philatelia
Member 
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,408
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Nov 8, 2023 23:46:57 GMT
daveg28 your comments are invaluable insights that the American Philatelic Society probably knows and, hopefully, plans to address. Chances are there are thousands of collectors who share some or all of your views and the society cannot remain viable without members so this is an important issue. I mean for many people the dues are equal to a whole month’s stamp budget! If I were in that group, I’d skip the membership, too. What can they do to attract you? A few ideas that come to mind would be adding more articles in the AP that appeal to the average collector. Add services like ways to connect with others for trading. Use group buying power to offer supplies, publications and other items to members at a discount. If you pay your dues perhaps you are entered into a prize drawing. In other words, make that dues payment pay for itself.
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 693 
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Nov 9, 2023 2:23:22 GMT
If it helps, daveg28 (no reason why it should though - you be you! ✨), I'm not a member either. I used to be a member of the RPSC and Scandinavian Collectors Club though, but I let those lapse during one of my collecting ice ages. I've been an observer of the APS from afar for many years though, as my local club is an affiliate member. I really like where the APS is headed, in how they are trying new things to attract new members, the effort they put into their magazine, the way they are adopting new tech, and so on. It's a whole new world from when I first became aware of them in the '90s and the AP magazine seemed to be all about their internal politics. I'm a big fan of the AP magazine. I know I won't be enthralled by every issue but that's OK with me. The current one (stamp and coin crossover) isn't my bag but the recent one where they tried to focus on 'intermediate' collectors was right up my alley. I like how they are willing to try new things in the magazine. And with the extensive letters to the editor section, there is also tradition - the letters coming in haven't changed at all in 25 years. Only the author's names change!  It might be because I'm getting older, but I also appreciate how the APS has a headquarters. I used to think, wow, what a waste of money, but I can now see the appeal of having a permanent location for club meetings, seminars and the like. If and when I get back to a steady income, I could see myself getting a digital membership one day with my fourth $50. (My first $50 will go to my local club, my second $50 to TSF and my third to the RPSC.) Oh, make that the fifth $50. I should send Clive some $$ first for his awesome AlbumEasy program. I better get working again!  |
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Post by TSF Admin on Nov 18, 2023 23:15:53 GMT
I have 18 posts from self-identified members but 21 yes votes in the poll.
If you are one of the missing 3, please send me a PM so I can know that the count is accurate.
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Post by carabop on Nov 20, 2023 3:28:46 GMT
I am a new APS member. I would be one of the ones that voted but hadn’t identified myself in the thread.
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brookbam
Member
APS 236261
Posts: 226
What I collect: US...everything until I decide what I don't want to collect! And now thanks to a TSF give-away I'm adding Space topicals!
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Post by brookbam on Nov 20, 2023 4:58:26 GMT
Member since 2023
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Post by clivel on Nov 20, 2023 5:36:53 GMT
If and when I get back to a steady income, I could see myself getting a digital membership one day with my fourth $50. (My first $50 will go to my local club, my second $50 to TSF and my third to the RPSC.) Oh, make that the fifth $50. I should send Clive some $$ first for his awesome AlbumEasy program. I better get working again! I really appreciate the thought but I am sure that there are many far more worthy causes. Clive
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