Local User Group chapters provide a networking opportunity for Group 1 customers. Attend a meeting most convenient to you and meet fellow users of MailStream Plus, CODE-1 Plus, SortStream Canada, and many other Group 1 products. Meetings are informative and give users a chance to exchange ideas on and knowledge of Group 1 products. They are also a great place to discuss what is happening in the industry and how it might affect your organization.

DENVER

Location:	Reed Business Information, 8878 South Barrons Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO
Date:	Thursday, May 1, 2003
Time:	1:00 p.m.
Topic:	TBA
Contact:	Dennis Roy - DROY@reedbusiness.com

FLORIDA

Location:	Time Customer Service, 1 N Dale Mabry Hwy Fl 13, Tampa, Florida
Date:	Thursday, March 13, 2003
Time:	9:00 a.m. - late afternoon
Topic:	TBA
Contact:	Jeff Luther - Jeffrey.Luther@custserv.com

OHIO AREA

Location:	Banc One Center, Polaris Parkway, Columbus Ohio
Date:	Thursday, March 20, 2003
Time:	11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Topic:	Review of Product Updates, new List Product releases, and anything else the group would like to discuss. Suggestions are always welcome!
Contact:	Mitch Williams - MWilliams@DirectGraphics.com

TEXAS AREA

Location:	Group 1 Austin, 10535 Boyer Boulevard, Suite 100, Austin, Texas
Date:	March 18, 2003
Time:	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Topic:	This group has decided to meet twice a year in March and September for a full day. Some of the topics selected include What's New with the USPS, Overview of Group 1 products, Best Practices (return codes, matching, etc.), success stories (what has CODE-1 Plus done for you - hit rates went up, ROI). Please submit additional topics to the contact persons below.
Contact:	Fred Hoffman - fhoffman@tad.org and Laura Dennis - LDENNIS@dot.state.tx.us

Group 1 would like to announce the launch of upgraded FTP Services on the Group 1 ESD Support site. Some of the new features include:

• Automatic creation of new FTP accounts based on your login ID and password to the Support site;
• Secure/private access to a personal directory;
• A Public directory that allows Group 1 to share files among all FTP users;
• Automatic detection of an existing FTP account;
• Automated login via an Internet Browser; and
• Generic usage instructions available online.

To access this new service, select FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Access from the main Support menu located at http://www.g1.com/support/. (The direct link is http://www.g1.com/support/ftp/). You will need to log in to the Support site with your unique User ID and password and will also be required to sign a usage agreement when your account is initially created.

For information on hotel accommodations or conference sessions, please visit the Group 1 Web site at http://www.g1.com/uconf. Sign up today and don't miss the "Express to Success".

Canada Post Corporation (CPC) recently announced that the Software Evaluation and Recognition Program (SERP) will be extending the March 1, 2003, deadline for re-certifying software for Presort to January, 2004. According to the letter to vendors, "All current software holding recognition status will automatically have the extension applied to the current Notice of Recognition (Schedule A). The exact day within January, will be identified at a later date."

CPC further stated the additional time will allow Canada Post to align present Presort requirements to anticipated changes, which are currently under review. Revised Presortation Technical Specifications from CPC are expected in March 2003.

The SERP recognition for Group 1's Stream Canada will be extended January 2004. Users of the software should not have any problems running the existing product. For any additional product questions, please contact support@g1.com.

Did you know that on average, one-third of all billing addresses are assigned to the WRONG tax jurisdiction? With thousands of changing city and country boundaries, and over 1000 sales tax related special tax districts that are constantly in flux - it is no wonder why companies like yours are so challenged by the assignment of accurate tax jurisdictions.

Could the impact of inaccuracy in determining tax jurisdiction be putting your company at risk for potential losses? If so, wouldn't it be comforting to have a solution that automatically and accurately assigns your tax jurisdictions?

There is a simple solution. Group 1 Software is hosting a FREE seminar on March 19, 2003, at the Austin office. The seminar starts at 10:00 a.m. and lunch will be provided. During this invaluable event, you will learn how to:

• Accurately assign tax jurisdictions at the local level;
• Verify addresses to correctly assign tax jurisdictions;
• Reduce incorrect billing;
• Integrate with industry-leading Tax Compliance Packages;
• Reduce your tax compliance costs;
• Reduce risks of tax audits and class action suits; and
• Improve customer service.

