Second Session -- February 23, 1999

Attendees:

Board of Directors: President, John Hotchner; Immediate Past President, Randy Neil, Vice Presidents: Dr. Peter P. McCann, Patricia Stilwell Walker, Gordon Morison; Secretary, Janet Klug; Directors-at-Large: Wayne Youngblood, Ann Triggle, Lloyd de Vries, and Jeanette Adams.

Staff: Executive Director, Robert E. Lamb; Director of Administration, Frank Sente; Editor, Bill Welch; Society Attorney, David Flood, Director of Shows, Ken Martin.

Guests: Dickey Rustin, Rob Haeseler, Foster Miller, Mary Ann Owens, Ada Prill, John Lievsay, Steve Schumann, Jim Forte.

The Second Session of the American Philatelic Society Board Meeting resumed at 9:05 a.m. in Salons 15-16 of the Omni Rosen Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

XV. The Society's Relationship with the U.S. Postal Service

Hotchner: Introduced Dicky Rustin, who has been Manager Stamps Division for USPS as well as marketing manager for the NE states, and manager of Philatelic Marketing. He is the Director of Anaheim 2000 stamp show and was Director of World Stamp Expo '89. Rustin is here to join in a discussion on the ongoing relationship that exists between the USPS and APS.

At this time the major issue is countertops. The USPS did not want the old style tables and chairs that have been a fixture at stamp shows. They wanted high (36 inch) counters used in many different types of trade shows. The USPS liked the look of the high counters and felt it improved the appearance of STAMPSHOW. The Board, on the other hand, voted at an interim Board meeting in Annapolis, Maryland several years ago for lower counters. Our vote could not be imposed on the USPS. Hotchner, however, enter into negotiations with the USPS and came to a compromise that we would offer STAMPSHOW dealers a choice of 30 inch counters or 36 inch counters. The compromise would also allow dealers to invite their customers into their booths if they so desired. The counter issue is a part of a larger working relationship and gives us access to open discussion with the USPS on a variety of matters that concern the philatelic community.

President Hotchner recognized Jim Forte, a STAMPSHOW dealer.

Forte: APS members who attend stamp shows prefer 30 inch tables. It is simply a matter of comfort. Forte said that whereas the 30 inch counters were an improvement over the 36 inch counters, they were still not tables and chairs. The USPS hates stamp dealers. The USPS is embarrassed by the hobby, and is more concerned with image than customer comfort. Why should the hobby have to deal with this? Forte said the Internet is bringing lots of new people into the hobby on a daily basis. We should work within the hobby to shape those new interests. The USPS interest is different from the hobby's best interest, and the USPS seem to be going to great effort to inconvenience people going to stamp shows. The APS leadership should realize that the membership is more important than the dollars the USPS brings to STAMPSHOW. It is time the APS end the relationship with the USPS.

Rustin: Said it was disheartening to hear Forte say the USPS did not care for dealers. The relationship under discussion was made with both the APS and the American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA). These two organizations came to the USPS with the idea of improving stamp shows, not the other way around. Stamp shows are dying. Many WSP shows are having difficulties or are folding. The hobby was having trouble creating new collectors. The USPS believed if stamp shows had a bright, colorful, cheerful environment it could help turn the hobby around. The APS has disagreed with USPS about counters, and so we agreed to make changes. The USPS does not believe tabletops work, and we are continuing our efforts to grow the hobby. The USPS brings to these shows a large advertising budget to attract new collectors.

Forte: The American Stamp Dealers Association represents only a very small percentage of dealers.

Rustin: The USPS does not believe the old style tabletop show is beneficial to introduce new people to the hobby. It does not represent positive design.

Hotchner: The responses the APS has been receiving from dealers has been that most dealers have said the two tier set-up with 30-inch counters would meet their needs.

Forte: Most dealers are unaware the 30-inch counters have a 6 inch lip. It is true the 30-inch counters are better than 36-inch counters, but Forte did not believe it was the best possible solution. Making customers comfortable should be APS' number one priority. Why does the USPS dictate the type of counters the shows will have?

Hotchner: The USPS does not dictate to APS. In fact, the USPS backed off the 36-inch counter.

Forte: There was a rumor that USPS did not want chairs at the counters.

Rustin: That was a false rumor.

Hotchner: Recognized Ada Prill.

Prill: Counters work well for supply dealers such as Subway or high-end stamp merchants. Most customers want to flip through boxes. It is not comfortable to sit at a counter. There is no place to put one's knees. The two tier system is not appropriate, and having dealers overcome the discomfort factor by allowing them to invite their best customers into their booths is discriminatory. A minority customer would not be invited into a booth. A low end buyer would not be invited in. Only wealthy, white customers would be invited in.

Flood: Said he found that last comment to be offensive. There was no evidence of discrimination of any kind at any STAMPSHOW.

Prill: Could not understand why the USPS found tabletops so objectionable. The skirts add color to a show. The countertops are sterile and unattractive. Prill agreed that the carpets and advertising were nice, but lowering the counters six inches would not solve the problem. Counters are not suited to philatelic transactions and they are not wheelchair accessible. STAMPSHOW in Santa Clara was a success in spite of itself.

de Vries: Wondered why the ASDA was silent on this issue? It is more a dealer's issue than it is APS issue. There are other dealer organizations that represent smaller groups. Why have we not heard from them? De Vries believed that even the 36-inch counters complied with disabilities laws.

Rustin: The ASDA informed the USPS their membership had not indicated a need for change.

de Vries: Inquired why STAMPSHOW dealers could only change the type of counters one time without penalty? The same dealers don't do all four shows (STAMPSHOW, 2 New York City Megas, and Anaheim Mega). Some dealers might change their minds when they find out a higher or lower counter is not working for them, or they may bring different types of stock to different shows. They should be able to change counters when they want to.

Rustin: Dealers can change their counters, but the USPS will pay for only one change. If we find we have more flexibility we will address that issue at a later date, but the USPS can't pay for booth changes at every show.

de Vries: Stamp shows do need a face lift. They look scruffy. At the New York City Mega Show one dealer's booth looks like a bazaar with boxes of covers piled high and people sitting all over the floor going through them, but he is the busiest dealer at these shows. De Vries was against the segregation of counters by height.

Forte: Agreed with de Vries and said location within the show is an important consideration for most dealers.

Triggle: Asked who owned the counters.

Rustin: Responded that Freeman Decorating owns the counters. The USPS is experimenting with a new circular booth experiment at Anaheim 2000, and if it proves to be successful it will make no difference what booth heights dealers chose, because they can all be accommodated within the circular arrangement. The USPS is not trying to be inflexible.

Triggle: Asked for clarification about dealers being allowed to change their booths only once.

Rustin: Booths have to be maintained and shipped from one show to the next. The USPS can't authorize dealers to change from one booth style to the next indiscriminately. There has to be some uniformity in the arrangements.

Hotchner: Can dealers change on a one to one basis without incurring a penalty? For example, if a dealer with a low counter wants to swap with a dealer who has a high counter, can this be done?

Rustin: No, not at the present time. Maybe later when we have had a chance to evaluate it.

Klug: The counter issue is just one aspect of the APS/ USPS relationship. What does the APS get from this relationship, and what does the USPS get from the relationship? Why is there no contract between the APS and USPS that spells all of this out?

Rustin: The USPS entered into this partnership with the intention to promote the hobby of stamp collecting. The USPS saw it as a dying hobby. We wanted to revitalize the hobby and our working relationship with the ASDA and APS to redesign stamp shows is one way we do that.

