Cheryl Ganz is the new president of the American Philatelic Society, the USA’s largest stamp collecting organization. She was elected by the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy created by the resignation by Bob Zeigler. He was “not able to attend this meeting,” said Ganz in the electronic (Zoom) meeting. According to executive director Scott English, Zeigler had an Indiana stamp club meeting and was the “designated driver” for several other members.

“I pledge to give [this office] my all,” she said after her nomination. She added that the APS is in good shape and it was a great time to be leading the organization. She also noted that it is the first time that both the APS and the American Philatelic Research Library have women presidents — Melanie Rogers heads the APRL.

Ganz was the only nominee and the vote was unanimous.

Dr. Ganz is a life member of the APS and chair of its Board of Vice Presidents. Her numerous philatelic honors include the Lichtenstein Medal for Distinguished Service to Philately from the Collectors Club of New York (2016), the APS’ Luff Award for Exceptional Contributions to Philately (2016) and the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists of the Royal Philatelic Society London (2018).

She joined the staff of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in 2005 after earning her PhD in History at the University of Illinois Chicago, and from 2007 until her retirement in 2014, she was the NPM’s chief philatelic curator. She is currently its “curator of philately emerita” — a title created to recognize her “significant and lasting contributions” to the museum.

She also currently serves on the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which reviews stamp design nominations and makes recommendations to the Postmaster General.

Her books include The 1933 Chicago World’s Fair: A Century of Progress and Every Stamp Tells a Story: The National Philatelic Collection, and is a co-author of Zeppelin Hindenburg: An Illustrated History of LZ-129. Her philatelic exhibits include” Delivering Hope: FDR & Stamps of the Great Depression;” “Fire & Ice: Hindenburg and Titanic;” and “Favorite Finds; Pacific Exchange: China & U.S. Mail.”

“One day at a flea market, I acquired an envelope that had been on the Graf Zeppelin, and that was it,” she told UIC Alumni magazine in 2015, when she received the school’s Alumni Achievement Award.

She was married to fellow collector P. Felix Ganz until his death in 1992. She lives in the Chicago area, and has been active in “Chicagoland” philately for many years.

Zeigler [below] himself rose to the APS presidency as the result of a resignation: Mick Zais had to give up the leadership post to become Deputy Secretary of Education in the Trump administration.

“Bob stepped up when we needed leadership,” English told VSC in an email. “He built a strong bond between the APS and APRL Boards to work as a team by being transparent and inclusive and we are better served for it.”

English called Zeigler “a collector’s president, traveling to stamp shows, stamp clubs, and representing the APS all over the country. He volunteered countless hours serving as a judge, expert, speaker, and as President of the APS, all while managing his law firm back home.” Zeigler is listed as an “emeritus partner” on the website of Zeigler, Cohen & Koch. He specialized in medical malpractice defense, products liability, and insurance coverage disputes, as does the firm.

English said Zeigler’s specialty allowed him to give valuable advice to the APS on how to deal with the COVID pandemic.

Stephen Reinhard [right] will leave the Board as Immediate Past President. Reinhard was elected to the APS Board in 2011 as Vice President. In 2013, the APS membership elected Reinhard as President of the APS Board, and he served until 2016. Since 2016, Reinhard has served as the Immediate Past President of the APS Board.

Per the APS Bylaws, Ganz appointed Greg Galetti, the vice president of the APRL, to fill the vice president vacancy created when she became president. The Board also approved a resolution honoring Reinhard for is service to the APS.

The meeting lasted less than an hour.

Updated April 18th:
At the American Philatelic Research Library board of trustees meeting, Galetti resigned as a trustee and vice president of the APRL, reports Foster Miller in The Stamp Collecting Forum.

Jean Wang, a doctor and well-known topical philatelist, was elected to replace him as a trustee. Tom Bieniosek was elected as the new vice president

[partly from press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Zeigler Resigning as APS President

APS President Bob Zeigler announced his intention to step down as President of the American Philatelic Society, effective March 31, 2023. Zeigler will remain on the APS Board of Directors as Immediate Past President.