For more information, or to register for this FREE seminar in Austin, TX, contact Carol Maginn at 512-531-5335, or at carol_maginn@g1.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Group 1 would like to announce the availability of List Services on the Group 1 Web site. List Services is a Web-based Double Opt-In email list management system that enables customers and prospects to pick and choose which forms of email communication they would or would not like to receive from Group 1. Through an easy to use web interface, users can opt-out of specific lists, list categories, or even all email communications.

To learn more about this new system, visit the Group 1 Web site at http://www.g1.com and select Support, Communications, List Services (http://www.g1.com/Support/Email/). Once there, you will find information about this new system and the various lists that are available.

Take a look at some of the recent updates and additions that have been made to this valuable section of our Web site. The FAQs are listed by product so you can easily find the questions that apply to your specific products. There is also a link to the FAQ Submission Form if you have a question/answer you would like to have considered. Below are a few of the most recent additions and update to this area.

Using the CODE-1 Plus 2.5 interactive system, the command GEO is not recognized. The screen is simply redisplayed without an error message. How do I resolve this?

Please click here for the answer to this this CODE-1 Plus 2.5 Interactive system question.

I received an SOC7 data exception in LLOFFST when using the LLOUT parameter record. How do I resolve this?

Please click here for the answer to this GeoTAX question.

I have already run presorts using the February 2003 USPS Reference File that Product Alert MUz6342d1 indicated had issues. What was the actual problem and do I need to rerun my completed jobs?

Please click here for the answer to this MailStream Plus question.

What products and platforms will be affected by Language Environment (LE)?

Please click here for the answer to this question.

For a complete list of all available FAQs, please visit the FAQ area of the Support Web site at www.g1.com/support/faq.

Please click here to view an important letter written by Gene A. Del Polito, President of PostCom, regarding USPS Civil Service Retirement legislation.

PostCom is one of the associations that Group 1 belongs to that not only provides us with in depth information about the events at the USPS, but also represents the company when needed. It is particularly important that mailers are represented relative to this legislation. Every major direct marketing related association has weighed in on this matter, so we feel it’s important you receive at least one of these updates.

Right now it does not appear that there is very much opposition to this legislation, but if mailers would like to keep rates in check until 2006, then we must participate in the legislative process and be heard. For more information regarding PostCom visit their Web site at http://www.PostCom.org.

Back issues of NewsCast are being archived. Click previous issues to go the NewsCast homepage to review any prior issues.

Below are some links that may be of interest to our customers:

Group 1's Web Page - http://www.g1.com. The Group 1 Software Web site provides customers with valuable information concerning different areas of the company. From this Web site, you can access education information, recent press releases, support, and much more useful information.

USPS Web Site Business Section - http://www.usps.com/smallbiz

The USPS Web Site - www.usps.gov. This Web site allows customers to check out the latest information regarding postage rates and fees, news and events in the postal community, locations of local post offices, and provides various other links. There is also a place where postal service customers can track the status of a package or access other online mailing forms.

Canada Post - http://www.canadapost.ca/splash.asp. This is the direct link to the Canada Post Web site.

USPS PostalOne - http://www.pilot.uspspostalone.com. This is the direct link to the USPS PostalOne Web site.

USPS Rapid Information Bulletin Board System - http://ribbs.usps.gov. This is the National Customer Support Center for the United States Postal Service. It provides you mail-service updates, current weather conditions, and other interesting facts pertaining to the Postal Service.

Postal Rate Commission - http://www.prc.gov. The Postal Rate Commission Web site provides information about the organization, its function and procedures, along with postal rates and fees. It also provides a location where you can voice your opinion to the Consumer Advocate.

Nonprofit Mailers - http://www.nonprofitmailers.org. The Alliance is the primary representative of nonprofit mailers before the Postal Rate Commission, at the United States Postal Service's (USPS) Headquarters, and on Capitol Hill.

Postcom - http://www.postcom.org. Postcom is the Association for Postal Commerce. Its Web site provides you with up-to-date information regarding what is going on in the "postal world." It includes links to other helpful sites, as well as a place to contact your US Senators or Representatives.