Hotchner: The USPS assists us with financing for advertising, decorating the show, and it brings an excellent first day ceremony to the show. Additionally, the USPS has helped most recently with the Youth Essay program and some of the other youth projects we do. It finances the youth area at STAMPSHOW. We do have a contract in process with the USPS and are awaiting the USPS to make changes in the draft. This working relationship with the USPS has opened up lines of communication with them we never had before so that we can address other issues of interest to collectors.

Rustin: We all want the same thing -- to grow the hobby. We have general agreement on the major points of the contract. Our relationship is not just about shows.

Lamb: Stamp shows are in trouble. APS was looking for a way to make them more successful, and the USPS is helping us do that. The USPS developed the youth area for our shows and we hope eventually we will be able to move this concept to other shows. Our relationship with the USPS provides a channel for dialogue which has been both broad and deep. We would not have an All Star Stamp Club without the USPS. The dialogue with the USPS is more important to the hobby the shows themselves.

Neil: Agreed with Lamb and stated that recently the dialogue is more filled out and we have a better relationship with the USPS. It is essential to grow the hobby.

Klug: Inquired when the contract would be completed? When would the Board see it?

Rustin: Replied he expected to be finished revising the contract in the middle of April.

Adams: Asked if dealers could make up any configuration within their booth with regard to their booth furnishings. When would the USPS/ APS contract be implemented?

Rustin: The contract will be implemented the date it is signed.

Adams: If the dealers who are discussing operating a guerrilla bourse in protest of the counters do so, it will be disastrous for STAMPSHOW. It would be far better if we could get these dealers working with the APS and USPS to resolve differences.

Lamb: The dealer who is threatening to operate a guerrilla bourse has never been a booth holder in STAMPSHOW. He shared a booth once seven years ago.

Rustin: It was never the USPS intention to place unnecessary restrictions on dealers.

de Vries: Stated that some dealers have a different configuration within their booths at Mega Show in New York City. In fact, one dealer had his booth set up like a living room with easy chairs.

Martin: Dealers can make changes to their booths within reason so long as it doesn't infringe on neighboring dealers.

Rustin: Agreed with Martin and said dealers could make changes within reason.

Adams: Asked who makes the call of what is reasonable?

Rustin: Ken Martin, Joe Savarese, and himself (Rustin) make the calls.

Triggle: When this contract is being drawn up that include the three Mega Shows and STAMPSHOW, could not STAMPSHOW be treated differently? Unlike the other three shows, STAMPSHOW is a Society show. The APS would like to retain more autonomy with its show.

Rustin: The USPS needs uniformity with all the shows in order to participate. We are always fighting for funds in order to support these shows, and we have to maintain a uniformity to keep the costs in line. The USPS believes that what is good for one show is good for all shows.

Triggle: The four shows are being treated as though they are equivalent. They are not. APS sponsors STAMPSHOW as a benefit for our members.

Rustin: Each show gains influence from this alliance. USPS treats them all the same.

Hotchner: STAMPSHOW is the major APS event each year. It is our national convention. APS' identity should not be lost.

Lamb: One of the reasons the latest contract negotiations have taken so long is because APS STAMPSHOW needs special treatment and we are being careful not to lose the APS identity.

Adams: How critical to the agreement with the other three shows is it to include STAMPSHOW?

Rustin: We do not have a partnership without it. USPS wants to make STAMPSHOW and the hobby grow. We have a positive relationship, but it has not been without difficulties. If we start isolating shows and treating them differently the partnership falls apart.

Hotchner: Winter Show still exists without the partnership. It is important to have STAMPSHOW be a part of the agreement with USPS.

McCann: Was concerned about USPS having undue influence on STAMPSHOW. What would be the impact if we pulled out of the agreement?

Lamb: That would cause a major deterioration of the relationship with the USPS across the Board. It is always better to be talking than not talking.

McCann: But would STAMPSHOW survive?

Lamb: Yes. It would survive.

Hotchner: It would not be the same STAMPSHOW we have come to love.

Morison: The Megas would be lost too. They would only be bourses.

Rustin: APS already has a lot of autonomy with STAMPSHOW. Booth placement and assignment is run by APS. We have come to an agreement about that, after having some difficulties. You learn as you grow.

Walker: Part of what we want are new members. Maybe new people in the hobby have different needs than those who have been collectors for a long time.

Forte: Tons of new people are coming into the hobby from the Internet. They seem to be bypassing stamps and starting right in with collecting covers. Forte didn't think that was possible, but he sees this happening.

Owens: We have been talking about four shows. What does APS have to do with the Anaheim Mega?

Lamb: Last year APS participated in Anaheim for the first time. We staffed the youth area and were represented as a Society and a sponsor. We came in so late that we didn't get involved with getting exhibits. As we progress we expect to get into that as well.

Prill: Hotchner said the vote taken by the Board at Annapolis was not binding on the USPS. Was it binding on the APS?

Hotchner: It was a statement of principle.

Prill: That principle seems to have gotten us nowhere.

Hotchner: That principle is very much a guiding factor as far as our negotiating with the USPS.

Prill: Did not see any progress with tables.

Hotchner: Inquired if Prill did not find the 30-inch counters to be progress.

Prill: No.

Martin: Some Board members had asked if there would be a mix of 30-inch and 36-inch counters or if they would be segregated with all in the front or back. Rustin said at World Stamp Expo 2000 a 30-inch counter could be next to a 36. Our present set up does not allow that. Many individuals have asked why flat top counters will not be permitted. Many dealers would prefer the flat top counters over the counters with cover tops which have a lip around the sides and removable slats.

Rustin: With the circular booths being designed for World Stamp Expo 2000, it doesn't matter about the height because it won't be visually discernible. USPS believes booths should be by size for uniformity. There has been no decision that the 36-inch booths will be up front, but shorts and talls will be grouped together for uniformity. The cover top counters were designed for cover dealers and have removable slats. They are available at all the shows. The top itself is flat and does not extend out into the aisle.

Morison: Asked if the USPS finds the pods being used for World Stamp Expo 2000 prove successful, will USPS use these at future shows? What will be the role of USPS in international exhibitions?

Rustin: The USPS will implement the pods at future shows if they are successful. As for the role in international exhibitions, the USPS has contributed to the youth area at these shows and has made great strides. We have taken the professional approach and have been working with professionals outside the USPS and with organizations that specialize working with youth. We have been doing marketing studies with kids themselves. The USPS has a couple of million kids who are actively involved in the hobby, and USPS has begun inviting them to stamp shows. Celebrate the Century has been a tremendous effort by the USPS to try a different marketing approach. We'll soon know the success with this approach. We will continue to look for ways to market the hobby and reach out to new collectors. If we don't, it's a dying hobby.

Hotchner called a 10 minute break.

The meeting resumed at 10:35 a.m.

XVI. The Society and the Internet

Klug: Presented a written report to the Board and explained that the Internet Implementation Plan Ad Hoc Committee was formed at the last Board meeting by President Hotchner. Members of the committee were Lamb, Sente, Hotchner, and Klug (chair). This committee was charged with prioritizing and implementing a plan drawn up by the Internet Committee chaired by Neil. Lamb, Sente, and Klug met to set the priorities in October at State College. We first took all of the data Neil presented to us and categorized the suggestions by member services and revenue engines. We then narrowed the list, eliminating what we considered to be too expensive, unneeded, or duplicative of services that already exist elsewhere. What remained on the list after the culling was prioritized into three phases that will take a whole year to accomplish.

