Originally Published in the February issue of the American Philatelist
A return to stamp shows
Almost two years ago, I wrote extensively about the upcoming show schedule for 2020, announcing that I would be visiting ROPEX and WESTPEX and previewing Chicago 2021 as an international show. The global pandemic took its toll on the U.S. that same month and our major shows went dark for 18 months.
A modified schedule brought shows back in the second half of 2021. Attendance was lighter in most cases as the lingering effects of the pandemic kept some collectors at home. In all, show dealers reported good sales, and reports were positive.
I provided a report on the Great American Stamp Show in Chicago in the October issue. I also attended WESTPEX in July, NAPEX in October, and PITTPEX and Chicagopex in November. I was overwhelmed by the attendance at our Town Hall meetings at each of those shows. Thank you to the great organizers, volunteers, dealers and members who made the shows successful.
As of this writing, the Omicron variant is surging in the U.S., and experts warn we may be in for a long winter and further restrictions. I hope the predictions are wrong, and we can continue returning to pre-pandemic activity. With that hope in mind, we are filling up the calendar to visit APS members at upcoming stamp shows.
ARIPEX, Mesa, Arizona
February 18-20, 2022
In 2019, we held the last APS Winter Show in conjunction with ARIPEX. It’s a wonderful show and a good time to be in Arizona. The show will be held at the Mesa Convention Center. This year, the show hosts the Arizona Chapter of The Collectors Club, Auxiliary Markings Club, Arizona-New Mexico Postal History Society and the Plate Number Coil Collectors Club.
At 11 a.m. on February 19, I will host an APS Town Hall Meeting. I will highlight what is happening at the APS and take comments and questions from APS members. Please plan to attend the show and the meeting; it will be great to see you.
For more information about the show, visit the website at aripex.org.
APS Spring Meeting
WESTPEX, Burlingame, California
April 22-24, 2022
WESTPEX is one of the best of the national shows held each year. The last APS Spring Meeting was held at Pacific 97 in San Francisco. We planned to bring back the Spring Meeting for the first time at WESTPEX in 2020, but the show was unfortunately canceled. With the show schedule returning to normal, the APS will hold its first Town Hall meeting at WESTPEX 2022. The APS will have a booth at the show, and you’ll be able to visit our fantastic team.
Convening at the show will be the United Postal Stationery Society, Western Cover Society and the Hawaiian Philatelic Society. Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions will hold an auction during the show.
On Thursday, April 21, the APS Board of Directors will meet at 10 a.m. in Bayside I, San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel. On Saturday, April 23, the APS will hold a general membership meeting at 9 a.m. in the Anaheim Room.
For more information about the show, you can visit westpex.com.
Keep up to date on all the stamp shows by visiting the show schedule at https://stamps.org/events/events-calendar. I hope to see you at a stamp show soon!