NEWS RELEASE                                       

CONTACT:   GARY L. POELSTRA
800-572-9483 ext.110
www.auspl.com 

National League Of Postmasters and Association of United States Postal Lessors Join Forces to Fight Closure of Rural Post Offices 

COSTA MESA, September 4, 2003— The National League of Postmasters (NLPM) and the Association of United States Postal Lessors (AUSPL) are drawing up plans to stop the wholesale closure of small and unprofitable post offices in towns and communities nationwide without due process.  The joint effort is a result of the recent recommendations for the future of the United States Postal Service made by a nine-member, bipartisan commission established by President Bush last year.

“We understand it’s necessary to streamline operations of USPS, but it’s only fair postal lessors are informed and given reasons why their facility is being closed,” said Gary Poelstra, AUSPL president. AUSPL is the largest association for postal lessors, currently serving more than 2,100 members nationwide. Since 1981, the nonprofit organization has helped individuals and organizations that own post offices better manage their business. As a collective body, members own approximately 30% of space leased to the Postal Service. Members range from “mom and pop” owners of one or two post offices to those owning multiple facilities to others who own 100 or more buildings.

“We don’t believe small post offices should be closed solely as a cost-cutting strategy,” said Poelstra. Steve LeNoir, president of NLPM agrees. In oral and written testimony before the President’s Commission LeNoir said, “Rural and inner city post offices are often perceived as money losers, but this is not a true picture. While the postal revenue is collected where the mailer enters the mail into our system, the cost of delivering the mail is borne by the post office that ultimately delivers the piece. To say that over half of the post offices lose money is not a fair analysis.”

The National League of Postmasters advocates for current and retired postmasters nationwide, from the smallest to the largest facilities. Sixty-two percent of the approximately 27,000 postmasters are non-exempt, meaning they supervise less than two employees. The 62% comprises small post offices located in rural America.

 AUSPL, NLPM and NLPM’s legislative counsel are drawing up plans for the most effective ways to fight the closure of rural post offices. The Commission’s report, delivered on July 31, 2003 to the President and Congress, recommended lifting the restrictions on closing “money-losing” rural post offices. The Commission sees benefits in providing mail services via kiosks in shopping malls, banks and grocery stores. We maintain that a kiosk cannot take the place of personalized service that citizens receive at a post office. Seniors and other citizens rely on their local post offices to pay bills, conduct business and socialize. Some facilities serve as bus stops, ensuring a safe drop off for children.

 AUSPL is encouraging its members and other postal lessors to write their Representatives and Senators, urging them to oppose any attempts to weaken the Postal Service. Sample letters and more information is available online at www.auspl.com.

 The National League of Postmasters is monitoring the situation closely and will likely again testify before the Commission. In previous testimony, NLPM President Steve LeNoir suggested expanding non-postal services at post offices, including banking, savings bond sales and redemption, voter registration, ATM machines, fax or copy services, money transfers, notary public services and even computer services. Additionally, he suggested using post offices to assist with the administration of Medicare and federal prescription drug programs. Many seniors receive medications through the mail when there are no pharmacies nearby.

 “We believe post offices must be measured by the service they provide, and not be judged solely on financial considerations,” said LeNoir.

 AUSPL and NLPM believe rural customers deserve access to postal services just like customers in metropolitan areas. Over 55 million people live in rural America and having a post office is important to them. The cost of universal service is a small portion of the USPS $70 billion budget. The cost of the 10,000 smallest post offices is less than one percent of the total budget. 

“The Commission will hold more hearings this fall. If and when its recommendations go into effect, it will mean the Postal Service can move out of the lessors’ buildings with no accountability to the customers it serves,” said AUSPL President Gary Poelstra. “We don’t think it’s fair to close a facility, disrupt the lives of seniors and other citizens without due process; our country was founded on such principles.”

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