The History of
The Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs
and
The Southeastern Stamp Expo
The Beginning
The Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs, began as the Georgia Federation of Stamp Clubs. The GFSC was created in 1991, comprised of six stamp clubs, including the Button Gwinnett Stamp Club, the Atlanta Stamp Collectors Club, the Cobb County Stamp Club, the DeKalb Stamp Club, the Athens Stamp Club, and the Greater Augusta Stamp Club.
These clubs, through their member representatives, formed a slate of officers and shared a vision to bring a national stamp show to Georgia. The Peach State Stamp Show was born, and began its accreditation process of four annual shows meeting APS World Series of Philately Requirements. With Olymphilex in 1996, accreditation was completed, and the PSSS was an official part of the APS circuit.
In the early years, the show was held in Gwinnett County. But with the impending Olympics of 1996, hotels were required to adjust their room prices a year in advance of the Games to avoid gouging. Holding the show in Greater Atlanta proved too costly, so the show was moved to Athens, where it was held annually, the last weekend of September, through 2000.
These clubs, through their member representatives, formed a slate of officers and shared a vision to bring a national stamp show to Georgia. The Peach State Stamp Show was born, and began its accreditation process of four annual shows meeting APS World Series of Philately Requirements. With Olymphilex in 1996, accreditation was completed, and the PSSS was an official part of the APS circuit.
In the early years, the show was held in Gwinnett County. But with the impending Olympics of 1996, hotels were required to adjust their room prices a year in advance of the Games to avoid gouging. Holding the show in Greater Atlanta proved too costly, so the show was moved to Athens, where it was held annually, the last weekend of September, through 2000.
Back to Atlanta
Driving adequate attendance in Athens proved challenging, and in 2000, a decision was made to move the show back to Greater Atlanta for 2001. The Cobb County Civic Center became its home for the next ten years. The show proved a hit for attendees, dealers and exhibitors. The prestige of our annual competitive exhibition grew each year, culminating in 2007 when our Grand Award winner, Dr. Irv Heimberger, won the Champion of Champions at StampShow 2008 with his 1869 US Pictorial exhibit.
The Federation grew too. The Chattanooga Stamp Club became the first member club from outside the state of Georgia. Soon after, other clubs from surrounding states joined, and the names of both the federation and the show became obsolete. The federation was renamed the Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs, and the stamp show was renamed the Southeastern Stamp Show.
The Federation grew too. The Chattanooga Stamp Club became the first member club from outside the state of Georgia. Soon after, other clubs from surrounding states joined, and the names of both the federation and the show became obsolete. The federation was renamed the Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs, and the stamp show was renamed the Southeastern Stamp Show.
New Name, New Date, New Venue
As we approached the end of the first decade of the new century, show organizers started to become concerned about some structural issues with the show, both due to its timing at the end of September, and its venue and associated location.
A committee was formed to look into the notion of moving the show to the winter months, and to relocate the show to a hotel. Two prominent hobby leaders in the area, Don LaBerteaux, past-president of the federation, and Roger Quinby, accredited philatelic judge, wrote a report recommending the show be moved to January and relocated to a north Atlanta hotel.
The show's dates at the end of September were proving cumbersome. College Football was a huge distraction that was affecting attendance. Furthermore, the recurring Jewish High Holy Days were affecting a large constituency of our attendees, volunteers and dealers.
The Cobb County Civic Center was a great venue at a great price, but it was difficult to attract society visits without a suitable hotel within walking distance.
Charles O'Brien III was elected federation president in 2010, and was charged with transitioning the show to new dates and a new venue. The show joined forces with the APS to execute the joint AmeriStamp/Southeastern Stamp Show in February 2012 at the Galleria in Cobb County. This gave the transition team another year to plan the next show.
The show was moved to the last weekend in January, and the Hilton Atlanta Northeast at the corner of Peachtree Industrial Blvd and Holcomb Bridge Rd in Norcross was chosen at the venue. The name of the show was even revised to the Southeastern Stamp Expo, in line with modern naming conventions.
The show was held for the first time in 2013, and returned in 2014 and 2015. Once again, we joined forces with the APS in 2016 to conduct the AmeriStamp/Southeastern Stamp Expo, but in early 2016,a three year contract was signed with the Hilton Atlanta Northeast to return the show to Norcross in 2017 and beyond.
A committee was formed to look into the notion of moving the show to the winter months, and to relocate the show to a hotel. Two prominent hobby leaders in the area, Don LaBerteaux, past-president of the federation, and Roger Quinby, accredited philatelic judge, wrote a report recommending the show be moved to January and relocated to a north Atlanta hotel.
The show's dates at the end of September were proving cumbersome. College Football was a huge distraction that was affecting attendance. Furthermore, the recurring Jewish High Holy Days were affecting a large constituency of our attendees, volunteers and dealers.
The Cobb County Civic Center was a great venue at a great price, but it was difficult to attract society visits without a suitable hotel within walking distance.
Charles O'Brien III was elected federation president in 2010, and was charged with transitioning the show to new dates and a new venue. The show joined forces with the APS to execute the joint AmeriStamp/Southeastern Stamp Show in February 2012 at the Galleria in Cobb County. This gave the transition team another year to plan the next show.
The show was moved to the last weekend in January, and the Hilton Atlanta Northeast at the corner of Peachtree Industrial Blvd and Holcomb Bridge Rd in Norcross was chosen at the venue. The name of the show was even revised to the Southeastern Stamp Expo, in line with modern naming conventions.
The show was held for the first time in 2013, and returned in 2014 and 2015. Once again, we joined forces with the APS in 2016 to conduct the AmeriStamp/Southeastern Stamp Expo, but in early 2016,a three year contract was signed with the Hilton Atlanta Northeast to return the show to Norcross in 2017 and beyond.