Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE108174
2009-10-19 20:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
NOT ANOTHER HOLIDAY POUCH ALDAC ALREADY
how-toVZCZCXRO3921 RR RUEHIK DE RUEHC #8174/01 2922053 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 192033Z OCT 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0357 RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 2019
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 108174
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ATRN AMGT APER KSEP
SUBJECT: NOT ANOTHER HOLIDAY POUCH ALDAC ALREADY
STATE 00108174 001.2 OF 003
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 108174
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ATRN AMGT APER KSEP
SUBJECT: NOT ANOTHER HOLIDAY POUCH ALDAC ALREADY
STATE 00108174 001.2 OF 003
1. Summary. It's that time of year again for your
A/LM/PMP/DPM diplomatic pouch team to send their annual
holiday ALDAC. So, what better way to continue this
tradition by starting off with a joke? Knock
knock Who's there? Holly Holly who? Holly-days are here
again!!! Now that the stage has been set, we warn our
readers that this ALDAC contains more of the same humor,
but also includes some very useful information, which
will hopefully help us all over the river and through
the woods to a happy holiday season. End Summary.
2. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better
not pout. And here's why October-January is the busiest
time of year for your pouch and APO/FPO/DPO mail
channels. During this period, large volumes of holiday
mail and end of year procurement material are being
received for onward processing. This time of year is
also a very busy travel period for airlines, which means
airplanes are often filled with passenger baggage.
Unfortunately, airline load priorities are: passenger
baggage, mail, and then pouches. We sometimes
experience pouch and mail delays because of this. If
your post is experiencing delays please contact us via
email at DPM-Answerperson@state.gov for pouches, and
DPO-Answerperson@state.gov for APO/FPO/DPO. We will do
our best to get things moving. Please keep in mind,
pouch items must be received at our unclassified pouch
facility (SA32) by November 23 to make it under your
tree by December 25. For APO/FPO/DPO Refer to
http://pouch.a.state.gov/Content/documents/20 09HolidayMa
ilingDates.pdf for USPS APO/FPO/DPO mailing deadlines.
3. WE'RE MAKING A LIST
Checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty or
nice. And you should too! Santa's new $100K pair of x-
ray glasses is all a buzz, he now sees everything that
travels through the North Pole-32. He knows who's been
naughty and who has been nice so, so please use the
resources provided on the DPM webpage to familiarize
yourself with unclassified pouch limits, restrictions
and especially prohibitions. No, we can not ship
lithium ion batteries in a manner that violates
International Air Transportation Association shipping
policy, nor can we send that full size pool table via
pouch, or even a pool cue for that matter if it won't
fit in our largest pouch bag. And, although we'd like
to send that adorable St. Bernard puppy on to post,
animals are strictly prohibited in the pouch. We really
get jumpy when we receive game controllers that look
like guns, paint ball guns, and kitchen knives, etc.
because Santa's new glasses are very precise. Don't
even try to send those radish seeds through the pouch
either, which raises another age-old question?Why does
Santa have 3 gardens? So he can ho..ho..ho. Please
remember to visit the DPM website at
http://pouch.a.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=176&menu
_id=92 to check the post-specific pouch restrictions,
and check out our new prohibited items poster at:
http://pouch.a.state.gov/Content/documents/DP M%20Prohibi
ted%20Items%20Poster.pdf
and the prohibited pouch items list in 14 FAM Exhibit
732.2 or our website at:
http://pouch.a.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=177&menu
_id=104
4. AT THIS POINT, THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS
"Why does Scrooge love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"
The answer is because every buck is dear to him. And
every buck is dear to DPM too. To ensure the sleigh
loads don't over-burden the reindeer, Santa will
continue to closely monitor bulk shipments. If you're
exceeding weight limits or your gifts can not fit in
Santa's pouch bags they will be held for fiscal data in
our bulk area igloo.
