The American Philatelic Society took action on three more World Series of Philately Shows in the past week, approving two bye requests for NOJEX and the Minnesota Stamp Expo and suspending SEAPEX for violating the World Series of Philately rules.
NOJEX (Originally scheduled October 6-8, 2023)
In April, the NOJEX Committee (North New Jersey Federated Stamp Clubs, Inc.) requested a bye from the World Series of Philately. The first NOJEX show was held in 1962, pausing only for conflicting international exhibitions and COVID in 2020. Since 2018, the American Stamp Dealers Association and NOJEX cosponsored a joint show at the Meadowlands Hilton in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In requesting the 2023 bye from the World Series of Philately, NOJEX Chair Robert Rose informed the APS that the ASDA withdrew from the partnership in April and the NOJEX Committee could not secure a venue at that late date. He also noted, “We are committed to returning in 2024.” The bye request was unanimously recommended by the Committee on Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges (CANEJ) and unanimously approved by the APS Board of Directors on June 12, 2023.
Minnesota Stamp Expo (Originally scheduled for July 21-23, 2023)
The Minnesota Stamp Expo became an accredited World Series of Philately Show in 2000. Since 1999, the Expo has been held at the Crystal Community Center in Crystal, Minnesota, taking a bye in 2020 due to COVID.
Earlier this year, the City of Crystal began major parking lot renovations to the Crystal Community Center with an expected completion date months before the scheduled dates of the show. In early June, the show committee learned that unexpected construction delays would push completion back to August 2023. After investigating relocating the show or alternative parking options, the show committee determined either action would negatively impact the show's success.
In its message to the APS, the show committee noted, “Given all the obstacles, the committee made the difficult decision to not hold the 2023 show. We have asked the APS to grant a bye for our show for this year, thus preserving our World Series of Philately status for future years.”
The bye request was unanimously recommended by CANEJ and approved by the APS Board of Directors on June 15, 2023.
SEAPEX (Originally scheduled for September 8-10, 2023)
In early May, CANEJ Chair Darrell Ertzberger notified the SEAPEX Committee that it had failed to propose a jury per the requirements of the APS World Series of Philately rules. After anyone on the show committee could not respond, the APS initiated a review of the show committee and activities to ensure the show could succeed as planned.
On June 8, 2023, CANEJ concluded its investigation and determined SEAPEX violated three separate WSP Rules, including failure to meet reporting deadlines, failure to maintain the level of excellence expected of a WSP show, and violating one or more WSP Exhibition rules. CANEJ also recommended suspending SEAPEX pending reforms of the committee organization, website, and proof of a venue for 2024 by January 1, 2024.
The APS Board of Directors unanimously approved the suspension of WSP status for SEAPEX on June 12, 2023, and I notified the committee in writing the same day.
SEAPEX is the second WSP suspension in the last year. In November 2022, the APS Board of Directors unanimously approved suspending the WSP status for ARIPEX for 2023, pending reforms by August 1, 2023. The ARIPEX Committee still needs to meet the conditions outlined in the notice, and the show chair has yet to announce plans for reinstatement. Failure to meet the August 1, 2023 deadline will result in the APS Board voting on revoking the WSP status.
World Series of Philately
The World Series of Philately is the APS-accreditation process for national-level competitive exhibitions in the United States and Canada. The multi-frame Grand Award winner for each WSP show is eligible to compete in the Benjamin and Naomi Wishnietsky Champion of Champions held at the Great American Stamp Show each year. The WSP is part of a locally-organized stamp show, not a standalone event. A bye or suspension does not necessarily mean canceling the entire show, only the sanctioned exhibition.
To stay updated on the WSP Show schedule, visit the APS website.