The first phase, to be accomplished within three months, includes moving the home page to www.stamps.org and that would be done in house. Just last week staff turned www.stamps.org into a “jumping off” place. Formerly that URL went directly to the APRL website, but now it has a link to both APS and APRL. It is a good solution for the interim until we can get the home page redesigned and fixed at that location. We also need to formulate a budget for the website. We are going to need professional assistance for the redesign of the site, for upkeep, staff time, and promotions. This plan asks the Board to allocate $8000 as start-up money for the redesign. The website budget will be drawn up by staff and approved by the Board. APS has never had a website budget. All of the work has been done by volunteers and the website has cost the APS nothing. The Society can no longer do that. The website has grown to the point that we can no longer impose on our volunteers. The Society needs to redesign the home page. Our committee's specifications are that it should be bright, easy to use, searchable, and change frequently to give members a reason to revisit the site. As part of the redesign of the home page we want to incorporate banner ads. We have had some interest in banner ads, and we will be reviewing the price structure of that. The final part of phase one is incorporating a new member promotion on the website.

Phase two, which we hope will be accomplished within six months, will include putting all forms, flyers, and handouts the APS routinely sends its members on to the website as PDF files, downloadable through the used of Adobe Acrobat.

McCann: Would that include all the forms that the Accreditation Committee uses, such as apprentice evaluation forms?

Klug: Yes. We are trying to cut down on staff time and postage to send all of these forms out all the time. Another part of phase two will be the development of a searchable Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. Sente receives the same questions over and over for which he has developed form letters.

Sente: We have a file full of form letters to answer various questions.

Klug: It would be much easier if these were on the website where a person could type in a question and get the answer immediately. That is an important quality the website must have. It must be searchable. Right now trying to find something on the APS website takes a long time. The website must be made so that people can find things quickly so they won't become frustrated and not bother to return. We need to upgrade and redesign our Donations Program section. If we are going to ask members for money we should tell them what it is being spent on. We should show them pictures of what it is being spent on. Members want to know, and they will be more inclined to give if they know what the money is being spent on. We also need to provide an informational section for the APS Insurance Plan. Presently we only have a link to the Hugh Wood site. We need to provide our members with more information on the Insurance Plan.

Triggle: Is it possible to coordinate with our committees on this? For example, could Joe Schwartz and the Fund Raising Committee have input to what would go on the site for the Donations Program?

Klug: Yes, in fact the Committees are mentioned in phase three, which we have scheduled to be accomplished within 12 months. We hope to bring the Sales Division online and that has to be accomplished in house. If we can get the Sales Division online we can begin to sell specific items from the Sales Division. Saying this and doing this are two different things. It is going to be a complicated process. We have to decide how to sell and if we want to have a special sales circuit just for online sales. We need to develop this more fully and that is why it is scheduled for 12 months down the line. This is entirely dependent upon the successful computerization of the Sales Division.

When the Committee discussed this plan in October one of the suggestions was to develop an APS auction site. It is in this implementation plan, but Klug stated she had cooled on this idea because in preparation for presenting this report she had visited some of the online auction sites to see how they work. Klug thought the APS was getting into Internet auctions too late. The market is saturated, with the key player being eBay, but there are others, too, and new ones being added. We have to be very cautious on how we approach this.

de Vries: We should be careful about competing with our members. A lot of these existing auction sites are members of the APS. Manning appears poised to get into it if he isn't already. Stamp Auctions is another.

Neil: Our Sales Division already competes with some of our members.

de Vries: That has been established for a long time as opposed to starting something new that competes with our members. We, as the Board for 1997-1999 were presented with the Sales Division as a fait accompli. We don't have to initiate a new program that competes with our dealer members. Klug mentioned earlier that duplicative services were eliminated from the list and that would be duplicative.

Klug: That is why she was cooling on the idea.

de Vries: Besides APS getting into it late we would be competing.

Neil: The biggest reason not to do an online auction at this time would be the amount of money it would take to start up. The software is not cheap. Staff at State College would be required to manage it. It is still something we should not completely rule out.

Hotchner: As a phase three issue it is something we are not committing to at this point but looking at for the future.

Klug: We are also looking at the development of a virtual tour of the American Philatelic Building as part of phase three. It is a wonderful place to visit and more of our members would be inclined to visit if they knew what was there for them. If we do it simply at first using still photos of the APRL, sales division, reference collection, etc. we can later expand it to use technologies such as Real Audio and Quicktime to make a nice presentation. The final part of phase three is the establishment of APS committee home pages, which addresses Triggle's concerns.

The Committee also made additional recommendations that are not time specific. Care should be taken that new additions to the website are put on the proper pages with the proper links. We have to do it right the first time and make it easy to use and it has to be searchable. Much of the data currently existing on the APS website can be continued to be maintained by our volunteers who have served us so well. The Committee recognizes the need to retain our volunteers, but it should still be considered an ultimate goal to move the day to day operations of the website in house where it can be added to quickly. Sente presented an interesting and attractive Youth Philately website idea. It is a great idea that should be looked at again in the future but for right now the cost would be prohibitive. The original Internet Committee report suggested the APS secure the keywords “stamp collecting,” “stamps,“ and “philately” on various search engines. That is something we should look into. Klug checked into the price of doing this with some search engines. Some charged a minimum of $1000 per month, others charged $60 to $75 per thousand keyword target hits in which the APS banner ad would be displayed. There is no way to predict how many people go to a search engine to search for the keyword “stamps”. This could amount to a small fortune. It is impossible to say.

Walker: We don't pay anything for the search engines now. If you key in stamps or stamp collecting in the search engines now APS comes up immediately.

de Vries: They are based somewhat on the number of hits and you can pay to move your site up in the list.

Walker: APS comes up on the first page now.

Klug: One idea that is not on the printed recommendation that just came up during a conversation with Sente this morning is that, with eBay being so popular with new collectors, maybe the APS could take a banner ad on eBay. That would get a lot of play and we are missing some of these Internet collectors who belong to no other organizations and have never heard of the APS.

We can't do everything at once and we can't predict what future technologies will be. The Implementation Plan is very specific about reviewing our APS website every two years to make certain it does not become dated.

Triggle: Lamb had mentioned we might have to take on another staff member, either half time or full time, to work on the website. Does Klug concur?

Klug: Yes, in fact a staff person has been hired.

Lamb: She started as of February 12. She is a full time employee of the APS and has other responsibilities, but will be working part time on the website.

Triggle: Lois Evans de Violini asked as part of her Committee report if the new website will be able to provide the same statistics she is doing with regards to number of hits.

Lamb: Yes, easily. Lois has done a tremendous job with what she has done and the Society will always be in her debt with what she has accomplished at no cost to the Society. The Internet is growing faster than any of us ever expected -- even in October when we had our meeting. The pace is moving so rapidly that Lamb sees this moving in house as a full time position more quickly than he originally anticipated. We rehired Wendy Masorti who used to be Sente's secretary to work on the APS website. Lamb sees more and more of her time being devoted to the website.

Triggle: The Internet Implementation Plan seems very comprehensive and Triggle didn't see how we could accomplish everything on it with a part time worker.

Youngblood: It is an excellent and comprehensive report of what we have done and where we need to go. Before we go any further down this road with regard to allocating funds we should decide if we are attempting to make the website self-supporting with revenue generators or whether it will be a service to members and always be a financial liability. It will effect our long term planning.

Hotchner: Believed the website should be self-supporting to the degree possible. This is a place we need to be. The Executive Director needs to be communicating with us the progress in this area every three months, if not more often than that. He should address the issue of resource expenditures at the time they come up. We are going to have to frontload some money and realize we have to spend because that is the right thing to do.