We continue to receive large amounts of personal and
official bulk shipments at SA32. Some recent examples
include massive quantities of styrofoam cups, office
STATE 00108174 002.2 OF 003
chairs, paper towels, paper toilet seat covers, pallets
of flattened cardboard boxes, picnic tables and yes,
large quantities of personal effects, which are
specifically prohibited per 14 FAM 723.2(s) and 14 FAM
742.2.3. Before you send that truck load of boughs of
holly to SA32, be sure you are willing to pay up to $20
per kilo in transportation costs. We've published new
unclassified pouch size and weight limits in 14 FAM
723.3. A bulk shipment is either a combined piece
volume of 6 cubic feet (cuft) or more, or a total weight
of 250 pounds or more, no matter what the cuft, per
pouch dispatch that is destined to the same addressee.
This limit allows simultaneous shipment of about five 8
+ x11 inch copy paper boxes, which totals just under 6
cuft. Remember, this limit applies to both personal and
official unclassified pouch shipments. And, all
personal shipments must fit into a pouch bag. Remember,
bulk items almost always should be sent via the
appropriate U.S. Despatch Agency. Doing this will save
everyone money and time. A pouch transportation cost
estimating tool and U.S. Despatch Agency shipping
instructions can be found on the DPM website at
http://pouch.a.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=182&menu
_id=92
And speaking of pouch bags, as usual the volume of
presents is expected to exceed the pouch bag demand. So
be a deer, help Santa help you and get those pouch bags
back to North Pole-32.
5. TIME FOR ANOTHER KNOCK KNOCK
Who's there? Boo. Boo who? Why are we crying? Because
our SA32 pouch facility continues to receive NIV Forms
that should be sent directly to the Kentucky Consular
Center. Please refer to 14 FAH-4 H-224 for instructions
on how to ship NIV forms to the KCC. It's important to
remember KCC pouch shipments can not be combined with
any other pouch shipment and must be shipped on a
separate airline airway bill.
6. WHAT DO ELVES LEARN IN SCHOOL?
The Elf-abet, like in APO/FPO/DPO. Here's a quick
update. As many of you know we seamlessly transitioned
non-DoD APO/FPO mail transportation billing from DoD to
DoS October 1, 2007. The bills will are paid at each
agency's HQ level via ICASS. Posts are not affected.
Posts will continue to be responsible for any local
charges they are now paying. Our DPO sleigh team has
heard from many of you and continues to identify ICASS
workload inconsistencies to make sure the final transfer
of managerial responsibility of all the non-DoD
APO/FPO's from DoD to DoS is set up to ensure 100%
reimbursement from all who benefit. We successfully
partnered with DoD, USPS, ICASS Service Center, Regional
Bureaus and many of the posts to ensure State 109091 was
the Department's best course for conversion, and to
assure this change is accomplished efficiently. Our
most important goal is to assure posts maintain current
or improved mail service levels. For more information,
please contact the DPO-Answerperson@state.gov. Speaking
of mail, what do you call a letter sent up a chimney on
Christmas Eve? Black mail,of course.
7. TO WRAP UP
What did the Gingerbread Man put on his bed? A cookie
sheet, and since we're wrapping things up, please
remember that any gifts that need to be opened during
screening that are wrapped will not be rewrapped by our
elves at North Pole-32. They'll be too busy loading
last minute sleighs.
Santa wants to make sure everything that needs to be
gets on the sleighs and wants to remind you that there
are restrictions on shipping lithium batteries. In
general, common batteries that are purchased to power
toys or small electronics (AAA, AA, C and D sizes) are
most often Alkaline based and are not subject to the
battery restriction requirements noted in State 02986 on
lithium batteries. The batteries that are a concern are
the lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries that
power watches, calculators, cameras, etc and the
rechargeable form of the lithium battery (lithium-ion or
Li-ion) that can be found in mobile telephones, IPods,
laptop computers, etc. For detailed information on the
type of lithium batteries prohibited and on shipping
guidance directly from IATA, visit:
http://www.iata.org/NR/rdonlyres/480246B4-C9A 3-4E19-
AA94-38AE5472DDF4/0/GuidanceDocumentonthetran sportofLiBatt_20
STATE 00108174 003.2 OF 003
09V21.pdf
8. AND JUST ONE MORE IN CLOSING
What do you call a bunch of grandmasters of chess
bragging about their games in a hotel lobby? Chess nuts
boasting in an open foyer. The entire A/LM/PMP/DPM team
wishes everyone a safe and joyous holiday season.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ATRN AMGT APER KSEP
SUBJECT: NOT ANOTHER HOLIDAY POUCH ALDAC ALREADY
STATE 00108174 001.2 OF 003
1. Summary. It's that time of year again for your
A/LM/PMP/DPM diplomatic pouch team to send their annual
holiday ALDAC. So, what better way to continue this
tradition by starting off with a joke? Knock
knock Who's there? Holly Holly who? Holly-days are here
again!!! Now that the stage has been set, we warn our
readers that this ALDAC contains more of the same humor,
but also includes some very useful information, which
will hopefully help us all over the river and through
the woods to a happy holiday season. End Summary.
2. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better
not pout. And here's why October-January is the busiest
time of year for your pouch and APO/FPO/DPO mail
channels. During this period, large volumes of holiday
mail and end of year procurement material are being
received for onward processing. This time of year is
also a very busy travel period for airlines, which means
airplanes are often filled with passenger baggage.
Unfortunately, airline load priorities are: passenger
baggage, mail, and then pouches. We sometimes
experience pouch and mail delays because of this. If
your post is experiencing delays please contact us via
email at DPM-Answerperson@state.gov for pouches, and
DPO-Answerperson@state.gov for APO/FPO/DPO. We will do
our best to get things moving. Please keep in mind,
pouch items must be received at our unclassified pouch
facility (SA32) by November 23 to make it under your
tree by December 25. For APO/FPO/DPO Refer to
http://pouch.a.state.gov/Content/documents/20 09HolidayMa
ilingDates.pdf for USPS APO/FPO/DPO mailing deadlines.
3. WE'RE MAKING A LIST
Checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty or
nice. And you should too! Santa's new $100K pair of x-
ray glasses is all a buzz, he now sees everything that
travels through the North Pole-32. He knows who's been
naughty and who has been nice so, so please use the
resources provided on the DPM webpage to familiarize
yourself with unclassified pouch limits, restrictions
and especially prohibitions. No, we can not ship
lithium ion batteries in a manner that violates
International Air Transportation Association shipping
policy, nor can we send that full size pool table via
pouch, or even a pool cue for that matter if it won't
fit in our largest pouch bag. And, although we'd like
to send that adorable St. Bernard puppy on to post,
animals are strictly prohibited in the pouch. We really
get jumpy when we receive game controllers that look
like guns, paint ball guns, and kitchen knives, etc.
because Santa's new glasses are very precise. Don't
even try to send those radish seeds through the pouch
either, which raises another age-old question?Why does
Santa have 3 gardens? So he can ho..ho..ho. Please
remember to visit the DPM website at
http://pouch.a.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=176&menu
_id=92 to check the post-specific pouch restrictions,
and check out our new prohibited items poster at:
http://pouch.a.state.gov/Content/documents/DP M%20Prohibi
ted%20Items%20Poster.pdf
and the prohibited pouch items list in 14 FAM Exhibit
732.2 or our website at:
http://pouch.a.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=177&menu
_id=104
4. AT THIS POINT, THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS
"Why does Scrooge love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"
The answer is because every buck is dear to him. And
every buck is dear to DPM too. To ensure the sleigh
loads don't over-burden the reindeer, Santa will
continue to closely monitor bulk shipments. If you're
exceeding weight limits or your gifts can not fit in
Santa's pouch bags they will be held for fiscal data in
our bulk area igloo.
We continue to receive large amounts of personal and
official bulk shipments at SA32. Some recent examples
include massive quantities of styrofoam cups, office
STATE 00108174 002.2 OF 003
chairs, paper towels, paper toilet seat covers, pallets
of flattened cardboard boxes, picnic tables and yes,
large quantities of personal effects, which are
specifically prohibited per 14 FAM 723.2(s) and 14 FAM
742.2.3. Before you send that truck load of boughs of
holly to SA32, be sure you are willing to pay up to $20
per kilo in transportation costs. We've published new
unclassified pouch size and weight limits in 14 FAM
723.3. A bulk shipment is either a combined piece
volume of 6 cubic feet (cuft) or more, or a total weight
of 250 pounds or more, no matter what the cuft, per
pouch dispatch that is destined to the same addressee.
