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