Showing posts with label Mailing Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mailing Services. Show all posts

Monday, December 6, 2010

Are You MDP Certified?

By Keith Ballard, FCi Production Scheduler, Kentuckiana PCC Programs Director

Don’t be left behind; bring more knowledge to your professional career by completing the USPS Mail Piece Design Professional Certification. This program is administered by the USPS Business Mail Academy and combines the now obsolete MQC Specialist with the newly created online MDP information to increase your knowledge base 10 times over. The seven-hour study guide can be accessed from your computer and takes you through a series of slides, presentations, and practice tests to keep you current on USPS rules and regulations. This knowledge is worth its weight in gold to your business and clients. You will learn what it takes to keep your mail compliant and maximize your postal discounts. After completing the self-paced study course, you can then apply to take the USPS “final exam” to earn your certification. Log on to the BMA web site at www.nced.com/bma/ for more information.

Fulfillment Concepts prides itself in being current and up-to-date on the latest USPS rules and regulations. If you have ever looked at any of the regulation handbooks, you understand how overwhelming and complex they are. We have on-site team members who hold over 10 USPS certifications in all types of USPS mail solutions. Many of these can be achieved through your local Postal Customer Council or the National Postal Forum. We have saved clients thousands of dollars in potential re-work by proactively catching design errors. Even simple mistakes could result in lost postal discounts or even mail rejection based on non-compliance of USPS regulations. Remember, knowledge is the key to guiding you and your clients down a successful path. Once you have proven this success, they will look at you with complete faith and trust that you have their best interest in mind. My advice to you: become as knowledgeable as you can. Your career and business will thrive on it.

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Power of the PCC

By Keith Ballard, FCi Production Scheduler and Kentuckiana PCC Programs Director

What is a PCC you ask? Founded in 1961, the Postal Customer Council is a group of USPS Officials and industry leaders who serve to bridge the communication gap and foster educational and networking opportunities between the Postal Service and the mailing community. There are more than 200 local PCC chapters with approximately 100,000 members across the nation. You can bet there is one in your area that would welcome your participation.

I have been involved with the Kentuckiana PCC since 1990 and more recently as Special Events Coordinator and Programs Director on the Executive Board since 2008. Our goal has been to take the PCC to new heights and give our 800+ members value and the education needed in the tough economy we are all facing. Due to the never-ending amount of USPS changes and new regulations, we are increasing our general meetings to 6 per year and have added additional programs to the traditional 2 seminars per meeting. Our next meeting will be PCC day on 9/15/10 and will include 3 seminars from USPS Headquarters. Most of our seminars are custom designed by our Industry members or USPS presentations only offered at the National Postal Forum. You will be allowed time to socialize and network with your peers while being served a catered lunch from Bootleg BBQ. We will wrap up with a webcast of Postmaster General Jack Potter spelling out his challenges and plans to transform the Postal Service, and end the day with tours of our local USPS facility. This is a great way to see the USPS machines in action and know what happens to the mail after it leaves your hands. Our Annual Membership is free and everyone is invited to attend this action packed event at a cost of $25.00 per person.

The PCC is beneficial to FCi and everyone who mails and could not exist without your involvement. So I encourage you… PLEASE BE INVOLVED. Every member makes a difference to refine, change, or voice your opinion to the USPS industry. FCi, as a member, has been able to keep up with major USPS changes to remain postal compliant through the PCC’s education programs. FCi also maximizes the best postal discounts and efficiencies from mailpiece creation to output with our participation in many other workshops and key PCC events. Please visit our website at www.kentuckianapcc.com or contact me at kballard@fciusa.net for more information about the Kentuckiana PCC. Other areas may contact your local post office for a chapter nearest you.