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THE GULF COAST STAMP CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY

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MEMBER RECOGNITION

The officers and directors of the Gulf Coast Stamp Club express their appreciation to member Felix Perez- Folch, Jr.  for his steadfast contributions to our club.  Felix's hard work on integrating the many rewards of club activity with the American Topical Associations programs have kept our club active within that organization.  He is notably a member that is "early to arrive and last to leave".  It is members like Felix that have literally kept our heads above water during this pandemic.

​Gulf Coast Stamp Club
GULFPEX 2022
​Stamp & Post Card Show

Friday, April 8th, 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday, April 9th, 10 am - 4 pm


Sponsor:  Gulf Coast Stamp Club
Location:  ​St. Martin Community Center
5008 LeMoyne Blvd.,
I-10 Exit 50

Open To The Public
Free Admission And Parking



 

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WHO IS SANTA CLAUS??

The story behind Santa goes back to the third century during the time of St. Nicholas, a monk, even though some sources state that he was a bishop. Nicholas was born around 280 A.D. in Patara, in modern-day Turkey. Legend states that Nicholas had a giving spirit and traveled the countryside helping those less fortunate and the sick. 

Nicholas's parents were wealthy and left the bulk of their estate to Nicholas when they died. Nicholas, who always had the spirit of giving, took his inheritance and gave to those less fortunate and lived a life of humility. December 6 marks the anniversary of Nicholas's death. By the time of the Renaissance, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. St. Nicholas was canonized by Pope Eugene IV on June 5, 1446 and became known as the patron saint for children and sailors. 

​

​Waves of European immigrants brought St. Nicholas's holiday tradition to America. By the end of the 18th century, St. Nicholas was recognized by American culture. In December of 1773 and December of 1774, it was reported that groups of Dutch families in New York gathered to honor the anniversary of Nicholas's death. The name, Santa Claus, was stated to evolve from Nick's Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas, which is translated as the Dutch name for St. Nicholas.

​Gift giving, a custom that was passed down from St. Nicholas's generosity in helping others has been a part of the Christmas tradition since the early 19th century. In the United States, stores advertised Christmas shopping in 1820, and by 1840, United States newspapers were carrying Christmas advertisements, featuring Santa Claus.

 In 1841, many children traveled to Philadelphia to see a life-size Santa model. The lure of Santa and Christmas giving were becoming popular in the United States. The Salvation Army in the early 1890's started sending unemployed men in Santa suits to solicit donations for needy families to provide them with Christmas meals. Salvation Army Santas have been ringing their bells on street corners and in front of stores to gather donations for the needy since the start of this tradition.
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A noteworthy Christmas poem, "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas", was written by Clement Clark Moore, an Episcopal minister for his three daughters. This poem later became known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Moore was hesitant to publish the poem due to the subject of the poem. Publication of the poem led to the popular version of Santa as a "jolly old soul" with a portly figure and the ability to climb down into chimneys to leave presents under the trees for good boys and girls. After leaving presents at one house, he would dash away to another house on his sleigh being drawn by eight flying reindeer.

Santa's images went through many transitions during the years. Santa wasn't always illustrated as a jolly soul with a red coat, rosy cheeks, big white beard, portly belly, and black boots. Prior to 1931, Santa was illustrated as a tall gaunt man or a spooky-looking elf. During one point in history, Santa's clothes varied from a bishop's robe to a Norse huntsman's animal skin clothes. During the Civil War, Thomas Nast, a cartoonist, drew Santa for the Harper's Weekly as a small elf-like figure who supported the Union. In later years, Nast transitioned Santa's coat from a tan coat to a red coat, a color that is currently used for Santa's clothing. 

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Current Stamp Price ---------->   58 cents

On October 3, 2021 the price of a stamp increased 3 cents from 55 cents to 58 cents.

