On April 3, 2023, the APS Board of Directors unanimously elected Dr. Cheryl Ganz as president of the American Philatelic Society. Cheryl will fill out the remaining term of outgoing president Bob Zeigler, who stepped down from the post effective March 31, 2023. The unexpired term runs through August 2025.

Cheryl joined the APS in 1976 and has served in many capacities, including the Ethics Committee, Strategic Initiatives and Technology Committee, philatelic judging, and numerous show committees. She has served as vice president of the APS Board from June 2018 to April 2023. 

Cheryl tells her story in her first column this month, and I encourage you to read it and get to know her. She has been recognized internationally for her contributions to philately, including the Collectors Club’s Alfred F. Lichtenstein Medal for Distinguished Service to Philately and the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists. In 2016, the APS awarded Cheryl the John N. Luff Award, one of the highest recognitions in philately, for Exceptional Contributions to Philately.

At the same meeting, Cheryl appointed Greg Galletti to replace her on the Board of Vice Presidents, unanimously approved by the APS Board of Directors. From 2019 until the meeting, Greg was vice president of the APRL Board of Trustees. 

Greg is a lifelong philatelist, and active member of the United Nations Philatelists, serving as president, vice president, director, exhibits, and publicity chairman for the organization at different times. He was general chairman of UNEXPO 2017, held at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte. He will again be chairman of UNEXPO 2023, scheduled at the American Philatelic Center in October 2023. Greg is an author and educator, frequently contributing to The American Philatelist and Stamp Chats.

Thank you, Bob Zeigler

Bob was elected to the Board of Vice Presidents in 2016. When APS President Mick Zais resigned to serve as deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, Bob stepped up to serve as president. His first act as APS President was to appoint Cheryl Ganz to fill his position on the Board. It’s fitting that the Board selected Cheryl for the top role. 

Bob is an accredited chief judge, a member of the expert committee, and a former show chairman for Indypex, a World Series of Philately show held every year by the Indiana Stamp Club. Bob was a collector’s president. Working with him over the years, Bob would never turn down an invitation to travel the country to speak to local clubs, judge at shows, or represent the APS. 

We spoke regularly about the affairs of the APS and upcoming Board meetings, and his insights, advice, and sense of humor were invaluable through some of the most challenging times. While he was president, we paid off the mortgage debt, weathered the COVID-19 shutdowns, and emerged to return to business as usual. He did all this while serving as the managing partner of his law firm in Indianapolis. Please join me in thanking Bob for his tireless service to the APS.

Thank you, Steve Reinhard 

Though Bob will no longer be president, he will remain on the Board as immediate past president, per the APS Bylaws, replacing Stephen Reinhard.

Steve was first elected to the APS Board in 2011 as a member of the Board of Vice Presidents. He was elected president in 2013. In 2016, Steve opted not to run for re-election and took office as the immediate past president on the Board. At that time, I’m sure Steve expected that his time on the APS Board would be over by now, but given the changes over the past five years, Steve continued his service.  Aside from serving on the Board, Steve is also treasurer of the American Air Mail Society and chaired the successful AEROPHILATELY 2022 held at the American Philatelic Center in November 2022. Thanks to his leadership, the AAMS made a significant contribution to the APS to launch a new exhibit that I will share in the June issue.

At the April meeting, the APS Board of Directors passed a resolution thanking Steve for his service to the APS. Steve is an accredited judge nationally and internationally, so you may see him at a stamp show soon. Please join us in thanking Steve for all his hard work.