FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2003
ISSUE: National Databases
Impacted by Quebec Address Changes
BACKGROUND
NAMMU took a proactive role in 2002 initiating a joint project team with
Canada Post to develop a disciplined, uniform methodology for address
conversion of Quebec municipal amalgamations. Canada Post acts in a
consultative role with the municipalities. The partnership of NAMMU with
Canada Post to centralize the process makes good business sense.
Progress is evident but much slower than anticipated. The project review
with the NAMMU Board on February 7th made it clear that mailerslead time
is not fully understood and the impact is for all national mailers with
Quebec databases, not only mailers resident in Quebec.
NEW
The joint forum in Quebec City February 14th removed any doubts
expressed by mailers The project presentation by the Address Management
team of Suzanne Groulx-Wolck and Gaston Bouchard was unanimously well
received and demonstrated a clear understanding of issues with practical
resolutions. A Pilot project will be run with St. Hyacinthe and Gatineau
and if the model proves robust, the new product will be offered in
September. The product will be free to current NCOA customers. An annual
fee of $3,000. will be charged to other mailers, and this amount can be
applied toward the annual NCOA fee, should these mailers decide to
subscribe later. Along with the Address Management team from Ottawa, the
Association expresses its continued appreciation of the energy and focus
with which Guy Prefontaine (CAA Quebec) and Richard St-Laurent (Canada
Post) are steering this issue. To view the February 14 website
presentations click here:
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NAMMU_Pres.ppt
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AMALG-QC-PRESENTATION-ENG.ppt
NEXT
Since this is a pilot project with significant ramifications for mailers
with Quebec databases, it was agreed there would be a brief, weekly
teleconference between NAMMU and the Address Management team to review
progress. The national executive will handle industry notification of
all upcoming changes advised by Canada Post. This is an important step
forward for mailers with limited internet access. NAMMU will also
circulate the Address Manager electronically since many mailers without
internet access no longer receive information as they did in the print
publication. The Joint Technical Committee will maintain the Pilot as a
standard agenda item, with Lianne Pepper as champion. Comments and
questions:
rowe@thekmrgroup.com
