ABPS EXECUTIVE BULLETIN
NUMBER 8 – OCTOBER 2007
Consultations about the level of
subscriptions began at Torquay in 2006 and culminated with a vote during the
AGM at Midpex on 30th June.
The proposal was to raise the annual subscription to £1.00 per UK based
member from 1st January 2008, which was carried by a large
majority. The Executive has since
confirmed this decision.
We want to thank all societies that sent views and criticisms. In particular, we aim to make it easier for members to see where their money is spent. That should enable members to say, “We want this and this but not that and that.” We shall use the website, this Bulletin, ABPS News and informal contact. The website will carry minutes Executive Committee meetings.
The E-Bulletin will be made more
widely available: any individual member may ask for a copy (see details
below). ABPS News will publish some of
the correspondence we have received.
Hugh Osbourne, Liaison Officer for National and Specialist Societies,
spoke to 43 societies at Midpex: thanks to those who returned the
questionnaire.
We are grateful for the support
we have received from societies. The
Executive, many of whom are Directors (ABPS is a limited company not a
charity), are determined both to continue to manage the finances of the
Association prudently and to work effectively to promote, defend and develop
the hobby. We have no doubt that the
decision to raise the subscription is correct.
We do recognise with hindsight that it would have been better to ask for
smaller, regular increases over time.
The Executive Committee met on 10th
October. The minutes are on the website
(ukphilately.org.uk). Please contact
the Secretary for a paper copy. Items
discussed are included in this Bulletin.
Four of five Executive Bulletins
are sent annually, mainly as e-mails, to the secretaries of our member
societies, and to Patrons and Friends of Philately. They emanate from Executive Committee meetings and are promptly
issued so that recipients are quickly made aware of any actions taken and
decisions made. From the next issue
onwards they will also be sent, without charge, to any member of an affiliated
society who has an e-mail address, which should be sent to apbs.phil@elics.co.uk. Anyone who would like copies and does not
have an e-mail address can receive the next five issues by post, at cost, for
£2.00, payable to ABPS and sent to Geoff Longbottom, Publicity and Publications
Officer, Mill Close, Hickling, Norwich, NR12 0YT.
Held on 23rd and 24th
November at Fairfield Halls, Croydon.
Open 10am to 6pm on Friday and 10am to 5 pm on Saturday. Check out the website at www.croydon2007.org.uk, which
includes a list of the 40 dealers.
You could combine your trip with
a visit to Thematica II on 24th and 25th November at
Carisbrooke Hall, Seymour Street, close to Marble Arch in London. Thematica II is also hosting Eurothema 2007,
an international competition.
Philatex 21-23 February
Stampex 27 February-1 March
National Exhibition 2-3 May,
Harrogate
Congress 24-27 July,
Stratford-upon-Avon
Here’s how you can bring money into the hobby at little cost. The Science Museam are bidding for £50million of Lottery funding to create Europe’s largest museam, to be called Inspired, near Swindon. The plan includes a museam for the British Postal Museam and Archive’s large objects such as postal vans and letter boxes.
There will be a public vote on
ITV early in December. Please watch the
programme and vote for Inspired – winner takes all. You can visit www.voteinspired.org.uk
or text “SMS Inspired” to 88833 to sign up for the latest updates (including
the programme date).
This item is based on Glenn
Morgan’s article in Stamp Lover, the journal of the National Philatelic
Society www.ukphilatley/nps.
Here’s another way to help the hobby. Do you have spare stamps – especially thematics? Please send them to Kidstamps, 46 Moorfield Road, Rothwell, Kettering NN114 6AT kidstamps@hotmail.co.uk.
Do you know a philatelist who works for the hobby in the UK? If you know of anyone in your area who deserves an Award of Merit or the Congress Medal, please request a nomination form from Susan Oliver, 46 Woodville Road, Richmond TW10 7QN.
If you think so, support Tony Buckingham’s petition. Go to his website www.buckinghamcovers.com, where you can sign, or write to Royal Mail, c/o Tony Buckingham, Warren House, Shearway Road, Folkestone CT19 4BF. It looks as if there will be nearly 20 issues of stamps in 2008. Is this a good thing?