The Nicholas G. Carter Volunteer Recognition Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of APS volunteers at the national, regional and local level, and also recognize our younger members whose contributions and abundant talents are crucial to our future.

For National Service

Allison Cusick

Allison Cusick has maintained the American First Day Cover Society’s archives which are part of the American Philatelic Research Library holdings since at least the late 1980s. He has also been an APS accredited judge since 2002, judging at 19 or more WSP shows since that year.

Joann Lenz 

A member of the APS for 48 years, Joann Lenz served as a Director at Large on the APS Board from 2007-2011. Joann also chaired the APS Nicholas Carter Volunteer Award Committee and was an original member of the APS Campaign for Philately committee. She served over 15 years as the United States Stamp Society secretary and board member as well as chair of their plate number coil committee. She was active in local stamp clubs and shows and served as a USPS Benjamin Franklin stamp club leader. Joann was a prolific exhibitor, often together with her husband Kurt. Her exhibit topics include the Liberty Series, electronic mail, dummy/testing material, tagging varieties, postal counterfeits, personalized postage, and Dead Letter Office mail. Joann attended numerous APS Summer Seminars as a student and presenter. The Lenz paper variety of the U.S. Flag over Mt. Rushmore stamp was named in her honor. Some of Joann's other affiliations include the Virtual Stamp Club, American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, EFO Collectors Club, Meter Stamp Society, American First Day Cover Society, Precancel Stamp Society, Auxiliary Markings Club, U.S. Specialized Yahoo Group, Women Exhibitors, German Philatelic Society, and the International Society of Japanese Philately.

Steve Lund

Steve is the immediate Past President of the Scandinavian Collectors Club. He serves as the editor of the SCC Chapter 14 The Viking Bulletin. He is an author, exhibitor, speaker, show table host and promoter of Scandinavian philately.

Don Neal 

Don Neal serves as secretary of Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections (ESPER). He is also the editor of Reflections, the ESPER Journal, which was the winner of the Stamp Exhibition Study Unit Literature Competition at 2015 National Topical Stamp Show. Don is an active volunteer for the ESPER table at stamp shows, promoting ESPER and philately. He is also a cachet designer promoting the Black Heritage Series and African American history. Don is a regular speaker in and out of the hobby promoting philately and African American history.

Felix L. Perez-Folch, Jr. 

Felix, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has volunteered more than 1,000 hours since 1998, showing philatelic displays and giving programs at cultural events, children's events, military events and many other venues. Some of his exhibit/program topics include: Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, Black Heritage, African Americans, Endemic Birds of Puerto Rico, The Holocaust, Medal of Honor Recipients and Women on Stamps. These exhibitions have taken place in the United States, Iraq, Liberia, Japan and Puerto Rico. For his dedication to educate the local and the military community about philately, he was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) in 2018. 

Since retiring, Felix has enthusiastically continued his outreach efforts. He serves on the American Topical Association board as Lead Ambassador. When shows start again, he will be promoting philately broadly, and helping other ATA members learn effective promotional techniques. During the pandemic, Felix has given entertaining virtual programs.

Most recently, Felix took a display of stamps related to donating blood to a blood drive for the staff and other donors to see. It was so popular that they asked him to visit other donation centers.

At local shows, Felix has run a youth area with lots of interactive options for young participants. He is a member of 21 philatelic societies, associations, and stamp clubs. He writes articles about different topics, especially about the postal history of Puerto Rico, and contributes philatelic and research material to authors. In 2016, his Roberto Clemente stamp collection was featured in the book Papi, Quien era Roberto Clemente? written by Nelson Garcia Santos. In 2019, he coauthored the Illustrated Catalog of Postmarks for US Navy Ships Visiting, Ships Named for Puerto Rico, Commercial Passenger Ships and Military APO & FPO in Puerto Rico.

For Local Service

Ron Breznay 

Re-established the Wyoming Valley Stamp Club in 2016 where he serves as its president and secretary/treasurer. The club serves northeastern Pennsylvania and now boasts 37 members. He is also the editor of the award-winning newsletter The Magnifying Glass. Ron is also a published author, contributing articles for The American Philatelist.

Mike Komiensky

For over thirty years Mike Komiensky has held positions of responsibility in the Dayton (Ohio) Stamp Club – most of those years as its president. His tireless efforts keep 60-member club active and evolving. 

He goes out of his way to welcome new members to the club and then he cultivates them as they integrate. He seeks good candidates, finds positions of interest and then encourages the people to work on behalf of the club. He supports diversity and works to make sure people of various genders, backgrounds and ages become leaders. He sets up partnerships with other organizations such as the American Topical Association. For decades Mike has organized the AIRPEX philatelic show, and he has also arranged for key leaders in the hobby to address the club.

Darlene Waterstreet

Darlene has been a member of the Green Bay Philatelic Society for at least the past 10 years. She has helped with set-up and takedown of the local show. In recent years, she developed an index system then completed the indexing of 41 years of issues of the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs publication Across the Fence Post. Then she indexed the Wisconsin Postal History Society's publication Badger Postal History from 1962 to present and its predecessor The Booster from 1948 to 1960. Indexes for all of these publications were organized by both topic and author.

Darlene spent many hours completing this effort. This work has resulted in indexes available to readers that will simplify looking up past authors and articles in all three publications. Next, she was instrumental in suggesting a stamp subject (the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League) for the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee and assisting with the write up.

Finally, she accepted a position on the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs Editorial Committee helping to provide guidance to the editor of that publication on content and direction for Across the Fence Post.

Mary Ann Wenzelman

Mary Ann is a member of Chicago Philatelic Society and active volunteer for Chicagopex stamp show for at least seven years. A hands-on participant, she adds great energy to the show.

Each year, Mary Ann helps set up exhibit frames and serves as the show's audiovisual lead. By checking the requirements of each speaker and the conference rooms, she ensures the audiovisual equipment is available and working. She also checks with speakers in advance of the show's weekend to confirm the support they need for their presentations. When equipment does not work, she goes out of her way to replace it in a timely way. 

Further, while she is not an active collector herself, she explores exhibits and points out the ones she particularly enjoys. She has also supported and encouraged her husband David Wenzelman, who has been Chicago Philatelic Society president for the past several years.

Outstanding Young Adult Philatelist (Age 25-40) – Casey Jo White

Casey Jo is a member of the Membership Committee for the American Philatelic Society and webmaster for the Carriers and Locals Society. She has led APS Stamp Chats, “Fake U.S. Stamps and Forgers who Printed Them,” the “U.S. Trans-Mississippi Issue” and “Local Post 101,” and participated in many more APS Stamp Chats. She has also been a speaker for a U.S. first day ceremony, promoted philately widely through her blog, and authored multiple articles in The American Philatelist.

Outstanding Young Philatelist (Under 25) – Ian Hunter

Ian was part of the APS Young Philatelic Leader Fellowship Class of 2017. Following his YPLF year he has taken a dealer booth at a local stamp show, served as the Marketing Chair for Filatelic Fiesta, and created the Stamp Collecting Spot, a website where philatelists can connect with each other, expand their knowledge and give and receive help. This site includes a blog written by Ian. Ian also attended the 2018 Summer Seminar on Philately.