[MR] The Acorn

[Otto von Schwyz]

Seneschals please forward this on to others that do not have access to the
internet or are not on the Marry Rose, thank you...




Greetings to the good people of Atlantia,

As some of you know, I have been collecting data to get an idea of just how
bad the delivery times are for the Acorn.  What I have found out is this;
over 90% of those who responded use 3rd class mail.  Over half is getting
the newsletter between the 15th and the end of the month.  In some cases not
getting issues or after the month of the issue.  I did get a few very
troubling responses of those who reported that the mail was opened, damaged,
or written in.

I sent a request for help with these issues to the Charlotte Bulk Mail
Center (BMC).  The response I got was just short of flipping me off.  The
Charlotte BMC says that they can help me with the "local" issues but the
other zip codes outside of the Charlotte area are up to the local
postmasters.  Just this week I sent a letter along with a copy of the data I
collected to the Consumer Advocate in Washington, DC.

My suggestions to you are this:
(1)	You can upgrade your membership to receive the newsletter first
class.  I understand that this could be a financial hardship to some.
(2)	Contact the SCA registrar to make sure that your correct address is
on file and that your membership is active.
(3)	Contact your local postmaster and complain about the time fashion
they are delivering your newsletter.
(4)	Contact your local Postal Service Consumer Affairs and Claims
Office.  This can be found in the blue pages of your phone book.
(5)	And when you have done suggestions 2 through 4; contact the Consumer
Advocate and make sure that you add that the newsletter is being mailed out
of the Charlotte BMC zip code 28228.
		Consumer Advocate
		US Postal Service
		475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
		Room 5821
		Washington, DC 20260-2200

I understand that all you want is to get your newsletter on or before the
first of the month.  I want that too, the last thing I want is to spend all
of the time and energy in laying out the newsletter for it to be considered
worthless to the reader.  I also feel that it isn't fair to the local groups
that are hosting events before the majority gets the flyers.   But please
remember that I do not personally mail out the Acorn, which is handled by a
mailing company attached to the print house that I use.  All I know is the
dates that the Acorn was mailed out on.  Also, as an FYI, the March issue
was mail on February 22 and the April issue was mailed out on March 21.  I
hope that this gives you some information and understanding in how to go
about in getting some results in solving this issue.

Yours in Service,
Otto von Schwyz
Kingdom Chronicler