TUESDAY JUNE 27, 2006

MAILING CLINIC A HIT AT MAGS U!
Thanks in large part to the “Docs” who lent their time and expertise to the Masthead Mailing Clinic sponsored by NAMMU, June 6-8, The Old Mill, publishers, marketers and production delegates with mail and production questions took great advantage of the opportunity to vist Booth 110. A steady stream of clinic visitors began with “Doc” Lynn Ridgley (Wood & Associates Direct Marketing Services Ltd.) on the first rotation; and continued throughout “Doc” Jim Wiseman (Transcontinental – RBW Owen Sound), co-chair of the NAMMU Publications Mail Council, double shift; and “Doc” Laura Artibello (Mailennium) tour of duty. All very appreciative visitors were rewarded with solid information and Smarties as a takeaway. A bona fide hit with delegates. Masthead rewarded our “Docs” with teaching certificates – another strong indicator of the value of industry networking and sharing of vital expertise promoted by NAMMU.

The regular NAMMU Booth 113 attracted its own share of visitors. Membership prospects and NAMMU members stopped by to chat with president, Kathleen Rowe, review material on hand, get the latest updates. Supremex , Clixx, Mailennium, Wood & Associates Direct Marketing Services Ltd., took advantage of the general membership invitation to provide booth display material and this proved popular as always with booth visitors. Click here to view photo gallery of MAGS U 2006.

CANADA POST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg, was the site of the first Canada Post Annual Public Meeting, open to the public and media, June 13. This historic meeting was well attended by a cross section of important stakeholders including employees, regional and national union representatives, philatelic interests, university students, economists, and NAMMU. A simultaneous webcast permitted widespread access to the live session. Following the formal agenda to present the annual report and forward thinking of the Corporation, Chairman Gordon Feeney, opened the floor to questions, alternating between the live session and webcast participants.

NAMMU president, Kathleen Rowe, congratulated Mr. Feeney, and Canada Post President, Moya Greene, on this important initiative and encouraged their view of an annual public meeting as “vital and mature”. The full webcast, including the Q&A session can be accessed at: www.canadapost.ca/publicmeeting2006

EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE: PROCESS UPDATE
For the last three years, NAMMU has successfully promoted awareness around the plight of commercial incentive rate Lettermail users, and their total exclusion from any known formal process of consultation and appeal. Culminating in the 2005 “Just Say No” campaign, this awareness program will now focus on the next logical step of remedial action to correct this imbalance. The realignment around lines of business should assist this remedial action, given that Transaction Mail now has its own president, Peter Melanson, and a team dedicated to maintaining and growing volume. The rate cap formula, and the bureaucratic process of gazetting the new stamp rate, has little to do with the incentive business rates, and the potential changes that can prove more costly to mailers than any rate increase.

Toronto Chapter members were alerted to potential changes at their June 20 meeting during a member exchange session, however, no formal notification to consult or provide the long overdue forward thinking on these products has been signalled by the Corporation. Following the Toronto session, NAMMU president, Kathleen Rowe, encouraged the new Transaction Mail team to take a positive first step in process improvement, and present at least their directional thinking on Lettermail incentive rates as soon as practical. NAMMU members will be advised as soon as any sessions are scheduled.

GOLF….GOLF….GOLF….GOLF….GOLF….GOLF….GOLF….GOLF….GOLF….
Quebec City chapter members and colleagues enjoyed the first NAMMU golf day of the 2006 season on June 5 thanks to Jean Beaupre and the golf team. Next on the tee: the Montreal chapter 15th annual golf tournament, September 15th. Chapter Director, Jean Gaumond, reports the golf team is planning a superb anniversary event with more fun than ever. Registration, sponsorship, additional details: jgaumond@gazmetro.com

Toronto chapter Director, Craig Porter, announced the third annual golf date as September 28th, at the recent Toronto chapter meeting. Craig is looking for volunteers to assist the implementation and success of this event and needs your name for his golf team by July 28th. Contact: cporter@mackenziefinancial.com