Newsletters
Dear xxx,
Hoorah! After a long and wet Winter the sun has finally put his hat on and made an appearance in the UK today. I hope you have sunshine wherever you are. This email is a series of reminders. Please read it carefully:
- Our WIPSG AGM and Annual Auction takes place on Saturday 11 May at the RPSL in 15 Abchurch Lane EC4N 7BW. The Auction Catalogue us available on the WIPSG website if you click on this page https://wipsg.org/wipsg-auction-2024 The AGM Agenda and last year's minutes are available via page link: https://wipsg.org/wipsg-agm-auction TIME IS RUNNING OUT TOPLACE YOUR ON LINE BIDS IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND!
- The June Edition of the Journal will be available on line at https://wipsg.org/west-indies-philately-downloads to members within the next few weeks. The paper copy will be in the post shortly for those who prefer to pay for that version.
- The WIPSG is meeting at York Stamp and Coin Fare at York Racecourse. on Saturday 20th July.
There will be a club table with David Druett/Pennymead Books on Fri/Sat 19/20 July
A WIPSG Meeting, hosted by Steve Jarvis is booked for Saturday 20th 13.00 -15.00.
The room is on the 4th floor. People are invited to bring along informal displays. If any members are able to help with manning the stand please contact Steve on info@wipsg.org - American Members we are holding a meeting at the Great American Stamp Show Friday16th August, Connecticut Convention Center, Hall AB, 100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103
John Seidl has kindly made the below arrangements and Simon Richards and I look forward to meeting some of you there.
Please forward this email to any other WIPSG members you know of who intend to be at GASS.
1. We are sharing a booth with the Haiti Philatelic Society during the convention, and are looking for some 'Booth sitters'. If you are able to help please let me know, and give details of your availability so that John can organise a roster.
2. We are meeting at the Convention on Friday 16 August at 1pm.
3. There will be a WIPSG dinner on Friday 16th, as below. If you have not already done so, please confirm whether you would like to join us
Cost will be circa $150 incl tip
Constitution Room at 6:00 pm
The Capital Grille 8055 - Hartford
44 Front Street
Hartford, CT 06103
860-244-0075
4. Some of us plan to attend the Convention Dinner on the Saturday evening. you need to book in yourself, but if you are going let us know and we can look out for you in the bar beforehand.
Sending Kindest regards to you all
Susan Taylor Secretary
sec@wipsg.org
Dear xx,
Cheerful Springtime Greetings to you all!
There is plenty of news to share:
- The March Edition of the Journal is now available on line at https://wipsg.org/west-indies-philately-downloads to members. The paper copy will be in the post shortly for those who prefer to pay for that version.
- The West Indies Philatelic Study Group is inviting you to another scheduled Zoom meeting. The meeting invitation instructions are below:
Topic: West Indies Philatelic Study Group's Zoom Meeting
Julian Waldron will present on “The interaction between the Leeward Islands postal services and those of the Presidencies over time.”
Time: Feb 28, 2024 08:00 pm UK/3.00 pm in New York/noon in San Francisco on Wednesday 28 February or 9am in Wellington NZ/7.00am in Sydney Australia ON THE FOLLOWING DAY.
To join the Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 873 3903 9162
Passcode: 972383
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87339039162?pwd=NNxUOahRB7y9bJ8EUpgEJ0pjo0icoy.1
Julian has put a considerable effort into preparing this presentation so please take the trouble to zoom in and support him.
- An early version of the auction catalogue is available on https://wipsg.org/wipsg-auction-2024 The catalogue with illustrations will be on its way, and available on line, shortly. The Auction and the AGM take place at The Royal Philatelic Society, 15 Abchurch Lane, EC4N 7BW on Saturday 11 May at 1.00pm. Doors will open at 11.00am. There are over 750 lots, provided by 27 different vendors. Purchasers have nothing extra to pay (over postage and packing). On line bids will be accepted until 2.00pm on Friday 10 May.
