As the photo shows, I indeed bought the T-shirt. What a privilege to be at such a remarkably well-run philatelic show. Our thanks to the volunteers at WESTPEX who made all this happen and to the WESTPEX chairman, Collectors Club Board member, Behruz Nassre.

The Collectors Club came to WESTPEX and entered 22 Exhibits with a total of 97 frames. We not only came in force but won as well. 13 of the 23 exhibits won Large Gold, which speaks very well to the quality of the Club’s exhibits. Collectors Club member, James Mazepa won WESTPEX Grand Award with Poland: Warsaw Postal Administration-First Issues of a New Country November 11, 1918, to June 1919.

Daniel Knowles, Collectors Club member, won WESTPEX Grand Award – Single Frame Exhibit for Mail Handling Across the Union and Confederate Lines Following Creation of the Confederate States of America: May 24, 1861, through August 26, 1861. In addition, two Club members’ exhibits were in the Court of Honor exhibits, Mark Horne with A Miscellany of Rarity and Gus Clark with Hawaii Provisional Govt Overprints, April 1893-February 1894.

The joint dinner with the Collectors Club of San Francisco was held at the Shalizaar Restaurant serving an amazing Persian dinner. Once dessert was served, Daniel Ryterband, Collectors Club Board member, gave a five-star presentation on the US Zeppelin issue.

The following day, club member Fredrick Lawrence presented at WESTPEX, showing Alice in Wonderland, California, focusing on new information about the now dead post office in the now ghost town, Wonderland, California.

Because the Club was a sponsoring society and brought more frames than the other sponsors, WESTPEX provided a hospitality room. There was not a lot of attendance but the members who did stop by had ample opportunity to talk philately and enjoy some social time. Others were perhaps at the exhibits, talking to dealers, or just relaxing elsewhere.

The Club’s table was staffed with a couple of volunteers, and we could have had a few more there. Having a table is important because it affords a focal point to attract potential new members and to inform and assist our visiting members. Mark Banchik dropped off several bags of candies and nuts, Steve Berlin stayed for hours as did I, along with my wife Ilona.

The next big show is BOSTON 2026. If you are attending, please stop by The Collectors Club table, if only to rest your feet or if you are inclined, perhaps to take a turn at the table. Membership growth is important both to the Club and to philately as a hobby. Whether you are working the table or talking informally, please encourage avid and active collectors to join.

See you at BOSTON 2026!

–Bob Gray