This limit allows simultaneous shipment of about five 8
+ x11 inch copy paper boxes, which totals just under 6
cuft. Remember, this limit applies to both personal and
official unclassified pouch shipments. And, all
personal shipments must fit into a pouch bag. Remember,
bulk items almost always should be sent via the
appropriate U.S. Despatch Agency. Doing this will save
everyone money and time. A pouch transportation cost
estimating tool and U.S. Despatch Agency shipping
instructions can be found on the DPM website at
http://pouch.a.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=182&menu
_id=92
And speaking of pouch bags, as usual the volume of
presents is expected to exceed the pouch bag demand. So
be a deer, help Santa help you and get those pouch bags
back to North Pole-32.
5. TIME FOR ANOTHER KNOCK KNOCK
Who's there? Boo. Boo who? Why are we crying? Because
our SA32 pouch facility continues to receive NIV Forms
that should be sent directly to the Kentucky Consular
Center. Please refer to 14 FAH-4 H-224 for instructions
on how to ship NIV forms to the KCC. It's important to
remember KCC pouch shipments can not be combined with
any other pouch shipment and must be shipped on a
separate airline airway bill.
6. WHAT DO ELVES LEARN IN SCHOOL?
The Elf-abet, like in APO/FPO/DPO. Here's a quick
update. As many of you know we seamlessly transitioned
non-DoD APO/FPO mail transportation billing from DoD to
DoS October 1, 2007. The bills will are paid at each
agency's HQ level via ICASS. Posts are not affected.
Posts will continue to be responsible for any local
charges they are now paying. Our DPO sleigh team has
heard from many of you and continues to identify ICASS
workload inconsistencies to make sure the final transfer
of managerial responsibility of all the non-DoD
APO/FPO's from DoD to DoS is set up to ensure 100%
reimbursement from all who benefit. We successfully
partnered with DoD, USPS, ICASS Service Center, Regional
Bureaus and many of the posts to ensure State 109091 was
the Department's best course for conversion, and to
assure this change is accomplished efficiently. Our
most important goal is to assure posts maintain current
or improved mail service levels. For more information,
please contact the DPO-Answerperson@state.gov. Speaking
of mail, what do you call a letter sent up a chimney on
Christmas Eve? Black mail,of course.
7. TO WRAP UP
What did the Gingerbread Man put on his bed? A cookie
sheet, and since we're wrapping things up, please
remember that any gifts that need to be opened during
screening that are wrapped will not be rewrapped by our
elves at North Pole-32. They'll be too busy loading
last minute sleighs.
Santa wants to make sure everything that needs to be
gets on the sleighs and wants to remind you that there
are restrictions on shipping lithium batteries. In
general, common batteries that are purchased to power
toys or small electronics (AAA, AA, C and D sizes) are
most often Alkaline based and are not subject to the
battery restriction requirements noted in State 02986 on
lithium batteries. The batteries that are a concern are
the lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries that
power watches, calculators, cameras, etc and the
rechargeable form of the lithium battery (lithium-ion or
Li-ion) that can be found in mobile telephones, IPods,
laptop computers, etc. For detailed information on the
type of lithium batteries prohibited and on shipping
guidance directly from IATA, visit:
http://www.iata.org/NR/rdonlyres/480246B4-C9A 3-4E19-
AA94-38AE5472DDF4/0/GuidanceDocumentonthetran sportofLiBatt_20
STATE 00108174 003.2 OF 003
09V21.pdf
8. AND JUST ONE MORE IN CLOSING
What do you call a bunch of grandmasters of chess
bragging about their games in a hotel lobby? Chess nuts
boasting in an open foyer. The entire A/LM/PMP/DPM team
wishes everyone a safe and joyous holiday season.
CLINTON