2003 Annual Meeting - Chicago, Illinois

The United States Stamp Society is in the early stages of planning our annual meeting to be held in conjunction with CHICAGOPEX, the annual stamp show sponsored by the Chicago Philatelic Society.  The venue will be the Sheraton Chicago Northwest, 3400 West Euclid Avenue, in Arlington Heights, Illinois.  The show will be held November 21-23, 2003.

In addition to the USSS, the United Postal Stationery Society and the British Caribbean Philatelic Society will also convene their annual meetings at CHICAGOPEX.

An exhibitor's prospectus (and application) may be obtained from Kevin Doyle, 5815 Lenox Rd., Lisle, IL  60532-3138.  Exhibitors may also use his e-mail address. 

Traditionally the USSS supports the host show with nearly 100 frames of exhibits of quality U.S. material from our members.  We would like to encourage all of our members who exhibit to request a prospectus (and application) and join us in Chicago with your exhibit.  The entry fee is a flat $15 plus a fee of $10 per frame.  The frame fee for applicants under the age of 18 is $1 per frame.  The deadline for entering the exhibit is August 15th.  The show expects to be oversubscribed this year, so get your entry form in early.

The show will host a 65 dealer Bourse and the committee promises that they will offer a wide variety of philatelic material.

The show is on-site at the host hotel.  The banquet will also be held at the hotel.  Parking is free.  For rate information, room availability and reservations, contact the hotel at (847) 394-2000, or through Sheraton reservations at (800) 325-3535.  Mention CHICAGOPEX to get the special show rate.  [Online reservations (without show discount) are also available.]

The show hosts a web site, www.chicagopex.com, where they carry information on show functions, banquet details, scheduled meetings and times, participating postal administrations, etc.

The USSS will hold our annual General Membership meeting on Saturday and a Board Meeting will also be scheduled.

We always encourage those of our members who are interested in making a 1-hour presentation on an interesting U.S. philatelic topic to entertain the thought of doing so at our annual meeting.  If you would like to do so, please contact CHICAGOPEX's Meeting Coordinator, Dottie Kugel via e-mail  or by writing to her at 502 York Rd., Hinsdale, IL  60521-3531.

We are looking for USSS members from the Chicago area to coordinate our show table activities.  CHICAGOPEX will be providing us with an area for the purposes of selling our publications, promoting the Society, recruiting new members and socializing with fellow U.S. collectors.  During the hours of the show, we would like to staff the table with a combination of Chicago area volunteers who know the local collectors, our officers, Board members, committee chairs and authors.  It should make for a great time.

If you are from the area and would like to coordinate the table activities, contact Jay Stotts, P.O. Box 690042, Houston, TX  77269.  Use the same contact if you are willing to serve at the table as a volunteer for a couple of hours (we'll schedule in two-hour host increments).

One of the highlights of our Annual Meeting is the yearly Dutch treat dinner on Friday night.  We traditionally gather the troops as the show closes and head for an enjoyable dinner and evening of fellowship.  Our Chicago area contacts have already offered some suggestions that we'll check into.

Well, if all this sounds like fun, then count on joining us in Chicago, November 21-23.

- Jay Stotts
President