Update on the Annual 2003 USSS Meeting - CHICAGOPEX  

Chicago, Illinois, will play host to the annual meeting of the United States Stamp Society this year.  The meeting will be held in conjunction with CHICAGOPEX, the annual stamp show sponsored by the Chicago Philatelic Society.

The USSS will hold two formal meetings and sponsor three other events during the weekend of November 21-23, 2003.

The annual USSS General Membership Meeting is scheduled from 1:00-2:00 PM on Saturday, the 22nd.  The venue for the show will be the Sheraton Chicago Northwest, 3400 West Euclid Avenue, in Arlington Heights, Illinois.  The General Membership Meeting has been scheduled for the Lake Huron Room.

Board Members, Officers, employees of the Society and Committee Chairmen will convene earlier Saturday in a two-hour Board of Governors meeting.  This meeting is scheduled for 8:00-10:00 AM in the Lake Erie Room at the hotel.

The Presidential Issue Committee will hold an open meeting immediately after the General Membership Meeting in the Lake Huron Room.

Jeffrey Shapiro, Chairman of the Presidential Issue Committee, will present a program on Friday afternoon between 4:00 and 5:00 PM. The talk will center around postal usages of the U.S. Clipper airmails, Scott #C20-22.  Mr. Shapiro's talk is scheduled for the Lake Huron Room.

The annual fellowship dinner will be held Friday evening.  It is a Dutch treat dinner.  We traditionally gather the troops as the show closes and head for an enjoyable dinner and evening of fellowship.  Details of the dinner location are not yet firmed up.

In addition to the USSS, the United Postal Stationery Society and the British Caribbean Philatelic Society will also convene their annual meetings at CHICAGOPEX.  The UPSS has scheduled their general membership meeting for Saturday at 11:00-1:00 in the Lake Huron Room.  They will also sponsor a program 1:00-2:00 PM on Friday.  The BCPS Membership meeting is also on Saturday 11:00-1:00 PM, in the Lake Erie Room.

Other gatherings will include meetings of the Illinois Postal History Society and the Space Topics Study Group.  The American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors will have a seminar at 3:00 PM on Saturday and the Judges Critique will follow at 4:00 PM.  Both are scheduled for the Lake Huron Room.

The USSS should have a strong presence in the exhibit frames. An exhibitor's prospectus (and application) may be obtained from Kevin Doyle, 5815 Lenox Rd., Lisle, IL 60532-3138.  Exhibitors may also use his e-mail address.   The entry fee is a flat $15 plus $10 per frame.  The frame fee for applicants under the age of 18 is $1 per frame.  The deadline for entering an exhibit is August 15th.

The show is on-site at the host hotel.  The Saturday night awards banquet will also be held at the hotel.  Parking is free.  For rate information, room availability and reservations, contact the hotel at (847) 394-2000, or through Sheraton reservations at (800) 325-3535.  Mention CHICAGOPEX to get the special show rate.  [Online reservations (without show discount) are also available.]

The show hosts a web site, www.chicagopex.com, where they carry information on show functions, banquet details, scheduled meetings and times, participating postal administrations, etc.  The show will host a 65 dealer Bourse.

USSS Recruiting Chairman Rod Juell has volunteered to coordinate our show table activities.  CHICAGOPEX will be providing us with an area for the purposes of selling our publications, promoting the Society, recruiting new members and socializing with fellow U.S. collectors.

Contact Rod at P.O. Box 3508, Joliet, IL 60434, (or by e-mail ) if you are willing to staff the table as a volunteer.  We will also staff the table with our officers, Board members, committee chairs and authors.  It should make for a great time.

Now is the time to make your plans for this late Fall event, so plan on joining us at CHICAGOPEX, November 21-23.