Bruce Marsden Declares for APS Treasurer

[press release]
Personal Background
marsden100I am a California native and attended my first Westpex stamp show as a teenager in 1968. I graduated from U.C. Berkeley’s School of Business with a B.S. in Accounting followed by an MBA degree in 1977.

As a result of a job transfer in 1999, my family and I relocated to New Jersey where we now live. My wife of 32 years and I have two young adult children who are embarking on their own chosen careers.

Philatelic Activities
While I have not parted ways with my blue Scott Internationals, the focus of my collecting interest is Switzerland, in all its permutations. I have several exhibits and I am constantly striving to improve them.

After joining the APS in 1976, my first local stamp club was the East Bay Collectors Club where I served as President in the early 1980s. Following a move to the San Francisco peninsula, I joined the Peninsula Stamp Club and later served as its President until my family’s move to New Jersey.
Today, I am privileged to serve as Treasurer of the APRL, Treasurer and Webmaster of the American Helvetia Philatelic Society (AHPS), Secretary and Assistant Commissioner General of the World Stamp Show-NY2016 Organizing Committee, President of the Collectors Club (New York), and am a member of the NOJEX stamp show committee and the Westfield (NJ) Stamp Club.

Accomplishments Benefiting the Hobby

  • Designed numerous local show cachets and cancels and organized the 1983 Lake Merritt Balloon Mail Flight in conjunction with the annual East Bay Collectors Club Stamp Show.
  • Presented “Stamp Collecting and the Internet” seminar at the Pacific 97 International Stamp Exhibition in San Francisco
  • Organized a successful fundraising campaign among members of the AHPS to support the Switzerland Philatelic Literature Collection at the APRL
  • Expanded the volume of Swiss philatelic publications and exhibits that are available for viewing and downloading at the AHPS website
  • Formally incorporated and obtained 501(c)3 tax-exempt status for the AHPS
  • Obtained an offer of bank financing to complete the permanent APRL space in the Match Factory that was unanimously approved by the APRL Board of Trustees
  • Obtained from the U.S. Department of Commerce the designation of World Stamp Show-NY 2016 as a “Fair” for the purpose of promoting international trade
  • Organized the 2015 visit of the All China Philatelic Federation and the first multi-day stamp exhibition at New York’s Collectors Club in modern times

Professional Qualifications
I am a Certified Public Accountant with an active license in California, a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Charterholder and a Certified Internal Auditor.

I began my career as a staff accountant at Deloitte in San Francisco, and was promoted to audit manager within five years. The bulk of my career has involved a variety of accounting and financial management positions in the financial services industry culminating in semi-retirement after serving as Chief Financial Officer for Private Banking at U.S. Trust.

I currently serve Riverside Research Institute, a not-for-profit scientific research organization part-time as its Internal Auditor, working with its Board of Trustees on various financial and risk management issues. My part-time status at Riverside affords me the opportunity to also serve philately in volunteer roles.

My Long Term Vision for the APS and APRL

  • The APS provides a robust suite of services to members which enhance the experience of the hobby
    The APS and APRL jointly fulfill an educational and cultural preservation mission for the public good
  • The Match Factory’s commercial tenants provide long term financial stability to the cultural resource that is the APRL and provides facilities supporting the activities of the APS
  • The APS grows in its capabilities and reach to become a “mother ship” organization supporting philatelic activities throughout the United States
  • The APS and APRL are valued members of the Bellefonte, PA community which hosts our physical and professional human resource infrastructure

I Seek Your Support
In 2016 I expect to complete six years of service on the Board of Trustees of the APRL including four years as APRL Treasurer. I will be stepping down from that role and am running in the 2016 election for the position of Treasurer of the APS.

I have had the opportunity to develop strong and collaborative working relationships with recent APS Treasurers Kathy Johnson and Ken Nilsestuen and with Controller Rick Banks. These relationships, the knowledge I have gained in serving the APRL, and my professional and philatelic experience combine to make me your best choice as Treasurer of the APS for the 2016-2019 term.

I thank you for your support.

Bruce Marsden

2 thoughts on “Bruce Marsden Declares for APS Treasurer

  1. Voted for you.. Liked your presentation. I need some information about volunteer week.I am a very active 81 year old and have owned and worked in hardware since 1971, so I know how to use a screwdriver. What I need is a map on how to get there and information on affordable motels in the area..Would loved to have made the show but have not found a way to get there easily. Will try calling but I am not home much during the day so I thought I would try you.
    Thanks so much,
    Marian

  2. Hi, Marian,

    Thank you for your post on the Virtual Stamp Club site. I appreciate your support for the election.

    I would like to clarify that your are seeking information about participating in the APS Volunteer Week at the APS headquarters in Bellefonte, PA, July 18-22. The best way to get information about the week is at the APS website, http://stamps.org/Volunteer-Work-Week .

    The APS has special rates at some of the local hotels. I’ve stayed in the past at the Best Western University Park Inn and Suites where they have an APS rate of $72 per night (plus tax). It is 6 miles from the APS headquarters.

    As far as maps go, anymore I just use maps.google.com which shows a 198 mile route from Collingswood to Bellefonte with an estimated journey time of about 3-1/2 hours.

    I would still encourage you to think about a trip to World Stamp Show in New York May 28th – June 4th. From Collingswood, you might consider driving to Trenton or Hamilton to catch a New Jersey transit train into New York Penn Station. The Javits center is just a short taxi ride from Penn Station. Or you could take the PATCO train from Collingswood to Philadelphia and ride Amtrak to Penn Station.

    All the best,

    Bruce Marsden

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