Mark Schwartz
APS Director-at-Large Candidate Statement

I would like to announce my candidacy for one of the four Director-at-Large positions on the board of the American Philatelic Society (APS) for the 2016-2019 term.

The APS is the bellwether of our hobby. It has to be healthy if organized philately in the U.S. is to flourish. Despite the well-meaning efforts of many individuals, I believe the APS is not as healthy as it needs to be. It is first a hobby organization, but it is also a business with products and services (the American Philatelist, American Philatelic Research Library, shows, circuit sales, expertizing, etc.) that must better meet the needs of its members and more importantly, continually attract new ones.

I have had a successful career in both science and business. This has taught me how to identify problems and opportunities, and also how to create and implement plans to overcome those problems and take best advantage of the opportunities.

I have been very active in several philatelic organizations and, I believe, helped make each of them better. In philately, progress is made through the ability to find common ground on key issues, and I have substantial experience working with those who have various talents and in bringing all to an alignment that has propelled us forward.

I sincerely hope you will allow me to do the same for the APS.

Philatelic Activities
I began collecting stamps when I was 8 years old and began collecting both stamps and postal history in a more serious fashion in the early 1970s. After I retired, I became more involved in shows, exhibiting, philatelic writing and in various societies.

I am a member of the Greater Philadelphia Stamp & Collector’s Club (previous VP and Program Chair) and currently am (or have been) on the boards of several national organizations:

• U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (USPCS – Director and Asst. Treasurer), where my membership efforts have helped the organization grow for the last several years; and where I am part of a small team revamping the USPCS website to help members take better advantage of the wealth of philatelic information available and to better integrate with social networking.
• American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (New Director)
• Philatelic Foundation (PF – Trustee), where I directed a thorough overhauling of the website to help communicate the key benefits of a PF certificate; chair the cover review committee to ensure consistency with PF cover standards; and chair of our NY2016 committee to guarantee that we make the most of this opportunity to create business for the PF.
• National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists, where I had been chair of the research committee and am currently on the Outreach and Partnerships Working Group and the Post Office Murals team.
• Philadelphia National Stamp Exhibition (Director and Exhibits Chair) using my contacts in philately to attract a large group of excellent and varied exhibits for each show.

For the last 7 years, I have also been a very active exhibitor with 10 different exhibits in over 50 World Series of Philately shows and have been accepted as an apprentice judge. Those exhibits have won 50 gold and two vermeil medals. Two single frame exhibits and one multi-frame exhibit have gone on to win the C of C, and the latter has two large gold medals in international (FIP) competition. I have written articles for the Chronicle of the U.S. Classic Philatelic Issues, the Collectors Club Philatelist, the Congress Book and the India Post, and have given numerous philatelic presentations at local, regional and national meetings.

In short, I have embraced the philatelic fraternity and feel that it has embraced me.

Personal Background
I was born and brought up in the Boston area, and have lived in Philadelphia for the last 45 years. I was trained as a chemist, and have advanced degrees in Chemistry and Business.

I retired in 2007 after 37 years working for a major pharmaceutical company. I progressed from drug development to senior marketing management with major sales and operating budget responsibilities, and then to medium and long-term strategic planning for potential cardiovascular therapies, including outside acquisitions.

mark.schwartz1@verizon.net

Gordon Eubanks
APS Director-at-Large Candidate StatementToday I am announcing my run for the American Philatelic Society (APS) Board of Directors as a Director at Large. While there are many challenges that face the APS, there are also many opportunities to first and foremost serve the current membership and to also bring new members to the hobby. My decision to run is driven by a strong belief that the role of the board is not the day-to-day management of the APS but rather to provide oversight and strong governance. We have a great team at the APS; the board must give them support and the oversight they need to be successful. The board members must also be strong external advocates for the APS.

My professional background includes nine years as a commissioned naval officer serving on nuclear submarines during the Cold War. Following that I spent 25 years helping to build successful technology businesses. This included 16 years as CEO of Symantec Corporation, and on the board of directors of both public and private companies. Today I am retired, spending time helping small technology companies and serving on a few boards.

