There will be no in-person classes or events for the American Philatelic Society’s Summer Seminar 2024, if the proposed 2024 budget is passed by the APS board. That approval is 
likely. The Virtual Stamp Club has learned that APS executive director Scott English told staff members recently Summer Seminar doesn’t make enough money. It doesn’t lose money, its profit isn’t high enough.
The APS website describes Summer Seminar as “an exciting one-week, once-a-year learning opportunity each June for the APS community, and other collectors and hobbyists. It is appropriate for beginning to advanced collectors, and all courses are led by philatelic experts who are accomplished writers, exhibitors, expertizers, dealers, and specialize
d collectors.”
It also allowed collectors and others to get to know one another and socialize without the pressure of a stamp show.
“It doesn’t lose money, [but] it doesn’t make much money,” English told VSC.
Summer Seminar was online-only for the past three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 in-person edition was attended by 60 people, but similar seminars get “hundreds when it’s virtual only,” English said.
He believes the APS should focus on building its “online platform.”
“We’ve got to work on leveraging technology and reaching as many collectors as we can,” he said. “I love the traditions of the APS but we cannot let that be an obstacle to moving ahead.”
English said they are looking for other types of in-person programming. He feels it is difficult to produce a Summer Seminar that does both. Some past participants, however, think live streaming is possible for most of the courses. Both sides, however, agree that some of the courses do have a hands-on requirement.
In fact, English says that was a factor in choosing the subjects for the in-
person events.
Members of the Mount Nittany Philatelic Society are worried that not having an in-person Summer Seminar will impact their SCOPEX show, which had been held the weekend before SS began. Summer Seminar brought serious philatelists to Bellefonte, Pa., where the APS is headquartered. SCOPEX will now be on its own.
Photographs, from top: Instructor Daniel Piazza, the chief philatelic curator of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Instructors Diane DeBois and Robert Dalton Harrison show one of their favorite pieces of philatelic ephemera using in their course.
Dr. Justin Gordon discussing Holocaust Philately in an elective.
My logical self understands. It takes a lot of resources (personnel and time) to plan such an event and then to host it. During that week, the regular work still needs to go on. For any organization to make this substantial of an investment, there must be just as substantial of a return. Apparently, that didn’t happen.
My emotional self is very disappointed. I went to Summer Seminar this past June. It was the most enjoyable week I have had in a long time. I took Wayne Youngblood’s Stamp Technology course and I don’t see how it could be replicated online. I am reasonably competent with technology and I do appreciate that I can go on line learn just about anything. Despite the fact that I am very much the introvert, I still enjoyed meeting other collectors, learning from experts, and interacting with APS staff.
Despite my disappointment, I will be looking for announcements of the online offerings for Summer Seminar 2024 and I intend to take advantage of everything that interests me (and maybe even one or two that don’t; maybe they’ll become new interests). And, of course, if APS leadership changes its mind and hosts something in person, I will start making my plans to travel to Bellefonte!