Retail Prices effective January, 24 2021

Letters (Stamped)1,4
Weight Not Over
(ounces) ​
1              $0.58
2                0.78
3                0.98
3.5             1.18
​Letters (Metered)1,4
​ 1             $0.53
3              0.93
3.5           1.13
​Postcards3
$0.40
Large Envelopes (Flats)2
1              $1.16
2                1.36
3                1.56
4                1.76
5                1.96
6                2.16
----------------->

7                2.36
8                2.56
9                2.76
10              2.96
11              3.16
12              3.36
13              3.56
Letters that meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics in DMM 101.1.2 are subject to the $0.30 nonmachinable surcharge.
Large envelope-sized pieces that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick pay parcel prices.
The card price applies to each single or double postcard when originally mailed; reply half of double postcard must be designed for reply mail purposes only.
For weights over 3.5 ounces, see Large Envelopes pri
ces.

Source:  https://www.degraeve.com/current-stamp-price.php

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​On December 7, 1941, following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Three days later, after Germany and Italy declared war on it, the United States became fully engaged in the Second World War. U.S. involvement in the Second World War was quickly followed by a massive mobilization effort. With millions of men and women serving overseas in the nation's armed forces, most of those who remained at home dedicated themselves to supporting the war effort in whatever means was available to them. Women, who had worked as homemakers or had held jobs outside military-related industries, took jobs in aircraft manufacturing plants, munitions plants, military uniform production factories, and so on. As the need for steel and other resources increased, American citizens participated in rationing programs, as well as recycling and scrap metal drives. Americans also supported the war effort with their hard-earned dollars by purchasing Liberty bonds. Sold by the U.S. government, the bonds raised money for the war and helped the bond purchasers feel they were doing their part for the war effort. The U.S. entry into the war helped to get the nation's economy back on its feet following the depression. Although just ten years earlier, jobs were very difficult to come by, there were now jobs for nearly everyone who wanted one. With the creation of 17 million new jobs during the war, workers were afforded the opportunity to pay off old debts, as well as to begin saving some of their earnings. Not all Americans remaining at home gained favorably from the war. Fearing that Japan might invade the West Coast of the United States, the government rounded up thousands of Japanese Americans who lived on the West Coast, and confined them to internment camps. By 1948 when the internment program ended, tens of thousands of Japanese had suffered as internees. In addition, German Americans, Italian Americans, Hungarians, Romanians and Bulgarians were also interned. On May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered. After the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, and the Second World War came to an end. The war cost the lives of more than 330,000 American soldiers. Many more were permanently injured or maimed.
https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/great-depression-and-world-war-ii-1929-1945/world-war-ii/
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Upcoming Stamp Shows/Events

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Sarasota National Location: Municipal Auditorium
US Hwy. 41, Known locally as 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida
Sponsor: Sarasota Philatelic Club, Inc.
Next Show: January 21-23, 2022
Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Liz Hisey, Phone: (941) 444-0777 
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sarasotastampclub.com/show.html
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Southeastern Stamp Expo
 Location: The Hilton Atlanta Northeast
5993 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree, Georgia 30092
Sponsor: Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs
Next Show: January 28-30, 2022
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Scott Mark
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sefsc.org

CRESCENT CITY STAMP CLUB PRESENTS:
NEW ORLEANS STAMP SHOW 2022
Wyndham Garden Hotel, 6401 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Metairie, LA , 70003.
Open February 11th Friday 10 – 6 pm,  February 12th Saturday 10-4 pm.
Free and Open to the Public.

ARIPEX Location: Mesa Convention Center
201 N. Center St., Mesa, Arizona 85201
Sponsor: Arizona Federation of Stamp Clubs
Next Show: February 18 – 20, 2022
Future Dates: February 17 – 19, 2023
February 16 - 8, 2024
Contact Info. Kevin Lesk
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 480-240-0388
Website: www.aripex.org

Garfield-Perry March Party Location: Best Western Plus
15471 Royalton Road, Strongsville OH 44136
Sponsor: Garfield-Perry Stamp Club
Next Show: April 9-11, 2021
Future Dates: March 18-20, 2022 March 17-19, 2023
Contact Info. Rocco Caponi
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.garfieldperry.org

