The International Society of
World Wide Stamp Collectors

Welcome to the ISWSC

The International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors serves the interests of all worldwide collectors. It strives to promote the fun and fascination of worldwide stamp collecting to young and old alike, and has an active outreach program serving youth, their leaders and stamp collectors of all ages and experience levels.

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Executive Director's Report

Happy Summer, Fellow Philatelists!

It is rare someone takes on a new venture in the middle of summer (at least here above the equator), but this is very exciting for me! I wanted to let you all know I am excited to serve you and the ISWSC. I am looking forward to our journey ahead.

First, I would like to thank Joanne Murphy-Berkowitz for her outstanding leadershipvand work for the past 17 years. I have had several Zoom meetings with her over the past several months, and I say she will be a tough act to follow. She has been incredibly gracious and thoughtful in her generosity to the club and its members, and I hope I can continue her outstanding service.

During my first year, I hope to meet regularly with our board to discuss options for expanding our online presence. I am also a member of the Stamporama online stamp club, and I really like their discussion board. I know we have options to communicate through our website and through Facebook, and I am hoping we can build upon that. I have also challenged my local clubs to join, giving us the opportunity to add new Associate Groups, where there is representation of our group at both the local and regional levels. We currently have two: The Rochester Philatelic Association (New York) and the Disabled Collector’s Correspondence Club.

We currently have over 320 members in 14 countries on five continents. We hope to add some members in South America, so we can expand our global coverage!

Finally, I wanted to let you know I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to Scott English, the current Executive Director of the American Philatelic Society (APS). He has been a great supporter and member of our group! He and the APS hosted an outstanding open house on June 21 at the APS Headquarters in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. It was definitely worth the trip. The staff is extremely hospitable, and there is plenty to see and to buy! The American Philatelic Research Library is great! I never thought I would see an entire collection of Scott Catalogues from every year to date in one place, as well as numerous reference books and a collection of stamp albums from so many publishers.

Have a great summer. I look forward to hearing from you at executivedirector@iswsc.org.

Thomas Almerini