As one of the first graduates of the Executive Mail Center Manager Program (EMCM) offered by the U.S. Postal Service, I am frequently asked what benefits if any, did I gain from the program.

There was no raise in salary, but there was an enhancement of my skills and newfound recognition and respect from my boss for taking the time to commit to obtaining a higher standard for the mail center. This may sound like a paid Postal Service commercial but, truthfully, I did "fine tune" my mailing and management skills by attending the five-day, intensive program offered in Norman, Oklahoma. The cost is only $l,500, which includes room and board (airfare is extra).

After l6 years in the mailing profession, I smugly thought I knew just about everything there was about mailing excellence. After all, I had won several Postal Service awards, had been a speaker at the Postal Forum, and local universities would occasionally call seeking my advice. So I hesitated when the opportunity arose to first critique the program and then attend. My commitment would interfere with holiday preparations, (the EMCM Program was held in early December) but what the heck, I was curious if the Postal Service program would or could compete with other Mail Center Management programs, some of which are certified, and this program wouldn't have any distractions.

My employer approved, and off I flew to Norman. I arrived at the Postal Service training facility after the main cafeteria was closed. I was starving and stranded, but to my surprise, the facility manager opened the kitchen for a small group of us who hadn't eaten dinner. We relaxed over wine, beer, chicken wings and hamburgers.

The next five days consisted of eight-hour classes, combined with camaraderie, good food and Postal Service expertise. If the Postal Service instructors couldn't address a postal concern, they would respond by the end of the sessions. The desks were roomy and accommodated two people. Participants' range from mailing novices to experienced mailing professionals.

Listed below is a brief summary of all the material covered during the program:

People Management This included segments on transition to management, interpersonal skills, workplace values, and employee motivation and communication skills.

Mail Center Operations This session had modules on establishing mail routes, managing internal mail processes, tracking mailing and managing incoming, interoffice and outgoing mail. Document storage and managing lists were also included in this module.

Mailing Technology This was an introduction to the many different types of equipment available today and a tour of some of the equipment and MERLIN. (The tour lasts approximately one and a half-hours so wear comfortable shoes.)

Mail Center Safety and Security Covered here was a module dealing with OSHA standards and compliance.

Mail Center Finances This session taught budget preparations and charge-back methods.

Mail Center Quality The focus here was on Mail Prepa-ration Total Quality Management. Quality focus and process in the mail center was also stressed.

Plans and Policy Making Offered here was training and reference materials necessary to stay abreast with current and future postal regulations. A Domestic Mail Manual is given to everyone. Sales and marketing is also geared to familiarizing participants with reference materials. ·

I packed a lot of learning in my 40-hour week including exams, given after each session. If a participant fails, he is given the opportunity to retake the exam. Attendance is mandatory at every session.

Classmates eat together and with their instructors. Conversations during mealtimes often focus on the day's sessions and personal mailing experiences and nightmares. As in all conferences, the networking is invaluable. I returned armed with business cards from every area of expertise.

There are also several activities in the evening. I was the big winner at Bingo two T-shirts. A gift shop is on the premises featuring all Postal Service goodies (shirts, mugs, anything you can put a Postal Service stamp on). There is even a cocktail lounge with free popcorn.

"Graduation" arrives on Friday and participants are called individually to be presented with an EMCM certificate in a handsomely encased folder. Whew, my time, dedication and effort were worth it It looked awesome "Carol Murzyn EMCM."

So, getting back to the benefits What do you expect from the program? Personally, I returned full of energy and new ideas. It is easy to get into a rut and lose our initial enthusiasm for managing a mail center. One of the advantages of the EMCM Program is that the instructors are credible Postal Service officials, without any hidden agenda. They aren't looking to sell machines or themselves.

Carol Murzyn, EMCM, manages the mail center at the University of Hartford. She was a speaker at the National Postal Forum in New Orleans. She also received a Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Innovation in the Mailing Industry from the Postal Service at the Forum and two Postal Service Idea Forum Awards. Carol is the Treasurer of the Greater Hartford Postal Customer Council. For more information, contact her at Murzyn@mail.hartford.edu.