Recent and Upcoming Events

Trips we have taken this year:

January 4, 2008: 35th Annual Garden State Stamp & Postcard Show
We had 6 members attending this show, which was formerly haled in Wayne, NJ. We did arrive at the show a few minutes early, finding the doors opened with no people manning the registration desk. We were able to walk in as we observed approximately 4 other collectors walking around and/or sitting within the bourse area. There were approximatley 15 dealers in attendance, with 2 being postcard dealers. The show was held in the same room as last year, with no improvement of lighting. My only suggestion is that they should consider moving the show to the room where they had the coffee and donuts located and place the coffee and donuts in the room that the show was located. The coffee room was in a huge banquet hall with large crystal chandeliers and mirrored walls to help reflect the bright lights with at least times the lighting, whereas the bourse was held in a dark and dreary room lit up with sparsely located inset flood lighting which had the appearance of being connected to a dimmer switch that was turned halfway off. I am sure the others who attended would agree with me on this description. I know at least 3 members were able to purchase items they needed for their collections.

Oct. 25, 2007: ASDA Fall Postage Stamp Mega-Event, Newyork City, NY
We had 6 members attend the trip and all had a good time. There were 49 dealers, 5 Postal Administrations/Agencies, and 5 Societies present at this show. The show seemed to be busier than most of the Thursdays that we have attended in the past and am sure they saw higher attendance numbers than usual. I am also sure that the First Day Ceremony for the new Yoda stamp had helped attendance. I was a little saddened that I did not witness any Sci-Fi fans dressed up for the occasion, although the ceremony was not held within the vicinity of the show. The USPS also held First Day Ceremonies for the Holiday Knit stamps and Madonna & Child stamp on Thursday. The Hanukkah and Kwanzaa stamp First Day Ceremonies were scheduled for Friday. Additionally, the UN Postal Administration had a First Day Ceremony scheduled on Thursday for their Space for Humanity stamps.

Sept. 7 & 8, 2007: PNSE in King of Prussia, PA
We had six members attend the Philadelphia National Stamp Exhibition held September 7th - 9th, 2007 at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA. Ky Maria, Donald Schurr, Joe Lenahan, and I made the first trip on Friday, September 7th while Richard Degillio and Robert Hawk made their trip on Saturday, September 8th. The group that attended Friday, arrived an hour early, due to the show opening being moved back an hour to 11:00 AM this year. There were 54 dealers who had booths at the show and 49 exhibits, 3 of which were youth exhibits. The group that attended on Friday also ventured down to Dutch Country Auctions in Wilmington, Delaware afterwards. All members attending on Friday had found some items at the show to add to their collections . I am sure that Richard and Robert had found a few items as well, on Saturday. We all agreed that this is one of the better shows that we attend each year.

June 16, 2007: SCOPEX in Bellefonte, PA
Although this show was small, we enjoyed the other opportunities available to us. We had 3 members attend this show and with one member bringing his young daughter, expecting a youth center presented by the APS or sponsoring club. The member was disappointed to find out that neither the club nor APS cared to set up a youth center (note: the chairman of the show has young kids). You would think this would have been an important feature of a show taking place at the home of the American Philatelic Society, who tells all members to promote the hobby. Anyway, the members did not find many purchases at the show but took advantage of the APRL (American Philatelic Library) and APS Sales Division being opened for any APS members attending.

June 2, 2007: NAPEX in McLean, VA
We had some scheduling difficulties with this show. Two of our members were able to make the trip after all was said and done. They both enjoyed the show and said there were a nice selection of dealers who attended. Their only complaint was that the show was scattered throughout a few rooms and a hallway with the sun beating in through an atrium type wall making some of the bourse areas extremely hot and unbearable. They expressed some concern in regards to conditions for the philatelic material.

May 25, 2007: NOJEX in Secaucus, NJ
We had 4 members attend this show. The show returned to its regular venue after taking a break in 2006 to avoid conflicts with the 2006 Washington International Philatelic Exhibition. The show was basically the same as the 2005 show, including the narrow aisle at the far left side of the room. The layout was OK, but we decided that we would probably skip attending this show next year if we can find a different show or auction to attend during May, 2008.

April 28, 2007: Lancopex in Lancaster, PA
This show is another show we like to attend each year. We were surprised to see a lot more people attending than usual. We later found out that the sponsoring club had changed a few of their advertising practices and medium. It worked out to be a full parking lot with vehicles from PA, MD, NJ, and VA. There were 21 dealers present with a very nice balance of stamp and covers being offered. The USPS had a both along with the club having a very nice youth center available. We even noticed some 2c and 5c boxes at one or two of the dealers tables. This was a great show and everyone walked away happy, we look forward to attending next year's show.

March 15, 2007: ASDA 2007 Spring Mega-Event Stamp Show in New York City, NY
We always enjoy attending the ASDA Mega-Event shows and have always been pleased. This one we did find a little different, for there were some dealers that were not there that we were used to seeing and others that were there that we were not used to seeing. Yes, the ASDA show had some new faces to some of us. Some of our memebrs were expecting to see Subway Stamp Shop there as well, let's just say that we did not see them either. It was still a nice show and we all came home with some additions to our collections.

Jan. 5, 2007: 34th Annual Garden State Stamp Show in Totowa, NJ (formerly held at Wayne, NJ)
This show was in a new venue with a few new dealers present. The show seemed a little larger than previous years. My only complaint was the traffic patterns and the road construction going on which made it difficult to find the show.