CONFEDERATE STAMP ALLIANCE

9 JUN 2012 -- The 2012 CONFEDERATE STAMP ALLIANCE Convention was held 1 - 3 JUN 2012 in Tysons Corner, Va in conjunction with NAPEX 2012 stamp show.   The 67th Southern Supper was held Friday 1 JUN 2012 with about 70 members and guests in attendance and with President Richard Murphy presiding. Thanks go to the convention host, Tom Lera, for planning and coordinating the convention. Various CSA dealers in attendance including Phil Warman, John Kimbrough, Schuyler Rumsey, Stanley Piller, Patricia A. Kaufmann, and Charles Hanselmann also helped sponsor the event. The following awards were presented:

• The CSA Trophy was presented to David Canestro for his exhibit "How the Southern States Continued Mail Service During the American Civil War."
• The Haydn-Meyer Award for Service was presented to Frank Crown.
• The CP Writer's Award and the August Dietz Award were presented to Bruce Roberts for his five part research article on CSA Arkansas Postal History.

CSA members exhibiting at the convention received the following awards:

• "How the Souther States Continued Mail Service During the Amwerican Civil War" -- David Canestro -- CSA Trophy, APS Vermeil Medal.
• "Building Confederate Unity: The Important Role of Flag Covers" (one frame) -- Randy Smith -- CSA President's Trophy, APS Vermeil Medal, AAPE Novice Exhibitor Award.
• "Confederate Postal History of the Virginia Peninsula" -- Rick Calhoun -- CSA Trustees' Research Trophy, APS Vermeil Medal, Virginia Postal History Society Award.
• "Confederate Postmaster Provisionals" -- Peter Powell -- CSA Generals Award, APS Silver Medal
• "Three Cent Star Die Envelope - Domestic Use" (one frame) -- David W. Snow -- CSA Robert A. Siegel Memorial Award, APS Silver Medal.
• "The Louisa and Virginia Central Railroads: The Mails - Inception through 1865" (one frame) -- Louis Hannon -- CSA Brian and Maria Green Award, APS Silver Medal.
• "The CSA Nitre and Mining Bureau" (one frame) -- Thomas Lera -- CSA Conrad L, Bush  Award, APS Non-Competitive.
• "West Virginia Postal History: The Civil War and Early Statehood" -- Wayne Farley -- CSA William G. Bogg Memorial Award, APS Vermeil Medal.

Many thanks go to the CSA judges for the event -- Randy Neil, Larry Baum, Deane Briggs MD.

Philatelic Literature Awards:

• Collector's Guide to Confederate Philately Second Edition -- John L. Kimbrough MD and Conrad L. Bush -- Gold Medal and NAPEX Literature Grand Award.
• Confederate Philatelist -- Randy L. Neil Editor-- Gold Medal and NAPEX Journal Reserve Grand Award.

Excellent presentations on Confederate related topics were give by the following members:

• James L. D. Monroe -- "The Confederate Navy."
• Kevin Andersen -- "Richmond to Columbia: The Trail of Frank Baptist."
• Harry Brittain -- "Forensic Analysis of CSA Stamps."
• James Milgram MD -- "Federal Civil War Postal History."

CSA Generals in Attendance -- Gen Frank Crown, Gen Jerry Palazolo, Gen Trish Kaufmann, Gen James Monroe,Gen John Kimbrough, Gen Dan Warren, Gen Peter Powell, Gen Rick Calhoun and two newly promoted generals -- Gen Van Koppersmith and Gen Rex Felton.

Long time member Col James W. Bowman was granted Honorary Life Membership.

The Annual General Membership Business Meeting was held Saturday 2 JUN 2012 with President Richard Murphy presiding. The Alliance is strong financially. The Diamond Anniversary Endowment Fund has exceeded all expectations and will be closed on 1 JUL 2012. Work on the new Confederate States Catalog is still progressing with a projected completion date still not firm but hopefully by the end of the year. Sites of future meetings and conventions were announced with details to follow as they become available. The full report of the General Membership Meeting will appear in the next issue of the Confederate Philatelist in accordance with the By-Laws.