Cac Newsletter
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CIRCULATE CAC ____ President ____ Vice-President ____ Newsletter Editor ____ Program Chairman NEWSLETTER ____ Show Chairman ____ Secretary American Philatelic Society ____ Treasurer Summer 2002 Issue #3 ____ Librarian Food for Thought by Tom Fortunato, Chairman I still remember when my neighborhood library was the main gathering place to find books. Well, I guess I don’t have to tell you, but times have changed. When was the last time you patronized the library’s latest incarnation — a Border’s or Barnes & Noble’s Book Store? We have a few of them where I live, either in a mall or along side other consumer- oriented businesses. Even I’ll admit that I frequent these establishments much more often than libraries. And why not? These stores invite you to browse through books and magazines, pull up book (without the stamps) for sale there. a chair (nice, comfortable ones at that), and Why aren’t the philatelic publications even grab a latte and muffin if you’re so familiar to us all on these shelves? One of the inclined. Oh yes, you have the option of buying sparks for me getting into organized philately that publication, which is really the store’s was an issue of Linn’s Stamp News. I found it reason for being. at a bookstall while working a summer in Sounds great, doesn’t it? All the Raleigh, NC, back in 1980. conveniences of home. What more could you I read that newspaper cover to cover, and want? Tens of thousands of books and bought a year’s subscription. An article in that magazines on any subject at your fingertips. issue also told me about the APS for the first Any subject, that is, except philately. time. I wrote for an application, and signed up I’ve been hard-pressed to find any for a life membership. The rest, as they say, is philatelic literature in these places. Start by history. checking out the magazine racks. Neatly I am convinced that my story (non-fiction, separated are sections on topics you’d expect to I assure you) is not unique. How many other find — sports, glamour, computers, and even potential collectors are looking through the hobbies. But take a closer look. Special interest shelves now for something about our hobby? magazines exist for model railroaders and We may never know. rocketeers, baseball card and coin collectors, Several years ago I remember reading but nothing for stamp collectors. Why is that? about the debate should The American Now go check out the bookshelves in Philatelist be sold over the counter at hobbies and collectibles section. You may get bookstores along side other publications. lucky and find something there, like a volume Wouldn’t it make sense to have America’s or two of the latest Scott’s catalogue. I was premier philatelic publication on those surprised to find a hardbound copy of the shelves? latest United States Postal Service’s year set Continued on page 3 • Further Information — APS Chapter Activities Committee The CAC Newsletter is a Chairman CAC Newsletter Editor quarterly publication of the Chapter Cover Exchange Newsletter Competition Chapter Activities Committee Tom Fortunato Manager of the American Philatelic 42 Maynard St. Show Program Critique Society. Further information on Rochester, NY 14615-2022 Manager the Chapter Activities 716-621-1670 Jane King Fohn Committee or on Chapter club work 716-586-5757 x6832 10325 Little Sugar Creek membership in the APS is [email protected] Converse, TX 78109-2409 available from the Committee 210-566-1436 members listed on this page or Vice-CChairman [email protected] by contacting APS, P.O. Box Ken Costilow 8000, State College, PA 16803. 621 Virginius Dr. Club Newsletter Exchange Virginia Beach, VA 23452-4417 Manager • Reprinting Policy — 757-463-6081 Vera Felts Individuals or Chapters are [email protected] 109 Archelle Dr. welcome to reprint material Carbondale, IL 62901-1954 Assistant to the Editor [email protected] from the CAC Newsletter, with CAC Webmaster proper credit given to the Alan Barasch Stamp Show Operations source. P.O. Box 411571 Manager St. Louis, MO 63141 Harry Meier • Address Changes — [email protected] P.O. Box 369 Any address changes for Palmyra, VA 22963 Chapter mailings from APS Club Operations Manager should be sent to APS Denise Stotts Youth Activities Manager Headquarters at the address P.O. Box 690042 MaryAnn Bowman above or phone 814-237-3803, Houston, TX 77269-0042 P.O. Box 1451 or fax 814-237-6128. Please do [email protected] Waukesha, WI 53187 not send address changes to committee members. Visit the CAC Website at • Copies of the CACN — www.stamps.org/CAC/Index.htm Subscriptions of the CACN are available from the APS for those dedicated club members who want newsletters of their In This Issue own. Cost is $8 per 4 issues. Chapter Input . 