St. Louis Stamp Expo Location: St. Louis Renaissance Airport Hotel
9801 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Missouri
Sponsor: Area clubs
Next Show: March 19-21, 2021
Future Dates: March 25-27, 2022
March 24-26, 2023
Contact Info. Fred Boatwright, P.O. Box 247 , Hawk Point, MO 63349
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.stlstampexpo.com

​Gulf Coast Stamp Club -- GULFPEX 2022
​Stamp & Post Card Show

Friday, April 8th, 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday, April 9th, 10 am - 4 pm

Sponsor:  Gulf Coast Stamp Club
Location:  ​St. Martin Community Center
5008 LeMoyne Blvd.,  I-10 Exit 50

Open To The Public -- Free Admission And Parking


​Philatelic Show Location: Boxboro Regency 
Boxborough, Massachusetts
Sponsor: Northeastern Federation of Stamp Clubs
Next Show: April 29 - May 1, 2022
Future Dates: May 5-7, 2023 May 3-5. 2024 May 2-4, 2025
Contact Info. David Ball and Mark Butterline
Email: [email protected]  [email protected]
Website: www.PhilatelicShow.org

​WESTPEX Location: San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel
1800 Old Bayshore Highway
Burlingame, California
Sponsor: WESTPEX, Inc.
Next Show: April 22-24, 2022
Future Dates: April 28-30, 2023
Contact Info. Daryl Reiber
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.westpex.com

PIPEX Location: Holiday Inn Portland Airport
8439 NE Columbia Blvd.
Portland OR 97220
Sponsor: Northwest Federation of Stamp Clubs
Next Show: April 29-30, May 1, 2022
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Mark Loomis
Phone: 503-709-6591
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pipexstampshow.org

​ROPEX Location: The Greater Canandaigua Civic Center
250 North Bloomfield Rd.
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Sponsor: Rochester Philatelic Association Inc.
Next Show: May 21-22, 2021 - CANCELLED
Future Dates: May 20-21, 2022
Contact Info. Tom Fortunato
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rpastamps.org

COLOPEX Location: Doubletree Hilton Worthington
175 Hutchinson Ave, Columbus, OH 43235
Sponsor: Columbus Philatelic Club, Inc.
Next Show: June 10-11, 2022
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Van Siegling (614) 440-4173
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.colopex.com

StampShow (APS) Location: See Great American Stamp Show for current show details
Sponsor: American Philatelic Society
Next Show: August 12-15, 2021, Rosemont (Chicago), IL
Future Dates: August 25-28, 2022, Sacramento, CA August 10-13, 2023, Cleveland, OH
Contact Info. APS
100 Match Factory Place
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: 814-933-3803 ext. 209; Fax: 814-933-6128
Email: greatamerican[email protected]

​BALPEX Location: Baltimore Hunt Valley Inn
245 Shawan Rd., I-83 Exit 20 E 
Baltimore, Maryland
Sponsor: Baltimore Philatelic Society
Next Show: September 2-4, 2022
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Michael Carski  Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-465-5712
Website: www.balpex.org
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SEAPEX Location: Tukwila Community Center
12424 42nd Avenue South, Tukwila, WA
Sponsor: Seattle Philatelic Exhibitions, Inc.
Next Show: September 9-11, 2022
Future Dates: September 8-10, 2023
September 6-8, 2024
Contact Info. Carol J. Edholm, Show Chair
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.seapexshow.org


October 20 - Online
Collectors Club of New York program: “1917 Perkins Issue of Colombia.” Website: collectorsclub.org.

October 23 – West Palm Beach, FL
West Palm Beach Stamp & Postcard Show, Cresthaven Stamp Club, Barkley Activity Center, 2605 Barkley Drive West. Dealer bourse. Sat. 10-4. Free. Bob Burr, 561-267-1903.
West Palm Beach Stamp and Postcard Show October 23-24 – Rio Rancho, NM

AEROPHILATELY 2022 Location: American Philatelic Center
100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Sponsor: American Air Mail Society
American Philatelic Society
Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions
Next Show: October 21-23, 2022
Future Dates: One-time WSP show
Contact Info. Stephen Reinhard, Show Chairman
Email:  [email protected]
David Ball, American Air Mail Society President
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.americanairmailsociety.org