- American Members we are holding a meeting at the Great American Stamp Show Sat 17th August, Connecticut Convention Center, Hall AB, 100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103 and we'll meet up for dinner afterwards. Please email sec@wipsg.org if you would like to attend.
- There are still many of you who have not paid for your membership this year. Please bear mind, if you have not done so (particularly if you are someone that asks for a paper copy of the Journal), that the expense of posting this item to you is considerable. Delaying your payment also leaves your secretary with the unenviable task of chasing you. She is an unpaid volunteer, with a life that doesn’t want to be spent sending chasing emails. For ease of payment here below are the various routes you can use to ‘do the decent thing’.
British Members - the annual subscription is £8 for paperless, or £18 for a paper copy of the Journal with postage.
European Members - is £8 for paperless, or £21 for a paper copy of the Journal with postage.
American Members -$10 for paperless, or $30 for a paper copy of the Journal with postage.
Members from the rest of the World (Australia etc) - £8/$10 for paperless, or £25/$30 for a paper copy of the Journal with postage.
The easiest manner in which to pay is by direct bank transfer to Lloyds a/c West Indies Philatelic Study Group (WIPSG), at Sort Code 30-90-50 Account Number 81130868. Alternatively use the PayPal or credit card link on https://wipsg.org/pay-subscription-gbp
Members still wishing to use cheques in the UK can post them to Geoff Richards at 30 Lynton Ave, West Ealing, London W13 0EB, Great Britain
Members still wishing to use cheques in the USA/Canada/Caribbean can post them to John Seidl 4324 Granby Way, Marietta, GA 30062, USA
PLEASE NOTE-WE ARE THE WEST INDIES PHILATELIC STUDY GROUP NOW, THE BWISC NO LONGER EXISTS.
Sending Kindest regards to you all
Susan Taylor Secretary
sec@wipsg.org
Dear xx,
A message to advise you that the latest September WIPSG Journal is now available on line. https://wipsg.org/west-indies-philately-downloads
Well Summer is moving into Autumn and our Guildford Convention on 14 and 15 October is not far away. We are looking forward to a most enjoyable event. Already, presentations are booked relating to the Virgin Islands. Barbados, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Anguilla. Those are all in addition to Andrew Fowles’s eagerly anticipated keynote presentation on Jamaica. It’s not too late if you plan to show a display. We are especially looking for 16-page silent displays for the Sunday morning. So, if you are someone who prefers not to present but who has something interesting to share please let us know, and bring it along.
If you have not already done so please book your attendance at the event. Here is the link https://wipsg.org/2023-convention We are hoping that the Convention Dinner on the Saturday evening will be well attended. It is always a good opportunity to catch up on everyone’s news.
The WIPSG held an informal gathering at the Great American Stamp Show which serves as the annual meeting of three of the largest philatelic organisations in the U.S., the APS (American Philatelic Society), ATA (American Topical Association), and the AFDCS (American First Day Cover Society). Many other philatelic organisations participated in the show, with a booth and/or meetings and seminars.
Among the dealers at the show were several with some great West Indies material: George Holschauer from the Colonial Stamp Company, Gary DuBro from Compustamp, David Morrison, and Willard Allman.
Included in the Court of Honor exhibits were Bahamas from the Collection of Louis Bradbury – Royal Philatelic of London and Grenada Postal Stationery – Simon Richards. The Champion of Champions exhibits included Danish West Indies Foreign Mail to UPU – Matthew W. Kewriga.
Two articles from the BCPSG journal won awards as well. John Seidl’s full report, with pictures is on the website. Here is the link: https://wipsg.org/wp-content/uploads/West-Indies-at-the-Great-American-Stamp-Show-2023.pdf
As a member of the ABPS (Ass of British Philatelic Societies) we have been asked to publicise their latest magazine available on https://www.abps.org.uk/magazines
When did you last purchase a good philatelic book?
