebble Beach Post Office, where visitors to the national golf championship can add two souvenir envelopes to their golf memorabilia collection.

The 100th anniversary envelope includes three Pebble Beach icons: the 7th hole, The Lodge, and the Lone Cypress Tree. It commemorates the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Open in 2000 — the last time golfers played for the U.S. championship at Pebble Beach.

The Golden Bear envelope is a tribute to Jack Nicklaus, all-time leader in major championship wins. His envelope is a collage of memorable events in his career
and is framed by images of the golf course and coastline at Pebble Beach.

Both envelopes originally were designed and produced in 2000 and bear the 33-cent California Gold Rush stamp. But you don’t need to be at Pebble Beach to order them. Limited quantities are available through Friday, June 18. Each envelope costs $10. Send a check or money order to Pebble Beach Post Office, 1491 Cypress Drive, Pebble Beach, CA, 93953-9998.

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