8 Send a check payable to the Dallas Stamp Day . 7 Economics of Paid Life Membership . 9 APS, attention CACN Finding New Members for Local Clubs . 7 Subscription and specify CAC Food for Thought . 1, 3 Newsletters. Match Factory . 3 Meet Us in Atlantic City . 5 National Stamp Colleting Month Cancel . 5 Newsletter Awards . 6 CACN DEADLINES Newsletter Jury Announced . 10 Newsletters Featured at StampShow. 9 Summer — May 1 Preservation of Philatelic History . 8 Fall — August 1 Youth Programs . 4 Winter — November 1 Spring — February 1 Page 2 CAC NEWSLETTER Summer 2002 Match Factory: Our Future The second reason the by Ada M. Prill, APS Director-aat-LLarge Headquarters building needs to grow is that APS is expanding its services to its members. Internet Sales takes up a large chunk of space. APS has added All-Star Stamp Clubs, the Stamp Campus with on-line and correspondence courses, new expertizing equipment, and more. The present building is not adequate to house these additions, so staff members end up in inefficient and over- crowded surroundings. Photography by Candace Kent Unlike most buildings of the late twentieth century, the Match Factory was constructed when I have supported the purchase and buildings were meant to last. It is not a renovation of the Match Factory since it was “crumbling pile of bricks” by any stretch of the first suggested about two years ago. The imagination. I was impressed by its solidity, its project makes sense from many angles: It grace, and its functionality. The building is enables APS to stay in central Pennsylvania well suited for the needs of our Society, and I and thus retain its experienced and extremely hope we will be able to move into it before competent staff. It allows room for future much more time has passed. expansion — not just for a decade, but for the Most of the concerns people have about foreseeable future. And it’s a beautiful historic this project involve questions that were asked building. very early in the planning of this project and Some people say we can’t afford to do this found to have satisfactory answers. I urge you project. I believe we can’t afford NOT to do it! to look at the Match Factory “Frequently Our current building is not just overcrowded; Asked Questions” on the APS website at it has structural problems that will be www.stamps.org — if you do not have web expensive to fix if we stay at the present site. access, please request a copy from APS, P.O. Doing nothing is not an option, and no other Box 8000, State College, PA 16803. viable alternative has been suggested. I have been asked why we need more space Food for Thought continued from page 1 when the Society membership is not growing. The AP remains the number one benefit of There are two major reasons: one is that it is APS membership. I’m convinced that if more the nature of research libraries to grow. Your nonmembers were exposed to it they would neighborhood public library can sell off last see the value of joining just for the publica- year’s best sellers, but a research library needs tion alone. And my, has it changed for the to retain its older holdings as well as add new better from those issues of twenty years ago! titles as they come out. The elusive piece of Color and a more readable, broadened focus information a philatelic researcher is likely to have added to its appeal even in the past few need most may be found in a book published years. early in the last century; it may also be in a Just food for thought. I’d certainly like to journal published last month. A research see other philatelic publications up on those library needs both. shelves as well! Summer 2002 CAC NEWSLETTER Page 3 Youth Programs, by MaryAnn Bowman “Greetings From America” Revisited In the last issue of the CACN, I shared some possible activities to use with youth when showing them the newly released Greetings from America stamps. The philatelic newspapers have been filled with criticism from some collectors, but I personally like the issue and have used it extensively. I know that I will also enjoy the choice. They were to tell a little about that challenge of trying to put together a used set of individual as well as their birth date. As it is each of the issues. also a celebration of the “un-birthday” of the When I obtained the issue and saw all of member, they too must tell when their the wonderful designs, I knew that this issue birthday is celebrated. would make a good lesson on how topical Another possibility: obtain the month and collectors examine stamps to look for any day of birth (year not necessary) of each small thing that might possibly tie into their member.