In the last issue of this journal, due to timing constraints, we inserted only a brief mention on the passing of our executive secretary, Irene Bromberg. There wasn’t much time to think and ponder. Now it is different. It is so hard to write about this, about our loss and the emptiness we feel without descending into cliches and pre-packaged sentiments. The usual cliches don’t do Irene proper justice.

Irene served this Club for 20 years. She was a right arm to the last two decades of my predecessors and we are all diminished by her loss. I go into the Club now and I think I can see her out of the corner of my eye, or I think I can hear her laugh, but I am mistaken. The Clubhouse feels empty and is very quiet. It does serve to bring home the tragedy of this horrible pandemic. None of us can now say we were not touched. One of ours was taken from us. Too early and all too cruelly.

Let us now take a short pause before moving on to some business.

Real estate matters are proceeding. We signed a contract to sell the 22 East 35th Street Clubhouse. We are exchanging contracts on the sale of the air rights associated with the building. We have toured two possible new locations with our architects and they are working on conceptual drawings of floor plans.

But there is more than real estate that is on this issue’s agenda for my update. The topic now turns to this journal, the Collectors Club Philatelist. This journal is so important to us and to the hobby. In an effort to make the journal more reflective of this Club, we are introducing some structural changes that you may notice as the months pass.

To better assist our editor in obtaining quality articles, we have appointed a publication committee comprised of James Grimwood-Taylor, RDP, John Barwis, RDP, Daniel Knowles, MD, Robert Cray, Matthew Healey. Their role is to serve as a resource for the editor and potential writers. You may have noticed their appearance in the masthead of the last issue of this journal.

When I encounter potential authors for this journal, I am occasionally asked what type of article we look to publish. Frequently, the question is a variation on “why should I publish this in the CCP when it might better go to the XYZ Specialist Society Journal?” Briefly summarized: articles appearing here need not be tightly focused on “pure” postal history or the technical aspects of stamps but may be broadly based by injecting social, historical, or environmental material that would make a philatelic article more interesting. We are a generalist society and our membership spans the complete range of philatelic interests. You may wish to reach a broader audience, especially philatelic judges, if you exhibit. It is important that our articles engage more than just specialists.

We have also selected some section heads who will focus on sourcing articles that address specific areas of interest. These include Dan Knowles for Exhibiting. We would be seeking articles by exhibitors on the story behind their exhibit, such as how it emerged, how it subsequently evolved, and the challenges faced during its creation. We hope to include on a regular basis, articles by exhibitors on their personal stories and the issues they grappled with in mounting their material in the frames.

Matthew Healey will be providing insights on the auction scene and hopefully providing us all with a perspective that will not only be new but may improve of understanding of what is going on. And, Bob Gray will be heading a reinvigorated book review section. This only makes sense since he is the head of our library committee. There are additional section heads, and these will be shared with you as they step forward.

By the time you read this, our first program from the Clubhouse will be behind us and our Lichtenstein Awards Celebration would have taken place. We can now look forward to a dinner at the Great American Stamp Show, in Sacramento. It will be held on Wednesday, August 24th at 7pm immediately following the Tiffany reception. We are especially delighted to be holding this dinner in coordination with Boston 2026 and the Royal. You will doubtless be seeing publicity of this event and we urge you to attend. It will be a superlative event, and a perfect place and time to catch up with old and and new friends. Many people still remark about the dinner we held in Rosement, in August 2021, as part of GASS 2022. The gathering in Sacramento is certain to be a very special evening.

We hope to see you there.

 

–Lawrence Haber