Wednesday, June 1, 2011

18 Members; 3 guests attending

-President Tadas Osmolskis called the meeting to order at 7:10pm.

-Member Don Petersen informed the club of an upcoming visit to the Stamps for a Living program at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on Thursday, June 9^th. Interested members should pre-register and plan on meeting at the Alabama Ave. entrance to the Hospital no later than 9:45am and the group will go in together. Late-comers will not be allowed!

-Member Virginia Randolph noted that the annual NAPEX show is this weekend, June 3, 4, 5^th. The following weekend is the show in Laurel, MD. Member Lorraine Bailey mentioned that any member wanting a ride to NAPEX on Friday, June 3 should meet her at the Virginia Square Metro Station at 10am, but let her know first so she isn’t waiting.

-President Tadas Osmolskis mentioned that he received a letter from Yamil Kouri, expressing gratitude for the WSCC endorsement of his campaign as Director of APS.

-Program Director Dan Piazza suggested a tour of the second installment of the National Postal Museum’s Collecting History exhibit. He would ideally like to schedule for the 3^rd Saturday of the month so members will also have access to the NPM Library. Club members think Saturday, June 18^th will work, meeting at 10:15am at the Ben Franklin statue at NPM.

Dan also noted that the following meeting is the next Capitalist Auction, so bring your money and goods!!

-Recording Secretary Jeff Meade introduced guest David Ball, visiting Washington D.C. to promote the publication of his recent book, American Astrophilately: the First 50 Years. Mr. Ball was signing books at the Postal Museum that morning, and Jeff invited him to attend club. You can find links to Mr. Ball and his publication here.

-Member Cheryl Ganz introduced two guests: David and Carol Straight. The Straights are on the way to NAPEX for the weekend and stopped in to visit Cheryl, the Postal Museum and the WSCC. David is the Vice President of the APS, and Carol collects postcards and philately related to the history of San Francisco, especially the Great Fire.

- Program Director Dan Piazza introduced the night’s featured speaker: Larry Nix, speaking on the philatelic history of the Library of Congress. Please stay tuned for a full blog description of the presentation by Mr. Nix himself.

14 Members attending

-President Tadas Osmolskis called the meeting to order at 7:15pm.

-Member Don Petersen informed the club of an upcoming visit to the Stamps for a Living program at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on Thursday, June 9^th. Interested members should pre-register and plan on meeting at the Alabama Ave. entrance to the Hospital no later than 9:45am and the group will go in together. Late-comers will not be allowed!

Note: the link to the Stamps for a Living Program is not current and there has been a change in leadership of the program. However, the link does provide interesting background of the history of the program itself.

-Executive Secretary Jill Piazza reminded the club of upcoming NAPEX events: no UPS Ceremony will be held this year, but a U.N. Stamp ceremony will take place at 11am on Friday morning.  To be issued – the 1st self-adhesive stamp issued by the UN.  Saturday will feature a book signing by UMBC Professor Christopher Corbett, for his work on the Pony Express titled Orphans Preferred.

-Program Director Dan Piazza provided the club with a summary of upcoming events. In particular, Dan noted that the following program is for NAPEX Exhibitor Larry Nix. Dan asked for a strong turn out to hear a travelling guest speaker.

Dan also noted parking enforcement rules for the baseball season will be enforced starting June 1 thru September, so members need to be mindful of Wednesday evening games.

- President Tadas Osmolskis introduced the night’s featured event: Dan Piazza providing the club with an update on the expansion of the National Postal Museum’s William H. Gross Stamp Galleries.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

*Club Minutes recorded by Member Idamarie Giusti on behalf of Recording Secretary Jeff Meade.

18 Members attending; 2 guests

-President Tadas Osmolskis called the meeting to order at 7:15pm.

- President Tadas Osmolskis read two letters from the APS:

One:  the Club ballot for APS election and the other:  the APS young Philatelic Leader.

