Janet
Klug presiding.
Klug
comments on how nice the city and weather are.
She
introduces Board: Ken Lawrence, Ada M. Prill, George
Fekete, Vice Presidents; Lloyd A. de Vries, Secretary;
Nicholas G. Carter, Treasurer; John B. Flannery, Ronald
E. Lesher, David L. Straight, Stephen S. Washburne, Directors-at-Large;
Peter P. McCann, Immediate Past President.
Klug
introduces Charles Peterson, president of the American
Philatelic Research Library, who introduces APRL Board:
Herbert A. Trenchard, David L. Straight, Ken Lawrence,
Kenneth B. Grant, Hubert Skinner, William H. Bauer.
She
introduces past presidents John M. Hotchner, Bud Sellers,
Bill Bauer, Joe Foley.
She
introduces executive director Robert E. Lamb, who introduces
staff present at the show: Gini Horn, Barbara Boal, Dennis
Gilson, Ken Martin, Kim Kowalczyk, and Barb Johnson.
Klug
praises the staff, notes it has been a very busy year
with the move to Bellefonte, grand opening of the American
Philatelic Center, Summer Seminar, StampShow, and calls
for more applause for the staff.
Presentation
of 50-year membership medals: Beatrice V. Cranston, Kenneth
Kendrick, Peter A.S. Smith (all present).
Presentation
of 25-year certificates.
President's
Report (she will send electronic
copy)
The
APS Board of Directors met on Wednesday, August 11,
in a marathon session lasting 13½ hours. Now, not all
of that was a board meeting! We did have a strategic
planning session for 4½ of those hours, as the Board
works towards developing a long-range vision and goals
to support that vision. I will keep you apprised of
the progress through my president’s column. APS member
Steve Zwillinger, who is a strategic planner for the
U.S. Department of Education, is facilitating the planning
sessions. Steve is doing this as a volunteer, and we
all owe him our gratitude. (She introduces Zwillinger.)
The
Board heard reports from our Society attorney Virginia
Eisenstein and our Executive Director Bob Lamb. Past
President Peter McCann, who is the APS representative
to the international federation of philately known
as FIP, reported on the upcoming FIP Congress in Singapore
in September.
Our
dealer liaison to the Board, Jim Dempsey, presented a
report to the Board that conveyed the dealers’ perspective
on many issues.
We
reviewed the APS Winter Show AmeriStamp Expo and examined
its financial impact on the Society. It was the sense
of the Board that we should continue the Winter Shows,
and work hard to at least break even with the expenses.
We believe the Winter Shows are a great way to publicize
our wonderful hobby, gives us a venue to try new and
exciting ideas, and brings the APS to a wider audience.
The
Chairman of the Committee on the Accreditation of National
Exhibitions and Judges, Ann Triggle, brought two proposals
to the Board. The first was a housekeeping measure
that proclaimed there must be at least five award levels
for one-frame exhibits won at national World Series
of Philately shows and designated that these awards
are national award-levels. This is necessary
because one-frame exhibits are now being accepted at
FIP shows and in order to participate exhibitors must
receive at least a vermeil medal in national competition.
The
second proposal adds a new experimental class at our
Winter Show called a Showcase Competition, in which
one specialist society each year will be allowed 100
frames to showcase exhibits of their specialty. The
show judges will select one of the exhibits in the
Showcase to be the best, and that exhibit will be able
to participate in the Champion of Champions competition
later in the year.
The
Fundraising Committee presented a framework for the
second year of our Project One Capital Campaign, with
the goal being to maintain the momentum we have built
in the first year. The Capital Campaign’s goal is to
raise $10 million in ten years, at an average of $1
million each year. I am pleased to report that we are
on target to reach our first year’s goal, thanks to
the generosity of our members. The APS Board extends
our deepest gratitude to each of you who made a donation,
whether it was large or small. You are building the
future of philately.
