It was a whirlwind April and May of travel with lots of excitement. We attended a client summit, EMA (Envelope Manufacturer’s Association) annual meeting, National Postal Forum (NPF), Keep Us Posted – Mother’s Day event, along with Capitol Hill advocacy meetings. To say it’s been a busy spring, is an understatement. As you likely know by now, the Postal Service Board of Governors selected David Steiner as the 76th Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service. While we are hopeful that new leadership will equate to changes that will put USPS back on track, it appears that the July rate increase which could be the most complicated and single largest increase for certain categ ories of mail in USPS history, is still set to move forward. We are learning more about what happens next and will “keep you posted” regarding updates and what Congress might be able to do to weigh in.

While on Capitol Hill, we had the great pleasure of meeting with staffers in both Congressman Bill Foster’s office (where Diamond Envelope is headquartered) and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s office (where 1/3 of our workforce resides) to educate them on the USPS rate increases and the RTO (Regional Transportation Optimization) plan. We are following up with staffers, educating Congress in other districts, through the EMA Jobs Study and our main goals/asks are:

• Take a pause, assess DFA plan, includes immediate Freeze rates
• Stop regional transport optimization (RTO)
• Come see our facility and people – we are a Women-Owned manufacturer in Illinois!
  We encourage our entire network to help with this initiative. Here are some of the facts we present toCongress:
• The U.S. Mailing Industry consists of 7.91 million mailing industry jobs
• The U.S. Mailing Industry provides: 5.0% of the nation’s 158 million jobs
  • EMA has this information broken down by State and Congressional District which we can happily share upon request to make for more effective correspondence to Congress and their staffers.
• Each USPS employee supports 11.4 other workers
• The U.S. mailing industry contributes to the economy with $1.92 Trillion in Sales Revenue
• The U. S. mailing industry provides 4.1% of U.S. Total Output of $46.7 Trillion
• The USPS lost $6.5 billion in FY 2023 & $9.5 billion in FY 2024

Please let us know how we can help get this message to your Congressional representative. We want to partner with you on this so we can all fight these aggressive rate hikes together. We have outlines and materials we can help put together for your team’s Capitol Hill Day. If you’d like to join on the next Illinois Hill Day – please don’t hesitate to reach out so we can coordinate. If you are in another state, and want to coordinate a team effort, we are happy to do so! We believe the only way to get our messaging across is with a united front on postal!

Have a great summer!

Susan Foley, CEO

July 2025
Pojanart D. 22 Years
Carl S. 22 Years
Rosa R. 2 Years
Alonso S. 1 Year
Cesar B. 1 Year
Elder B. 1 Year
Mauricio F. 1 Year

August 2025
George S. 40 Years
Alfredo R. 27 Years
Sandra V. 26 Years
Catarino V. 22 Years
Olga B. 20 Years
Jonpaul R. 17 Years
Damon S. 7 Years
Erika M. 1 Year

September 2025
Gilberto R. 40 years
Tim S. 39 Years
Sandra F. 26 Years
Emilia N. 21 Years
Vince P. 4 Years
Gildardo G. 4 Years
Javier O. 2 Years
Diane V. 2 Years
Anderson R. 1 Year

The National Postal Forum (NPF) show for 2025 was in Nashville, Tennessee and is now in the past. It was the best show attendance in years and there is always a lot to do in Nashville. The Opryland Resort was very massive and when the attendees were not in sessions they were in the exhibit hall. Looking forward to Phoenix, Arizona next May 3-6, 2026.

The USPS is still going to raise rates in July which is frustrating news to all of us in Direct Mail. Many USPS speakers at the Opening session at the NPF presented solutions the USPS is working on to manage their expenses and try to keep costs down in the future for mailers.

