[from the APS press release and other sources] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
APS Board of Directors Takes Action on Two World Series of Philately Shows
On January 26, the APS Board of Directors took action on two World Series of Philately shows, revoking the WSP status for SEAPEX and approving a bye request for the Plymouth Show.
SEAPEX
On June 12, 2023, the APS Board of Directors found the SEAPEX Committee violated the WSP rules. The Board gave the SEAPEX Committee until January 1, 2024, to remedy the violations. Although SEAPEX held a bourse-only show in September 2023, the Committee took no action to correct the violations or communicate with the APS. As a result, the Board unanimously approved revoking the WSP status for SEAPEX.
On its website, SEAPEX says “The inability to put on a full WSP show this year is at least partially due to a lack of people to cover all of the roles in the show committee to put it on. Those interested in becoming part of a rebuilt committee should contact the SEAPEX committee. We will probably plan to meet sometime at the show.” This, however, was on the same page as details for the show last fall.
Plymouth Show (Scheduled for April 20-21, 2024)
The APS received a request from the West Suburban Stamp Club to waive the requirements under the approved rules for the World Series of Philately for the Plymouth Show. Specifically,
An emergency meeting of the show committee revealed the following deficits. First, the Plymouth Show has had a steady decline in attendance. Dealers have also decreased due to retirement and health reasons. Finally, inflation has continued to rise increasing the entire cost of the show. Declining revenues resulting in substantial financial losses at the past several Plymouth Shows demanded immediate action to downsize the Plymouth Show for 2024. The show committee will be reevaluating and considering options to bring back exhibits in 2025 and beyond.
The APS press release does not say why Plymouth Show needed a bye, except the phrase “to bring back exhibits in 2025 and beyond.” The WSP rules state that a two-day show (such as Plymouth) must have between 100 and 125 frames of exhibits and three APS-accredited judges, each receiving an honorarium of $300, two banquet tickets and some additional meals.
The bye request was unanimously recommended by the Committee on Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges (CANEJ) and unanimously approved by the APS Board of Directors.
World Series of Philately
The World Series of Philately is the APS-accreditation process for national-level competitive exhibitions in the United States and Canada. The multi-frame Grand Award winner for each WSP show is eligible to compete in the Benjamin and Naomi Wishnietsky Champion of Champions held at the Great American Stamp Show each year. The WSP is part of a locally organized stamp show, not a standalone event. A bye or suspension does not necessarily mean canceling the entire show, only the sanctioned exhibition.
