The U.S. Stamp Society will once again have a booth at the annual APS StampShow. The show will be held from August 20th through the 23rd at the DeVos Convention Center, 303 Monroe Avenue NW in Grand Rapids, Ml and we will have our booth manned for the full four days of the s how. The Society will pitch its tent al booth R where we will have a full supply of all the Society publications on hand. There will be special show discounts on certain items, so be sure to stop by and check out the savings.
 

If you also happen to be an APS member, be sure to get to the show early and pick up one of the free coupon books being given to the first 2,000 APS members who arrive. The book contains 60 different coupons good for discounts and other promotions at various dealers. One of the coupons is for a 50% discount on all of our publications on hand at our booth. This is the perfect opportunity for you to fill in those missing volumes in your philatelic library. If you don’t happen to be an APS member, you can sign up at the s how and receive the coupon book for as long as the supply lasts. As is our tradition, we will hold a Dutch Treat dinner on Friday evening after the show closes. Please stop by the Society booth and sign up for what is certain to be a very enjoyable evening of food and camaraderie.
 

Details are still being worked out, but all necessary information will be available at the booth. We could really use help staffing our booth and any time you could spare to do so will be greatly appreciated. In addition to those who volunteer, we will have our officers, Board members, committee chairs and authors helping out. This will be the place to meet old friends and make new ones. Please contact me if you can help out. We look forward to see in g a large contingent of our members at this great show. When StampShow was last held in Grand Rapids in 2005, the venue, the hotel s and the show itself were top notch. Make your plans to attend as a good time is sure to be had by all.

In accordance with Article V. Section 2. of the Society By-Laws.  President Nicholas Lombardi recommended to the Board of Governors that the Nominating Committee for the 2015 United States Stamp Society election consist of members Wade Saadi (Chairperson). Stephen Reinhard and Edward Grabowski.

Wade is well known to everyone in philately as the past president of both the American Philatelic Society and the United States Philatelic Classics Socie ty. He is also the president of New York 2016. our next U.S. international show.  Stephen is the current president of the APS and past president of both The Collectors Club and the U. S. Airmail Society. Edward is a past president of The Collectors Club and received the prestigious APS Luff Award for Distinguished Philatelic Research in 2014.
The Board approved the recommendation and the Committee has begun the task of assembling a slate of candidates. The Committee will present the complete slate to the President. who. in turn. will notify the Executive Secretary so that ballots can be prepared for distribution to the membership.

The names and background in formation of the nominees will be published in The United States Specialist prior to the mailing of the ballot s, which will be included with the annual dues mailing in the Fall . The Executive Secretary will then tabulate the ballots and report the results to the membership. Those elected will serve a three-year term beginning January I. 2016. The elective offices include the Chairman. President. Vice President and Secretary, as well as the Board of Governors. The Treasurer. Editor and Executive Secretary arc not elected but rather are paid employees of the Society appointed by the Board.

With much of the country in a deep freeze right now. many of us are thinking about springtime and warmer weather. This year springtime will also bring our 2015 Annual Meeting at Philatelic Show during the first three days of May. The combination of warmer weather and philatelic camaraderie will be a welcome change.

The show will be held from Friday to Sunday, May I st through May 3rd, at the Boxborough Holiday Inn located at 242 Adams Place. Boxborough. MA 01719. The hotel is offering a special rate of S 124 per night. To obtain this room rate contact the hotel at (978) 263-8701 and request the special show rate using the Group Code NFS or make your reservations online directly from the show website using the same Group Code.

In addition to our Annual Meeting. the Postal History Society and two chapters of the Universal Ship Cancellation Society will also be holding their annual conventions at the show and The Collectors Club (of New York) will be holding their annual multi- frame c0mpetition there as well. Having been at shows at which these groups have held their annual meetings, I think there will be a strong demand for exhibit space and l urge you to submit your entry paperwork as soon as possible. The Exhibit Prospectus and Application are available from Exhibits Chair Guy Dillaway. P.O. Box 181. Weston, MA 02493. by e -mail to Phbrit@comcast.net or by visiting the show website at www.nefed.org. Also. by exhibiting at chis show. which is a World Series of Philately show. you will have the opportunity to qualify your exhibit for
the next U.S. international show. New York 2016. which is fast approaching.

The Awards Banquet will be held in The Colonial Room at the show hotel on Saturday evening and advance reservations are required. Information on all show functions. including the banquet. scheduled meetings. and other matters will be available on the show website as they become available.
As is our tradition, we will be holding our Dutch Treat Fellowship Dinner on Friday evening. the 2nd. at a site to be determined. If you would like to give a presentation at the show and/or would be willing to volunteer some time to help staff the Society booth. please contact President Nick Lombardi.