Financial wrongdoing? Sexual improprieties? Collecting FDCs? Nope, none of the above. It’s because he decided he personally would boycott Boston 2026, because of his “moral objection to the current political climate in the United States.”
Read the Canadian Stamp News article here.
The Young Philatelic Leadership Fellow who is sponsored by the American Philatelic Society Writers Unit #30, Cole Longcor, will make a brief presentation on his project at the YPLF event on Monday May 25th at 11 am. He will talk about the extensive research paper he is submitting to the Postal History Symposium.
His subject is the relationship between the expansion of mail systems and the development and growth of the territories/states in the Northwest territory along the Ohio River, sparked by an interest in the Northwest Territory issue (Scott 837) of 1938. It is titled, “The River Runs Through It” and examines the relationship between the Ohio River and the postal system in the three states of the Northwest Territory through which the river runs: Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
“A mixed media approach is used,” Longcor said in his proposal to the symposium. It includes “investigating artifacts from personal and museum collections, analyzing Richard Helbock’s Post Office dataset, and reviewing past literature, including sources from 
Marietta College Legacy Library’s Special Collections and philatelic publications.”
Longcor has a BA in journalism and political science from Marietta College and a MA in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield. He has worked for NPR Illinois and Capitol News Illinois and has been published by papers such as The Chicago Sun-Times.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New APS Director of Education
The American Philatelic Society is pleased to welcome its new Director of Education, Jeff Puhala. Jeff is an experienced educator and instructional designer with 26 years of 
experience in the field. He began his career in K–12 education, teaching every grade level over a span of 16 years. He later transitioned to higher education and recently completed a 10-year tenure at Penn State University, where he served primarily as an instructional designer.
During his time at Penn State, Jeff specialized in designing, developing, and delivering digital learning experiences for adult learners. His work included leading the redesign of online speech courses for returning adult students, a curriculum area he supported for nearly eight years. Jeff also has extensive experience in online teaching at the higher education level. He is excited to bring his expertise to the APS and contribute to advancing its education initiatives.
Jeff holds a Doctor of Education in Curriculum Leadership from Northeastern University; a Master of Education in the Administrative Program for K–12 Principals from California University of Pennsylvania; a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from Penn State University; and a Bachelor of Science in Education, Music Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. A trained professional saxophonist, Jeff performs with several community groups in his spare time and also enjoys playing golf.
Please join us in welcoming Jeff to the APS team!
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
APS 2026 Awards & Honors
The APS and APRL are proud to announce the 2026 winners of our annual Awards & Honors. Additional details about each award winner will be available in the May issue of The American Philatelist.
Please join us in congratulating our 2026 award winners!
The John N. Luff Awards
For Distinguished Philatelic Research: Larry Lyons
For Exceptional Contributions to Philately: Charles J. G. Verge
For Outstanding Service to the APS: Elizabeth Hisey
Ernest A. Kehr Award
For enduring contributions that help guarantee the future of the hobby
Glenn Silverman
Hall of Fame
The Nicholas G. Carter Volunteer Recognition Awards
National:
Local:
John Walter Scott Dealer Award: Michael and Cecelia Ball of A to Z Stamps
The United States Stamp Society/Barbara Mueller Award: Calvin Mitchell and Baasil Wilder, for “A Study in Race, Racism and Presidential Politics,” published in March 2025.
Charles J. Peterson Philatelic Literature Life Achievement Award: Yamil Kouri
Thomas F. Allen Award (For the best article published in a single year of The Philatelic Literature Review): Rick Barrett, for “How the Epic Story of Captain Tim Unfolded,” in the Fall/Winter 2025 Philatelic Literature Review.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Call for Stamps: British Commonwealth Exhibit at Boston 2026
Hear ye, hear ye! The American Philatelic Society is issuing a call for British Commonwealth stamps as part of our presence at Boston 2026!
Why We Need Stamps
The APS, along with Cherrystone Auctions, Scott Stamp LLC, and the Royal Philatelic Society London, is co-sponsoring the experiential From Empire to Commonwealth: Commemorating the Centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Birth exhibit. This flagship “context philately” installation, exclusively developed for the Boston 2026 World Expo, will feature artifacts from the Queen’s reign as part of a museum-style exhibit. The centerpiece of the exhibit, a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV owned and used by Queen Elizabeth II during the first years of her reign, will not only draw the eye, but will also bring history buffs and fans of the British Royal family beyond the philatelic world to the show.
Why Donate?
The APS will be giving away donated British Commonwealth stamps to attendees as they 
leave the exhibit at the show. Your donation will help us provide a memento of the exhibit, plant a philatelic seed with future stamp collectors, and encourage current philatelists to join the APS.
Your donation may also be tax deductible; visit our In-Kind Donations page to learn more!
How to Donate
Donations of British Commonwealth stamps should be mailed directly to the APS. Please address your donations to:
American Philatelic Society
Attn: British Commonwealth Donation
100 Match Factory Place
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Questions about the donation process? Contact Amy Larimer via email or at 814-933-3803 ext. 225.
What We Need
We are collecting used, unused, and mint stamps in good condition, on and off paper. For the purposes of this exhibit, we will be accepting stamps from any of the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, from any time period, and including former states. For example, stamps from Northern Rhodesia and Zambia would both be accepted. To see a full list of member states, click here.