NewMexPex, Meadowlark Senior Center, 4330 Meadowlark Lane, SE. Dealers, displays, kid gifts, prizes, USPS w. cancel, What's in Your Attic. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4. Free. https://sites.google.com/view/newmexpex-annual-stamp-show/. October 23-24 – Walnut Creek, CA

East Bay Collectors’ Club 75th annual show. Civic Park Community Center, 1375 Civic Dr. Dealers, exhibits. Sat, 10-5; Sun, 10-4. Free. [email protected]. October 29-30 – Bellefonte, PA

CHICAGOPEX Location: Westin Chicago Northwest
400 Park Boulevard
Itasca, Illinois 60143 Includes a Literature Exhibition
Sponsor: Chicago Philatelic Society
Next Show: November 19-21, 2021
Future Dates: November 18-20, 2022
Contact Info. Charles Berg
Email: [email protected]. 
Phone: (773) 775-2100
Website: www.chicagopex.org


Minnesota Stamp Expo Location: Crystal Community Center
4800 Douglas Drive North Crystal, Minnesota
Sponsors: Twin City Philatelic Society, Lake Minnetonka Stamp Club
Maplewood Stamp Club, Minnesota Stamp Dealers Association
Next Show: July 15-17, 2022
Future Dates: July 21-23, 2023
July 19-21, 2024
July 18-20, 2025
Contact Info. Randy Smith
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.stampsminnesota.com

​Great American Stamp Show Location: SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
1400 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814
Sponsor: American Philatelic Society, American Topical Association, American First Day Cover Society
Next Show: August 25-28, 2022 Sacramento, CA
Future Dates: Aug 10-13, 2023 Cleveland, OH Aug 15-18, 2024 Hartford, CT
Contact Info.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.stamps.org/GreatAmericanStampShow

Omaha Stamp Show Location: Westside Community Conference Center
3534 S 108th St., Omaha, NE 68144
Sponsor: Omaha Philatelic Society
Next Show: September 10-11, 2022
Future Dates: September 9-10, 2023
September 7-8, 2024
Contact Info. Exhibit Information:  Mike Ley
Email: [email protected]
Show Information:  Herb Eveland
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.omahaphilatelicsociety.org

MILCOPEX Location: Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport
6401 South 13th Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sponsor: Milwaukee Philatelic Society, Inc.
Next Show: September 16-18, 2022
Future Dates: TBD
Contact Info. MaryAnn Bowman
Email: [email protected]
or Dona Fagan [email protected]
Website: www.milcopex.org
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National Topical Stamp Show Location: See Great American Stamp Show for current show details
Sponsor: American Topical Association
Next Show: TBA
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Jennifer Miller
American Topical Association 
P. O. Box 2143
Greer, SC 29652-2143
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.AmericanTopical.org

OKPEX Location: Reed Conference Center
5800 Will Rogers Road
Midwest City, Oklahoma 73110
Sponsor: Oklahoma City Stamp Club
Next Show: TBA
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Exhibit Information:
Email: [email protected] Show Information:
Joe Crosby  Email: [email protected]


​Rocky Mountain Stamp Show Location: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds
Exhibition Halls A & B
25690 E. Quincy Ave,
Aurora, CO 80016 OFFICIAL HOTEL
Doubletree Denver-Aurora
13696 E. Iliff Place
Aurora, CO 80016
Sponsor: Rocky Mountain Philatelic Exhibition, Inc.
Next Show: TBA
Future Dates: TBA
Contact Info. Steve McGill
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rockymountainstampshow.com

San Diego Stamp Show Location: La Jolla Marriott
4240 La Jolla Village Dr.
La Jolla, CA 92037
Sponsor: San Diego Stamp Show, Inc.
Next Show: October 8-10, 2021
Future Dates: February 24-26, 2023
Contact Info. San Diego Stamp Show, Inc.
P.O. Box 675125
Rancho Sante Fe, CA 92067
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.SanDiegoStampShow.org

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