- President Tadas Osmolskis noted that VAPEX needs some help and has requested someone from the WSCC to serve on its board.

-Member Virginia Randolph informed the club of the upcoming stamp show at Elks Club in Fairfax this weekend.

-Executive Secretary Jill Piazza mentioned that there will be no UPS Ceremony at NAPEX this year.  The Stamp ceremony will take place at 11am on the Friday of NAPEX.  To be issued – the 1st self-adhesive stamp issued by the UN.  She welcomed all to attend the ceremony. Also, no Stamps for the Wounded/Club representation because of limited space at the hotel.

-Executive Secretary Jill Piazza noted that Member Joyce Adams will be graduating law school in two weeks – Wished her congratulations and sent a congratulations card around for signatures.

-Member Virginia Randolph mentioned that the 5cent stamp box seems to be missing.

-Program Director Dan Piazza provided the club with a summary of upcoming events. In particular, Dan noted the parking enforcement rules for the baseball season will be enforced starting June 1 thru September, so members need to be mindful of Wednesday evening games.

- President Tadas Osmolskis introduced the night’s featured event: the annual Hungerford Album Contest. See associated blog posting about this exciting yearly event.

-President Tadas Osmolskis introduced the night’s featured event: The Annual Hungerford Album Contest.

Participants in the Hungerford Album Contest:

Robin Elliott Gates: Soviet Stock Book

Virginia Randolph:  A Snazzy Moroccan Bound Edges Album

Frank Conley:  The French Colony St Pierre and Miquelon

May Day Taylor:  Her eclectic Camel themed album

Bill Sandrik: DC Postal Collecting – Postmarks and cancels.

Winner: May Day Taylor.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

18 Members attending

-President Tadas Osmolskis called the meeting to order at 7:11pm.

-Member Virginia Randolph informed the club of the upcoming Vienna show at the Vienna Community Center on Saturday and Sunday.

- President Tadas Osmolskis introduced the night’s featured speaker, WSCC member Cliff Alexander, speaking on “Good Samaritan Labels.” See the upcoming blog post from Cliff about his topic.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

16 Members attending; 2 guests

-President Tadas Osmolskis called the meeting to order at 7:13pm.

-Member Don Petersen introduced guest, Alan Duke. Mr. Duke works with a company that helps seniors downsize their belongings and has recently been working with a family in possession of a sizable stamp collection. Mr. Duke is also a philatelist himself, collecting U.S.

- President Tadas Osmolskis informed the club that he has been receiving a large amount of email regarding donations and appraisal services. He inquired if the club has suggestions for an official club policy. Don Petersen is out there and people might not know what they have. If it is good material, Don suggested sending them to Maryland Stamp & Coin. Jeff Meade mentioned that he gets the same question at the Postal Museum, and most folks are attached to sentimental value. Jeff suggested people make donations of material either to the Postal Museum, or another program like Stamps for a Living or the Postal History Foundation.

-Member Don Petersen mentioned that Mark Melanson retired from the Stamps for a Living program, replaced with Dee Norman. Mr. Norman sent a huge batch of stamps to Richmond for a show there, so they are starting over with inventory. That means the WSCC will have to wait a bit for the next field trip out there.

-Member Don Petersen updated the club that the suggestion to take out an ad in the NAPEX publication about the WSCC paid off and a $35 donation helped secure funds to take out a full page ad on the inside back cover.

-Recording Secretary Jeff Meade informed the club that long-time member David Jickling recently passed away. President Osmolskis mentioned that his major collecting album was actually the Junior International Album David used as a boy.

- President Tadas Osmolskis provided the club with a summary of upcoming baseball conflicts:

• June 1, June 15,
  
• July 6,
  
• August 3, August 17, and
  
• September 7.

- President Tadas Osmolskis introduced the night’s featured event: a Donation Auction! Net Proceeds from the night totalled $176.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

21 Members attending; 2 guests

-President Tadas Osmolskis called the meeting to order at 7:17pm.

