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PostalJournal.com Website

POSTALJOURNAL.COM – On December 1, 2009 a new Web forum was launched at www.postaljournal.com by a coalition of postal, mailing and marketing groups to discuss the state of the US Postal Service and how the federal agency can maintain its relevance in the future.

The site was created by PostCom (The Association for Postal Commerce), the Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association and the Envelope Manufacturers Association with the support of the Direct Marketing Association and Direct Communications Group.

The goals of PostalJournal.com are to explore the evolution of the American postal system as part of the nation’s 21st century economic and communication infrastructure and to facilitate an exchange of postal perspectives by individuals without regard to past or present occupational affiliations.

According to Ken Garner, the president and CEO of the Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association,  the financial state of the USPS was an impetus for the site’s creation because it reported a $3.8 billion net loss for fiscal year 2009.

Also, in an article appearing at the DM News website, Gene Del Polito, president of PostCom said about the new Postal Journal Forum, “There needed to be a place where people could present ideas and have them discussed, criticized and built upon without having to worry about speaking on behalf of anyone they specifically represented.” He also added that there wasn’t going to be any lobbying.

Whether they like it or not, these industry groups depend upon the Postal Service for their livelihood, and the fact that the USPS is hemorrhaging cash is of no small concern. This was reason enough to start the forum so they would have a platform from which to voice their concerns.

Like the industry groups, business who use mailing lists in their direct mail marketing campaigns will also be concerned about the future of the USPS. Businesses who send out mailings that use consumer mailing lists have to know that they need a financially healthy Postal Service to help with their marketing efforts.

This can be big news for suppliers of mailing lists and for businesses that buy mailing lists. Restoring direct mail service between U.S. and Cuba has been an issue that has thwarted previous presidents, including George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Previous attempts had been stalled by the Cuban government. Experts say that it would not only be a big step for families that have been divided but also would be a politically critical move. The decision to have the direct mail talks comes just after migration talks in New York in July.

Direct mail to Cuba stopped in 1963, and since then mail has had to go through other countries. Diplomats have now arranged to meet in Havana to discuss the renewal of direct mail between the countries to put an end to rerouting direct mail through Canada or Mexico. President Obama would like to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba. He has taken measures to see if the Cuban leadership is interested in participating. One such step taken involves the support of a recent decision by the Organization of American States to reverse its position in 1962 to suspend Cuba from the 34-country group. Read full direct mail story .