IT'S TIME TO MAIL OVERSEAS PACKAGES

Halloween is here, Thanksgiving is still 26 days away, which means that Christmas can't be far behind.

"It's certainly time to start thinking about mailing cards, letters and packages overseas," says Larry Shafer, account representative with the United States Postal Service. "We always say it's never too early to mail Christmas cards and packages to or from military addresses overseas, or to friends and relatives with international addresses."

Fact is, says Shafer, people may already be a little late for regular mailing of some international packages .

The "surface" mailing dates for guaranteed Christmas arrivals are already passed for international mail addressed to Central and South America and some points in the Middle East and Africa.

"Monday is the final day to mail any international surface mail with a guarantee it will reach its destination by Christmas," said Shafer. "Starting Tuesday postal authorities will recommend that people send letters and cards and parcel by air to assure delivery by Christmas.

Shafer said the local post office has been receiving packages for surface mail over the past few weeks.

"Some people use what we called Space Available Mail (SAM) for packages," said Shafer.

SAM provides a lower rate for package shipping, but no delivery date is guaranteed.

"Internationally-addressed packages are placed on a dock somewhere," said Shafer. "It is picked up when a carrier with space available comes along. It's that simple. The packages could sit there a day, or it could be there a week."

Even using air parcel post for letters, cards and packages, people should have them in the mail between Nov. 15 and not later than Dec. 1, said Shafer, who stresses that once the mail leaves the states, "the U.S. Postal Department has no control over it."

A complete list of suggested mailing dates to international addresses is available by contacting the post office.

Meanwhile, the postal services has started a new program designed to improve all mail delivery.

"We're putting together a Customer Advisory Committee," said Shafer. "This committee will meet monthly with postal officials to address mailing problems.

"The program is being well received," added Shafer. "We already have several members, and applications are available at the post office for those wanting to serve on the committee.