Circuit sales phase out recommended at APS board meeting March 27

By Linn’s Staff

On March 27, the board of the American Philatelic Society met virtually to give an update on the organization. In attendance were approximately 60 people, in addition to the APS board and staff.

APS president Cheryl Ganz welcomed everyone to the meeting followed by secretary Peter McCann conducting a roll call. Ganz then introduced executive director Scott English, chief administrative officer Jeff Krantweiss and APS attorney Kathleen Yurchak.

Ganz then asked for the approval of the minutes from the previous Feb. 6 board meeting, and they were approved.

First was the report of the APS attorney. Yurchak reported that the society has retained the services of a search firm, the Moran Company as proposed in the previous Feb. 6 board meeting, to assist in the recruitment of a new executive director.

Ganz reported that the job description has been posted nationally and in numerous philatelic publications. To date they have received more than 100 applications, mostly from nonphilatelists, and with some being APS members.

Yamil Kouri, Boston 2026 World Expo president then provided a status report on the American international show.

Kouri reported that the new show website is up, its third and final iteration. The United States Postal Service has been signed as a show sponsor and have indicated that they will have multiple first-day ceremonies at the show. Other international postal administrations have also expressed interest in the show.

The United States Boston 2026 set of two commemorative stamps will be issued at the show Aug. 14 at an 11 a.m. ceremony.

As for funds raised, Kouri said that $950,000 has either been pledged or received so far with the goal of $1 million now being attainable. So far donations have been received from 48 donor organizations and 135 individuals.

More than 100 show booths have been sold to dealers, auctioneers and international postal administrations so far. Kouri also stated that a slight reorganization of the Boston 2026 committee has taken place with Chris Lazaroff being appointed commissioner general.

As for exhibits, 57 applications have been received with the deadline for applications being Sept. 30, 2025.

Reservations for hotels, eight nearby and two further away, are going well with 3,253 hotel nights already reserved. Of the two primary show hotels, the Westin and Omni, 65 percent and 45 percent of the reserved blocks, respectively, have been reserved.

Boston 2026 has negotiated recognition status with the International Federation of Philately (FIP) but is looking to secure patronage status which would result in more high-profile exhibits. As for exhibit frames, the show has 800 at hand and 1,000 from the APS, while 2,700 newly designed frames will be manufactured in China. The rest will be borrowed if needed.

Ganz then introduced English for the APS executive director’s report. English began by reporting that the booths for the Great American Stamp Show are full and there is a waiting list for society booths. Hotel rooms for the show are mostly full and details for the Stamp Soiree will be announced shortly.

English began his report by stating that the APS needs to reimagine its revenue, growing sustainability through innovation. Currently dues only make up 28 percent of revenue and that has declined as a revenue source since the 1990s.

English said the APS top revenue performers are Stamp Store and events, while circuit sales, expertizing and youth education have underperformed financially. In reference to the latter, the Stephen Campbell Home of Online Learning (Stamp SCHOOL) is currently being beta tested.

In referencing the global stamp market, English cited that mobile-first, digital opportunities are in demand. The APS needs to monetize learning and build trust. There is no need to increase dues but rather increase user experience.

According to English market analysis indicates that by 2026 the global stamp market will increase from $980 million to $1.23 billion. The U.S. market will grow by 27 percent driven mostly by digital behavior. English stated that the APS must meet this digital opportunity.

A program audit found that all APS programs (Stamp Store, circuit sales, education, publications, and expertizing) had either moderate or high strategic value, with most having either moderate or high potential for growth, except circuit sales which was deemed as having low growth potential.

English identified circuit sales as having an 18 percent decline in revenue over the last 3 years with fewer submitters and submissions. Given this, it was recommended that the service be phased out by the end of 2026.

For non-dues revenue success in 2027, new APS revenue sources must be mission-aligned, member-centric, diversified and scalable, while engaging members at all levels and reaching out globally through digital programs and content.

English said the things that hold the APS back are loyalty to legacy programs, fear of change, limited staff capacity and having no clear benchmarks. He then proposed the formation of five cross-functional teams to be made up of board members, volunteers and APS staff to examine digital education, modernizing expertizing services, a new live event model for stamp shows, and new fundraising and partnerships.

Looking ahead to the second and third quarter of 2025, English said that the Stamp SCHOOL pilot will roll out then and that in the fourth quarter of 2025 there will be a refresh of the expertizing service and the new website will be complete.

In concluding his report, English stated that non-dues revenue is about serving the membership better and that the society must do so with sustainable success.

Following the executive director’s report, Ganz brought forth the appointing of a new APRL board trustee, given that APRL trustee Hugh McMackin’s six-year term is coming to an end. English clarified that the new trustee can be selected by the APS president, thus Ganz selected Andrew Kelley, current editor of The United States Specialist. A vote was taken to confirm the appointment and it was unanimous.

Next, the World Series of Philately (WSP) status of the Okpex show was discussed. Among the issues outlined by English were that the show missed its jury deadline by 3 months, there was no show website and that most of the work for the show was being done by one person.

Although it was too late to revoke the upcoming show’s WSP status for 2025, it was proposed, and a unanimous vote was taken, to place the show on a one-year probation.

Finally, English proposed the Peshawar Stamp Society for new affiliate membership, and a unanimous was vote was received.

At the end of the Zoom meeting, Ganz asked if there were any additional items. None were brought forward, and the meeting was adjourned.

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