As a philatelist I have been a member of the APS for more than two decades. I am an active exhibitor winning two Champion of Champions awards and two large gold medals in international competition. I am a member of many philatelic organizations including serving on the board of the U. S. Philatelic Classics Society, as the section editor for the 1847 Section of the Chronicle, as a member of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum Council of Philatelists, and a member of the Leadership Circle for the upcoming New York 2016 International Show.

I look forward to the opportunity to apply both my business experience and passion for philately as a board member of the APS. If you have questions or comments, please drop me a note. I look forward to hearing from you.

Gordon Eubanks
gordoneubanks@gmail.com

by Lloyd A. de Vries

This didn’t come up until the Q&A of the General Membership Meeting on Saturday, August 22, 2015, surprisingly, but I think it’s the information most people want first: The American Philatelic Society currently has just over 31,000 members, with approximately 29,500 of them in the U.S. In the past year, the APS has a net loss of 440 paid memberships; including Life Members, the APS has lost 560 members.

I thought Scott English, the new Executive Director, did a nice job introducing the APS staffers present in the room and the show; he seemed to know something about each of them, even though he’s only been on the job since August 10th.

APS president Steve Reinhard notes that there have been quite a few major personnel changes in the past year: English, Jay Bigalke as American Philatelist editor, Megan Orient as Director of Shows and Exhibitions. He thanked Ken Martin for his many years of service and noted that Ken is now Chief Operating Officer. That got a solid round of applause from the members.

Reinhard announced that the American Philatelic Center is finally on the way to completion of the American Philatelic Research Library facility.

He announced that the Stamps Teach program is successful, and has received a $25,000 matching grant. What wasn’t mentioned is that the Director of Education position has been vacant for several months.

He finished by announcing that he was not running for re-election as president (as previously reported here in The Virtual Stamp Club), adding that “it is very important that we get the right people in office.”

Board of Vice Presidents chair Alex Haiman announced that the VPs have handled 14 complaints in the past year. Half were resolved from a BVP hearing. One is in appeal, and there were two expulsions.

Treasurer Ken Nilsestuen reported that both the APS and APRL are in good financial condition. The APS received a surprise bequest from Walter Weber of $1.3 million, which allowed the library completion project to start. It provides about two-thirds of the necessary funds.

Matt Liebason, the new chair of the Membership Committee, said that there needs to be more one-on-one recruiting. “You are the ones who care enough to come to a meeting on Saturday morning,” he said. “We will turn this around.”

Society Attorney Kathleen Yurchak reported there is one lawsuit pending against the APS over a disputed donation.

APRL president Roger Brody reported that the Library is expanding from 7-8,000 square feet to more than 20,000 square feet.

World Stamp Show-New York 2016 president Wade Saadi said buzz is starting around the world about the next U.S. International, which will start on May 28th. “[International] shows in the U.S. are a focal point of philately,” he said.

WSS-NY2016 has booked 15,600 hotel room-nights, but half have already been taken. He advises booking as soon as possible. You can cancel with no penalty up to one month before the show. (Click here to go to the reservation page on the “NY2016.org” site.) 80% of the dealer booths have been taken; only two society booths are available.

In his first report as Executive Director, Scott English says he wants to retire the library debt “quickly and aggressively.” The target to complete the library project is April.

The APS and APRL will be reviewing and renegotiating their agreement over the use and administration of the American Philatelic Center.

The APS is in the process of hiring a Director of Education, with the emphasis on “distance liearning” (course on the Internet).

In conclusion, “Anyone who ever steps foot into a stamp show will meet friends for life,” he said.

Surprisingly, not announced was the APS board’s decision to hold its 2017 winter show, AmeriStamp Expo, in Reno, and StampShow 2019 (summer) in Omaha. The vote was reported in Linn’s Stamp News.