Trends in Print and Mail

The postage rate rollback. Rumors of restarting the network consolidation plan. Invoices based on the Mailer Scorecard. These are just a few of the issues attendees will be discussing at the upcoming National Postal Forum (NPF), March 20 – 23, 2016 in Nashville, TN.

The most anticipated moment of the NPF is when Postmaster General (PMG) Megan Brennan delivers the keynote address to the attendees on Monday morning. It will be interesting to hear her take on the continual financial and operational issues facing the USPS, and the lack of congressional action to fix the problem. PMG Brennan has been straightforward with mailers in the past, and we expect the same next week. We also look forward to the opportunity to ask direct questions to her and her leadership team. And receive direct answers.

For us, the NPF will start on Saturday, as we’ll be part of the crew working on the Habitat for Humanity project. Volunteers will be putting up trim, installing doors and painting. It will be a great way to give back to the Nashville community.  (Note: If you didn’t pre-register, but still want to participate, contact Mark directly.)

Next month, thousands of mailing professionals will gather in Nashville, TN for the 2016 National Postal Forum (“NPF”). From Sunday, March 20th through Wednesday, March 23, attendees will be able to attend educational classes, interact with vendors in the exhibit hall and meet with senior US Postal Service officials. And just as importantly, network with fellow industry managers.

Whenever I attend the NPF, I always follow the advice of my good friend, Paul Balbastro, for getting the most out of a conference: the "30-30-30-10 Rule". Paul says you should spend:

What are you doing on Saturday, March 19, 2016?

If you’re attending the National Postal Forum (NPF) in Nashville, you’re invited to join The Berkshire Company as we lend a hand to Habitat for Humanity.

The NPF is the premier postal industry conference with numerous educational workshops and more than 100 vendors participating in the exhibit hall. It’s also the venue for Postmaster General Megan Brennan and her leadership team to directly address the mailing industry and share the USPS’ plans for the coming year. Mark Fallon, The Berkshire Company’s president, has been an instructor at NPF for the last 20 years, delivering over 100 classes – from “Boot Camp for Mail Center Managers” to “The Ten Secrets of Leadership”.

The NPF is also a great opportunity to network with fellow professionals.

One of the networking events planned for NPF 2016 is working with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville on one of their projects. You can help construct a home in the Nashville area for a local, hardworking family in need. You don’t need to have any previous experience in construction or home repair. All you need is the willingness to help build a place that someone can call “home”.

As individuals, the members of The Berkshire Company team have participated in several Habitat for Humanity projects, including last year at the NPF in Anaheim. It’s rewarding to work alongside Habitat family members and other volunteers, transforming dreams into realities. Now we plan to do even more.

For 2016, The Berkshire Company will be sponsoring the Habitat for Humanity event at the NPF. We’re working with the staff at NPF, Habitat for Humanity, and members of the Nashville Postal Customer Council to coordinate all the activities for the project. With your support, we can make this year’s event a success for everyone, especially the family who will live in the completed home.

You can pre-register to volunteer on the NPF website. After registering for the conference, please remember to select “Networking Events”. If you’ve already registered, you can edit your existing registration and add the event. Round-trip transportation and lunch will be provided by the NPF. There’s a $25 non-refundable fee to participate, and all fees collected will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville.

Please sign up today to make a difference. Thanks.