Our
treasurer Nick Carter presented next year’s budget
for approval. The Board also approved the elimination
of the $5 early payment discount given to those members
who pay their dues before January 1. This will help
but not entirely offset a deficit in the budget that
the Board approved. Our
treasurer told the Board that we will need to recruit
25 members more each week than we do at present to
stem the tide of declining membership and the resulting
decrease in membership income; and that we had to generate
more income from our investments. You can help! If
everyone reading this would recruit just one new member
in the coming 12 months, we would cease having a declining
membership and the resulting decline in membership
income.
Our
Executive Director Bob Lamb outlined plans to offer
a new service for members. This will be a fee-based
listing service for placing lots on eBay in which any
unsold lots would then be automatically listed on the
APS Internet Sales Unit.
APS
dealer member Eric Jackson introduced two resolutions.
The first was a proposed resolution that the APS oppose
the destruction of philatelic materials for any reason
by any group, individual, or organization; with exceptions
for government stamp issuing agencies or collectors
and dealers who discard damaged, uncollectable stamps.
The
second resolution proposed the APS oppose the planned
destruction of revenue stamps and the inherent manipulation
of the stamp market by the Smithsonian National Postal
Museum. Both resolutions failed.
The
Board discussed the new APS logo, which was designed
by an advertising agency for use in the capital campaign.
The Board had not formally adopted the logo for other
purposes and in a very narrow vote, the Board decided
to revert to the old logo.
APS
Director-at-Large David Straight requested the Board
set a policy for selecting auction firms to handle
donated collections and legacy gifts to APS. A committee
was set up to handle this.
The
Board of Vice Presidents proposed a resolution that
defines “conduct unbecoming a member,” which is a reason
for disciplinary action by the Society. The resolution
names several specific types of behavior (see box).
This resolution was adopted.
A
committee of all of the living APS past presidents
(Bud Sellers, Joe Foley, John Hotchner, Peter McCann,
Randy Neil and chaired by Bill Bauer) presented a report
that suggests several APS election reforms. Some of
the suggestions were adopted and others were sent to
the APS Ethics Committee for further review
We
approved the application of the Armenian Philatelic
Association to become an APS affiliate, and we passed
a resolution of thanks and congratulations to Frank
Sente, APS Director of Administration, who is retiring
at the end of this month after a 32-year career with
APS. We wish Frank much happiness in his retirement.
We will miss him.
That
is what the Board did at our board meeting, but I want
you to understand that this is not all the Board does.
Our Vice Presidents meet every eight weeks to act as
the disciplinary arm of the Society. The Treasurer
signs the vouchers on a monthly basis, presents the
budget, and chairs the Finance Committee. The Secretary
is responsible for keeping the meeting minutes and
attesting to the signing of documents. The Directors-at-Large
are used in a variety of ad hoc committees. All of
the Board members are unpaid volunteers who spend countless
hours working diligently on your behalf.
On
behalf of the APS Board, I invite each of you to visit
the new American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte. This
is YOUR Center, created by YOUR generous donations
to foster YOUR knowledge and enjoyment. We believe
you will be proud of what you see
BVP
report - Ken Lawrence
He shows an item he bought on eBay, from
the Recorder of APS BVP in 1939 to a member, acknowledging
a complaint, saying another member had been expelled, that
postal inspectors had been notified, and that it was doubtful
the first member will be able to recover his loss.
The
APS enforces the philatelic code of ethics rigorously
and because of that almost any dealer in the world will
send you, sight unseen, tens of thousands of dollars
of material, because of the Society's ability to keep
the bad apples out.
The
vice presidents meet about every eight weeks. Members have
been so good that at the meeting this weekend, there was
not a single complaint to be considered (applause).
The
vice presidents have heard hearings on 24 complaints, resulting
in expulsion of ten people, three probations, and one reprimand
for a less serious violation. The BVP considered and rejected
one application for membership, arbitrated one complaint
and dismissed five. There are two cases pending, and the
BVP considered one other matter that wasn't really a complaint.
