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