Re: Friends of the Library

[lmelina@moscow.com (Lois Melina)]

Was the bulk rate permit being used for this mailing issued to the Library
with the FOL using it for this mailing, or to the Friends of the Library? If
it had been issued to the FOL, I would think the P.O. would be obliged to
accept the mailing. But it sounds like the FOL was using the library's permit.

John, you are correct that the bulk mailing regulations are complex and seem
to change on almost a daily basis. I employ a mailing service in part
because I just can't keep up with them, and I mail on a regular basis. A
volunteer-based group like FOL, which mails things only sporadically, is in
even a more disadvantaged position in trying to keep up with rules and
regulations like those issued by the P.O. Inasmuch as the FOL had used this
same permit in the past, and there was no glaring commercial message
involved, but mainly a notification of a book sale to benefit the
library/permit holder, it would have been nice if the P.O. employee could
have accepted the mailing while simultaneously informing the FOL that its
use of the permit was questionable and would have to be looked into.
However, I do not know how much discretion the P.O. allows its employees in
matters like this--I suspect they are allowed very little discretion.

Lois
************************
Lois Melina
Editor, "Adopted Child" newsletter
P.O. Box 9362
Moscow ID 83843

phone: (208)882-1794
fax: (208)883-8035
Lmelina@moscow.com
www.raisingadoptedchildren.com