Orapex 2010 Show Report

ORAPEX 2010 was a grand success. We had over 50 young collectors come to the Youth Booth!

As I go through another learning curve on this new computer, I will post a few pictures. First off... here is Phil B. with one of my Youth Booth volunteers: Sgt. Larry Burden of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.





David

David, were any Picture Postage stamps made for ORAPEX? If so are they still available for sale?

That must be the best police uniform in the world.

There were no official picture postage stamps made for the show. (David and I are on the committee together...I handle the awards) However, a long-time tradition of preparing postal stationery continued this year. Many who collect those will use the show cancels to add that extra special something to them.

Yes, it was impressive seeing an RCMP officer in serge with his Sam Brown at the ready.

My 4.5yr-old daughter was very happy to help David out at the Youth Booth.

Peter spent most of Sunday pounding out the awards.... did you get to any of the dealers, Peter?

I still have my pass, shall I post it to you?

David

That is such a neat photo, fantastic.
that would have to go in an album sowewhere with the cachets.

Youth Booth report, part two...

ORAPEX 2010 was held 1-2 May 2010 and was a rousing success. Thanks to the support of members of the OPS, individuals and clubs like The Perth Stamp Club and BNAPS, the Ottawa Philatelic Society Youth Booth assisted over fifty children in their stamp collecting efforts.

Each child who came to the booth was given a bag with two recent stamp magazines, two Canada Post First Day Covers, and some literature on how to collect stamps. They were also given a 16-page stockbook, a pair of tongs, and a packet of 1000 hinges. There were quizzes and activities for the children, and prizes such as the Millennium Gift Boxes your club donated, were awarded.

Sgt. Burden of the R.C.M.P. had a presentation on the history of the R.C.M.P. as honoured on Canadian postage stamps. Those children that answered all the questions correctly, won a Canada Post Souvenir Collection from the R.C.M.P. He is posted to R.C.M.P. headquarters, here in Ottawa. He is a member of the Masonic Stamp Club of Ottawa and collects R.C.M.P. postal history, and Boy Scouts on stamps. His focus is Freemasonry on Stamps.

Here's me in the Youth Booth before the show started:





My two other volunteers, Jerry & Henri:




Jerry & Sgt. Burden helping some young collectors...





... and a few pictures of the children at the Youth Booth...

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Hope you enjoyed these...

David

Hey David, thanks for posting ! Yes jazzy uniform..except the boots are not made for walking !!

There were dealers at the show? And exhibits, too?

The funny thing about being a dedicated volunteer is that sometimes, one misses the event for which one is volunteering! I got to no dealers and saw only one exhibit, and that was because it was a one-frame and I happened to be standing beside it while waiting to speak with a show organizer who was talking to somoen else right there. I was lucky that the exhibit was exactly my collecting area (Canada Christmas) but other than being the awards guy, and therefore knowing the names and titles of each exhibit, and being the name tag guy, and having made all of the name tags for dealers, etc., I missed the show entirely.

I'll be seeking others to spread the work around in 2011.

Peter

Peter:

I got out of the booth to visit three favourite dealers, buy some stamps with Nani (my girlfriend) and I looked at the exhibits Sunday morning before the show opened... I still had fun!

David

David - I also had fun, but it was fun of the social/philatelic kind than the collecting-and-viewing-for-myself kind. What I missed most was attending the various study group sessions and the judges' critiquing session. I have not yet exhibited any material, but I've been going to those critique sessions for a few years at shows to get a better sense of what they are looking for, to see the enthusiasm with which they approach the exhibits and exhibitors AND to hear some of the ways that a Silver can become a Vermeil.

For me, the social side of philately has become a really important part of the hobby. The Virtual Stamp Club, the Frajola Board and this forum serve (different but) vital purposes in advancing the hobby.

Now if only I could find an appropriate avatar.

Peter

Hi David
Thank you for the report and photos.
That guy with the R.C.M.P. officer hid the Handcuffs well.
David

Hello David......

Great pictures......nice to see youngsters at a stamps show !


Petermac.....

Any chance you could post some of what you've learned about creating and setting up an exhibit ? I've considered it, but I have no idea how to even start.

The social aspect of going to a stamp show is really valid...i can buy stamps on the internet anytime..theres just something about mingling with fellow collectors and (well half alive dealers)

Hello no-notrare

As mentioned in my post, I have not yet exhibited. I go to the judges' ctiriques at show in order to head me in the right direction. I've got myself on a five-year plan to finally exhibit at a show. I'm well into year one and have been achieving some of my goals already, mostly picking up better material and reading philatelic literature voraciously, with an emphasis on finding and observing on line exhibits.

Peter

Peter:

You need a Canadian Christmas stamp, featuring Santa Clause, as you avatar!

David