During the month of June, the newsroom will be running a series of articles reprinted from The American Philatelist Auction issue available to read now. Check back for new articles.
While it may have slowed things down a bit, COVID-19 has not stopped our community of collectors. Many APS local clubs, affiliated specialty societies, and stamp dealers have remained very active during a time of isolation.
Much of our stamp community turned to the internet to stay in touch, host meetings, expand presentations and speaker offerings, and to sell online – broadening audiences as well as customer bases. This virtual outreach opened doors not just to those isolated by the pandemic but to those who are otherwise unable to participate due to health, time or travel limitations. Through a time of uncertainty, our community stood strong to weather the storm. And while it may not be over, the surge of new interest our hobby is experiencing is certainly a silver lining and provides hope for our future.
As the vaccine becomes more widespread, we are beginning to see more in-person meetings and events. Refer to the APS Event Calendar for listings as they become available (the calendar is available online www.stamps.org/events-calendar and in each issue of the magazine as space permits).
Speaking of events, we hope to see you all at the Great American Stamp Show, August 12-15, 2021 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois. This promises to be the largest national stamp and postal history show in the country. We urge you to pre-register and take advantage of the great hotel rates we've been able to secure for you.
We are all anxious to get back to some normalcy, but health and safety must remain a priority. So if you are considering an in-person event, play it safe as a planner and as an attendee. Those planning events or meetings, be sure to follow your local, CDC and venue guidelines, and clearly advertise well in advance the safety protocols to be followed. At the gathering, clearly post reminders of those protocols. Attendees also need to do their part and follow the guidelines set forth.
Moving forward, we may also see hybrid events that will allow for in-person attendance while also offering a virtual experience to continue the outreach – reaching an even larger audience! Either way, whether in-person or virtually – your stamp community awaits you. Visit www.Stamps.org/Community.