June
21-26
A
registration form is available online and
in pdf
format.
The
American Philatelic Summer Seminar is unique in the hobby,
offering instruction in specific philatelic areas through
a combination of lectures and hands-on workshops.
In
its 30th year, many students return year after year, to learn
more about the hobby and for the social benefits.
Hosted
in the education wing of the American Philatelic Center,
100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, the 2009
Summer Seminar begins with a Sunday evening reception. The
remainder of the seminar week, Monday–Thursday, features
4½ hours daily of class time, PLUS afternoon elective
workshops, a student auction, a Buy, Sell, Trade Night, and
two dinners. You’ll
finish off the week on Friday with a morning session with the
staff of the American Philatelic Center, and one last opportunity
to use the library, sales division, expertizing reference library,
and other resources at the Center.
2009
Major Courses
Seminar participants select ONE course, of the seven offered, on which to focus
during the four days of class.
Major courses meet for 4½ hours each day. All are led by knowledgeable
collectors
— authors, judges, exhibitors, expertizers, or other authorities.
Courses feature in-class discussions, question-and-answer opportunities, and
informal, hands-on workshops. Class sizes may vary and are limited for the ultimate
learning experience.
• Philatelic Marketplace,
with Irv Miller and Clark Frazier,
navigates you through the maze of valuing, buying, and selling
stamps and philatelic material. Learn how to determine the
value of philatelic collectibles — from items already
in your collection to material that you’re interested
in buying or selling. Explore the many philatelic venues available
today: APS Sales Division, the APS StampStore, the Internet,
auction houses, and more. Identify factors that affect value,
with some hands-on practice and application in the philatelic
marketplace.
• Stamp Technology, with Wayne
Youngblood, CLASS IS FULL
(to be put on a waiting list please contact Gretchen)
will help you explore
how stamps are produced and why it is important to learn
about their physical qualities. The class covers the topics
of printing methods, watermarks, perforations, luminescence,
color, fakes and forgeries and will include a field trip
to a printer to see course topics in action. This is a bedrock
course for any stamp collector.
• The Washington/Franklin Issues,
with Dennis Gilson, leads you on
a four-day exploration of the more than 200 individual stamps
that make up this challenging series. You will learn how to
identify the different issues, while detecting the most obvious
fakes and alterations. This class is not just for the expert
collector, but also for anyone who has collected, wants to
collect, or is considering collecting these classic issues.
Included are hands-on sessions where you will receive a variety
of stamps from the series and be guided through the identification
process.
• Postal History, with Diane
DeBlois and Robert Dalton Harris, CLASS IS FULL (to be put on a waiting list please contact Gretchen)
is
a new 
course in United States postal history — a “behind-the-scenes”
tour of how the mail system actually worked, particularly at
times of reform or innovation: the mapping of the system, introduction
of the first postage stamp, registry, money order, Rural Free
Delivery, Air Mail, etc. Students will work from the evidence
backward, a ‘hands-on’ approach to understanding
the markings on mail by using covers and documents from the
1830s to the 1930s. Students are encouraged to bring their
own examples, especially the puzzling ones!
• Computer Technology in Philately,
with George Fekete and Barb Boal,
will provide students with a toolkit designed to optimize use
of the computer for a variety of philatelic tasks in this hands-on
course. Software and technology that can be used to take advantage
of graphics, drawing, scanning, database, publishing, and specialized
commercial applications will be covered. Although the software
and technology presented in this course can be used on a PC
or Mac, a PC with Windows operating system will be used in
the classroom. Enrolled students will be invited to suggest
topics not mentioned in this course description for possible
integration into the curriculum. Students must bring their
own laptop.
• More Stamps of the British Commonwealth,
with Ian Kimmerly, will focus on
what is collectible of these used stamps. Part I of British
Commonwealth Stamps (offered in 2008) focused on the varieties
which result from the production of stamps. Part II will continue
with postmarks in all their glory, as well as rates, postal
and non-postal usages. There will be an emphasis on stamps
which are reasonably available and reasonably priced. A CD
will be provided with lots of information and images which
will mean there is no need to take notes. The course is recommended
for collectors who took the 2008 course or those with a good
background in British Commonwealth stamps.
