FEPA Medal for Service to Philately 2020
Jonas Hällström RDP (Sweden)
Even though he is still relatively young Jonas Hällström has already given an exceptional amount of service to European philately. Highlights include Stockholmia 2019; Five international Philatelic Summits; More than 50 philatelic publications including several books; International large gold in thematic philately; and many other achievements. At the core of his achievements are his extraordinary ability to develop new original concepts, his capacity to bring outstanding organizational skills to bear in making these concepts reality, and his unselfish drive to help other philatelists get the most joy out of their hobby through education, networking, and social interactions.
Jonas Hällström started his mission as editor of the Swedish magazine for thematic philatelists for 12 years and as chairman of the Swedish judging committee for 9 years. The crown jewel in his educational efforts was the “Philatelic Summit” concept he developed and executed to facilitate international exchanges of ideas and best practices in judging and exhibiting. Philatelists from almost all FEPA member countries participated in the Summits, and they took all the educational tools, concepts, and ideas that Jonas and his selected speakers provided back home to their FEPA member federations so that countless additional European philatelists benefitted from the summits even if they were not present. The Stockholmia 2019 exhibition was a logical culmination of Jonas’ two decades of educational and social networking efforts. This perfectly executed exhibition gave exhibitors and judges the chance to show what they had learned and achieved. A firework of social events nourished the joy, international friendships and understanding that are so important for the future of philately.