- President Tadas Osmolskis updated the club on the previous meeting’s business regarding the replacement of the club’s Scott catalogues. President Osmolskis noted that he did not see a complete set of 2011 Scott catalogues at Springpex but did check with one of the dealers there. A complete set of current Scott catalogues will cost approximately $60 per volume, including price and shipping.

New WSCC Member Edgar Hicks

-Recording Secretary Jeff Meade introduced his friend, Edgar Hicks, visiting Washington D.C. from Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Hicks has been a friend of Jeff’s for several years, and helped gather materials and promote teacher programs for a Smithsonian teacher program at the Durham Museum in Omaha in 2008. Edgar collects Liberia. Edgar completed a member application and was accepted into the WSCC.

-Member Don Petersen introduced guest, Larry Morse. Mr. Morse lives in Washington D.C. and was contacted by Don through the new member rosters posted with APS.

-Recording Secretary Jeff Meade circulated the most recent publication of the print version of the Despatch for March-June 2011. Jeff also asked for suggestions to include in the next newsletter publication.

-Member Don Petersen suggested that the club take out an ad in the NAPEX publication about the WSCC.

-Treasurer Bruce Kellogg updated the club with a summary of the expenses posted in the recent publication of the newsletter.

-Member Don Petersen reminded the club that the pre-meeting get-togethers are back at the Cantina Marina.

-Program Director Dan Piazza provided the club with a summary of upcoming events. Dan also introduced the night’s featured speaker: Marvin Murray, and his lecture “Free Franks: Warts & All.”

The first Cantina Marina of the year!

Fitting Tribute for a Post Office Dedication

One of the perks of working at the National Postal Museum is that you seem to always be around when Postal officials decide to throw a party. I happened to be on hand the day when the post office located inside the Postal Square building was renamed for famous African American icon, Dorothy Height. The festivities pulled me out of the office to watch Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton give a moving tribute speech for a famous woman that cared deeply about the post office, especially the one inside Postal Square. Delegate Norton was followed by Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray, who also spoke highly of a woman dedicated to civil rights. I was particularly struck by all of the women in the crowd wearning huge, floppy red hats. That is style you don’t see every day!

What a cool cancellation too! DC’s main post office is now the Dorothy Height post office.

-Jeff Meade

Check out the Cancellation!

The Greenbrier

Kings to Presidents to Movie Stars have stayed at the Greenbrier Resort.  This elegant resort, located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is just a four hour drive or train ride from Washington, DC.  Throughout its history, the Greenbrier was once a military hospital, housed a working post office and even a secret bunker which one can tour. And given to all who tour – a package of postcards! Awesome!

Greenbrier reverse

Some changes have occurred to the program schedule. Please note the revisions below:

March 2011:

*March 16: Marvin Murray, speaker. Free Franks: Use & Abuse

April 2011:

*April 6: Donation Auction.

*April 20: Cliff Alexandra, speaker. ‘Good Samaritan’ Labels

May 2011:

May 4: Hungerford Album Contest.

Having Fun at the Circuits Table!

Springpex 2011 was a great hit this year, as it usually is. Lots of stamps, lots of dealers, lots of collectors. The kids table was jamming, and Mickey Innis was wearing his characteristic Cat-in-the-Hat hat. I showed up right when he was doing a raffle of some kind, and had kids literally jumping up and down to win free collections. WSCC members Virginia Randolph and Matt Cassetta had a great turn out with the circuits table, and Don Petersen and C.A. Stillions exhibited collections.

I also brought my friend Tom Meade out there as well. Tom is a budding collector and joins me every once in a while

Tom making a purchase!

at the regular Wednesday night club meetings. He’s trying to figure out what to collect and how to build it, but it’s always exciting to see a new collector digging in. He’ll be back! Especially when you have an expert collector like Matt Cassetta showing you the ropes!

Proselytizing for a new collector!