Youngblood: It is very difficult, if not close to impossible to make Internet efforts profitable. Linn's is having a lot of trouble with Zillions of Stamps. It has been difficult for Krause with their Collectit website. Ebay is the exception to the rule because they were the first. It is a very important place for us to be but we need to watch it because it is very easy to pour tons of money into a website.

Klug: When the Committee was discussing the plan, we tried to bring a feature that was revenue producing online at the same time we were adding member services. The Board has to remember and keep in mind that the APS is a member service organization. We aren't trying to make huge profits from all of the things we do. We are trying to provide services to our members.

Hotchner: Recognized John Lievsay.

Lievsay: Will there be a net increase in revenue or will this take substitution for paid space in American Philatelist?

Sente: We don't think it will take advertising away from AP. A lot of dealers find it to be another venue for them to advertise. Currently on the APS Dealer Mall on our website we have over 70 advertisers. It is a very attractive rate, and that rate is probably going to go up, but there are still 70 dealers already advertising and it hasn't taken away one ad from AP.

Welch: Pointed out that we have full page ads coming from eBay in AP. It goes both ways.

de Vries: Does the new staff person have website design experience?

Lamb: She is a business school graduate, but in the two weeks she has been working on this project she has made great strides. She worked for us for a long time and is extremely creative.

de Vries: Is she the web designer mentioned in the Implementation plan?

Lamb: No. Masorti will be the person who enables us to keep the data and content current. We want to get a professional designer to redo the site, but Lamb wanted to wait till the fall of this year to do that. Many of the things we want to do, such as searchability, will take a major effort. We may have to work that into the redesign. That will be a cost to us. Lamb did not want to make any commitment to get into an auction at this time. It is increasingly pressing to us to get the Sales Division online. We have had a number of discussions about this in house. We have been discussing this with people who can do this for us. It is going to be to big a project for us to do in house. We are looking at a complementary system where the things that come to us in the Sales Division can go online before they go into circulating books. The problem we have is how do we do that and continue to satisfy the members' need for low cost items. We are now looking at the idea of redesigning the books into loose leaf and having people submit descriptions of the items on the sheets and then selling by the sheet on the website. If it doesn't sell it would go into the sales books. This is preliminary thinking because it is going to take a major overhaul. Lamb is inclined to do this before we automate the Sales Division because as we get into this we are finding the Sales Division will have to be completely restructured. Instead of microfilming the books as we do today we will probably go to scanning for the computer sales and that would represent our official record of what the member sent in rather than the microfilming. We have one person who works full time doing the microfilming. That person would be shifted over to scanning. There is no point in spending a considerable amount of money automating the system as it is today if we are going to change it in six months or a year.

Klug: Disagreed with Lamb to wait until the fall to redesign the home page. The home page we have now is not serving the Society well. It is the first thing that people see the first time they visit the website and it needs to be changed and upgraded.

Youngblood: We need to decide before we get into this any further with a motion if necessary if this is going to be a member services website or self supporting. What we are talking about right now could cost $75,000 to $120,000 a year easily. We need to have a specific plan of how we are going to offset the costs, and if we are going to offset the costs. There are software costs, personnel costs, setup costs. We need to say up front that it is purely member service and we don't expect to have any revenue to offset the cost or we are going to try to make it profitable.

de Vries: Can't it be both?

Youngblood: Sure it can be both, but we need to state up front what we are doing.

Lamb: While Youngblood's estimates of the costs are high, we do need to look at this in a businesslike way. There are costs and benefits to the Society. We don't have proposals that generate the money this conversion will cost us.

Youngblood: Not opposed to being on the Internet, but we need to plan very carefully otherwise we will see a hemorrhage of red ink.

Motion: To adopt the proposal in concept with the provision that the Executive Director report to the Board every 60 days. The motion included allocation of $8000 as startup money, and direction that the website is essentially a member service but we should try to make it revenue neutral as much as possible. Motion by Adams. Seconded by Triggle.

Walker: We need to give some guidance to the web designer. If it will be strictly a member service, there are things that have to be there. We would love to have bells and whistles, but only if there is an offsetting revenue generator. We'll have to tell the web designer the minimum we have to have as member services.

Hotchner: The guidance will come from State College because they will be managing that.

McCann: Inquired if the ad hoc committee was finished with its work.

Hotchner: Said that it was but hoped the committee would still follow the progress of the implementation.

Lamb: Was concerned about the instruction that the website redesign should be done immediately. We need to put some thought into it and get competitive bids. Lamb did not think that was possible with the imposed three month time frame.

Hotchner: The practicalities are that we have lived with what we have for a considerable period of time. Hotchner asked Klug if 6 months was out of the question.

Klug: Agreed to 6 months, but would rather it didn't take that long.

McCann: That doesn't mean the website has to remain as it is.

Lamb: It is changed every day, but a major redesign is something we will have to do on contract. Our in house capabilities are allowing us to make changes more quickly.

McCann: But simple changes to the design could be done immediately.

Klug: There are some cosmetic changes that could be done right away.

McCann: Yes, that is not the same as doing a major redesign and would help improve the website.

Hotchner: Suggested Klug and Lamb work with Masorti to do this.

De Vries: Said the virtual tour of headquarters and adding photos of stamp shows to the website was a good idea but counseled that any photos we use must be quality photos taken by professionals.

Welch: One reason photos taken at headquarters are dismal is the unwillingness of some employees to be photographed under any circumstance. That is why so often photos taken at headquarters are of monitors and filing cabinets.

Hotchner: Called the question. The motion passed unanimously.

Hotchner: Indicated the Board would usually break at this time (11:00 a.m.) and convene as the Appeals Tribunal, but none of the appellates were present for their cases.

XVII. Promoting Society Membership

A. “Free Membership” Proposal

Hotchner: Complimented Klug for the proposal and said this kind of creative thought is critical for the future of Society.

Klug: There are actually two membership promotions being presented. Proposal number one is a “Free Membership” promotion that endeavors to give APS members more for their money, promote business for APS dealer members, and increase APS membership. Klug said when she is talking to groups of APS members she asks them what the APS can do for them. They usually respond with something very specific. Boiled down it amounts to, “we want stuff.” This proposal attempts to give members “stuff” of their choosing. The concept is simple. They pay their dues to APS. In return they receive five vouchers good for $5 off a $25 purchase from participating APS dealers.

Klug mentioned she had discussed the proposal with several dealers. The majority thought it was a good idea and would want to participate in the plan. Dealers stand to lose the most, but the also stand to gain the most. Dealers will take the hit from the $5 coupon, but in reality it only represents the discount they give to other dealers when selling to them. Klug identified possible problems: 1.) Members who think dealers will increase their prices to “make up the $5.” Members will always be skeptical about how dealers will price their material. Members will have the option of using the coupons or not using the coupons. 2.) Members who will want to use the coupons in tandem with other discounts. The coupons will not be allowed to be used in combination with other discounts. This should be stated specifically on the coupons. 3.) Will dealers be inundated with these? Klug had no idea. It is not something that can be predicted. Should dealers have the option of accepting only a certain number of them? Probably. That is something that will have to be looked at. 4.) Can a member give a coupon to another member or collector? No. They have to be used by the member. They should not be transferable.

There was some discussion when Klug brought this up to dealers and staff if we should do a redemption on the coupons. Perhaps we could redeem them for 50c or $1 for every coupon a dealer sends back to the APS. We could do that, but it defeats the purpose. One dealer told Klug he preferred to accept the coupon on behalf of the APS and consider it to be an unrecorded donation to the APS.