This
is much fewer complaints than his previous BVP slate eight
years ago handled. He is delighted to report that, with
more than 45,000 members, there were complaints against
just 24 in a year's time, and not all of those were meritorious.
That speaks volumes about how wonderful APS members are.
He
explains the reasons for the Conduct Unbecoming resolution
the Board considered and approved. He reads the resolution.
Resolved
that Conduct Unbecoming a Member shall consist of,
but is not limited to, the following types of unacceptable
action on the part of any APS member:
1.
Any conduct in violation of the APS Code of Ethics;
2.
Use of abusive or obscene language in any communication,
spoken or written, with any director or member of
the APS staff acting in an official capacity;
3.
Use of violence or a threat of violence against any
APS staff member, director, or other APS member;
4.
Use of falsehood, trickery, or misleading tactic
to obtain a judgment against anyone in the course
of an APS disciplinary process, including proceedings
before or adjudicated in a court of law if those
proceedings become part of an APS disciplinary hearing;
5.
Abuse of the APS complaints procedure, including,
but not limited to, submitting a frivolous or groundless
complaint against a member;
6.
Harassment or retaliation against a complaining party
for sanctions imposed by the APS, including the filing
of counter-complaints against the original plaintiff
after the decision of the Board of Vice Presidents
or Appeals Tribunal becomes final, for matters related
to the original complaint.
7.
Failure to provide pertinent information or documentation
requested by the Board of Vice Presidents during
an APS disciplinary investigation, membership application
review, or hearing;
8.
Intentionally deceptive or misleading claims in sales
or purchases.
The
Board adopted these proposals, so they are in effect
as of now. They will be published in American Philatelist,
and he hopes these will become a standing resolution.
Secretary's
Report - Lloyd de Vries
He
explains why his reports are short: He has to transcribe
or take notes on them.
Treasurer's
Report - Nicholas G. Carter
Those
interested in the numbers can get them several places -
in American Philatelist, on the Web, in the Board
minutes. He explains the duties of the Treasurer. The Finance
Committee met three times during this past year. The Finance
Committee is also the finance committee for the APRL.
In
2003, the APS had a very modest surplus of $48,000, about
1% of revenues. The staff works incredibly hard to keep
costs down. Assets at end of year $4.5 million. He says
Scott Frazier has left, and Rick Banks has taken over
at Comptroller.
All
this doesn't sound exciting, but it has been an exciting
year.
There
is the APS going in the long run? The Board and staff
are looking at the next 10-15 years. Membership has been
dropping. Three days ago, Board agreed to eliminate the
$5 early-payment dues discount starting with 2005. Everyone
will pay $35. He
acknowledges this is the third time in 4 years the APS
has raised dues. Why? Long-term trends, dropping membership,
reduced income. The APS needs to pay its staff better
and do things membership wants us to do.
Linn's
Stamp News' Chad Snee says he expects baby boomers to
begin to join. Carter isn't sure but that's hopeful.
The
APS is in very good shape, but he wants to address the
problems long before they become significant.
There
were four avenues: The APS could raise dues again, but
where does it stop? The Royal Philatelic Society of London
has $95 dues, but only 1500 members. The APS should only
raise dues when necessary.
He
points out that $35 a year is only $3 an issue of the magazine,
which he praises.
Another
option to recruit more members.
The
APS could cut services, but which ones? Lamb has already cut
many costs.
The
fourth one is to increase earnings from the APS' endowment.
He will be reviewing investment managers. He will work to
increase earnings from the APS endowment, and when the building
no longer requires new capital, he will work to increase
the size of the APS endowment. He hopes donations will increase.
He
praises Klug as "great person to work for, I can't
praise her enough.
