The Advertising Mail Marketing Association (AMMA), the association on postal communication and commerce, has been based in the Washington, D.C. area since 1947.  Its members include companies, organizations and individuals concerned with the use of mail for communication and commerce. 

AMMA provides members with the latest information on issues that affect the postal arena and mailing industry. Its weekly newsletter, the AMMA Bulletin, is widely recognized as the most comprehensive source of postal news and information in the nation.  AMMA also offers a variety of other publications tailored to meet the needs of its members.  For instant access to up-to-the-minute news and information on postal issues, AMMA's 24-hour Web site, www.amma.org, and e-mail updates keep members ahead of the curve on critical postal issues. 

"Through their newsletter, Web site, e-mail updates and personal contacts, AMMA does a tremendous job in keeping mailers informed especially as events are developing," states ADVO Senior Vice President of Government Relations Vince Giuliano. "AMMA not only provides information," he notes, "it works to shape the agendas of the Postal Service, the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) and the Congress. When it comes to setting the stage for the postal changes mailers need to better operate their businesses, AMMA leads the industry."

"AMMA is clearly the most influential organization within the postal industry," says Time Inc. Director of Distribution and Postal Affairs Jim O'Brien.

"Some mailers talk a lot about the USPS, but think they can't do anything about it," echoes past MTAC Chairman and Postal Consultant Bill Hoyt. "AMMA members talk a lot about the USPS and have a proven track  record of doing a lot about it AMMA is the primary advocate for holding down the cost of doing business by mail," Hoyt adds.

For many companies without the staff, resources or time to closely follow technical postal issues which can greatly impact their bottom lines, AMMA can be a solution.  AMMA provides representation and expertise on all issues pertaining to postal policy and operations through its work with postal policymakers at all levels and through its operating committees that are made of members that represent a diverse cross section of the industry and have a wealth of experience and knowledge in postal operations.

"For World Color, the AMMA represents by far the best collection of expertise, creative thinking and pragmatic decision-making on issues relating to the Postal Service and the mailing industry it serves," says World Color Direct Senior Vice President of Technology Robert Lindsay.

As Doubleday Direct Vice President of Legal, Postal and Government Affairs Robert Posch, Jr., likes to say, "AMMA membership doesn't cost, it pays through its advocacy efforts, the influence the Association has on postage rates and mail classification changes and its ability to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date postal news and information." Posch adds, "AMMA brings significant cost savings to its member companies."

"The cost of membership is meager compared to the savings that AMMA membership results in," says Tom Lagan, consultant to Publishers Clearing House.

Jim Bradler, executive vice president of Operations for Prentice Hall Direct, whose company has been a member of AMMA for the past 13 years, says that "during that time the valuable information and tips we picked up helped the company mail smarter and saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years and this doesn't even include the savings from AMMA's successful lobbying efforts for reasonable postage rate increases."

Doubleday Direct's Posch echoes the sentiment that "AMMA dues are one of the few guaranteed paybacks in life." 

For more information on AMMA, call 703- 524-0096 or visit the association's Web site at www.amma.org.