The Society’s Board of Governors held their annual meeting in conjunction with the NOJEX 2008 stamp show in Secaucus, New Jersey, Saturday, May 24th.  In addition to the presentation of officers’ reports, the Board engaged in discussions about ongoing projects and new proposals. 

Executive Secretary Larry Ballantyne reported that membership has remain fairly stable.  For the year ending 2007, membership dropped 1.1% from 1796 to 1777.  His report also indicated strong membership financial support including contributions from 236 members towards the Patron, Contributor and Sustaining categories.  Other contributions were also received from an additional 242 members.  A total of 478 members, representing 26.9% of our members, made a donation this past year.

Board Chairman Roger Brody reported on the highlights of the Society in 2007.  Notable were Board decisions to produce a second printing of 3000 copies of the Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting.  Almost all of the initial 5000 copies printed in 2006 were sold as of the end of 2007.  The Board also agreed to support full-color production of the reformatted 8½” x 11” 2008 edition of the Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog.  Also approved was President Nick Lombardi’s proposal to design and produce membership pins honoring members who have supported the BIA/USSS for 15, 25 and 50 years.

Treasurer David Sugar’s report showed a positive cash flow for 2007.  While the Society’s expenses annually exceed income from membership dues and U.S. Specialist advertising, our deficits continue to be offset by income from our financial assets, donations, and publication sales, led this past year by the Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting.

President Nick Lombardi reported on Society stamp show participation, the awards program and committee activities, which are reported elsewhere in this issue.  He noted that Society membership pins would be awarded at the General Membership Meeting.

U.S. Specialist Editor Len Piszkiewicz discussed the successful expansion of color in the journal and noted that a campaign to expand advertising income to offset production costs will be implemented in 2008.  Len’s production schedule continues to be on target, with the journal offering a variety of articles of interest to the membership.  As always, members are encouraged to share their knowledge and interests by writing for The Specialist.

The 2008 Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog was introduced with great interest NOJEX.  Executive Secretary Larry Ballantyne reported pre-orders for the new catalog were strong.

The Board also discussed other publications in the pipeline that included two future volumes of U.S. Booklets and Booklet Panes, a revised Plate Number Checklist and the digitized complete volumes of The United States Specialist.  New publications under consideration include books on Private Vending and Affixing stamps, Supplementary Mail and a U.S. Almanac companion to the Encyclopedia.

Webmaster Mike Lampson announced that the payment service PayPal for online purchase of the Society’s publications via our website (www.usstamps.org) has been successfully implemented.  He will be adding our research papers and reprints to the list of available publications. 

Last year the Board approved a motion to sponsor an award for the best article in the APS journal, the American Philatelist.  The winner of the first “United States Stamp Society – Barbara R. Mueller Award” will be announced in the August issue of the American Philatelist with the award presentation at the APS StampShow in Hartford, CT.

The next Annual Meeting of the Board and General Membership will be at the St. Louis Stamp Expo in St. Louis in February, 2009.

—Roger S. Brody
Chairman