The U.S. Postal Service will hold a public meeting to discuss its proposal to make possible changes in the way postal services are provided in Bend. The community meeting will take place at 6 p.m., on Thursday, April 14, at the Bend Community Center.

Customers will have an opportunity to meet with a Postal Service representative to discuss alternatives. A review of business activities of the Bend Post Office revealed that the office workload has declined. This reduced workload suggests the maintenance of an independent Post Office for Bend may no longer be warranted.

Initial study results support providing pickup and delivery of mail, as well as the sale of stamps and other postal services by Rural Route mail service.

Anyone who wishes to submit comments in writing can send them to: Consumer Affairs ManagerUSPS Fort Worth District4600 Mark IV ParkwayFort Worth, TX 76161-9631. Public comments will be accepted through April 28, 2011.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.