Society
Attorney's Report - Virginia Eisenstein
There
is no litigation pending against the APS at this time. The
last was the case of Russell Case v. APS, which was satisfactorily
concluded. The appeals court upheld the lower court, then
refused Case's request to reconsider. She has been reviewing
and creating documents, giving advice to both the president
and executive director. She was able to satisfactorily complete
the financing for the Match Factory project in the last 6
months.
Executive
Director - Bob Lamb
There are 1200-1300 25-year members each year, and
30-50 50-year members a year. These whose names are announced are
only the ones who say they might be in Sacramento for this meeting.
Carter
is one of most knowledgeable treasurers the APS has ever
had.
APS
has been through a couple of tough years. Endowments have
not been producing, so the APS is looking at other sources
of income. APS has diversified. The Match Factory will
be a source of income down the road. Tenants pay rent,
and ultimately will subsidize headquarters. He has reduced
staff, automated many internal operations, and is looking
for new ways to generate income for the Society. He is
looking particularly to the Internet, not only as a way
to generate some income, but also as a way to reach stamp
collectors not in organized philately today. More than
half of new members join online, sometimes just because
it was convenient.
The
APS will be launching in September a stamp identification
service for people buying and selling on the Internet.
The service will accept an image, and for a fee, tell what
it thinks that stamp is. There are limits to how much you
can do from image, but he has been surprised at how much
you can.
This
service will also help sellers. Many put up misidentified
stamps just because they don't know what the stamps are.
He
hopes to launch the StampStore/eBay program by the end
of the year. Stamps will be offered on eBay for seven days
before going into StampStore. Sellers might even get a
little bit more.
Internet
sales are continuing to grow, up about 8% over last year.
The Sales Division is growing slightly, although still
in the decline of a couple of years ago. It is still hurt
by the Internet. People are waiting for circuits, and sellers
may be able to get a better price there than the Internet
Sales Unit.
The
education program is very active. There are some weekend
seminars in the fall, taking advantage of the new facility.
These are experiments.
Personnel
changes: It's a very small organization, and it's a close
organization, almost a family. He notes Frazier/Banks change,
Director of Administration Frank Sente's departure (he
will do some eBay work for APS). Helen Bruno moves from
Complaints to Advertising Sales for American Philatelist.
Wendy Masorti moves from Accounting to Complaints, but
will also wear a new hat, Property Management.
He
invites all to visit "State College," and is
corrected: It's Bellefonte now.
Q&A:
Member: Proposes vote of thanks to Joe Schwartz and local committee; motion
of thanks to president for her handling of meeting; moves to adjourn.
Klug:
The motions are seconded by Bauer. The first two pass by
acclimation. The third has to be handled in the traditional
manner.
J.S.
McCoy on dues: He pays $600 a year for cable TV, $35 a
year to APS. He doesn't need TV, doesn't need to be a member,
and he can readily justify in his mind paying the increase.
Wally
Green, new member from Seattle: American Contract Bridge
League also is losing members by the handful because of
age. Wants to make sure this organization is working to
recruit youth.
Klug:
Reassures him that the APS does.
Tim
Seth: Would like APS to resolve to get countries to put
dates on stamps. It would make it easier for newer collectors.
He would like Board to consider some kind of movement.
Klug:
She takes his point, and says it's a very good idea.
Steve
Lusting from Los Angeles: His 8-year-old son asked why stamp
collectors are only men. He thinks we also need to reach
out to women.
Klug:
Many of the people who came through line for autographs at
the first day ceremony were women. She suggests the American
First Day Cover Society might be a way to get new women into
the hobby.
Evan
Eichner (?) from Sacramento: What about an overprint for
those revenues?
Klug:
That proposal was not put forward to Board to consider. The
National Postal Museum is aware of that possibility, and
is looking at that proposal.
Unknown
25-year member from Washington state: It's a great magazine,
great organization. If he recruits a member, and that person
only stays for one or two years, .... Has anyone done a survey
on why people quit.
Klug:
Director of Administration Frank Sente and probably his successor
do inquire why people resign. In most cases, it's sad: They're
elderly, they've lost their vision, they're very sick.
