HISTORY: The SFMS stamp program, founded in 1999, is a volunteer action of member clubs of the Southeast Federation of Gem & Mineral Societies.  The purpose of the program is to offer free scholarships to participating clubs. At present, approximately 50% of the clubs in the Federation participate in the stamp program.  The only requirement to participate is: The club must be a member in good standing in the SFMS and contribute stamps to the program on a regular bases.

The drawing is held at the annual meeting of the SFMS.  The number of scholarships awarded each year depends on the amount of money earned from the sale of the stamps. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the stamps goes toward scholarships to attend Federation Workshops at William Holland or Wildacres.  Winners of scholarships have a choice of which school or workshop they wish to attend at no cost, however student must pay their own travel expenses to and from the school.  The number of scholarships awarded have steadily grown since this program  began, if we continue to receive enough good quality stamps to sell.

Most used postage stamps have some resale value to collectors.  Commemorative stamps and foreign bring in the most money, however other good clean definitive stamps only have a marginal value if they are off paper.  One thing to consider when saving stamps is, are they desirable as a collectors item.

The stamp collector is looking for the cleanest well center stamp he can find for his collection.  Stamps that are torn, have heavy cancellations so as to make the stamp unsuitable, are discarded and no credit will be given to the club. (see program rules).

Each club should appoint one member to act as chairperson for the stamp program. This person will act as a liaison between their club and the SFMS program chairperson.  They should encourage all member to save their stamps from their home, office or any other source, strip the paper off to not less then ¼ inch nor more than ½ inch around the stamp, (care should be taken not to cut or damage the stamp) bring the stamps to each meeting.  The chair person should then go through the donated stamps and discard any soiled or damages stamps.  When ½ pound or more have been accumulated, forward them to the SFMS Stamp Chairman.

Each participating club shall appoint one club member to handle the stamp program.  The appointed person's name, address, e-mail address, and phone numbers will be forwarded to the SFMS Stamp committee Chairman. 

A)  Encourage the member to save all clean lightly canceled stamps, trim excess paper to not less ¼ inch nor more than ½ inch around the stamp.
B)  Go through the stamps collected and remove stamps that are torn, have scotch tape on them or are so heavily canceled as to make them undesirable as a collector's item.
C) Leave stamp on envelopes if it is over 50 years old.
D)  Process foreign stamps the same way as US, except letter size envelopes and postal cards should be saved.
E)  Forward the stamps to the SFMS Stamps Chairman in packages of ½ pound or more. Be sure the club's name is included.

      The SFMS stamp chairman shall:

1. When the stamps are received, weigh them and log in the date, amount  and sender.
2. Trim off any excess paper and discard any unusable stamps, weigh them again and change the recorded weight if necessary.
3. Annually after September 1st, total each club weight donated during the last 12 months and total donations. Obtain each clubs percentage of the total. Record the club with the highest percent and calculate the average percent.
4. On or about 30 days prior to the SFMS Annual Meeting each participating club will be notified of the number of times their club will be submitted into the drawing for a scholarship (the club with the highest percent, 4 times , the above average clubs, 3 times, the below average clubs, 2 times).

Under the guidelines adapted at the last annual meeting in Jacksonville Florida last October, only usable stamp donated to the stamp program will receive credit toward the drawings for scholarships (see page 37 SFMS constitution and by-laws).  There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about what areacceptable stamps.  I have prepared two pages of examples, one which show acceptable stamps and the other, stamps that will be discarded.  This is by no means the only stamps acceptable, it is only a guide to what are the most valuable and desirable stamps to save.

Many of the club are choosing to soak them off paper since they receive two time their weight in credit.  This will be especially helpful to them.  They can soak only the most desirable stamp and mail them at little cost,, bringing the remainder to the meetings.  Anyone desiring instructions in soaking the stamp off paper should contact Jim Robinson, the stamps chairman.  We are preparing a set of instructions at this time.

Jim Robinson

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ACCEPTABLE TYPES OF METERED STAMPS: (click here for close-up views)

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UNACCEPTABLE TYPES OF STAMPS: (click here for close-up views)