Volume 13, Number 5                                                                                 MAY, 2008 

 

CALENDAR: 

  • April 19, 2008:  Joint Meeting with Wilmington Philatelic Society (details below)
  • May 6, 2008:  Results of the LINN'S STAMP POLL (John Bracken) and Selected Postal Rules (Donn Ebert)
  • June 3, 2008: Auction.  Up to 10 Lots per consignor.  10% of proceeds to Club.  Mark each lot with brief description and minimum bid.
  • July 1, 2008:  Members' Bourse
  • August 5, 2008: Members Bourse

We still need volunteers to present programs in 2008.  If you have an idea for a program or want to present a short program, contact Henry Gast.

Special Note: If you have items for sale or trade, we are setting aside the 6:30 to 7:00 time frame for this activity, before each meeting.

 

PREZ SEZ: 

 
20 attended the April meeting.  We were joined by Richard Bell (born in South Africa and wants to get back into collecting) and Dave Paxson (starting into stamp collecting.  Current interests:  WWII and U.S.A.).  Welcome to the club and we hope to see you on a regular basis.  Due to the evening's program, the secretary's report was waived.  The treasurer reported a balance of $631.64 and provided a balance sheet of account activity since his March report.  Also reported was our membership total of 31 (now 34).
 
 

OLD BUSINESS:

REMINDER:  Saturday, April 19th is the date of our joint meeting with the Wilmington Philatelic Society at the Grapevine Restaurant in Calabash, NC.  The time is 1 PM for lunch and short programs by representatives of both clubs.  Spouses are welcome.  If you have not already indicated that you will be attending, call Donn Ebert at 347-0087 or e-mail at lilfort@sccoast.net by Thursday, April 17th. 
 
 
DUES:  $10.00 payable now.  You will be dropped from the newsletter mailing list if your dues are not paid by March 31st.  Checks should be made payable to "Myrtle Beach Stamp Club" and sent to Charles Davio, 706 Two Rivers Court, Myrtle Beach, SC  29579.
 
 
E-MAIL ADDRESSES:  If you are receiving the newsletter by regular mail and have an e-mail address or if your e-mail address has changed, please send the information to Charlie Davio at charles.davio@gmail.com
 
 
OFFICERS:  One of our new members suggested that I put the list of officers in the newsletter.  While this information is available on the club website, here are the current office-holders:  President:  Donn Ebert;  Vice-President:  John Bracken; Secretary:  Clara McGrath;  Treasurer:  Charlie Davio;  Programs:  Henry Gast
 
 

NEW BUSINESS:

 
The club was informed that Joe Sprague in Murrells Inlet has some U.S.A. Stamps to sell.  I don't know  what he has but if you are interested, give him a call at 650-4436.
 
CLUB DIRECTORY:  An update of the club directory (only for use by our members) is scheduled.  If the information listed in the current version needs to be udated, send corrections/additions to Donn Ebert at lilfort@sccoast.net or 117 Cedar Ridge Lane, Conway, SC  29526-8916.
 
PRICING GUIDES:  A quantity of Stamp Market Quarterly Guides will be available at the May meeting.
 
STAMP SUPPLIES:  Donn Ebert reported that he had acquired several boxes of used stamp supplies and will bring them to future meetings over the next several months.  Most will be $1-$2.  Available in May:  FDC Albums and Mint Sheet Files.
 
For those of you who use Vario Brand Stockpages, be aware that Lighthouse has discontinued the 3-Pocket, Vertical, Black page which held most booklet panes.  The clear version is still available.
 
 

WEB SITE:

You can access the club's web site by typing (or clicking on) the following (you don't need to type "http://"):
 
 
 
Please check the site from time to time as new information is added between meetings and newsletters.
 
 

APRIL PROGRAM:

Our "100 Lot Auction" contained 90 lots.  Bids were received on 65 of the 90 (72%) and netted a total of $645.50 for the 10 consignors.  Some lots sold at substantial increases over the minimum bids placed on them.  Thank you for your participation.  Many thanks go to Scott Van Pelt (auctioneer), Charlie Davio (computer), John Bracken (money collection and distribution) and George Owens (runner).
 
 

MYRTLE BEACH STAMP & POSTCARD SHOW:

LET'S THINK AHEAD ! ! !
 
The dates will be February 14-15, 2009 at the HOLIDAY INN WEST.  The most likely theme will be the 80th Anniversary of the First Round-The-World Zeppelin Flight.
 
 

MISCELLANEOUS:

POSTMARK & SPECIAL CANCEL COLLECTORS:  Some of you may request special postmarks or cancels on U.S.A. Stamps and wish to protect them from going through the mail by enlosing the canceled envelope in a mailing envelope.  A new USPS guideline states that if you use "a nonmachinable plastic, glassine or any clear protective material, you will now pay an additional 17 cents postage".  If you use a "window envelope (glassine with a paper border)" for your return, this is machinable and no extra postage will be charged.  LINN'S STAMP NEWS, 08/06/07.
 
DID YOU KNOW?:  If you send someone a picture postcard while you are on vacation and write across the center line on the address side of the card, it could be held for additional postage?  LINN'S STAMP NEWS, 06/04/07
 
LOOKING FORWARD:  A Pennsylvania man recently purchased $8,000.00 worth of forever stamps.  His inventory of 19,512 stamps may last him "forever".  LINN'S STAMP NEWS, 06/25/07
 
USPS 2007 ANNUAL YEARBOOK:  The 2007 Commemorative Stamp Yearbook may contain 8 damaged stamps with a face value of $3.26.  The damaged stamps appear to be cut from their panes with scissors. It is not known whether all copies of the $64.95 book contain damaged stamps.  Collectors can use the damaged stamps for postage and replace them with undamaged examples.  A retail stamp dealer is probably the best source for the undamaged stamps as some of the 2007 issues are no longer available from the USPS.  LINN'S STAMP NEWS, 02/25/08.
 
NEW U.S.A. ISSUES:  The designs for the $4.80 Priority Mail Stamp (Mt. Rushmore) and the $16.50 Express Mail Stamp (Hoover Dam) have been unveiled and will be issued on June 12, 2008.  It seems that one result of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 will be regular and frequent adjustments to the everyday mail rates.  This might benefit the USPS but consumers will face an annual challenge of learning the ins and outs of the new rates as well as the expanded and mildly confusing rate schemes that the creative minds at the Postal Service keep developing and implementing.  The $16.50 is the highest price ever charged for a postage stamp sold by the USPS.  More than one collector will refer to "that Dam stamp" in a slightly different tone.  LINN'S STAMP NEWS, 03/31/08.