Tuesday, August 21, 2001

11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Registration

4:00 p.m.
Briefing from the International Mailers Action Group
Session Leader: Richard N. Miller, Market Response International

Plan to arrive early for this pre-conference briefing to get an idea of developments and tools for understanding the international mail scene.

6:00 p.m.
Baseball Outing - Phillies vs. Astros

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Conference Vision
Conference Chair Joe Lubenow, Vice President, Postal Affairs, Experian

Exact Meaning of the July 2001 Rate Increase
Everyone got hit - was it fair? What specifics are most interesting? Did it send any message? Was there intent behind the reduced work-sharing discounts? Our Chair has done a thorough analysis that he'll present to lead off the Rates-focused conference.
Presenter: Joe Lubenow, Vice President, Experian

Shaping the Next Rate Case
Some heavy numbers have been projected for the next Rate Case. What considerations within the Postal Service are shaping what will be filed? Will rates, costs and strategies be in sync this time? What about phased-in rates? What can industry do to shape the filing? What legislative developments may shape the case? It's part of the uncertainty that mailers face, all in view of the changing market for Postal services.
Moderator: Robert J. O'Brien, Vice President, Postal Affairs, Time Customer Service, Inc.
Panelists: Neal Denton, Executive Director, Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers
Ashley Lyons, US Postal Service
Jim O'Brien, Director, Distribution & Postal Affairs, Time Inc.

12:00 noon
Luncheon

Keynote: Cost Issues and Postal Reform
John E. Potter, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, US Postal Service

2:00 p.m.
Product Redesign
Driving out costs is the impetus behind the Postal Service's new focus effort on Product Redesign. It's an 18-24 month project potentially covering all classes of mail, with a particular emphasis on flats. This "open roundtable" is the industry's first opportunity to hear, participate in, and help shape the direction of this tremendously important work. A dynamite session - don't miss it!
Session Leader: Anita Bizzotto, Vice President, Pricing & Product Design, US Postal Service
Panelists: Don O'Hara, Executive Director, Product Redesign, US Postal Service
Charles C. McBride, US Postal Service

Operational Issues
In the way of current issues, how are the new package make-up rules working for the mailer as well as the Postal Service? How about the new revision to the Optional Endorsement Line for Line of Travel? What problems does/doesn't it solve? How's MERLIN looking now for the mailer? Then, a hot button with the new PMG is flats strategies (for good reason, given the productivity reports). Our panelists - and the attendees as well - have been asked to provide ideas and reactions, to such issues as presort optimization rules and 11 digit bar codes. Finally, we've been asked for recommendations on rules changes - any and all that can make life easier and help to control costs.
Moderator: Andy Roussel, Director, Postal Affairs, RR Donnelley and Sons
Panelists: Cheryl Beller Customer Service Support Analyst, US Postal Service
Tony Dobush, Operations Support, US Postal Service
Anita Pursley, Vice President, Postal Affairs, Quebecor World

5:30 p.m.
Adjourn

6:00 p.m.
Reception

Thursday, August 23, 2001

8:00 a.m.
Cost Opportunities -- Time for Change!
It's time to think big - there are plenty of opportunities for Postal cost reductions in the $100,000,000 and up category. And that's what the system needs to keep pace with the rapidly-changing mail mix. This panel of heavy hitters intends to smoke them out. And here again you, the attendees, have an opportunity to participate.
Moderator: Cary H. Baer, President, Cary H. Baer & Associates Inc.
Panelists: Robert Cohen, Director/Office of Rates Analysis & Planning, Postal Rate Commission
Peter Moore, President of Peter J. Moore and Associates
Joe Schick, Director, Postal Affairs, Quad/Graphics, Inc.
Wayne Orbke, Acting Manager/Address Management, US Postal Service

New Tools for International Direct Marketing
A demonstration of new tools from the Universal Postal Union Direct Mail Advisory Board (DMAB) of which GCA is a member and what issues to consider when working with foreign posts. Here is a demo of this just released guide from one of the major contributors.
Presenter: Richard N. Miller, Market Response International

JIFFI 2001
An outstanding product of GCA's Promotion Graphics Council is the Promotion Graphics Handbook and its companion electronic file for job definition, the Job Information File Format for Industry (JIFFI). The Council has now approved an expanded JIFFI, containing more features and an XML version in addition to the flat file format. Here's the unveiling of it, from the principal author, along with discussion on supporting software.
Presenter: Cameron Bellamy, President, GrayHair Software

Standard Mail Co-Mailing
Co-mailing is one great way to realize finer pre-sorts and otherwise take advantage of worksharing discounts. Here's a case study on how it works.
Presenter: Thomas McCaully, CEO, Com-Pack Services, Inc.

Closing remarks from the Conference Chair

12:00 p.m.
Adjourn

12:30 p.m.
Depart for Lunch & Tour at Com-Pak Services, Inc. Facility Moorestown, NJ
(Transportation will be provided; please be in the Hotel Lobby at 12:20 pm)

3:00 p.m.
Return to Crowne Plaza from Com-Pak Services, Inc. Tour