Future philatelic leaders program grows

By Michael Baadke

I've written in this space previously about the Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship program founded by Alex Haimann and supported by the American Philatelic Society, other groups and individuals. Linn's associate editor Jay Bigalke has filed this follow-up report about the program.

From left to right: members of the 2009-10 Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship program James Chenevert and Melissa Stanton (Jimmy Tian is not pictured); and from the 2010-11 class, Ryan T. Wellmaker, Andrew Shaw and John Phillips. Linn's photo by Jay Bigalke.

By Jay Bigalke

The American Philatelic Society has graduated its first class and introduced the second in its Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship program. The introductions took place at the recent APS Stampshow in Richmond, Va.

James Chenevert, Melissa Stanton and Jimmy Tian are the first three fellows in the program. Joining this year are John Phillips, Andrew Shaw and Ryan T. Wellmaker.

The purpose of the program is to seek out and engage the most enthusiastic youth stamp collectors. After meeting all the participants in the program, I believe they have found the right people.

Each fellow in the program chooses a particular track to follow: dealer, author or exhibitor. Throughout the year, the program brings each fellow to at least two APS stamp shows, the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum and the American Philatelic Center.

The fellows work with volunteer adult mentors to successfully finish projects within the different tracks.

Phillips, age 14, collects the topics of chess, American water routes and the Civil War. An active exhibitor for six years, he selected the exhibitor track.

Fifteen-year-old Shaw selected the dealer track for his fellowship. His collecting interests are United States plate blocks, baseball and other sports.

The two-year senior fellow, engaged in a longer commitment in the program, is 19-year-old Wellmaker. His interests include Victorian-era Great Britain, postal history and plating of the Penny Black.

Wellmaker chose the author track and looks to have his works appear in philatelic publications.

The three members of the inaugural class graduated at the show: Chenevert (exhibitor track), Stanton (author track) and Tian (dealer track).

"It's great to see one group of fellows pass the torch to another," observed fellowship founder Alex Haimann.

For more information about the Youth Philatelic Leaders Fellowship, or for details about how to donate time or otherwise support these very worthwhile efforts, visit online at www.stampfellowship.org.

To suggest an enthusiastic young collector for the program, contact APS coordinator Gretchen Moody through the web site.