Joe Lockery, Neighbor

Postal Customer Council

Mission Statement:

•Foster and maintain a close working relationship between mailers and the United States Postal Service.

•Share information about new and existing Postal Service products, programs, regulations, and procedures.

•Facilitate the interchange of ideas among mailers and Postal Service officials.

•Help members and their organizations grow and develop professionally through focused educational programs.

•Promote cooperation and support between members and others who are dedicated to quality and efficiency in the mailing industry.

History of the Program:

The Postal Customer Council (PCC) program began more than 30 years ago with the formation of local mail users councils. The Post Office Department organized the councils to improve communication between postal customers and local postal managers. The councils' rallying call was a "Mail Entry" campaign, designed to regulate the flow of local mail.

Postal volume in 1961 was characterized by large swells after 5 p.m., when most of the business mail was deposited. This evening rush was getting larger and straining processing capacity. The concept of working with customers to get mail earlier in the day was realized through the Mail Early campaign and the creation of mail users councils, also known as "Citizens Advisory Councils." The name "Mail Users Councils" lasted for nearly a decade until it was changed in 1971 to "Postal Customer Council".

Once postal customers and local postal managers began working together under the council framework, both groups found that many problems could be resolved easily. Processing and delivery improved, and postal resources and equipment were used more productively.

The importance of postal customer councils has grown since the early 1970s. Today, more than 300 councils with some 300,000 members are active across the nation. Through regular meetings, mailer clinics, and seminars, PCC members are kept abreast of the latest postal developments and work closely with local post offices to make mail services more efficient.

The Postal Service stands behind the PCC program, an important avenue for improving service and understanding mailers' needs. The Postal Service supplies speakers and resources for PCC presentations and, because we share the members' interest in efficient and economical mail service, we encourage business mailers to take part in PCCs whenever they can.

Benefits of PCC Membership:

The PCC provides a forum for mailers to discuss and resolve local mailing issues with their local postmaster. Postal customer council members can interact regularly with local postal managers. They also meet other mailers and learn how the Postal Service can meet their needs and solve their mailing problems.

The PCC also serves as an avenue for its members to exchange ideas and suggestions on new Postal Service products and services. Members interacting at PCC meetings and seminars have developed many money-saving ideas.

A working relationship with mailers from other councils often results from PCC membership. Many members who meet at PCC gatherings form close bonds of cooperation. Some communicate regularly to seek and provide insight into various postal processing and delivery issues.

PCC members have also helped one another by sharing equipment and knowledge at critical mailing times. Some PCCs have even established a Postal Improvement Committee to provide advice to their members for improving their mail center operations.