tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263 
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Aug 12, 2013 18:27:27 GMT
Yesterday scb asked what are the benefits of getting a forum as a chapter of APS or some other organization?
I had previously emailed APS, posing essentially the same question:
This morning I received the following response:
|
|
cjd
Member 
Posts: 1,107
|
Post by cjd on Aug 13, 2013 0:42:47 GMT
Thank you for checking. Considering that the question went unanswered on a few different occasions in the past, it is nice to have a definitive answer.
Jack, if you're looking for input, I don't know that a magic decoder ring and a certificate suitable for framing are really worth it right now (unless you are drowning in donation money). It might help the publicity effort a bit, but I bet that bump is fairly limited...?
Strictly my 2d.
|
|
scb
Member
Inactive
Now at 100,000+ worldwide stamps, and progressing one stamp at a time towards the 200K
Posts: 313
|
Post by scb on Aug 13, 2013 15:00:24 GMT
Excellent tomiseksj. Great to see a firm response on this topic....So basically the benefits to 'ordinary member' are next to nothing. Well, somehow I guessed that.
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Aug 13, 2013 15:37:48 GMT
Excellent tomiseksj. Great to see a firm response on this topic....So basically the benefits to 'ordinary member' are next to nothing. Well, somehow I guessed that. I wouldn't characterize these "ordinary" member benefits as such: |
|
|
|
Post by Perfs14 on Aug 13, 2013 17:37:25 GMT
All the benefits listed are for individual membership not for sites, the only benefits for the site are as detailed by Ms Johnson, or am I reading this wrong?
|
|
scb
Member
Inactive
Now at 100,000+ worldwide stamps, and progressing one stamp at a time towards the 200K
Posts: 313
|
Post by scb on Aug 13, 2013 18:21:40 GMT
I wouldn't characterize these "ordinary" member benefits as such: Actually I meant the benefits that 'ordinary members' of this forum (TSF) could receive if TSF became a chapter of APS. Based on Ms. Johnson's response there's not much in there IMHO. |
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Aug 13, 2013 18:53:29 GMT
All the benefits listed are for individual membership not for sites, the only benefits for the site are as detailed by Ms Johnson, or am I reading this wrong? Ms. Johnson's email provided some highlights and refered me to the website. Here is the complete list of Chapter benefits taken from thelink she provided: With regard to the list of individual member benefits, perfs14 you are correct -- I interpreted scb's "ordinary" to represent individual membership as opposed to "chapter" membership. For members of this forum who are not already APS members, online access to the monthly journal American Philatelist would probably be of greatest value (in my view, that alone would be worth the price of admission). I've included a sample page from the August edition for those who aren't familiar with the AP.  From an outreach perspective, I think the forum could also benefit. And if Jack continues as he has been, the forum's website would be a shoe-in for a web competition award. |
|
|
|
Post by Perfs14 on Aug 13, 2013 20:47:39 GMT
You make some very compelling arguments, tomiseksj. I guess it all comes down to how much it costs and how much we have in the kitty. I am sure jack will come to the right decision.  |
|
Philatarium
Member
Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,032
What I collect: Primarily focused on Japan, but lots of other material catches my eye as well ...
|
Post by Philatarium on Aug 13, 2013 21:24:22 GMT
My memory is vague about this, but I think there's also an APS-affiliate status, which might also be more suitable for an online venue. I know of at least 3 online stamp boards that have an APS number, and I think it might as an affiliate. I think the requirements are less, and I seem to have a fuzzy recollection that if a certain percentage (maybe 20-25%; or maybe it's just a certain threshold number of members) of the board members are already APS members, then it is either free or at a reduced rate.
We might well have enough APS members. (And I remember supplying my APS member info to at least 2 of those other boards as part of an annual certification of its status.)
-- Dave
|
|
Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,637
|
Post by Admin on Aug 14, 2013 13:39:24 GMT
I definitely think being a member would have more pro's then con's.
The cost is not very much and if it proves that being a member is not worth it after a year or two, it is a simple case of cancelling.
The only way we will find out is by getting our feet wet.
I ready to roll up my pants legs.
|
|
|
|
Post by jkjblue on Aug 14, 2013 16:58:01 GMT
Agree!  |
|
|
|
Post by Perfs14 on Aug 14, 2013 20:59:17 GMT
I definitely think being a member would have more pro's then con's. The cost is not very much and if it proves that being a member is not worth it after a year or two, it is a simple case of cancelling. The only way we will find out is by getting our feet wet. I ready to roll up my pants legs. See? I knew he would! |
|
I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
|
Post by I.L.S. on Aug 14, 2013 21:38:41 GMT
I live just outside Bellefonte Pa and pass "the match factory" at least once a month. If I have to I can right to the belly of the beast if need be. Plus they have a local stamp exposition there once a year known locally as COPEX. I might join but been thinking that it would just end up being another payment going out each month so now I'm still undecided.
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Dec 10, 2013 17:46:05 GMT
For those who may never get the chance to visit APS Headquarters at the Match Factory in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, northstamp.com has prepared a video tour.
|
|
|
|
Post by stampgeezer on Dec 10, 2013 20:14:08 GMT
I guess I am ok with this, as long as it does not cost too much, but Jack, please keep your pants on.  |
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Dec 10, 2013 21:04:12 GMT
I guess I am ok with this, as long as it does not cost too much, but Jack, please keep your pants on. At this point I don't think APS membership is something the forum should pursue. The membership base is too small and there doesn't appear to be much interest. Instead, we should focus limited resources on other priorities, most notably growing the membership and keeping those ads at bay. |
|
Admin
Administrator
Posts: 2,637
|
Post by Admin on Dec 13, 2013 20:49:40 GMT
It might be a good way to gain new members
What would the cost be?