If you collect Grenada and haven’t yet read Michael Rego’s ‘Grenada Postal and Social History’ you are missing something good! Order your copy from Pennymead Books.
Jazad Ali has published ‘The Stamp Cancelling Machine Slogan Postmarks of Trinidad and Tobago 1923-2023’. Look out for Michael Medlicott’s review of this excellent publication in the next journal. It can be purchased from blueedition@gmail.com acting on behalf of the Philatelic Society of Trinidad and Tobago.
‘Anguilla’s Quest for Identity-the Philatelic Story’ by Susan Taylor, Julian Waldron and Graham Stockdale is off to the printers this week and will be available at the conference or from Pennymead Books in mid-October. There is an article about the book in the September Journal.
Sending you all kind regards
Susan Taylor Secretary
sec@wipsg.org
Dear xx,
Greetings.
Headlines
AGM Reports and Minutes can be viewed here
Auction results and unsold offers can be viewed here
June Journal now online here and will be in the post shortly (you need to log in to access)
Zoom meeting display on Sunday 21 May at 7pm BST - see details below.
Zoom
West Indies Philatelic Study Group is inviting you to our first Zoom meeting display on 21 May 2023 at 7pm BST
James Podger: West Indies Postal History A to V (Antigua to Virgin Islands).
A tour around the West Indies with pre-stamp, Ship Letters, GB used abroad, Crown Circles and early adhesive use.
Click this link to join:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82369041377?pwd=c2dzWU42SzJVamxHZ0x4VWxReUVjZz09
Meeting ID: 823 6904 1377 Passcode: 002363
If you cannot watch live we intend to post subsequently to our new YouTube channel at:
WIPSG YouTube
Best wishes
Steve Jarvis
WIPSG Chairman
info@wipsg.org
Dear xx, Three important reminders: 1. If you intend to bid for items in the WIPSG Auction on Saturday 29 April, but cannot be at the Royal in person then please visit https://wipsg.org/auction to review the list and place your bids. (Those of you with a keen eye for detail may have noticed a typo on the catalogue - it wrongly said Saturday 28th) 2. All members were provided with a copy of the new WIPSG Constitution. It can also be accessed on https://wipsg.org/wp-content/uploads/Society_WIPSG/WIPSG_Constitution_20230403.pdf If you are not attending the AGM on 29 April please send your vote accepting or rejecting the Constitution to sec@wipsg.org It will help me if you just make your email title 'Constitution Yes' or 'Constitution No', but clearly if you have objections to the proposed wording please put the details in your email. 3. Please click on https://wipsg.org/wp-content/uploads/Convention/WIPSG_Convention_2023_Flyer.pdf to review details of the WIPSG Convention on 14/15 October and make a booking! Other news ...for those of you in Scotland Best wishes for a Happy Easter everyone! |
Dear xxx,
Our First West Indies Philately Journal has been posted out
We hope you enjoyed reading it. Please do consider writing an article yourself. If you are nervous about doing this on your own contact Susan Taylor, Secretary, who will put you into contact with someone who may be able to help, As you will have seen on the new website, we are re-establishing the country study groups, which should help this process. Members with paperless membership (who have not already done so) should log in and download the journal from https://wipsg.org/west-indies-philately-downloads
Peter Ford
Some members will be aware that unfortunately Peter has been unwell and in hospital. His family have asked us to relieve Peter of his current duties for the time being. Paul Farrimond has kindly offered to proof-read the Journal. If any of our members is willing to step forward to help with editing books, we would be most grateful for your assistance.
Your action is needed
The attached message was posted to all 400 members of the newly formed West Indies Philatelic Study Group in February. It included:
- A request that all members log into their account on the new wipsg.org website and instructions about how to do so. We need you to check and update your details. In particular we need you to confirm your Data Protection position, as this is legally required.
- A reminder to pay your membership dues if you have not already done so
IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE ABOVE ITEMS OUTSTANDING PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW.
