Re: TAG

["Karen Randall" <krandall@world.std.com>]

Neil wrote:

>   What are the alternatives to "periodical rate"?

Bulk, which we decided was not good enough service, and first class, which
is what we've done for the last few issues.

>    - what did Mary use for 1st class postage?

I'm not sure what you mean.

>    - is there something for non-profit organizations that similar or even
> better than "periodical rate"

Periodical rate covers non-profit organizations as well as for profit.  The
amount you pay is based on the percentage of paid advertising in the
magazine.  For non-profit periodical status, you can have almost no paid
advertising.  The next category is up to 25% paid advertising, and I don't
think we'd ever have more than that. Above 25%, you can still use periodical
rate, but they charge you commensurately more for a higher percentage of
advertising.

>    - what, if anything, does the printer provide? that will eliminate the
> AGA hassle?

The printer does nothing as far a mailing is concerned.  (although for $20
extra they deliver the magazines to the mailer) We have an outside mailing
company, Step Direct, that does the actual mailing.  The mailer will
properly prepare the magazine for shipment using any method that we choose.
(and have a permit for) They actually have a satelite post office in their
building, so they can accomodate anything we choose.  They can't, of course,
handle the record keeping piece or the audit.

>    - for each of the above alternatives, what are the differences in the
> per issue or annual cost?

David can fill us in on the postage costs for both 1st class and bulk.  I
don't have the records for either.  I haven't been able to get a firm number
for the periodical rate, because it is set based on ratio of advertising
pages, and we don't have those yet.  My understanding is that as long as the
ratio remains at or below 25% advertising, the rates are slightly higer than
bulk.  The difference is that you get ALMOST the same service as 1st class.
I guess it can be bumped in a crunch period, but it definitely gets higher
priority than bulk mail, which is the last to go.

> I read the USPS piece and it sounds alot like a lot of govt requirements.
> The real question is what is the minimum paperwork that they will accept
to
> honor whatever they are giving AGA. I think that the membership list and
> copy of an old TAG "may" be sufficient.  It may be like an IRS audit.
Record
> keeping is needed for an audit, but there are many ways this can be done.
> i.e. "adopt a method of bookkeeping that is available for postal
inspection
> that clearly shows that payment or promises to pay have been made by the
> persons the publishers claim as subscribers to their publications."  And
> not everyone will get audited by the the USPS.

No, it's not.  They want the full membership records, and they have to
correspond to the number of magazines being mailed AND printed pretty
closely.  You have to account for all magazines that are sent out that are
NOT paid for by subscription, and those sold over the counter one way or
another.  They also want access to all financial records at the same site.
They actually come out and do an on-site audit annually. (it's not a
surprise audit like a bank audit... they set up an appointment, and we would
have time to gather the information into one place)

As Erik mentioned, we'd also have to change our membership form and masthead
to correspond with their regulations.  The biggest change is that we have to
specifically state what portion of dues goes to the "subscription" for the
magazine, and be able to prove that these funds are actually used in this
way.  The membership form and masthead would need to be changed to reflect
this.

Karen

  ------------------
  To unsubscribe from this list, e-mail majordomo@thekrib.com
  with "unsubscribe aga-sc" in the body of the message.
  Old messages are available at http://lists.thekrib.com/aga-sc
  When asked, log in as username is "aga-sc", and password "incorp".