This column is updated/published monthly in The American Philatelist Updated for September 2010

Volunteers hard at work. Clockwise: Rich Colberg sorting early periodicals in the APRL; Dick Osman working with forgeries in Expertizing; Bill Salisbury and Arthur Poudrier learning the ropes in the APS Sales Division; and Richard Judge organizing and naming hundreds of stamp images in Editorial.

As I write this column, our first annual Volunteer Work week has begun. Many thanks to Joe Bell, Mary Ann Bell, Dick Colberg, Richard Judge,
Jim Koncz, Ann Koziol, Dick Osman, Arthur Poudrier, Ben Rivkin, Bill Salisbury, Georgeann Salisbury, Pam Salisbury, Jeff Silman, David Straight, and Scott Troutman. These members and relatives came at their own expense to offer their assistance for a full week, supplementing our regular local volunteers including Ruth Arndt, Patricia Breger, Jerry Gill, Dennis Gilson, Mike and Jarod Magyar, Richard Nakles, Linda Jo Roesner, Donna Shawley, Nancy Shawley, and Robbin Zirkle. Many also traveled from a fair distance, coming from states including Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

They helped organize our collection of forgeries, prepared circuit books, worked on the Editorial Department’s collection of stamp images, sorted and filed Library materials, broke down collections for youth programs, created lesson plans for teachers, and helped greatly in our preparation for StampShow. Many thanks to all of them.

Additional photos of the week can be viewed on the APS Facebook page and as part of the photo tour in the August e-newsletter (accessible from the sidebar of the September e-newsletter which will probably arrive before you read this). Speaking of Facebook, we exceeded 1,000 fans in early July but still trail the American Numismatic Association and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

We would love to have you join us for next year’s Volunteer Work Week, scheduled for July 25–29, 2011. However, as local member and APS Expert Bill Lehr posted on Facebook, you don’t have to wait for a volunteer week, we welcome volunteers year around.

We also were delighted to have several visitors during Volunteer Work Week. Joe Picard and his wife were in the area to pick up their kids from a Penn State Sports Camp. Joe, along with Lois and Bob deViolini, put together the Society’s first website. Joe is also the asterisk on Don Sundman’s recruiting record as he is the individual that causes us to say that Don has recruited the most members in only seventeen of the last eighteen years. This was Joe’s first visit to the American Philatelic Center, and he told his wife that next year he will bring the kids to their sports camps and save two seven-hour drives by staying in the area and helping at the American Philatelic Center during the kids’ week at Penn State.

The day prior to Joe’s visit, Mt. Nittany Philatelic Society member Reinhard Gratzer and his wife had lunch in Bellefonte with long-time friends who were passing through the area on their way home to Ohio from the East Coast. Despite their long friendship, Reinhard’s friend did not know that he collected stamps. When he found out over lunch, he mentioned that he had a relative who was very active in the hobby. Reinhard responded that the national organization for stamp collectors was in Bellefonte and suggested a brief visit to the APC before continuing their drive home.

When they arrived Reinhard’s friend asked if I had heard of a Judge Lybarger. At the 1942 convention in Ohio Donald F. Lybarger presented his vision for the future of the APS. In a speech, he called for the creation of a central office, which he felt should be near the geographic center of the philatelic community, but, for financial reasons, should not be in a large city. He was elected APS President in 1943, and constantly campaigned for the central office through his monthly “President’s Message” in The American Philatelist. At the 1944 convention in Milwaukee it was announced that the APS was seeking applications for the position of Executive Secretary to establish a central office effective April 1, 1945.

I dumbfounded them when I said I had not only heard of him but we had a Garfield Perry Lybarger room. I led them to the room where they immediately recognized the large portrait of Lybarger of which they snapped many photos!

Jumping back to volunteers, we greatly appreciate the efforts of those who are supporting the hobby even if they are not directly for the APS or APRL. I was pleased recently to read of an April outreach effort of the Merchantville Stamp Club. Mac Sarreal and Hank Applegate conducted three sessions for 165 students at the St. Cecilia School where they hold their annual Merpex show. Their PowerPoint presentation showed a wide variety of stamps, from the Liberty Bell Forever stamp to more exotic ones. They also showed images of famous collectors such as FDR and another the audience recognized much better: “Father Bill,” the pastor of the church associated with the school!

Another collector who is busy sharing the hobby at school is Bill Schultz. This fall he is again offering two courses for a slightly older audience — “Deltiology: Postcards” and “Wonders of Philately” — at the Chester County (Pennsylvania) night school.

Ian Gibson-Smith is yet another invaluable promoter of the hobby. For the past several months he has been coordinating a display of items from the personal stamp collections of Members of Congress in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. The first report on the event comes from Board member Steven Rod who indicates it is a great success.

Benner Township Parks and Rec group spent the morning at the APC experienc-ing the fun of collecting firsthand.

The APS also remains busy promoting the hobby. In early July Sundman Hall was filled with more than 150 kids from the Benner Township Parks and Rec summer program who spent a morning learning about stamp collecting. Over the past week we have also presented a youth program at a local library and had a Stamp Camp in the building.

While the pleasure received from promoting the hobby is more than sufficient for most volunteers, it is also nice to recognize individuals. The Mourning Stamp Club, an APS Affiliate, recently approved the Ernest A. Mosher Memorial Award. This award not only permanently recognizes a key figure in their group but also provides ongoing recognition of their volunteers. Congratulations to Paul Bearer of California and Elmer Clearly of Montreal, Canada who are the first recipients of this award.

The APS is also pleased to have installed a plaque in our lobby permanently recognizing long-time (60 years) former APS member Stephen Bechtel. A big thanks to the Lakeside Foundation and member Paul Davies who have given more than $150,000 in Bechtel’s memory.

Librarian Tara Murray

I’ll close with two updates. Our online Library catalogue now lists the holdings of the Collectors Club of New York; the Postal History Foundation in Tucson, Arizona; and the Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library in Denver; in addition to the APRL itself. This not only broadens the base of literature listed but potentially helps members find a copy closer to their home. I’m sure new Librarian Tara Murray would welcome hearing from other philatelic libraries who would also like to participate in this “union” catalogue.

Finally, two columns ago I mentioned that many nonprofits that had not filed an annual report to the IRS in the past three years were at jeopardy of losing their nonprofit status. At that point it appeared the IRS might provide relief and I encouraged any applicable organizations to file immediately. The IRS has since announced an amnesty for groups that file by October 15. Details available at www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=225889,00.html include a list of nonprofits that are in jeopardy of losing their status.

Labor Day traditionally signifies the end of summer and an increased level of philatelic activity, so now would be a great time to introduce a friend to our hobby before we formally celebrate stamp collecting month in October.

P.S. — After the deadline for this column, Library Services Coordinator Ellen Peachey informed me that she will be leaving the APS/APRL August 31. Ellen has worked for us for twenty years primarily in the Education Department and the Library, and has served as Interim Director for both departments. In the Library, for the Summer Seminar, and in many other ways she has provided tremendous customer service. We wish her well and will miss her greatly.