One of the most interesting sessions was a panel discussion about “Innovation in Envelopes” that included Diamond Envelope’s very own, Susan Foley (our CEO and my sister – no bias…). and moderated by Marie Clark, the EMA’s Executive Vice President. The discussion focused on the use of creative options on the outer
envelope that take advantage of the available USPS incentives. The emphasis was to encourage direct mailers to explore these incentives as cost savings options while also providing creative differentiation in the mailbox. And of course, your favorite envelope company, (Diamond) is here to assist and to ensure that you qualify. There are so many options available to our customers, not limited to just Vertical Embossing. Bubble Embossing and Diagonal embossing are also available as well as other custom patterns. In addition to the discussions around tactile options, creative use of custom windows would also be a great way to enhance your piece for minimal cost while making it stand out. TED-C or trailing edge envelopes also qualify for incentives and we can incor￾porate many designs and have seen an increase in customer adoption of the trailing edge. Less exciting but no less important are the Informed Delivery and SFI or FSC paper incentive options which also increase savings. We received great feedback from this session and would be happy to answer any questions you may have and brainstorm ways to differentiate your next mail piece.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend, we hope you enjoy your summer and stay safe. A lot of information on the news about sunscreen and protecting your skin. Good advice to stay safe!

AJ

We were recently given the opportunity to participate in a book club event through Women in Manufacturing that is centered around the book Let Them by Mel Robbins a self-help author and speaker. When I saw what the book was, I had mixed feelings, I’d read a lot about the “Let Them” concept and had some preconceived notions and opinions on it without having read the book.

Let Them as a concept is interesting to me and I’m of two minds about it. First I think it works well in minor situations that don’t have real stakes attached, letting people do what they want without getting personally offended when you are not included is good, it’s healthy to know that not every situation is meant for you, and you aren’t meant for everyone. Just as you aren’t invited to certain things, you don’t invite others to events as well and you have your reasons and so do they and that’s ok. I think it’s tremendous advice to not take it personally and not to fight every battle, it’s not worth it and protecting your peace is sometimes what is best.

Second and from a more global perspective and when it comes to the workplace and raising a family, I think there are some fairly big flaws in the Let Them perspective. One example that Mel used in her book was around giving a pitch at work and it not being selected and to just be ok with it and that your work was still good and to “let them” choose a different pitch. I think that’s wild advice to give someone building a career. How about we don’t let them, we figure out where we went sideways, we learn, and we grow and we adjust and we do better, and we invest the time and energy and motivation into winning the next time. I think Let Them, gives a free pass we haven’t always earned, to blame others when we don’t succeed and to not take ownership of our own path.

When it comes to parenting, you are responsible for raising good citizens and humans that make this world better and aren’t entirely self-focused. I think there’s a danger in ”let them” when it comes to the challenges of growing up, it’s too passive and it doesn’t challenge anyone to improve themselves or others. We should care what others think to a certain degree if it keeps the worst of our tendencies at bay. Where would we be as a society if for the past 200 years we “let them” so much of our world is made better because we stepped up and stepped in and used our voice and cared more about others than we do ourselves. Holding each other accountable, when it counts is important.

So, like any self help book, take the parts that work best for you and leave the rest. I do worry though that “Let Them” as a small concept creeps into a larger concept that impacts our children and our world negatively, so use it sparingly and focus on “Let Me” instead of “Let Them”. “Let me be a good person, let me try hard, let me be kind, let me recognize my worth but know I have a lot to learn, let me be open to change and growth and input, let me know that sometimes it is me and not them and finally, let me decide when it matters and when it doesn’t and then maybe it’s fine to just let them.

Article by Shannon Wagner

Easy Wellness Tips for the Season

Summer brings sunshine, longer days, and a perfect excuse to recharge—physically and mentally. Whether you’re working from home, commuting to the office, or taking a well-deserved vacation, here are a few simple wellness tips to help you stay healthy and energized all summer long:

1. Hydrate – Hot weather means more sweating, which means more water loss. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water a day and consider adding electrolytes if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors.

2. Eat Fresh & Seasonal – Take advantage of summer produce—berries, leafy greens, cucumbers, and watermelon are not only delicious but packed with nutrients. Keep meals light and refreshing to avoid that sluggish post-lunch feeling.

3. Protect Your Skin – Even on cloudy days, UV rays can damage your skin. Use broad-spectrum SPF and don’t forget sunglasses and a hat if you’re spending time outside.

4. Prioritize Mental Breaks – The slower summer pace can be a great time to focus on mental wellness. Take short walking breaks, unplug on weekends, or schedule a few “no-meeting” afternoons to reset.

5. Keep a Sleep Routine – Longer daylight hours can tempt you to stay up later, but quality sleep remains crucial. Try to stick to a consistent bedtime and limit screen time before bed to wind down properly. Summer is all about balance—between fun and rest, activity and recovery. A few mindful choices each day can help you feel your best, all season long.

Article by Diane Valha