Thank You!
Your donation helps support not only the APS and our mission, but also the new collectors who will visit this transformative exhibit, and be inspired by the stamps you’ve shared. Thank you!
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
APS Announces New CFO and VP of Operations
The APS is pleased to announce that two senior positions at the society have now been 
filled. Our new Chief Financial Officer, Mark Yucha (left) joined the APS team last week and is already digging into upgrading administrative software and systems to help us serve our members better. Mark is a seasoned finance and accounting executive with over 25 years of experience at a diverse range of organizations, from Inside Higher Ed to a film production company. A graduate of Penn State University, Mark recently returned to the State College area after four years in Cape Town, South Africa.
If you’ve ever attended the Great American Stamp Show, you probably already know our 
new Vice President of Operations, Wendy Masorti [right], and her can-do spirit. Wendy has been with the APS for more years than she would like us to put in writing and has worn many hats in that time, from webmaster to Sales Director to her most recent position, Director of Membership and Shows. Her vast institutional knowledge, stemming from her experience in nearly every department of the society, will be an invaluable asset in this newly created role, which oversees Membership, Shows, Sales, and APEX.
Please join us in welcoming Mark to the APS, and congratulating Wendy on her promotion to VP!
I first met Wendy more than 20 years ago, when she was the assistant to then-executive director Bob Lamb. Not mentioned in the above press release is that she also handled Complaints for much of her time at the APS, one of the toughest jobs there in my opinion. The complaints manager tries to resolve disputes before they “go to trial” with the Board of Vice Presidents. In my opinion, she has succeeded in every position she has held at the APS. — Lloyd de Vries
Nominations Open for FDC Writing Award
For Works Published In 2025
Nominations will be accepted through May 30, 2026, for the Philip H. Ward Award for Excellence in First Day Cover Literature, presented annually by the American First Day Cover Society. All works published in 2025 are eligible.
All articles and published in First Days, the AFDCS journal, are automatically considered. Other articles and works may be submitted to the Ward Award Committee chair, Mark Goodson, 315 East Dewey Street, Ellettsville, IN 47429-1901, bgdsn@comcast.net, either as clippings or .pdf scans of the material as published.
The award is presented each year at Americover, the annual convention of the AFDCS, 
which will be held August 7-9, 2026, in conjunction with BALPEX. A complete list of past winners can be found at www.afdcs.org/Awards-&-Honors#phw
Past works honored by the AFDCS reflect a wide variety of sources, including journals of other organizations and books.
The award is named in honor of Philip H. Ward (1890-1963), the distinguished Philadelphia stamp collector, dealer and journalist who was a pioneer in the field of first day covers. The award was instituted by the AFDCS in 1964.
The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization, established in 1955. In addition to First Days, the AFDCS also publishes handbooks and catalogues, and promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, as well as the exhibiting of FDCs.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, WI 54025-0057.
The Board of Directors of the American First Day Cover Society has re-elected Lloyd de Vries of New Jersey as the organization’s president for calendar-year 2026. Others re-elected as AFDCS officers were Ralph Nafziger of Oregon, executive vice president; Walter Douglas George of Massachusetts, first vice president; and Mark Gereb of New Jersey, recording secretary. In addition, Eric Wile of North Carolina was elected as Treasurer, replacing Mark Thompson of Tennessee, who has retired.
They, along with the editor of the journal First Days, the executive secretary, the immediate past president, the general counsel and the chairs of the Education, Sales and Membership departments, comprise the organization’s executive committee.
The Board also chose Cynthia Scott of Indiana as its chair for 2026.
AFDCS officers and directors are not compensated nor reimbursed for their travel expenses.
The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization. In addition to First Days, the AFDCS also publishes handbooks and catalogues, and promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, as well as exhibiting FDCs.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, WI 54025-0057.
Education Director Tomalei Vess will be leaving the American Philatelic Society, the nation’s largest stamp collecting organization, as of the end of the year. “This has been a 
hard decision, but after a lot of reflection, I’ve decided to step into a new opportunity,” she told The Virtual Stamp Club in email. “I have been invited to be a partner in a startup company with people I have known for years.”
She joined the APS in January 2025 with experience in K-12, university and museum education. She has a PhD in Biology.
She plans to help with the transition to the new Education Director. “I am invested in the future of the hobby, and the success of the APS,” she said.
“I am eternally grateful for this community of philatelists—people who pour wisdom, generosity, and kindness into APS, its mission, and the Education Department. That support has shaped me in lasting ways. Words cannot adequately describe my appreciation.”
Updated January 13th: The APS has posted the job now. From the email newsletter:
The APS is looking for a Director of Education to join our team! This role is collaborative and hands-on, driving the organization’s education strategy and leading the development of philatelic educational content.
Click here for more information and to apply.
[from official materials] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
YPLF Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship cohort!
The Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship provides collectors aged 16 to 24 with the opportunity to learn from experts in the hobby and gain experience in their chosen track, fostering a lifelong connection with philately.
Applications will close on February 1, 2026.
And remember, APS members can still nominate a collector to participate in the program via the form linked here. The nomination period is open from now until January 15, 2026.
