THURSDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2007

VAM COUNCIL MEETING
Laura Artibello, Director, Value Add Mailer (VAM) council, invites all VAM members to attend a special Council meeting February 15, to focus with Canada Post on simplifying aspects of Lettermail service. Agenda items include: Partial Shipments for Lettermail; Envelope Specifications for Mechanical vs Pre-Sort; Address Accuracy; Dual Return Addresses. Canada Post has requested this working session intended to validate and prioritize ideas and changes to be effective in 2008. Registration is required by February 12. Information and Registration: 416.977.3703 Jennifer Taylor or nammu@sympatico.ca Questions: laura@mailenniumgroup.com

COX TARGET MEDIA SELECTS BOWE BELL + HOWELL
Bowe Bell + Howell has been named as a major equipment supplier for the new Cox Target Media manufacturing facility under construction in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cox Target Media, distributor of the VALPAK® coupon envelopes that deliver savings to some 45 million households each month throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, chose Bowe Bell + Howell automated mailing systems. These custom, integrated systems were specially designed to meet the Valpak® facility needs, including the first implementation of true robotics for loading and unloading of material and automated job changeover. Cox Target Media is able to move from 85 inserters to nine new custom systems while more than doubling their productivity.

The new manufacturing facility will reportedly showcase some of the world’s most advanced systems in printing, collation, warehousing, packaging, material movement and mail distribution. More than 500 million envelopes will be produced and distributed from the facility each year. Learn more: www.bowebellhowell.com

FORESTRY INSTITUTIONS TO MERGE
Three key Canadian forestry sector research institutions will merge, effective April. The action comes as the Canadian forestry sector is facing unprecedented economic and environmental challenges. The new, single institute, to be named FPInnovations, will be formed from the fusion of Paprican, The Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada; FERIC, the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada; and Forinteck Canada, a national wood products research institute. The boards and member companies of Paprican, FERIC, and Forinteck voted in favor of the move, which will provide the Canadian forest industry with one of the world’s largest forest sector research institutions. According to Frank Dottori, Chairman of the Board of Paprican:
“Understanding the unique qualities of Canadian forests and determining how to maximize the value of that resource is key to the industry’s future success. FPInnovations will play a significant role in assisting industry with this challenge.” Learn more: www.paprican.ca

GREAT-WEST LIFECO ACQUIRES PUTNAM
Great-West Lifeco Inc. announced it has reached an agreement with Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. whereby Lifeco will acquire the asset management business of Putnam Investments Trust, and The Great-West Life Assurance Company will acquire Putnam’s 25 per cent interest in T. H. Lee Partners. The acquisition of Putnam’s asset management business allows Lifeco to achieve a major presence in the mutual fund and institutional asset management industry in the United States. Putnam’s investment management and distribution cover every major product category, all significant channels and all asset classes. In the United States, Putnam has nine million shareholder accounts. Learn more: www.greatwestlife.com

USPS MEETING NOTIFICATION
With thanks to Jim Wiseman, Transcontinental – RBW, Owen Sound, a NAMMU Canadian Mailers meeting will be held March 6 in Buffalo, to address the implications with USPS of planned data access restrictions. The session will be hosted by Ms. Kimberly Peters, District Manager, United States Postal Service. A recommendation to have an on-site meeting with USPS representatives of a major Canadian mail entry point was agreed by members as an important step in the understanding/resolution process. The planned implementation by USPS of data access restrictions in August 2007, impact any Canadian organization that needs to update addresses in the United States. Registration is required by February 15. Information and registration: click here
 

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eView is the electronic bulletin of the National Association of Major Mail Users highlighting issues of interest to business mail communication and delivery professionals. Content: KMR Group. The information contained in eView is obtained from various sources and believed to be reliable but accuracy cannot be guaranteed.