Mark Banchik was elected president of the American Philatelic Society (APS). The APS has announced that all newly elected APS and APRL Board members will take the oath of office following the annual membership meeting on Saturday, 16 August, during the Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg, Illinois. Mark Banchik was elected president for his first term and will replace current president Cheryl Ganz RDP. Banchik currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Vice Presidents. He was most recently elected back to the APS Board in 2022.
In his address to APS members, the president elect wrote (American Philatelist, May 2025): “I look forward to working as APS President with a talented, dedicated elected leadership team which brings many strengths to the table. Though as previously noted, we are currently in a state of professional leadership transition. I have full confidence in our existing and incoming leadership that I can promise you, our members, that the APS will continue to supply services and evolve with expectations in a fiscally responsible manner.”
[image credit: The American Philatelist]
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https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mark-Banchik-800.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-06-19 13:34:442025-06-28 18:34:47New APS President: Mark Banchik
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has launched the new WNS app, making stamp identification easier, faster and more accessible than ever before. With a user-friendly interface and AI-supported image recognition, the application allows users to search and identify stamps registered in the WADP Numbering System (WNS) database.
The app, available for iOS and Android, grants access to nearly 120,000 officially issued stamps from nearly 200 UPU member countries and territories. As the only global stamp database based entirely on official data submitted by issuers themselves, the WNS plays a crucial role in protecting collectors and the global multi-billion-dollar philately market from counterfeiting.
The app’s development has led to broader enhancements of the WNS database. New metadata fields, including printing techniques, artists, engravers and issue quantities, are being added to enrich the collector’s experience. The UPU is also addressing historical gaps by allowing Posts to pre-register stamps issued between 1840 and 2001 via a dedicated platform.
The Boston 2026 World Expo Organizing Committee has chosen four prominent philatelists to form the exhibition’s Selection Advisory Committee. All are experienced gold medal exhibitors as well as APS national and FIP international jurors. They are:
· Darrell Ertzberger – Chairman of the American Philatelic Society (APS) Committee on Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges (CANEJ);
· Peter McCann – Past Board Member and President of the APS;
· James Mazepa – Past President of the Inter American Federation of Philately and Chair of the APS International Committee;
· Charles Verge – Past President of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
They will be joined by the exhibition management and FIP Consultant Reinaldo Macedo to select the philatelic and literature exhibits, as well as advise on jury composition.
Boston 2026 was recently elevated to a General World Philatelic Exhibition by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) under their Patronage. Exhibitors from around the world should be aware that applications from all FIP classes are now being accepted, including the Championship Class and the experimental First Day Cover class. The new IREX will be posted online shortly.
With a little under a year to go, the exhibition has already received hundreds of applications exclusively online through the Boston 2026 web site. The new committee will begin their work shortly after the deadline of September 30 for philatelic entries and January 30 for literature entries. Their sections should be finalized by 45 days afterwards.
Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.
New APS President: Mark Banchik
Mark Banchik was elected president of the American Philatelic Society (APS). The APS has announced that all newly elected APS and APRL Board members will take the oath of office following the annual membership meeting on Saturday, 16 August, during the Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg, Illinois. Mark Banchik was elected president for his first term and will replace current president Cheryl Ganz RDP. Banchik currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Vice Presidents. He was most recently elected back to the APS Board in 2022.
In his address to APS members, the president elect wrote (American Philatelist, May 2025): “I look forward to working as APS President with a talented, dedicated elected leadership team which brings many strengths to the table. Though as previously noted, we are currently in a state of professional leadership transition. I have full confidence in our existing and incoming leadership that I can promise you, our members, that the APS will continue to supply services and evolve with expectations in a fiscally responsible manner.”
[image credit: The American Philatelist]
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AI meets philately: UPU launches global stamp identification app
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has launched the new WNS app, making stamp identification easier, faster and more accessible than ever before. With a user-friendly interface and AI-supported image recognition, the application allows users to search and identify stamps registered in the WADP Numbering System (WNS) database.
The app, available for iOS and Android, grants access to nearly 120,000 officially issued stamps from nearly 200 UPU member countries and territories. As the only global stamp database based entirely on official data submitted by issuers themselves, the WNS plays a crucial role in protecting collectors and the global multi-billion-dollar philately market from counterfeiting.
The app’s development has led to broader enhancements of the WNS database. New metadata fields, including printing techniques, artists, engravers and issue quantities, are being added to enrich the collector’s experience. The UPU is also addressing historical gaps by allowing Posts to pre-register stamps issued between 1840 and 2001 via a dedicated platform.
Details: https://www.upu.int/en/press-release/2025/ai-meets-philately-upu-launches-global-stamp-identification-app
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BOSTON 2026 Exhibition Selection Appointees
The latest from BOSTON 2026:
The Boston 2026 World Expo Organizing Committee has chosen four prominent philatelists to form the exhibition’s Selection Advisory Committee. All are experienced gold medal exhibitors as well as APS national and FIP international jurors. They are:
· Darrell Ertzberger – Chairman of the American Philatelic Society (APS) Committee on Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges (CANEJ);
· Peter McCann – Past Board Member and President of the APS;
· James Mazepa – Past President of the Inter American Federation of Philately and Chair of the APS International Committee;
· Charles Verge – Past President of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
They will be joined by the exhibition management and FIP Consultant Reinaldo Macedo to select the philatelic and literature exhibits, as well as advise on jury composition.
Boston 2026 was recently elevated to a General World Philatelic Exhibition by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) under their Patronage. Exhibitors from around the world should be aware that applications from all FIP classes are now being accepted, including the Championship Class and the experimental First Day Cover class. The new IREX will be posted online shortly.
With a little under a year to go, the exhibition has already received hundreds of applications exclusively online through the Boston 2026 web site. The new committee will begin their work shortly after the deadline of September 30 for philatelic entries and January 30 for literature entries. Their sections should be finalized by 45 days afterwards.
Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.
Thomas M. Fortunato
Boston 2026 Public Relations Chair
Tom.Fortunato@Boston2026.org
Read the press release here:
https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PR-2025-06-13-Selection-Committee-Appointees.pdf
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