Following Section 5.7(a) of the APS Bylaws, the APS Board of Vice Presidents has called a meeting for Monday, April 3, 2023, at 7:30 pm Eastern to fill the vacancy “by election by the Board of Directors from among its own membership.”

Bob Zeigler was elected Vice President to the APS Board of Directors in 2016. In May 2018, the APS Board of Directors elected Zeigler to fill the remaining term of APS President Mick Zais, who resigned to become Deputy Secretary of Education. Zeigler was re-elected by the APS membership in 2019 and again in 2022. During Zeigler’s tenure as President, the APS met the response of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped retire the debt of the Match Factory in Bellefonte.

“Bob stepped up when we needed leadership,” APS executive director Scott English told VSC in an email. “He built a strong bond between the APS and APRL Boards to work as a team by being transparent and inclusive and we are better served for it.”

English called Zeigler “a collector’s president, traveling to stamp shows, stamp clubs, and representing the APS all over the country. He volunteered countless hours serving as a judge, expert, speaker, and as President of the APS, all while managing his law firm back home.” Zeigler is listed as an “emeritus partner” on the website of Zeigler, Cohen & Koch. He specialized in medical malpractice defense, products liability, and insurance coverage disputes, as does the firm.

Stephen Reinhard [right] will leave the Board as Immediate Past President. Reinhard was elected to the APS Board in 2011 as Vice President. In 2013, the APS membership elected Reinhard as President of the APS Board, and he served until 2016. Since 2016, Reinhard has served as the Immediate Past President of the APS Board.

The meeting to elect a new President will be held via Zoom and is open to the public. To register for the meeting,

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
ATA Course: Buying Covers for Thematic Collections

Damian Läge, the highest award-winning thematic exhibitor in the world, will present a three-part course sponsored by the American Topical Association (ATA) in May, via Zoom. He was recently chosen to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists, one of the most prestigious honors in our hobby.

The course will cover aspects of recognizing, evaluating and shopping for covers with multiple frankings for a collection and/or exhibit. Läge points out that many covers you encounter at dealer booths and online have more than one stamp. These covers, with multiple frankings, vary dramatically in their philatelic importance. The course will show how to add some important items to your collection, often at a low price. Collectors and exhibitors will benefit from the course content.

Läge will share his research and insights in three sessions:

• Saturday, May 6, 6 p.m., via Zoom – Multiple Frankings in Topical/Thematic Collections and Exhibits: How and Why
• Sunday, May 7, 6 p.m., via Zoom – The Evaluation of Multiple Frankings: Great, Greater, Greatest – Learn to identify quality covers
• Sunday, May 14, 6 p.m., via Zoom – How to Find Multiple Frankings for Your Collection and Exhibit

For those in time zones that make it difficult to attend the live presentation, the sessions will be taped and made available to those who register for the course. Those who enroll will be able to watch the programs again, at their convenience. Cost for the three sessions is $25 for members, $45 for non-members, with an option to purchase the course and membership at a discounted rate. Registration is open in the Events section on the ATA website at americantopical.org.

Läge has won the highest exhibiting awards and has lectured widely throughout the world. His high enthusiasm makes his presentations both educational and entertaining. In 2015, his was the first thematic exhibit to receive 98 points at an international competition (ECTP 2015). In 2020, his one-frame exhibit, The Maori Pigeon, won the Grand Prix at ALPE-ADRIA in competition with all multiple frame exhibits in all classes. Last year he won the Grand Prix at CAPEX in Toronto. He has been winning top awards since he began exhibiting as a teenager.

This course is the result of Läge’s research and evaluation of many covers with multiple frankings. He discovered that online sellers often have philatelically significant covers for sale at good prices, as their prices often don’t differentiate great covers from mediocre ones.

This is an opportunity to learn from one of the most accomplished philatelists in the world.