Tag Archives: Pat Donahoe

National PCC Day September 9th

We’ll be at the 2014 National Postal Customer Council (PCC) Day celebration hosted by the Houston Postal Service. We’ll join other PCC’s across the country to celebrate National Postal Customer Council Week and hear a special message from Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. In addition, Jo Ann Feindt, USPS Area Vice President will also be speaking.

We’ll learn about what is new from the US Postal Service for 2015 including postal changes, facility closures and Full Service mailing. We are proud members of the Houston PCC and will be at the Houston Texans Grille to support our partners on September 9, 2014. Go to houstonpcc.com for details.

HAPPY POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL DAY!

Leave a reply

This week is National Postal Customer Council (PCC) week! Our local chapter (HPCC) celebrated with a great event today at the Bayou City Event Center from 10am – 2pm and featured an “all star” line up of speakers, special sessions and a vendor show case.

The conference included a presentation on the USPS Incentives and Promotions for the balance of year and special guest Pritha Mehra spoke about acceptance, payment and delivery using iMB. US Postmaster General, Pat Donahoe addressed all PCC participants nationwide via satellite, and discussed the five-year USPS business plan.

The Future of the Postal Service

Leave a reply

Recently I had the pleasure of hearing our current US Postmaster General & CEO of the US Postal Service, Pat Donahoe, give an update on the state of the Postal Service. He noted that the shrinkage of First-Class Mail is driving the continuing trend of operating losses, and even though the USPS shipping & packages segment is growing, it’s not sufficient to replace the previous First-Class profits. Additional operational cuts, efficiency improvements and legislative action are needed to help shrink the gap between expenses and revenue. $19.7 billion in savings from proposed operations and workforce incentives, along with aggressive benefit changes, are on the table to combat the 79% of the total USPS cost base dedicated to labor today.
$11.1 billion of the proposed savings require legislative action that will give the Postal Service authority to generate new revenue and adapt to changing business conditions.

A key legislative point is allowing the USPS to manage their own health care plan which is facing resistance as people on the hill are concerned that health care costs to all other government employees will significantly rise as a result of the USPS’ departure. Items such as refunding the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) overpayment and controversial 5-day delivery debate are also crucial to the USPS Business Plan financial projections that show a debt-free entity by fiscal year-end, 2017.

Getting the current group in Washington to act on these points will be a challenge to say the least. The economic and structural hurdles that the USPS faces can be cleared with action from Washington. All of our businesses rely on the USPS’ mission to provide secure, reliable and affordable universal delivery services, and our Representatives must stop stonewalling this imperative legislation and take action now.

By Joy Zerbach – Vice President, Marketing

The New BEBTEXAS.COM

Leave a reply

We’ve launched our new website, bebtexas.com, and cordially invite you to take a tour!

It’s a living site that is in a constant state of renewal. In addition to the traditional details of our service offerings, we share our rich and unique 64-year history while offering the latest postal and marketing news through our blog. There are links to our Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook pages, and we’ve added a career page too! Most important, we are connected to our clients through this interactive site and appreciate all of the feedback, suggestions and kudos received so far!

Check out some of our more popular blogs below!

The Current State of the Economy

Leave a reply

From the August edition of our bi-monthly newsletter, The Bureau

Ron Royall, President

At the start of the third quarter, I’m still uncertain about our current economic climate. Recently I saw a monthly economic index from the NFIB that showed a drop in June indicating confidence among job creators isn’t there. On the other hand, I just read an article about an analysis conducted by Bloomberg BNA that said the US economic recovery is expected to accelerate beginning in the 2nd half of 2013.

The one thing I am certain about is our commitment to you, our clients, vendors and partners. As we continue to weather this economic storm, we have seen a tremendous amount of activity and change and are honored to work for, and with, so many great companies and people.

Our extended issue of our newsletter covers a very exciting 2nd quarter for us. As one of the articles says; BEB has been “On A Roll” winning six awards from local, regional and national organizations, and for a wide variety of items such as our interactive holiday cards, twitter campaigns and our newsletter, The Bureau!

We’ve also launched our new website, bebtexas.com, and cordially invite you to take a tour. It’s a living site that is in a constant state of renewal. In addition to the traditional details of our service offerings, we share our rich and unique 64-year history while offering the latest postal and marketing news through our blog. There are links to our Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook pages, and we’ve added a career page too! Most important, we are connected to our clients through this interactive site and appreciate all of the feedback, suggestions and kudos received so far!