Klug outlined four steps to implementation. The first is to sign up dealers who will participate in the program. Klug suggested we'd need at least 50 dealers to make it work and spread the potential liability around. Initially this proposal should be a new members only promotion, but if enough dealers sign up Klug would like the APS to be able to offer it to renewals as well. That would be a major problem, though. Doing coupons for only 1,000 or 2,000 new members is vastly different from doing coupons for 50,000+ renewing members. The next step is to offer it first on our website and work out any kinks that develop from that, then design print ads for the philatelic press and begin promoting FREE MEMBERSHIP there. Once the program is running Klug suggest staff evaluate the ramifications of offering it to renewing members.

The APS would benefit because we would be able to advertise a new membership promotion and hopefully gain an increase in the number of new applicants. Members would benefit because they would receive coupons for the amount they paid for membership, and if they redeemed them all they would get all their money back. Dealers would benefit because they would have the opportunity to present their products to new customers and increase their customer list. They would also receive free advertising this program would provide.

de Vries: Most show dealers build a discount into pricing structure, especially for those who make large purchases. Those who don't usually don't stay dealers for long. Giving a 20% discount with no other discounts allowed shouldn't be a big hardship for most dealers. The APS should not have to redeem the coupons. De Vries would not support the proposal if it did. Since it is a voluntary program dealers who did not support the program would not have to participate. With regard to the problem of the coupons being non-transferable, if they were printed on the wrapper of the magazine so that the mailing label was a part of the coupon, that would eliminate that problem.

Klug: But then you are giving the coupons to all 50,000 members.

de Vries: Anyone who renews their membership gets the magazine.

Klug: We can't extend the program to include all members until we sign up many, many more dealers than the 50 needed to support the new members.

Sente: If we offer the program to the entire membership we put out $1,250,000 in coupons. If we have only a handful of dealers sign up for this it would be impossible to handle that.

Hotchner: The minimum of 50 dealers being recommended is an appropriate number but Hotchner believed a lot more dealers will sign up for it. What it does is bring in new customers. That is one thing every dealer not only wants but must have to survive. Since they are guaranteed a $20 sale in order to redeem the coupon, they should be delighted.

de Vries: Dealers should be making money on the $20 even after they have taken $5 off for the coupon.

Sente: Did not mean it was a bad idea to offer it to the whole membership, but we needed to walk before we run.

Hotchner: We should be able to do this for new members in the not very distant future.

Sente: Doing this for new members won't be a problem. In fact we can generate coupons on the computer for new members with their names, addresses, and membership numbers and send it to them in their new member packet.

Youngblood: That addresses the monitoring problem. This is a great idea and should be started with new members and then we can go from there. Having just implemented during the last couple of months several programs similar to this through Stamp Collector, Youngblood said auctioneers would not participate in this at all. New issue dealers, standard dealers, and postal history dealers will be more than happy to participate. It gets them, if nothing else, a one time sale and hopefully a long term customer.

Hotchner: We should offer this first to dealers who have signed up for our two shows and those who advertise in the magazine. If we get a sufficient number of those dealers, then that is the basis we should offer this.

de Vries: Not every APS registered dealer?

Hotchner: That is something we should look at in the future. We are going to have to see what the scope of the program is. We are going to have to produce some sort of publication that says these are the participating dealers.

Youngblood: To some extent this should be perceived that it is a program that is a privilege to participate in.

Adams: As a phase in we might begin giving existing members one coupon and see how that works, rather than five to all existing members and put millions of dollars of coupons into the marketplace.

Neil: There are certain dealers, such as supply dealers like Mel Goldberg, that will be hit heavily by these coupons. If they can be used to get $5 off Scott Catalogues that a supply dealer has already discounted it will hurt these dealers.

de Vries: Goldberg has already adopted a similar program. He was present in a Delphi chat in which this was being discussed. The next day he instituted it immediately for Subway.

Triggle: If a dealer receives a lot of coupon, what is to prevent them from using them a tax deductible donation?

Hotchner: That would be between the dealer and the Internal Revenue Service.

Triggle: Should the APS accept these coupons for our own merchandise? We sell things, too.

Klug: APS already gives members a discount on those things it sells, and the coupons will specifically say they can't be used in combination with other discounts.

de Vries: Not the circuits. We would have to exclude the circuits.

Triggle: It is a question that is going to be asked. If dealers are accepting the coupons, why not the APS?

Youngblood: If this turned out to be just for new members that might work, but if it was going to be offered to all members it would not.

Hotchner: This would have to be covered in the brochure that tells how to use the coupons and who will accept them. It is not an insurmountable problem. We do not want to give $25 in coupons to people who join late in the year. It has to be restricted to members who pay for a full year's membership.

Klug: It could be pro rated. If somebody joins in the last quarter they would only receive one coupon.

Lamb: These are the kinds of details that can be handled administratively.

Hotchner recognized Mary Ann Owens.

Owens: Coupons don't have to be large. All five coupons can be printed on one page and the back of the page can be used to list the dealers who accept them along with the rules and regulations for redemption.

de Vries: Suggested the restrictions be printed directly on the coupons.

Motion: That the Board accept the concept of the “Free Membership” proposal for new members and turn it over to the Executive Director and his staff for implementation. Moved by Neil. Seconded by Walker.

Hotchner: The motion should include that we would like to do this within 90 days.

Lamb: This is going to be much more difficult to do than it appears. We have to get legal language for the restrictions and sign up dealers. We will do it as quickly as possible, but it may take longer than 90 days. However, it is the sort of program that once we get it going it will take relatively little effort to continue.

Neil: We should have it in place by STAMPSHOW. That's six months from now.

Lamb: Indicated it could be in place by then.

Neil: Amended the motion to include that implementation should be made by STAMPSHOW 99.

The motion to implement the “Free Membership” proposal passed unanimously.

B. Coupon Book Promotion

Klug: This is similar to the first proposal, but instead members would receive a coupon book in which dealers would offer incentives to entice members into trying their products. Dealers would be invited to participate, but they would have to pay for their participation and in return would receive the advertising value of having a coupon-style display ad placed in the hands of new members (at first) and all members (eventually). The APS would benefit because it would be another way to advertise for new members: “Join the APS and receive $X in free coupons.” Klug said she did not know what kinds of products or services dealers would offer in their coupons. It could be used as a “buy one, get one free” promotion by some dealers. The implementation of this program is simple. It would require staff to enlist dealers, then have the coupons printed, and begin distributing to members. An advertising promotion drawing attention to the coupon books would be the final step.

Youngblood: As a businessman, Youngblood said it would behoove APS to do this sort of thing, but Youngblood believed it would be more difficult to get dealers to participate in this because they are giving something away and not necessarily getting a customer in return. There is a double cost in this -- the cost to participate in the program, and the cost of the free incentives dealers are required to provide.

Klug: Estimated the cost to participate in this program would be low, set at just enough to cover the cost of printing and distributing the coupons distributed equally to the participating dealers.

Youngblood: In that case a whole range of products could be offered. Discounts on books, free issues of magazines, other sorts of discounts.

Klug: Said de Vries had told her about a similar program the American First Day Cover Society had done and they were able to come up with $600 in coupons for their members.

De Vries: If a member had used every coupon they would have had $600 in discounts. Of course, they would have spent a fortune to buy what it took to get the discounts.

Walker: That would be great to advertise. The members would never redeem all the coupons, but it looks really good in an ad.

