The 2008 Annual Meeting is fast approaching.  The United States Stamp Society meeting will be held in conjunction with NOJEX, the annual stamp show sponsored by the North Jersey Federated Stamp Clubs.

The USSS will gather during the weekend of May 23rd through 25th, at the Meadowlands Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Harmon Plaza, Secaucus, NJ.  The hotel is offering special rates of $115 for a single room and $125 for a double room.  To obtain these room rates contact the hotel at (201) 348-6900, ext. 7130 or 7104 and request the special NOJEX rates under group code NS8 (or online).

The show will include an American Philatelic Society World Series of Philately exhibit competition which will include more than 100 frames of United States and related material presented by USSS members.  In addition to the normal range of awards available at all WSP shows, eligible exhibits will also compete for the prestigious Southgate and Hopkinson Trophies, which are presented only at the show hosting the Annual Meeting of the Society.  

On Friday, we will hold the Society’s traditional Annual Fellowship Dinner, which is always one of the highlights of our Annual Meeting.  This year we have arranged a special treat.  Inasmuch as the United States Philatelic Classics Society and the Carriers & Locals Society are also holding their annual meetings at NOJEX, we have arranged to hold a joint dinner for all three groups at Iberia Peninsula Restaurant in Newark, one of the most famous Portuguese restaurants in the New York-New Jersey area.  The dinner will feature the trademark Portuguese “Rodizio.”  The waiters will bring skewers of barbequed chicken, filet mignon, pork, turkey, ribs, sausage and more to each table and cut until you say stop.  There will also be a seafood combination known as “Parrilhada,” served family style in addition to salad and a dessert table.  Beer, soda, wine and sangria are also included and a cash bar will be available for other beverages.  The cost will be $45 per person, and since seating will be limited, I’d ask that you contact me as soon as possible to reserve a spot.  If you’ve never been to an authentic Portuguese restaurant, this is not something you want to miss.  We will gather the troops as the show closes at 6:00 PM and head out for an enjoyable dinner and evening of fellowship with our sister societies.  

NOJEX has also made available their hospitality suite at the hotel for the societies on both Friday and Saturday nights where there will be a full range of beverages and snacks. 

On Saturday, the Board Meeting for Governors, Officers, employees of the Society and Committee Chairmen will be held from 8:00AM to 10:00 AM prior to the opening of the show.  Our annual General Membership meeting is scheduled from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.  The first USSS Membership Recognition Award pins will be presented at the meeting.  The full schedule of all NOJEX events is available on their website, www.nojex.org.  The show and all of the events will take place on-site at the hotel except the Fellowship Dinner. 

The 2008 edition of the Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog will make its debut at the show.  In addition to an all-color presentation, the traditional two-column 6”x9” format has been changed to a three-column 8½”x11” format.  The new edition will also be available in both perfect and spiral-bound versions.  Those attending the show will have the opportunity to take advantage of a special offer of both a perfect-bound and a spiral-bound version for a combined price of $35 for members and $45 for non-members. 

Among the talks being given during the show will be “Collecting Homelands: Charles A. Hirzel’s Philatelic Journey,” presented by Cheryl R. Ganz, Ph.D., Chief Curator of Philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.  Daniel Piazza, Research Chairman for the NPM, will also give a presentation about how to conduct research at the museum.

The Society will have a booth at the show for the purposes of selling our publications, promoting the Society, recruiting new members and socializing with fellow U.S. collectors.  Please contact me if you are willing to help staff the table.  We could really use the help and any time you could spare will be greatly appreciated.  In addition to those who volunteer, we will also have our officers, Board members, committee chairs and authors helping out.  This will be the place to meet old friends and make new ones.

We look forward to seeing a large contingent of our members at this great show.  A good time is sure to be had by all.

—Nick Lombardi
President