Daniel
Pagter, 25-year member: has been trying to get information
about the naming procedure at the American Philatelic Center.
What he was told shocked him: No one is dedicated to handling
this. It's time to explore hiring (a director of development).
Some people, if not coddled, will give their money somewhere
else. He's still waiting to hear what he can name in his
mother's honor; he started this back in December.
Klug:
At the last board meeting, the Board requested that additional
staff be handled for this.
Lamb:
He appreciates the remarks. Fund raising is new to APS. Ten
years ago, it received $40,000 a year. By the end of June
this year, it had received $480,000 in donations. The Society
is not set up to deal with it. Pledges used to be kept on
3x5 cards. It's now looking into a computer system for pledges.
The APS is learning, and he hopes members have noticed the
Society is getting better at fund raising.
Dave
Waters, 25-year: He's been in the mortgage business, wonders
about the endowment fund buying the mortgage of the Match
Factory, since mortgages cost more than endowments.
Carter:
Waters is correct the APS is paying more for the mortgage
than it is making in investments. There are reasons for this,
but he will look at this.
Dan
Weicker, San Ysidro, Calif.: How fast is the APS planning
to convert existing slide shows to CDs or DVDs, shorten them,
redo narrations, make them into PowerPoint presentations,
put them into classrooms?
Klug:
Kowalczyk does have a plan to redo all the slide programs.
Kowalczyk:
The Education Department is stretched very thin, but is working
on it. The department has had some new programs in the works
for two years. The biggest problem is that the majority of
clubs do not have access to computers and digital projectors,
but the Education Department is working toward digitizing
the programs.
Randall
Sherman, Chicago: There is a committee on promotion; would
like to hear from it. He also wants an update on locations
for upcoming APS shows.
Klug:
Reads list on page 14 of show program.
Unidentified:
Grand Rapids has a booth on the show floor to promote that
show.
Rich
Lapin: Who is most expert person at APS in areas of computerization
for stamp collections?
Klug:
Recommends he join the Philatelic Computing Study Group,
which has a web site and booth at the show.
Unidentified
retired bus driver from Orange County, Calif.: As public
library, the APRL can get tax funds and tax breaks.
Klug:
Agrees.
Unidentified
man: He is very much against the destruction of stamps, and
wants to know why the Board didn't take stand. In his opinion,
no stand is a stand.
Lawrence:
The Board received a lot of mail on this subject, and the
opinion was divided right down the middle. Passions are strong,
but not decisively tilted either way. In both of the decisions,
in Norfolk and Sacramento, there was full discussion. He
believes the Board felt that the National Postal Museum considered
the issue carefully. The point of deaccession is to support
NPM activities, which the APS supports. The Board decided
not to second-guess the NPM, particularly not at the 11th
hour. There is lots of debate on this in stamp publications.
Once a decision is made, in democracy you accept it. You
don't keep bringing it up until you get the decision you
want.
Unidentified
woman: Can the membership vote on this issue?
Klug:
The museum is already in the request-for-proposal stage.
It's the museum's decision, not the APS'.
Bill
McDaniel, Texas. On youth philately, kids come in and have
a good time at shows, but then they go home and everything
is back to normal. He thinks kids should register in the
youth area, be kept in touch.
Leonard
Kramer, Eureka, Calif.: One reason he joined was for insurance.
Thinks the Hugh Wood Inc. questions about his renewal were
over the top. It's unfair to hit him because he lives in
an earthquake state.
Klug:
Suggests he visit HWI booth at show and talk to Simon Codrington.
He has had to answer similar questions for other insurances
since 9/11.
Pagter:
It's been a trend in California about earthquakes. It's required
by state law. He expects wildfire requirements soon, too.
Klug:
Seeks the member with lowest membership number. Bud Sellers
#23867 moves to adjourn sine die.
The
meeting ends at 10:30 a.m.
