Sociable Stamp Society

This is our blog for current stamp news and views of interest to the philatelist and beginner. Daily updates provide items on shows, new issues, events, what's selling, and timely facts.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

All-Web APS

I'm starting to feel like a desert wanderer coming back home. What I see seems familiar. What I see seems new. It's the same, but my point-of-view is not. And it looks like the frogs in the pan are gently simmering on low heat.

APS had to raise annual dues to forty-five dollars. As membership dwindles, the cost of operation refuses to improve and demand for member benefits isn't attracting the millions of stamp collectors swarming over the Web.

When I first joined APS in '80, I was schooled by their magazine and was on the sales book circuits. I have to say I learned a lot from APS. I can't overstate how valuable the American Philatelic Research Library is. But I have to confess that I overlooked sending in my renewal for the first time in over 20 years. (Did that sux? Yea, it did, but it was about affordability for me.)

APS needs new-thinking or a surgical re-organization of the flow chart. The APS doesn't need any officers from the Greek chorus of simmering frogs who won't push for systemic change. Sea changes in organization and business are good. Otherwise, we'd still be paying $1.20 a minute to make a 'long distance' phone call. It's time for old-timey brick-and-morter groups to embrace the sea change. We need our own version of the 'Google-boys'.

Stamp collecting goes on and gets better and better, despite wallpaper issues from the USPS and organization shrinkage, but that doesn't mean that APS can't 'reinvent' itself. It just needs a plan, and as we all know that in philately dreams can never be too small only the stamps are.

How does this sound for a talking point? "The All-Web American Philatelic Society."

the lanai guy | 2:09 PM | 0 comments |  

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