Profession: Broadcast Journalist
Married, two children (ages 11 and 13)
Residence: Paramus, NJ

As stamp collecting changes -- and it must change not just to survive but to flourish in the 21st Century -- the American Philatelic Society not only must change, it will change. The question is how shall it be guided, or will it stumble into the new century?

I believe the use of the Internet by philatelists will continue to grow, and the percentage of collectors specializing in topicals, first day covers, and other not-so-serious areas will grow, too. As a result, the percentage of APS members specializing in these areas will increase.

However, the APS should not abandon traditional collectors while welcoming "nouveau" collectors. The challenge for the Society leadership will be to make all feel wanted, and to try to accommodate as many types of members as possible.

Not everything the APS does will interest or even satisfy every member, nor, in my opinion, should it.

In the past two years, I have been available online to members and non-members almost daily, and have answered questions and expressed opinions as well as I have been able.

In the next two years, I would like to see the American Philatelic Society grow to include a greater percentage and variety of stamp collectors. I would like to see a greater emphasis on the young adult collector and more outreach to adults.

The APS should also be a greater resource for its affiliates, chapters and World Series of Philately shows (and even non-WSP shows).

I believe there should be a greater acceptance of first day covers by "mainstream philately," including the World Series of Philately and the International Federation of Philately. During my first term, I have worked to make the American First Day Cover Society's AMERICOVER show part of the WSP circuit, and begun to enter for judging an exhibit that is the antithesis of traditional exhibits.

I would like to see some official meetings of stamp organizations held on the Internet during the next two years.

My philatelic experience includes managing online and Internet stamp collecting forums since 1993; writing first day cover columns for the philatelic weeklies since 1986; Director of the American First Day Cover Society since 1987 (now in my fifth term); editing show programs and handbooks for the AFDCS, and handling publicity for its AMERICOVER shows; and speaking about FDCs and online philately at major stamp shows for more than a decade.

My professional experience includes producer/writer/editor at CBS News/Radio (network) since 1982, with previous stints at NBC, the NBC-owned station in Washington, and National Public Radio, and as a freelance news and sports reporter. Events covered included the 1992 Inauguration, 1979 American League Play-Offs and World Series, 1979 NBA Play-Offs, the Preakness (1979-81), and the State Department during the 1979 attempted hostage rescue. I presently write produce, and anchor a weekly radio feature on stamp collecting for CBS.

I am married with two sons, ages 13 and 11, and live in Paramus, NJ.

Philatelic Experience:

• Manager, the Stamp Collecting (formerly Stamps, Coins & Postal) Forum, 1995 to present.
• Manager, Stamp Professionals Forum on America Online, 1996-
• Former Manager and Founder, The Stamp Collecting RoundTable on Genie; Former Manager, the Collector's Direct Network Stamp Collecting Forum on the Microsoft Network, 1996-7

• First Day Cover columnist and contributor, Linn's Stamp News, 1997-
• Former First Day Cover columnist and contributor, Stamp Collector weekly newspaper, 1989-1997; Stamps weekly newspaper, 1986-1989
• Writer/producer/talent, The Stamp Collecting Report, on CBS Radio Network stations, 1997-
• Editor, convention programs for AMERICOVER '92, '93, '94 and '95. The '92 and '93 programs won Gold Medals in the national philatelic literature competition. (The '94 and '95 programs were not eligible.)
• Editor, Handcrafted Cachets: The Make-Your-Own Cachets and Envelopes Handbook, by Gene H. Russell, American First Day Cover Society (now in its fourth edition)
• Copy Editor, The Intermediate Handbook of First Day Cover Collecting, American First Day Cover Society
• Staff, First Days, the official journal of the American First Day Cover Society. Former Advertising Manager
• Articles published in Scott Stamp Monthly, Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, The Philatelic Communicator, and The Compulatelist.

• Director-at-Large, American Philatelic Society, August 1997- President, the Virtual Stamp Club on Genie/Delphi (American Philatelic Society chapter #1461), 1994-present
• Director, American First Day Cover Society. Also Show Recruitment Chairman
• Speaker, major stamps shows, on unusual first day covers, philately online, FDC resources online.

• Former part-time stamp dealer specializing in unusual U.S. first day covers and collectibles, mail and shows, 1984-1993.
• Cachetmaker, Dragon Cards for U.S. first day covers, 1983 to present.

• American Philatelic Society
• Virtual Stamp Club, APS Chapter #1461 (charter)
• American First Day Cover Society
• Graebner Chapter (Washington, DC), AFDCS
• Writers Unit, APS
• American Topical Association
• Philatelic Computing Study Group
• American Ceremony Program Society (charter)
• American Society for Page & Panel Philately
• Cachet Makers Association
• National Stamp Dealers Association