Please share your policy and procedure on how you process mail returns, whether it be undeliverable, change of address where it's questionable that it is possibly a seasonal address change, etc. We are trying to retain active mailing addresses by not unecessarily marking undeliveable or changing addresses, especially since our database contains many Florida residents who also have Seasonal residences. Any input at all on how you manage your database in this respect is much appreciated. Kate McGuinness
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation
THE BEST HOPE FOR A CURE
1-800-321-3437

The first time we get back an undeliverable (with no forwarding) we leave the address as is but add a note stating the address and the date it came back. Then, if we get another piece of mail back, we know it's the second time. We then mark the record - has no valid address. We did this because we know that sometimes mail gets sent back in error.

Change of addresses - we always keep past addresses, so we'll just make the preferred the past and update the preferred address.

Seasonal addresses - it is hard to know sometimes if it is a seasonal address. Since we keep past addresses, we can sometimes start to see a pattern of someone moving back and forth. We'll either make it a seasonal at that time or contact the constituent and ask them. Angie Snyder
Operations Manager
Wycliffe Bible Translators

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.