Neil: The proposal we just passed is for new members using five $5 coupons. Here is another coupon proposal that we are going to give to these same members and we are going to probably ask the same dealers to do both. Would they go for that?

Triggle: Each different program may appeal to different types of dealers and the way they do business.

Neil: We need to test this idea with some dealers to see how they feel about it. It's a terrific idea, sort of like the restaurant books you can get that offer two meals for the price of one. But you pay for those coupon books.

Youngblood: Our first proposal would work best for new members. This second proposal would be a potential solution for our renewing members without the huge possible liability Sente brought up.

Adams: Many stamp collectors are not necessarily extroverts. Adams believed if collectors walked into a stamp show with a big book of coupons, that would give them something to do and a way to break the ice. Some collectors are frightened to approach the dealers. It would be a way to get people to participate in shows.

Welch: A $600 coupon book would be a great thing to offer in a year that we raise the dues.

Hotchner: That's a good point, but we have no present plans to raise the dues. Hotchner did not necessarily want to keep the idea on hold until such a time as we would raise the dues.

de Vries: The offers done for the AFDCS books were not simply free offers in which members returned the coupon and got something free. It is a selling tool for the dealer that requires a purchase in order to get the free item or discount. Most of the participating dealers were mail order dealers. It could bring in revenue to the APS. It is not unreasonable to expect a dealer to pay for what is, in effect, an ad that could bring in new customers.

Motion: To table the proposal until we see the effectiveness of the “Free Membership” promotion. Moved by Youngblood. Seconded by Morison. In favor: Neil, Youngblood, McCann, Walker, Morison. Opposed: Adams, de Vries, Triggle, Klug. The motion to table was passed.

Hotchner recognized Mary Ann Owens.

Owens: First you talked about new members. Now you are talking about renewing members. There are a lot of us who are life members. Whatever you do you are going to have to work the life members into the program, too.

Hotchner: With the split of the vote and the sense of the discussion we have had, Hotchner wanted to revisit this proposal at STAMPSHOW.

Lamb: Thought it was a good idea, but that it would tax the abilities at State College to do both proposals at the same time and we'd end up doing neither one well. Lamb wanted to start with the first proposal. If it is very successful, we can come back and ask the Board for suggestions on how to implement the second proposal. If we bomb on the first proposal, we can still look at the second proposal.

Morison: The important thing is to get the publicity out on the first one before working on the second one.

Adams: The staff should be exploring this proposal in some way.

Lamb: We will be doing that when we are talking to dealers about the first promotion. We'll know a lot more once we have contacted dealers about that.

Sente: There about 20 dealers right now who buy the new member names each month and do their own direct mail.

Hotchner recognized John Lievsay.

Lievsay: While you are thinking about what to put in the coupons, APS may want to consider offering a discount or a free coupon for APS Expertizing Service.

Lamb: We will be discussing in house what kinds of discounts on services we can offer to members.

XVIII. Tiffany Dinner

Hotchner: Introduced the issue of the Tiffany Dinner and how we structure that with regard to the Ranger Dinner. We receive a letter from John Birkinbine that states the Arizona Philatelic Rangers opted to keep their dinner on Friday evenings at STAMPSHOW. They have made a case that whether we have our Tiffany dinner on opening night of our two shows, it is still the opening night. That is the direction Hotchner would like to head, and Hotchner stated we needed to do some things with the Tiffany Dinner to make it more interesting and attractive for people to come and participate.

Triggle: Mentioned we were having a Tiffany dinner at Americas 99 on Friday evening. So far we have 50 people attending, and there are Board members who still have not purchased tickets.

Motion: That we hold the Tiffany Dinner on opening night of our two stamp shows( STAMPSHOW and Winter Show). Moved by Klug. Seconded by Morison.

Youngblood: Inquired if this would preclude any further opening receptions.

Hotchner: Said there would not be an opening reception as in year's past.

Walker: We need to consider philosophically what we want the Tiffany Dinner to represent. Do we want it to be fun and more interesting, or is it an opportunity for us to honor people who have contributed to the Society. We have to decide what it should be.

Hotchner: Appointed an ad hoc committee to work with Lamb on the Tiffany Dinner. The members of the committee are Walker, McCann, and Youngblood. They are to look at how we “sell” the Tiffany Dinner. Many have looked upon it as competition to the Rangers. That is not appropriate. It is more than simply honoring large donors. It is also an opportunity for people who are interested in Tiffany to come find out what it is about. We will always get more people if we have worthwhile draws, whether it be entertainment or speakers such as astronaut Hank Hartsfield who spoke at the dinner in Houston. That kind of consideration needs to be brought into the Tiffany Dinner discussions. Hotchner urged the ad hoc committee to get on this issue early enough so that we can have results on it for STAMPSHOW.

Hotchner: Called the question.

The motion to hold the Tiffany Dinner on opening night of our two stamp shows passed unanimously.

XIX. Request to Assist Russian Federation

Hotchner: Read a letter from the Russian Union of Philatelists requesting financial assistance because their government has ceased to support their activities and most of the members are impoverished and cannot afford to pay membership fees. Because of the banking system, money cannot be sent directly to the Russian Union of Philatelists and the letter requested donations be sent to Michael Adler in Germany who is helping collect donations.

Youngblood: Asked what sort of precedent this would set if we gave financial support to the Russian group.

Hotchner: Said there were no circumstances quite like this so it would not set a precedent.

Neil: It seems this is too open ended. What are they going to do with the money? Neil wanted to see specifics of how they were going to spend the money.

Adams: Had great sympathy for Russian problems but wondered what sort of difference would this really make? Would it help the Russian people? Would it help philately? Would it be a token and not make a dent at all?

Hotchner recognized Steve Schumann who is chairman of APS International Relations Committee and also went to the show in Moscow.

Schumann: In Moscow a year and a half ago it was difficult to find a place where you could spend rubles. They wanted dollars. The would not accept marks, or Swiss francs, or English pounds. The financial situation since then has worsened. Schumann wanted to know what the funds would be used for. He wanted to see specific lists of things they would spend the money doing. Will it be used to obtain collecting supplies for school children? Will it be used to pay for transportation for Federation officers to meetings? If that is the case, that would be an inappropriate use of funds. Schumann saw no problem with giving a donation, but we should know beforehand what the money is going to be used for.

Neil: Without the necessity of a motion, could Hotchner reply to the letter asking for more specifics?

Hotchner: Said he would be willing to do that.

Motion: That the Board should authorize the President to make a donation provided it is not used for individual benefits and used for the good of philately. Moved by Morison.

Schumann: Some of those who went to the show in Moscow put a lot of money into that show out of their own pockets. The Post Office did not foot the entire bill. Michael Adler made that show happen. He was there 14 hours a day every day of the show. Certainly things were run as tightly as they could, but in the last year and a half things have gotten worse economically. Schumann did not believe APS should send them even a small donation without some type of a plan.

Morison: Stated his proposal was to let the president make the decision based on information he receives on how the money will be spent.

Lamb: Could we ask Michael Adler to report back to us how the Russians will use this money?

Flood: You want to make sure where you send the donation. The President of the Russian Federation should be contacted. He is fluent in English and can respond to these questions.

Hotchner: Said we should set the amount of the donation in the neighborhood of $1000 and if we are going to do this and we should just send it with restrictions. Say that we expect it to be used for X,Y, and Z rather than saying “you shouldn't use it for......”. If there is a sentiment we should be supporting the Russian Federation we should be doing it cleanly and openly.