• It’s All About Thematics!,
with Peter Butler, will
focus on current ideas about obtaining stamps, organizing and
mounting collections, researching themes, using new materials
and up-grading techniques for creating unique and personal
albums and reviewing guidelines and experimenting with new
tools to build exhibits. Copies of Columbo Chronicles (Mary
Ann Owens & George Guzzio’s
handbook on thematic exhibiting, reprinted with permission)
will be distributed prior to the course and used as a reference
text throughout the sessions. Special guests will join our
class discussion bringing their specific insights not heard
anywhere else. Bring your ideas, materials and examples to
share and come with challenges needing solutions.
Electives
and General Sessions
As
a student you will enjoy early morning “General
Sessions” and afternoon “Electives,” where
you can learn about subjects outside your chosen major. Included
in the electives being offered in 2009 are:
- Come Take A Ride on the Hindenburg, Cheryl
Ganz
- Fancy
Cancels, Wade Saadi
- Moving International Mail Prior to Steam, Jim Pullin
- Evolution
of an Iceland Exhibit, Pat Walker
- Stories
off the shelf with APRL librarian, Gini Horn
- How to Bid in an Auction, Irv Miller
- Patriotic Covers, Jim Kloetzel
- Exploring Postal History From the Inside, David Straight
- U.S. Precancels, T.G. Rehkop
- 1851 1-cent Blues, Larry Hunt
- The History of the Scott Catalogue, Jim Kloetzel
- Local Postal History, Pat Walker
- The Internet: Philatelic Friend or Foe, Dennis Gilson & Clark Frazier
The
General Sessions, held first thing each morning are open
to all students.
Lunch
Roundtables feature topics from collecting local postal history,
to APS Affiliates, and youth 
outreach.
Evenings
are chock-full of philately, good food, and fun. Tuesday — Auction,
Irv Miller as auctioneer
Wednesday — Buy/Sell/Trade Night
On
Thursday evening everyone gathers to celebrate the hobby
at the Distinguished Philatelist Dinner. Our Distinguished
Philatelist is Cheryl Ganz, Curator of Philately for the
National Postal Museum.
Seminar Cost
APS
members attend Summer Seminar for only $525; $625 for nonmembers.
Tuition includes the opening dessert reception, Monday dinner,
four lunches, Distinguished Philatelist dinner on Thursday
evening, a farewell breakfast on Friday morning, and class
time snack and beverage service. Guests are welcome at these
functions ($12 reception; $15 per breakfast or lunch event;
$35 per dinner event).
Alumni
of past Summer Seminars who prefer the social-only aspect
of the seminar may attend for $199. Price covers administrative
fees, meals, break service, but not class time.
Host Hotel
The
registration fee does not include housing for the week. The
host hotel, the Holiday Inn Express at Williamsburg Square,
1925 Waddle Road, State College, is offering a special room
rate of $81 per night, 814-867-1800. Other housing options
include local
hotels, bed-and-breakfast
facilities, and camping
areas.
Scholarships
Scholarships
are available to help serious youth (age 14–18)
collectors attend the seminar. Youth must be accompanied by
a parent or other adult. A scholarship covers the youth’s
tuition, the meals covered in regular seminar tuition, as well
as housing at the Holiday Inn Express for the youth and the
accompanying adult (i.e., they share a room). Travel and meal
expenses for the adult are not covered.
For
more information write to Seminar Scholarships, APS, 100
Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Application deadline
is May 15.
More Information
Student
registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis — by
mail, fax, or online.
A
registration form is available online and
in pdf format.
For
more information,
contact:
APS Summer Seminar
100 Match Factory Place • Bellefonte, PA 16823
814-933-3803 • Fax: 814-933-6128
E-mail: Gretchen Moody
