Meeting Minutes May 19

Meeting Notes:

-President C.A. Stillions called the meeting to order at 7:16pm; 16 Members attending.

-Member Gerry Marandino made the first official sales pitch for the Annual Awards Banquet being held October 6^th at Johnny Chung’s restaurant in China Town. The dinner starts at 7pm, and we will be inviting members of other local clubs if we don’t sell enough tickets and if they nominate someone for the Gantz Cup. We need to sell 50 tickets to get the upstairs banquet room. The Banquet honors the recipients of the two annual awards the club gives:

1. The DeVoss Trophy,  given to the member who has performed outstanding service to the club over the last year, and

2. The Gantz Cup, given to a non-member for promoting the hobby.

President C.A. Stillions noted that we are accepting nominations for the awards but we also need to locate new frames to put the awards in.

-President C.A. Stillions received a letter asking for volunteers to participate in a focus group to offer philatelic input in the Postal Museum’s new expansion project, the Gross Gallery. The museum’s expansion will significantly change the current presentation of philately, and input from expert hobbyists highly valued. The focus groups are on June 1^st and June 3^rd and food will be provided. June 3^rd is a problem for WSCC since that is a club meeting night.

-President C.A. Stillions circulated a new brochure for last comments. He is still looking for photos, especially “action” photos of members actively collecting. The brochure needs to be finalized soon, at least in time for NAPEX.

-Member Jill Piazza updated the club about the upcoming NAPEX events regarding First Day Ceremonies. Three former players will be on hand to unveil the the Negro Leagues Baseball stamps: Al Burrows of the New York Black Yankees, Jimmy Bland of the Idnainapolis Clowns and Eddie Banks of the Newark Eagles. She also circulated a sneak peek of the presentation program that has room for both the cancellation for the unveiling as well as the FDC.

-Member Virginia Randolph notified the club that we set a record for May circuits with over $1100 from the 172 books circulating.

-Member Virginia Randolph informed the club that a small stamp show, with about 6 dealers, is being held Saturday 9:30-4:30 at the Rockville Best Western. One of the dealers will be Cary Cochran. Tadas noted that the 54 Bus will take you right there.

-Member Virginia Randolph mentioned that the get well card circulated at the previous meeting for the lady that runs Rainbow Stamps was timely misplaced. Virginia found it in time for the Fairfax Elks Club show last weekend and the lady was there! She was very grateful for the card.

-Member Virginia Randolph discussed his London trip, noting that several members of the WSCC were in attendance at the London International Expo. He found the prices absurdly high, almost triple what they should be.

-President C. introduced Member Dan Piazza as the new Program Chairman, charged with planning future events.

-President C.A. Stillions provided the club with an update concerning upcoming events.

-Member Tadas Osmolskis informed the club of an upcoming program at the Postal Museum, Pens and the Post. He helped organize and create the program, being a both a member of the Pen Collectors Club of America as well as a volunteer docent at the Postal Museum. The program is Saturday, May 29^th, 11-5.

-Member Jeff Meade updated the club about the new Despatch blog. Several posts have been made and he will send out the official email invitation as soon as he gets an updated member email list.