Flood: We should be very careful to whom we send money. We should put on the check or in a letter of instruction the name of a responsible person in case the check ends up on the black market buying arms. You don't want that, and it can happen.

de Vries: Wanted to know more about where they needed the money before we stipulated where we spend it. Are any of the amounts we are discussing going to do any good? The standards of living over there are different than ours, but it seems as though $1,000 is a drop in the bucket to what is needed and the way their economy is falling apart.

Lamb: Is there any advantage of getting the FIP involved? We could say we will donate a certain amount of money if the FIP will match it.

Youngblood: We should encourage the FIP to match our funds. We should send a copy of the letter to the FIP.

Triggle: Michael Adler is a director of the FIP. He has probably already gone there to ask for assistance.

Youngblood: We are probably not the only Federation that has received this letter.

Hotchner: This is a form letter that has been sent to all of the Federations.

Motion: To authorize President Hotchner to donate up to $1,500 to the Russian Federation if there is evidence of how the funds will be used through future correspondence that supports his judgment of what a is a fair use of that money. Moved by Youngblood. Morison seconded.

Morison: Withdrew his earlier motion.

Klug: This made Klug nervous. Anyone can ask APS to send them money for any kind of reason. That does not mean we should do so. We need specifics before we give out money and Klug wanted the Board to see what the Russian Federation would do with the money before authorizing money be sent.

Neil: We should trust the President to make this decision.

Hotchner: Called the question.

In favor of authorizing President Hotchner to donate up to $1,500 to the Russian Federation if there is evidence of how the funds will be used that supports his judgment of what is a fair use of that money: Neil, Youngblood, de Vries, Adams, McCann, Walker, Morison, Triggle. Opposed: Klug. The motion carried.

Motion: That we ask FIP to match or exceed our donation to the Russian Federation if one is made. Moved by de Vries. Seconded by Youngblood.

Triggle: Believed if FIP were going to assist the Russian Federation they would have done so already. Michael Adler would have asked them already. If the money is to be used to pay FIP fees, it shouldn't be used for that.

de Vries: We should ask the FIP. If we become a second voice and the German Federation has already asked the FIP to help, we would add more weight to their request.

Hotchner: Wished to handle this administratively and ask Michael Adler what he is doing in that direction and if he is already doing something we should leave it alone. Hotchner did not believe it was a good idea to insist the FIP give money.

Schumann: Thought it was likely Adler sent all these letters to various Federations at the same time and it was likely there was no other input at this time. If we send such a letter now to FIP it would be counterproductive.

de Vries: Withdrew the motion.

Lamb: Thought we should send a letter of inquiry to FIP asking if they have received a similar letter. If the FIP has said this isn't worthwhile, it will look strange to our membership if we give $1,500 to the Russian Federation if the FIP has determined it is an inappropriate thing to do.

Neil: Said one call to Bud Sellers would tell us what we wanted to know.

Triggle: Through Hotchner's investigations he can determine if we are going to follow through with a donation.

XX. FIAF Inter-American Philately

Hotchner: Introduced a number of proposals regarding Inter-American philately made by Dr. Jim Mazepa. FIAF is the Federation of Inter American Philately of which APS is a member. Americas 99 is a celebration of Inter American philately and Mazepa's proposals are in that spirit of drawing us closer to FIAF. Mazepa has proposed, and Hotchner believed it was a good idea not needing a Board vote, that we accord the president of FIAF the opportunity to quarterly speak about FIAF issues in American Philatelist. It would not be a huge article. Hotchner wished to commend that to the Executive Director and Editor if the Board did not object.

Welch: The first idea anyone has in these circumstances is to give someone a platform in American Philatelist. It has arisen with the ATA affiliation and on other occasions in the past. What the ATA has evolved into is that we try to run one topical article a month. Welch had no problem having occasional commentary from FIAF but did not wish to guarantee them a platform on any regular basis.

Hotchner: Perhaps we should phrase the offer that it would appear within a quarter but not tie it to any specific month. We can offer that roughly four times a year they would be welcome to address the membership of the APS on FIAF matters.

Welch: Believed that was overkill.

Hotchner: Did not believe they would do it that often.

Morison: Suggested we offer them editorial space “periodically”.

Hotchner recognized Steve Schumann.

Schumann: We will have to take into consideration that our offer to have FIAF provide input to American Philatelist will have to be run in two languages. The President of FIAF will want to write in Spanish and we will have to translate it to English.

Hotchner: The membership of the American Philatelic Society isn't Spanish. We don't do that for anyone else and Hotchner did not believe we should do that.

Schumann: We will have to make very clear to the President of FIAF that his remarks will be translated and published in English.

Youngblood: If we are doing this for FIAF, why aren't we doing it for FIP or any other organization? This will interest a very, very small percentage of our membership. It won't help make American Philatelist any more readable to the average member by any means.

Hotchner: Agreed to some extent, but there is a lot of information in AP that is of interest to a small percentage of the membership. One of the criticisms we have received is that we have not made narrow-gauged information available to people who, if they had it in front of them, might appreciate better the scope of the Society.

Youngblood: Part of the membership perception is that we already do way too much for exhibitors.

Hotchner: All of FIAF is not exhibiting.

Walker: Most people think FIAF is an exhibiting organization. This is the chance for FIAF to tell us what it is, because it is more than that. It is our continental Federation. It is between APS and FIP. The membership is uninformed about this.

Hotchner: FIP has its own journal. FIAF does not. In doing this we do not have to offer this forum to any other group.

Hotchner: Another area Mazepa has made a proposal for is cross-accreditation of APS and FIAF judges. This is something we have with Canada. Hotchner referred this to the Accreditation Committee to give the proposal structure and asked the Committee to come back with a specific proposal at STAMPSHOW.

McCann: Mazepa is proposing that those FIAF judges who are FIP judges have the right to judge at our national shows. In other words, these are international judges. The restriction we have now is for a FIP judge to judge at one of our national shows they have to be a member of the APS. So all we would have to do is waive the requirement that FIAF-FIP judges have to also be members of the APS.

Hotchner: Would like to see as part of the proposal what training the judges have, how often they judge, and what they do nationally in addition to what they do internationally.

McCann: They are already FIP international judges. We are only talking about people who are accredited international judges who already have the right to judge at any APS show as long as they are an APS member.

Hotchner: Referred the proposal to the Committee on the Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges and requested it make its recommendation to the Board at STAMPSHOW.

Mazepa's final suggestion is that we formally extend the invitation to South and Central American Federations to exhibit at our North American shows. As we look at the problems we have filling our frames anyone is welcome to exhibit at our shows. We need to extend the invitation formally with a letter to Gobel with a list of all our national shows and instructions on how to get application forms.

XXI. ESPAMER

McCann: Distributed printed information provided by Dr. Jim Mazepa on a philatelic organization known as ESPAMER whose focus is to promote the philately of the Spanish and Portuguese speaking areas of Central and South America. Mazepa is proposing the APS accept the invitation to join ESPAMER.

Motion: To accept the report provided by Dr. Mazepa that gives background information on ESPAMER and proposes the APS join ESPAMER. Moved by Neil. Seconded by Walker.

Adams: Inquired if ESPAMER was a show or an organization.

McCann: It is both. It is a loosely run organized federation composed of national federations, certain postal administrations, and certain postal museums.

Walker: They do sponsor a major show every two or three years.

McCann: There are no dues to join and there is no obligation if you become a member that you have to sponsor one of the exhibitions.

de Vries: Did not see the point. It is an organization to promote Spanish and Portuguese speaking areas of Central and South America philately. We aren't any of those. Whether or not it cost us anything or not, why should we join?