Other articles enclosed a summation of stats from a multi-channel marketing campaign, highlights from a meeting with the US Postmaster General Pat Donahoe, and outline of postal promotions for the remaining year and more photos showing our personal side on “The Back Wall”.

The balance of the year holds more excitement and education too. We’ll be at several industry trade shows, we have several client trips slated on the calendar and lots of industry events (including the big PICG Oktoberfest) and soon we’ll be working on our 2014 Calendar.

No matter how bumpy the economic climate is for our businesses, BEB will continue to search for new ways to better serve your needs. Thank you for your continued support and thank you for your business.

Sincerely,

Ron Royall

And the next USPS PMG is….

Leave a reply

Joy Zerbach, VP

I’m a fan of our current US Postmaster General Pat Donahoe. It’s not often that a USPS ‘guy’ is willing to think out of the box or make bold moves, especially if those moves may be unpopular or painful. I’ve heard some say that he lacks long-term vision. However, Donahoe has some big and immediate problems to solve before he can communicate in detail, what he foresees as the sustainable USPS of the future. I worry that he will grow tired of constant push back from Congress about the most basic, common sense and simplistic changes and surrender his noble fight for reform by resigning.

From L-R Karen DeWolfe (InterlinkOne), USPMG Patrick Donahoe and Joy Z

Rumors are already buzzing in Washington that the 57-year old Donahoe will retire this summer and speculation is that Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman will step into Donahoe’s spot. Let’s hope that Mr. Donahoe keeps the boxing gloves on and continues to fight for the needed changes to our current postal service. He is well-spoken, has the ability to communicate clearly to the masses and he certainly has more patience that I could (ever) hope! He’s also getting the word out to the public and is leading the charge for change. I hope he stays around a while longer!

Congress Kills 5-Day Delivery

Leave a reply

The US Postal Service Board of Governors met yesterday to discuss the Continuing Resolution recently passed by Congress to fund government operations. Congress included restrictive language as it pertains to 5-Day Delivery which specifically prohibits a new national delivery schedule for mail the US PMG Pat Donahoe wanted to implement the week of August 5, 2013.
The statement released by the Board said; “Although disappointed with this Congressional action, the Board will follow the law and has directed the Postal Service to delay implementation of its new delivery schedule until legislation is passed that provides the Postal Service with the authority to implement a financially appropriate and responsible delivery schedule.”

US PMG Says “Get Your Game On”

Leave a reply

The 2013 National Postal Forum wrapped up last week in San Francisco, CA. The primary focus of the conference was on the positive changes occurring within our industry and the technology driving those changes. US Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe said that the industry needs a “Game On Attitude.”
The growth of the industry is driven by change and those that embrace this dynamic will be around to service the next generation of users. Users that define the EXPERIENCE of direct mail. Donahoe highlighted the power of interaction from a printed piece, held in the hands of your audience within the comfort and convenience of their own home. He said; “We own that experience.”
As we embrace this unique experience and ride the power to drive consumers to the ever developing mobile world, we will shape the future of direct mail and its unchallenged return on investment.

Congress, Make Decision and Move Away

Leave a reply

US PMG Patrick Donahoe was a key-note speaker at this year’s National Postal Forum in San Francisco. He (as usual) delivered his message addressing Congressional hurdles with gusto, vision and without fear.
In a written outline of his opening speech, Donahoe noted the current leaders of the USPS are pushing the Congress to enact comprehensive reform legislation and referred to the journey as a long and winding road. He reiterated that the Congress must allow a new USPS business model that will keep mail relevant and affordable and noted that we are starting to see the end of the continued reservation to move on controversial but essential issues such as retiree health benefit obligations, streamlining operations and governance, transference of ownership to the USPS health plan, and 5-Day delivery.
Donahoe went on to say;
We simply must get these issues resolved.
This industry needs clarity.
This industry needs certainty.
It needs Congress to make some decisions and then get out of the way.
(go to about.usps.com/news/national-releases/ for details)

2-13-12 Government Affairs Committee Meeting

Leave a reply

Will Congress move on postal reform now that US PMG Pat Donahoe has announced 5-day delivery? After seeing yesterday’s hearing on solutions to the crisis facing the Postal Service, we’re not so sure. Rural delivery and legality of reduced delivery schedule were hot topics in Washington DC yesterday morning.