Nicholas Lombardi, Bob Rufe, and Roger Brody staff the USSS
Society Table at NOJEX.

The 2024 Annual Meeting of the United States Stamp Society was held at the NOJEX stamp show in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, from April 26th through the 28th. The official business of the Society was conducted at the Board of Governors Meeting
on Friday afternoon and the Annual General Membership Meeting on Saturday. The Board of Governors discussed a variety of issues at their meeting, including the possibility of having to raise our annual dues. Our dues have been set at $25 per year for as long as anyone could remember even though the cost of producing and mailing The United States Specialist each month has risen substantially. A number of different possibilities were put forth and will be studied by the Board during the upcoming year. The annual dues will remain at $25 for the 2025 year. Although Treasurer Dave Sugar was unable to attend the meeting, he provided a summary of the Society’s financial position and the Society is in good financial shape. This is due in large part to the generosity of the membership in terms of both annual and estate donations, so please consider a donation when it comes time to renew your membership or review your will.

Speaking of publications, it was noted that due to a great demand for the Durland 2020 catalog which was sold out some time ago, the Board had authorized the reprinting of 100 copies which should last us until the next edition. That edition would normally have been done in 2024, but it was decided to wait until 2026 for the next edition which we will release at the Boston 2026 International show and will also coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Society. The Annual General Membership Meeting was held on Saturday afternoon. The meeting began, as is customary, with each attendee introducing him or herself and letting everyone know where they were from. In addition to informing the members of what had transpired at the Board of Governors meeting earlier, it was noted that the First Bureau Issue Study Group is in need of a new Chairperson. If you would be willing to help out with this, please let me know.

One of the highlights of our Annual General Membership Meeting is the presentation of the Walter W. Hopkinson Literature Award for the best article or series of articles, which appeared in The United States Specialist during the previous year.
Our 2023 award winner, Andrew S. Kelley, was on hand to accept the award for his article “Authenticating Scott 530c–Triple Impression on the Three Cent Offset” which appeared in the May 2023 issue of The Specialist.

Unfortunately, no one who was to receive their membership anniversary pin was in attendance. It was noted that this year we had six members who will receive their 50 year pins, sixteen who will receive 25 year pins and twenty-seven who will receive 15 year pins. The list of these members appeared in the March issue of The Specialist. All of these pins will be mailed to the recipients. On behalf of the Board of Governors, thank you all for being such loyal members of the Society.
The exhibit frames at the show were filled with a wide array of material from our Society members.

The Society’s prestigious Hugh M. Southgate Award was won by Greg Shoults for his exhibit “Washington & Franklin Coils: The Development of the Third Bureau Flat Plate & Coil Waste Issues of 1908–1915” which also won the Grand Award for the entire show, as well as the Statue of Freedom Medal, and the NOJEX Best US Exhibit award. Louis Caprario took the Reserve Grand with his exhibit “Pre-Prohibition Beer Stamps 1866–1919”. Other Society members whose work appeared in the frames
included Louis Fiset, Larry Haber, Terence Hines, Marvin & Judith Platt, Andrew S. Kelley, Michael Clark, David Mayo and Stephen Suffet. In total, our members accounted for 46% of the exhibit frames.

Our Society table was staffed continuously throughout the three days of the show. Members stopped by to purchase books, exchange information, or just to rest up. We signed up several new members as well as others who renewed their memberships. Special thanks go out to Roger Brody, Bob Rufe and Jerry Davis for helping man the booth at different times.
Members visiting the USSS booth are listed in the November issue of The Specialist.

—Nick Lombardi
President