Hotchner: There is a certain amount of solidarity. The Canadians are members.

McCann: FIAF itself does not have regional exhibitions. ESPAMER is not actually organized by FIAF but all of the members of FIAF are members of ESPAMER with the exception of us. They use ESPAMER as a regional show because it has funding from the post offices. As a result, this means as a regional hemispheric exhibition, the exhibitors who exhibit in this exhibition have eligibility to exhibit at international exhibitions sponsored by FIP. This is something that is predominant in Europe and Asia.

Triggle: Mazepa sent a description of the ESPAMER show he attended. He said that there were very few people there, and very few dealers there. It seems this is catering to a small audience. Do we really want to get into another elitist organization.

Hotchner: It's not so much that it is elitist. Mazepa feels that the base from which he has to speak as the US representative to FIAF is enhanced by our being a member of ESPAMER.

Walker: Went to ESPAMER when it was in Puerto Rico several years ago. It was a delightful show.

Hotchner recognized Mary Ann Owens.

Owens: Believed the US was already a member of ESPAMER. We ran ESPAMER when it was in Puerto Rico in 1982. We already belong. They shouldn't be asking us to join an organization to which we already belong. We haven't participated, but we are still members.

McCann: The perception is that we do not belong.

Owens: We sure belonged in 1982 or we wouldn't have run the show.

Morison: The USPS has issued souvenir cards for other ESPAMER shows, too.

Adams: Are these ESPAMER shows held in this hemisphere or in Spain and Portugal?

McCann: They are held in both places, about 80% of the time in this hemisphere. One other point is that we have recently had a very antagonistic relationship with FIAF partly as a result of Americas 99. Mazepa has made enormous strides in restoring the relationships. The are very interested in having the United States participate in FIAF. For them to have invited us to join ESPAMER was a big deal. It doesn't put any obligation other than we are a regional member and it would be a slap in the face if we did not join. McCann could not see any disadvantage.

Hotchner called the question to associate APS with ESPAMER. In favor: Neil, Youngblood, de Vries, Adams, Klug, McCann, Walker, Morison. Abstain: Triggle.

Neil: Asked Lamb if he would check to see if APS was already a member of ESPAMER. Neil believed we were.

XXII. Junior Philatelists of America H.E. Harris Awards

Hotchner: At the last Board meeting we discussed briefly that the JPA is looking to replace the H.E. Harris award given to youth exhibits at WSP shows. The Board authorized Hotchner to talk with the JPA about the APS might do toward helping support this. It is not finished at this point, but where JPA is heading is a concept called the JPA/ APS Golden Eagle Award for Creativity at up to 35 APS WSP shows. It would include a medal which Ken Martin is helping them design and a $25 gift certificate that, if we were to pay for, would cost less than $1,000 a year. In point of fact they want to ask for contributions from supporting members and from the philatelic community at large. It could end up that APS has no requirement to fund money at all except to help them get the medal struck. This is not a proposal, simply an update. Hotchner hopes to have a proposal at STAMPSHOW.

XXIII. Limited Geographic Distribution of Commemoratives by USPS

Motion: The APS protest to the U.S. Postal Service its policy of limiting new issue commemoratives geographically by only selling some commemorative issues in some post offices in some communities. Moved by de Vries. Seconded by Adams.

de Vries: Has not talked with a collector of US stamps yet who likes the policy of the USPS that limits distribution of some commemoratives. The USPS is issuing stamps and then deciding they will not go on sale at local post offices throughout the country because they perceive a lack of interest. It is likely the Lunt - Fontanne issue, people who campaigned to bring theater west of the Hudson, will not be sold west of the Hudson. Various issues tied to universities and colleges are not sold outside those states. It is as if the USPS believes that people who attend those schools don't ever move to another state and would not want to buy the issue. The USPS believes that people who live between New York and Southern California have never read Ayn Rand. It is frustrating for first day cover servicers and cachet makers. It also precludes these stamps showing up on mail. They may perhaps be bought in the local area they are available, but we see so few commemoratives on mail now. To further limit interesting issues is short sighted of the USPS. We should call them on it.

Neil: This is like mom and apple pie. It goes right to the heart of how most of us started collecting stamps. It is an excellent motion.

McCann: Are these stamps not available at the philatelic windows?

de Vries: They are supposed to be available at the philatelic windows and through the Fulfillment Center in Kansas City, but you have to have a minimum order for Kansas City. Not all philatelic windows are created equal. Some are philatelic windows in name only and some have limited hours of operation. Philatelic windows are not all that convenient and a lot of philatelic windows don't enjoy the support of their local postmasters. A lot of these issues are not available unless they are ordered from Kansas City, and collectors have to know they are available in order to be able to ask for them.

Youngblood: On issues that are of a more local nature, the Wisconsin issue specifically, there is tremendous wastage in other areas because people won't buy them. Youngblood believed it was a financial decision made by the USPS and to that extent it would then follow suit that we are successful in getting the USPS to do this there will then be subjects that don't receive postal commemoration that should. They cannot afford to have a 75% destruction rate.

de Vries: Some of that waste is from poor distribution and poor marketing. If the USPS did a better job promoting some of these regional issues they might sell better. If the USPS instructed their clerks to be more sensitive to collectors that would help, too. A lot of clerks take the minimum number of commemoratives they are required and they get rid of them as quickly as possible so they can go back to selling flag stamps.

Morison: There is the crux of the problem. Today the public does not want to take gummed stamps. Most of these are conventionally gummed stamps. The production of a short run self-adhesive is more expensive than gummed stamps. The public is no longer accepting gummed stamps because they want self-adhesives. If the APS wants to take issue with the policy, perhaps we should suggest they shouldn't issue the stamps at all. If the subject is not meritorious throughout the United States then maybe they shouldn't be issued.

de Vries: That is the USPS' problem. They decided to issue these stamps, rightly or wrongly. If they don't want to issue them that is their decision to make. It is nice to look at both sides and see their side of the problem., but that does not address the collector's concerns of not being able to buy the stamps at their local post offices.

Hotchner called the question that the APS should send a letter of protest to the USPS regarding limited geographic distribution of some commemorative stamps. In favor: Neil, de Vries, Adams, Klug, McCann, Triggle. Opposed: Youngblood. Abstain: Morison and Walker. The motion passed.

XXIV. Expression of Appreciation to Kathleen Wunderly

Hotchner: Wished the Board to adopt a resolution of appreciation to Kathleen Wunderly that reads: “The Board expresses its appreciation to Kathleen Wunderly for her 19 years of dedicated and creative work with the American Philatelic Society. The Board wishes her well in her future endeavors.”

Motion: To accept the resolution of appreciation to Kathleen Wunderly. Moved by Klug. Seconded by Neil. Passed unanimously.

XXV. Adjournment to Appeals Tribunal and Executive Session

Motion: To adjourn the open session of the Board Meeting. Moved by Adams. Seconded by Neil. Passed unanimously.

The open session adjourned at 12:45 p.m. and reconvened at 2:10 p.m.

Motion: To accept the decisions made in Executive Session. Moved by Neil. Seconded by Adams. Passed unanimously.

Motion: That the Strategic Planning Session scheduled for Thursday be a closed session. Moved by Youngblood. Seconded by Walker. Passed unanimously.

Adams: Asked to be excused from the Strategic Planning Session on Thursday because she had to return to work in Indianapolis.

Motion: To adjourn. Moved by Neil. Seconded by Morison. Passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted by: Attest:

Janet Klug, Secretary John M. Hotchner, President