Annual General Meeting and Auction on 29 April at the RPSL
We are hoping for a good turnout on 29 April. You are welcome to view Auction Lots from 11.30 am onwards. The AGM will take place at 1.00pm and the Auction will commence immediately afterwards at 1.30pm. Those of you unable to attend but wishing to bid for items should check the website for details on how to do so.
The WIPSG Convention
Delegates are invited to arrive for 2 pm on Saturday. The programme is as follows:
Saturday
2.00pm Arrival Refreshments available
3.00pm 'Share, show and tell' in the bar: Nothing formal but attendees are encouraged to bring albums etc and to arrange meet ups with other members.
4.00pm Committee Meeting to decide awards etc
5.00pm people walk or taxi to local hotels (an 8 minute walk into Guildford centre where there is a selection of hotels. You must make your own hotel booking.
6.00pm bar open at Weybourne House for pre-dinner drinks and meet ups
7.30pm 3 course dinner c£35/person
Bar will remain open after the dinner. Taxis or walk back to hotels
Sunday
Up to 6 stall holders will be invited to attend and there is room for them to be in the same area as the theatre style seating and tables for presentations.
9.00am start with 16 page displays by members
10.00am refreshment break
10.30 am Keynote Speaker Andrew Fowles (Jamaica Title to be confirmed}
12.30pm soup and baguette sandwich lunch available at c£10/person
2.00pm Member and guest presentations - with a mid-afternoon break
5.00pm close
Need to leave by 6.30 pm
Non WIPSG member collectors of Caribbean Stamps have been invited to join us on Sunday 15th October, by applying for a ticket at an inclusive rate of £20 (soup and baguette lunch and coffee) – so if you know of a friend who may be interested in attending, please do let them know about this arrangement.
A Meeting in Hartford, USA in August 2024?
A number of our newly members from America have asked whether we shall be having meetings there. The answer is ‘yes certainly’, but we shall need your support to do so. Susan Taylor (Secretary) John Jordan, and John Seidl, all Committee members are willing to host a meeting at the 'Great American Stamp Show' 15-18 August in Hartford, Cleveland in 2024. It will be costly for Susan and John to fly across the Atlantic at their own expense so they want to be sure that about 30 members will attend. Please email Susan on sec@wipsg.org if you are interested and willing to put your name onto the list. In addition to this, if any members are interested in setting up local hub meetings, please contact Susan with details of what you have in mind.
Kindest regards
Susan Taylor
WIPSG Secretary
sec@wipsg.org
Separate addendum re 'Your action is needed'
All Members please log into your new West Indies Philatelic Study Group account to check it.
To log in go to https://wipsg.org
Click on ‘Log In’ (top right of screen)
Enter your email address in the ‘Username/Email’ Box
Then enter your password and ‘Log In’ …if this fails to get you in email Susan (as above) and she will be able to assist.
Click on the ‘View/Amend your details’ box (top right of screen)
Check all of your details, but in particular the GDPR permission box and the GDPR date box (put in the date on which you agree to the society holding your data)
Tick the box if you wish to receive email updates from the society (which are usually a maximum six times a year)
Check your address and all other personal details, adding or amending as you wish
The click on the ‘Update’ at the end of the form
Please pay your membership fees if you have not already done so
We have been updating and merging our records and at this time, when many of you are about to renew your membership, wanted to ask whether any of you who currently order a paper copy of the Journal might prefer to go 'paperless’? This has the advantage for you that it is cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. It also helps the society since it saves some now hefty postal charges. If, like me, you are attached to the experience of reading your paper version by the fireside, in bed, or even in the bath...then that's fine. We'll keep posting you them...but you could print a copy out at home? Please think about it. There is a link on the WIPSG site that makes it easy for you to pay your fees. Those of you who are sharp eyed may notice that the ROW fee, listed as $35 on the last communication has been corrected to $30