Stamps are a vehicle to learn about a great many things. One is an excellent way to learn about writing for, and producing a newsletter.

This activity does not require elaborate planning or expensive equipment. If your school has a copier machine, that is ideal. If not, commercial production of 30 copies of a single sheet club newspaper should not exceed $3.00.

There are three major benefits to having a newsletter. The first is that club members will enjoy a real feeling of cohesiveness if they work together to produce something they can show off to classmates and parents. The second is that all who work on the project will learn from and have pride in the effort. And, of course, as a stamp-based activity, they will learn more about producing a newsletter and about philately through doing.

What is your role as leader? Here are the basics:

1. Present the idea. This is an opportunity to make something that will contain news about the members' activities, with their names in it. Not only will it be fun to do, but the finished paper will be something to show friends and relatives.
2. Decide what you want to include. A list of possible content is given below. Select items you would like to use, and ask the members what they would like to have included.
3. Organize the effort. Some members may want to do certain things. Others may have to be cajoled, or you can assign something to each member. While you should set a loose deadline, beware of the adult temptation to set hard and fast due dates -- and then be upset when they are not met. There is no need to be upset. If you manage one issue by the end of the school year, you have done well.
4. Make it fun. Capitalize on talents of the members. Those who like to write poetry should do that. Likewise, the natural artist can draw illustrations. Those who like compositions can do the "reporting." To encourage exploration of talents, you also can use contests to obtain specific items: a cartoon, a story on "What I like about collecting stamps," etc.
5. Type the contents. Or ask for a parent to help.
6. Layout the issue. This simply means arranging the page so it is uncrowded and easy to follow. One or two members should help you the first time, and then they can do the layout on any subsequent issues.
7. Have a masthead. You need to include the name of your club and school name, a club seal (which can be the Benjamin Franklin Stamp Club seal or a creation by one of the members), and the issue date of the paper. You also can include your name as leader, the name of your club president if there is one, and your meeting day and time.
8. Arrange for printing. Make sure you have enough copies for the club, and for any publicity needs. You should give one to your school principal and to anyone who has helped the club that is mentioned in the newspaper (a speaker, someone who donated stamps, someone from your local Post Office, etc.). We at the APS Education Department would also like to see what you have done. Please send a copy to:
   APS Education Dept.
   100 Match Factory Place
   Bellefonte, PA 16823
9. Distribute. And be ready for the "oohs" and "aahs."

1. Scrambled sentences, word finds, fill in the blank words.
2. Stamp related jokes or cartoons by the members.
3. An answer column ("Where is this stamp from?", or others.)
4. Reports on speakers the club has had.
5. Field trips the club has taken.
6. Members' own experiences with stamp collecting (trips, their favorite stamp, etc.).
7. Ideas about where to get stamps
8. A story about a club member each issue.
9. A "stump the club members" question. Whoever answers correctly first to get a small philatelic prize.
10. A "wants" column for members to say what they want to buy or trade.