It would be nice to win one of their website awards!
Steve is it possible to send In an inquiry about cost.
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Dec 14, 2013 0:07:05 GMT
It might be a good way to gain new members What would the cost be? It would be nice to win one of their website awards! Steve is it possible to send In an inquiry about cost. I'll send you a PM with the cost info. |
|
Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
|
Post by Jerry B on Oct 2, 2014 6:10:56 GMT
Hi Steve Since we are an APS chapter shouldn't Rodney have access to the APS archives? Does being an APS chapter mean that the chapter members are APS members? Just some thoughts. Jerry B {Moderator Note: This and the following 3 posts were originally located in the Fiume: Stamps thread.} |
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Oct 2, 2014 11:10:08 GMT
Jerry,
No to both questions. Rod has access via the chapter representative (me). If we had a physical meeting place, I could log in to the APS site and Rod could perform searches, etc.
For your awareness, the APS Board previously discussed changing the status of online groups from Chapters to Affiliates, which would further limit our benefits.
To date, I have seen no action taken in that regard but it may present at membership renewal time. We'll have to wait and see.
|
|
Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
|
Post by Jerry B on Oct 2, 2014 13:53:39 GMT
Hi Steve
I downloaded the PDF of the journal and sent to Rodney. I thought that there was a "chapter logon" but as I thought about it, it would not make sense.
Changing to Affiliates makes no sense. If they do they may lose a number of chapters.
Jerry
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Oct 2, 2014 14:19:50 GMT
I asked about a chapter log-on so our members could access the AP on their own and the Board's "status" discussion took place soon thereafter.
Their only concern seems to be with "online" chapters, of which there are few.
Affiliates don't pay dues but their only real membership benefit is access to the APRL library and periodic promotion by APS -- they do not have access to AP.
So as to not detract from the thread's original focus (Fiume), I'm going to move these posts into the APS Chapter Discussion board.
|
|
firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
|
Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 2, 2014 18:05:07 GMT
I tried again to read the magazine but after fighting over half hour waiting for pages to scroll the whole thing froze.I haven't tried for a while since last time it literally crashed my system.Needless to say I won't try again.To me the ads are interesting not much else of interest to myself.Just stating facts from this end call it rambling.
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Oct 2, 2014 19:04:18 GMT
I just checked the October issue (a .pdf) and didn't have a problem. Is anyone else having the same problem that firstfrog2013 has described? |
|
Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
|
Post by Jerry B on Oct 3, 2014 4:59:24 GMT
Hi Steve
For the first time I tried reading a journal on line. My machine did not "freeze" but it was slow. I decided to download the PDF and read it from that file. The feature is new and may take time to speed up. I remember when Linn's went on-line. At first is was a snail but now is adequate. Some slowness may be due to the browser being uses (I now use Chrome).
So firstfrog2013, if the on-line APS journal seems slow, be patient. Just so they get a response make the APS web team aware of your concerns so they can fix it.
Jerry B
|
|
rod222
Member
Posts: 9,871
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
|
Post by rod222 on Oct 3, 2014 12:59:15 GMT
It becomes slow because it is tryng to load 14 Mb in one hit.
Be patient, let it load whilst doing other work, or, download it and open then,
it works fine that way.
It is not the Magazines fault, rather the Computer or the Connection throughput.
|
|
|
|
Post by TinMan on Oct 4, 2014 0:32:32 GMT
My first thought is to take a vote before taking any action. This can be accomplished by a simple poll question. Yes or No
Now my 2cents worth. I don't think it is worth it no matter the cost. First. The letter from Ms. Johnson is directed at Local Stamp Clubs not online stamp clubs. Second I was a member of APS and dropped my membership two years ago because other than the Monthly magazine I got nothing out of being a member. The benefits to The Stamp Forum becoming a member will be nothing. Zero, Zilch.The APS will not advertise nor promote any clubs whether online or a Local club.
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Oct 4, 2014 1:44:47 GMT
@tinman,
We have been an APS Chapter since February of this year so the notion of a poll is moot.
Our Chapter (1591) is listed on the APS website and we have been "announced" to the AP readership.
We can't enjoy all of the benefits that clubs with physical meeting places do because of our virtual nature but we knew that going in.
However, we get the AP and have been recognized in the Annual Web Site competition, so I don't agree that we have nothing to gain from the relationship.
|
|
|
|
Post by TinMan on Oct 4, 2014 13:54:35 GMT
Yes Steve when I thought a little bit more about it. The cost to belong to the APS is so small that any advertising or promoting and the Monthly News bulletin is worth it for the Forum.
|
|
Ryan
Member
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,720
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
|
Post by Ryan on Oct 9, 2014 8:54:22 GMT
I enjoy access to American Philatelist, their monthly magazine, and I look forward to that every month. I find it fastest on my system (Windows, using Chrome as my browser) to download the .PDF and then read it using the standalone Adobe Reader - if I try to look at it with the reader that's in Google Chrome, it can be a bit slow to respond to Page Up / Page Down commands. It doesn't have that lag with the standalone reader. I don't have the slow download problems that Frog mentioned, I just checked and was able to download a complete issue in about 35 seconds.
Ryan
|
|
