APS membership awaits announcement about hiring new executive director

The American Philatelic Society will host the nation’s largest annual stamp exhibition Aug. 20-23. The show will take place at the DeVos Place Convention Center, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, Mich.

What remains to be seen is whether the APS board of directors announces the hiring of a new executive director during the board meeting, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday Aug. 19, the day prior to the opening of the show.

In 2013, the APS board sought to remove the position of executive director as an administrative officer of the society and replace it with a new chief executive officer.

That effort was blocked because it required membership approval of a proposed change to the society’s bylaws. The measure was defeated by members voting in the 2013 APS elections, with 2,995 votes against the change and 1,568 in favor. The change in the bylaws required a two-thirds majority vote in favor of the change.

In a surprise move, the APS board voted in January 2014 to replace Ken Martin as the society’s executive director.

A few of the more vocal members of the society were quick to take issue with this vote. They took to online stamp forums to express their displeasure with the decision, suggesting that the board’s new action circumvented the membership vote against the bylaws resolution.

Martin, who has served as executive director since 2009, when he was appointed interim director, was offered the position of APS chief operating officer once the position of executive director is filled.

In February 2015, APS president Stephen Reinhard told Linn’s that, on behalf of the APS, he had signed a contract with Moran Co., a nonprofit executive search firm in Leawood, Kan. As of July 23, when this column was written, the firm’s website continues to list the job opening for the APS executive director in its “Current Searches.”

The position has not been moved to Moran’s “Completed Searches.” The job also is listed as a “current open paid position” on the APS website, www.stamps.org.

During a meeting held by telephone June 10, 2015, Saadi said that the new APS executive director “should be on board” in time for Stampshow.

We can only guess whether a candidate has been selected and the board will vote on him or her at the meeting preceding Stampshow, or whether the search goes on because no candidate has panned out.

Linn’s will continue to follow this story. The Aug. 19 meeting is open to the public, and a Linn’s editor will be in attendance.

If you haven’t done so, make your plans for Stampshow now. Linn’s and Scott catalog editors and sales representatives will be available at booth 726. Please stop by and say hello.