THURSDAY OCTOBER 2, 2008

BROAD INPUT TO STRATEGIC REVIEW ADVISORY PANEL
Hundreds of written submissions have been made to the Canada Post Strategic Review Advisory Panel by members of the public, industry, unions, and key stakeholders According to information released by Minister Cannon’s office, this input will be considered along with the work undertaken by the Panel in formulating its report. NAMMU members were provided copies of the Association’s brief in mid-September – a brief that reflected recent NAMMU membership research. The Panel’s report is due in December 2008.
To access all written submissions: www.cpcstrategicreview.gc.ca
To access Canada Post’s submission: www.canadapost.ca/aboutus/pdf/sr-e.pdf

CONSULTATION FRAMEWORK AGREED
In a remarkable step forward to meet business needs, Canada Post and NAMMU have co-operatively developed a consultation framework for Incentive Lettermail. Chief Operating Officer, Jacques Cote; GM, Product Development and Management Lettermail, Michael Badour; and NAMMU President, Kathleen Rowe, met following the July 24th NAMMU Transaction Mail Council meeting, and agreed a series of consultation steps and timelines that NAMMU members stated as fundamental to their business planning needs. Implementation will require goodwill and flexibility, much of which was evident at the September 26th Transaction Mail Council meeting.

The framework components include: a five year Visionary (aspiration) horizon preview; meaningful consultation on two-three year horizon Strategic initiatives; involvement in development of technical specifications; preview of likely rate and incentive migration scenarios at least one year in advance. The workshops and initiatives needed to realize the full potential of this consultation framework for Incentive Lettermail are already underway. Given the immediate and positive reaction from members and the advent of Postal Transformation, NAMMU will work toward migrating this collaborative template to other types of mail and postal initiatives.

SEPTEMBER 26th NATIONAL WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Transaction Mail Council notes are in progress from the morning discussions and will be distributed the week of October 6th. Council Chair, Shirley Neil, will propose an implementation plan to members that incorporates all aspects of the newly agreed consultation framework for Incentive Lettermail. The rapid, initial start-up plan will call for consistency in meeting participation over a variety of sessions in order to achieve optimum understanding and input from industry.

The afternoon session led by NAMMU President, Kathleen Rowe, focused on identifying members’ priorities for several national Council agendas. Publications Mail & Catalogue Council: new weight restrictions for catalogues, Canada Post catalogue market strategy, previously identified Publications Mail “wish list” for Canada Post. Direct Mail Marketing Council: introduction of two weight bands in 0-50g mail; 30-day notification of changes. VAM Council: palletization issues – cost and transportation; competition framework. Environmental Committee: funding; public service announcements – publications. These and other priorities identified will be reviewed by Council chairs, and members advised of meeting plans. Click here to review Publications Mail “wish list”:

CANADA POST APPOINTMENTS
Recent appointments include:
Peter Melanson as Senior Vice-President, Enterprise Sales, reporting to Stewart Bacon, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. Peter is responsible for providing leadership and direction to support the formulation and execution of enterprise sales strategies. He will also assume prime responsibility for the delivery of a Sales Management Executive Development Program in collaboration with Queen’s University. Concurrent with this new appointment, Peter has also been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors for SCI Logistics (formerly Progistix Inc.)

Cheryl Persad as Senior Vice-President, Transaction Mail, reporting to Jacques Cote, Chief Operating Officer. Cheryl assumes full responsibility for developing and implementing business strategies and plans that will preserve existing Transaction Mail business while expanding into new product and service lines. Concurrent with this appointment, Cheryl has also been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of Purolator Courier.

Nicole Goodfellow as Ombudsman, for a term of three years, reporting to Marc Courtois, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

RECORD NUMBER OF AGENCIES ENTER 2008 NAMMU’s
A record number of agencies entered this year’s NAMMU Awards according to reports compiled by Wood & Associates Direct Marketing Services Limited, the official receiver for NAMMU Award entries. The “It’s NAMMU Season” creative executed by the Engine Room creative team is credited with this result. Judging began September 30th for most categories, the Dave Taylor Award will be judged independently by a panel of copywriting experts this month. Environmental Award entries are also judged in October.
Click here for media release:

Agencies. Clients. Suppliers. If you market through the mail, this is the Award to win!