08/08/2007 Contact:
Peter Mastrangelo
Also available in .pdf format
APS
Board Approves 2008 Dues Increase
At
their Wednesday, August 8, meeting, the American Philatelic
Society Board approved the unanimous recommendation of the
Society’s Finance Committee to increase annual membership
dues for 2008. The dues increase from $35 to $45 for U.S. residents
will help the Society cope with increased paper, postage and
fuel-related costs, fund depreciation, and increase promotion
of the hobby.
The
Board also approved two Finance Committee recommendations to
lessen the impact of the dues increase: a Dues Transition Fund
and a Member Recruitment Incentive. The Dues Transition Fund
will allow any member who feels the increase will prevent them
from continuing as an APS member to check a box on their renewal
form and retain their membership for 2008 by paying at the
2007 dues level of $35. Finance and Audit Committee members
generously provided the initial funding for this effort. Other
APS members may support this Fund, which will operate on the
honor system, by including a gift with their dues.
The
Membership Recruitment Incentive will offer the 2007 dues level
of $35 to any APS member who includes an application for membership
from another collector with their dues payment. The current
dues rate will be offered to both the renewing member and the
applicant for 2008. This is a second option to ease the transition
in dues levels while introducing new recruits into the nation’s
foremost stamp collecting organization.
Both
the APS Board of Directors and the Finance and Audit Committee
are mindful of the risk of membership loss entailed in any
dues increase. However, it is their considered view that the
new dues level is needed at this time, will meet the needs
of the Society, and will provide the necessary funding for
professional management to function effectively and provide
the high-quality publications, programs, and services on which
APS members have come to rely.
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