UPDATE on the FIRST MEETING of the USSG.....

 

Sunday, September 4, 2011

 

The first meeting for the 2011-2012 season will take place at the regular OPS meeting on Thursday, September 15th, 2011. All are welcome.

 

This will be our planning meeting, to set out our agenda for the rest of the season. As we always start off with “Show & Tell”, interested participants are encouraged to bring something they have added to their United States collection, or found useful in their collecting pursuits. We will also have our “Questions & Answers” session before the planning session.

 

See you there!

 

David Giles

Chairman

 

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A MESSAGE from the CHAIRMAN.......

 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

 

United States Study Group of the Ottawa Philatelic Society is a small, but dedicated group that collect, study, and research the stamps of Canada’s next-door-neighbour. Some of the members specialise in a specific area of United States philately, and a few brave souls collect most, if not all of it! Between all members of the group, we effectively collect ALL of the United States! Our members range from the novice and the newcomer to the specialist and the exhibitor.

 

We welcome any member or guest of the OPS to sit with us and learn and/or contribute.

 

We meet monthly, during a regular OPS meeting. Our meeting format is simple:

 

1. Show and Tell;

2. Questions and Answers;

3. any business; and

3. our discussion topic of the evening.

 

Show and Tell starts each meeting off. At some point each of us has picked-up something interesting for their collection, be it a stamp, cover, book, catalogue, whatever. This is the opportunity to share it with the Study Group. We also share information on forthcoming shows, new issues, etc.

 

Questions and Answers is the opportunity to learn more about what we study. Members are encouraged to bring stamps, covers, articles, etc. and ask the question that has been bothering them. Are you not sure the difference between a rotary press and a flat plate press Fourth Bureau Issue coil? Unsure of the difference between dull gum and shiny gum? No sure what the term “marginal marking” means? Ask! Remember: The only dumb question is the question you do not ask! As our membership has different levels of experience, we aim to cater to all levels. Be not intimidated!

 

If we have any Business matters that have to be addressed, we cover that next. That happens usually one or twice a year, and we only take a few minutes.

 

Our discussion topic of the evening is usually the main event of the meeting. At the beginning of each season, each member picks one or more meetings to lead a discussion on a particular topic. The person who leads the discussion does not have to be an “expert” in the subject. In the past, we had a member discuss how to identify the various printings of the Washington-Franklin Heads (Third Bureau Issue). He is a specialist in this series, and shared his knowledge with the Study Group. Another meeting, a member lead a discussion about a topic he knew very little about... but wanted to learn more about it.

 

We encourage each member to bring an item relevant to the discussion topic, so that everyone can meaningfully contribute to the discussion and enhance our understanding. Of course, anyone at the OPS is welcome to sit with us, and contribute as they wish, when the United States Study Group is discussing a topic that is of interest to them.

 

Once per year, the United States Study Group hosts one month of meetings during United States month.

 

As we get closer to September, we will have a meeting to discuss our programme for 2011-2012.

 

We look forward to serving the members of the OPS.

 

See you in September!

 

 

David Giles

Chairman

 

 

 

Below is a lengthy (1hour +) video provided by the "Smithsonian Institute".  It is a presentation entitled the  "100 Greatest American Stamps" and is a recording of the slideshow presentation of Janet Klug and Donald Sundamn.

 

Click the Arrow button to view video.  It will not redirect you anywhere and is used here in accordance with Youtube Copyright.  Music does accompnay the vide and viewes can either control the volume by adjusting settings on their computer OR by ajusting the "speaker volume" button in the lower left corner of the video frame.  Occassionally, paid advertisements may preeced the video or appear at the bottom, which can be removed by clicking the small "x" in the upper right corner of the ddvertisment box.

 

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