newsletters

[Tom Endy]

I was reading in a recent newsletter from A MAFCA chapter that a new postal regulation his been imposed for 2013. I will quote what was printed.

"Post Office Rules Change
I learned something new last month when ALL the newsletters were returned to me. They changed the mailing rules in January and we are no longer allowed to put staples in the newsletter. Well, that's not exactly true. We can put a staple in , but it will cost us an additional 20 cents per newsletter as a penalty. Also, we are now required to put 2 closure taps on the top instead of one. So from now on, you'll have to staple your newsletter together yourself."

I am the editor of the Victoria Association newsletter, The Bustle. I mail out four newsletter per year. Each mailing is over 300 copies. When they are printed at Office Max they automatically staple the upper left hand corner as each copy is printed. I add another staple at the bottom center when I fold them. I also add mailing sealers over the corner staple and at the center on the right so the post office cancelling machine does not tear them up. I sent out the January Bustle done as such with no problem, none were returned.

This has me concerned. I went on line and typed in a number of inquierise, such as "US post office new rules for 2013 concering staples." A lot of information came up, but nothing about the concerned issue.

It is possible the person who incurred the wrath of the post office was an isolated case of a bureaucrat misinterpreting a rule.

My queastion is:
Does anyone know anything about this. Some of you folks are probably club newsletter editors and should be concerned as I am.

A newsletter of six double sided pages printed on 20 pound bond paper can be mailed domestically for a single "forever" stamp (staples included).

Tom Endy