As this is my stamp board of choice, I thought I'd give an update on my participation at the APS Volunteer Week, just ending today.

First: Anyone who is a stamp collector who wants to experience a stamp "Mecca" I strongly recommend that you make the journey to Bellefonte. I'll say more about the place later.

There were about 30 volunteers Monday morning when the week began. We were given a long list of projects that needed our help. Our "assignments" were based on our interests listed during signup, but it was very flexible on what we could do. Some returnees went back to a project or department where they had worked before. A tour of the site was given.

I started in the American Philatelic Research Library, adding books for cataloging to their database. I was amazed at the variety of documents they receive by order, gift, or other sources. I was challenged by language: many books were not in English. But a good helping of high school German and Google Translate I hope allowed me to identify them properly.


Next I started on expanding the APRL collection of dealer sales circulars and price lists. This involved separating individual documents from boxes and placing in marked folders sorted by dealer. Beyond the major dealers who already had shelf space, I would guess I added nearly 400 folders to the library, and was only in the middle of the B's. This is an international collection.

The next day I went for something entirely different. APS receives many donations that require sorting. These stamps are world-wide, mostly on paper, and volunteers go through and trim them. They are then put in a large barrel mixer and parceled out into plastic bags as part of the school donation project. It isn’t as tedious as you might expect, and if you find a stamp you want, it’s yours for a nickel.

My final day I did some more trimming and then taking apart some albums. There was also a pizza lunch and a round-up of the week’s activities with Ken Martin.

The society will ship album pages, covers, and stamps to members to be trimmed. I filled a medium UPS fix rate box with stuff to sort and trim and shipped it home (had I known I would have brought a larger suitcase – at the end of the week fill it up with dirty laundry and tons of stamps! That will have the TSA think twice.) It will be something for me to do in the evenings while watching TV, especially once the weather turns colder.

In addition to the week’s volunteers the society has a lot of local people contribute their time. Everyone on the staff is friendly and helpful. I think all of the volunteers who were not local were ready to buy a house nearby and start giving their time to the society.

I took the opportunity to submit a stamp for expertizing and make a purchase from the member’s online stamp store. (My first Penny Black! A beauty!). There is also a stamp store with a huge inventory, run by a volunteer, where you can purchase stamps, covers, even collections. I plan on starting to sell some of my stamps online through there internet store (open to anyone, but prices are slightly higher for non-members.)

About Bellefonte. I know there has been a great deal of discussion within the APS about what is perceived as being in a remote location in Bellefonte, and that they should be somewhere more “convenient.” Once you visit, you will realize that it is a great location. They have done a fabulous job of restoring the Match Factory. The facility is gorgeous, and I am sure once what seems to be an interminable relocation of the library, they will have a great facility with beautiful space. Hopefully by this time next year the new library space, sorely needed, will be ready.

Bellefonte is a pleasant town, and the proximity to State College I am sure is an advantage. Being in dead center Pennsylvania means access is by road or air. Unfortunately there is no rail service. It takes a little effort to get there, but it is worth it.

I definitely will plan on participating next year (July 18-22). I’m lucky, as I travel frequently for business so I have airline miles, hotel nights, and rental car days that I can use to keep my costs down. Meal expenses were minimal ; stamp expenses, well, that is something else.

APS Membership is $48/year, which includes the American Philatelist magazine, worth the price I strongly recommend you consider the benefits of membership. I am not a paid spokesperson for the APS and only saying this because I believe it is a great value for stamp collectors.

Again, I want to give a big shout out to the staff and volunteers for putting together a great week.

Cheers,
Geoff