Fellows of The RPSC

July 18, 2003
NEW FELLOWS ADD COLLECTIVE VOICE TO THE ROYAL

At ROYAL*2003*ROYALE, the annual convention of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada held in Hanover, Ontario, in late May, the Society honoured five of its members by conferring on each the title: Fellow of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (FRPSC).

To qualify for Fellow status, candidates must meet at least one of the following criteria: they have actively worked for the betterment of The RPSC; they have promoted Canadian philately extensively through writing; and/or have, through a number of activities, made Canadian philately better at the international level.

The new Fellows have combined expertise in all three categories to which their outstanding support of stamp collecting pursuits in Canada attests. Elected for the FRPSC honour are Kasimir Bileski, George E. MacManus, J. Edward “Ted” Nixon, Anthony “Tony” Shaman, and Elizabeth Sodero. Mr. Nixon and Ms. Sodero are respectively 1st Vice-President and Director of The RPSC, while Tony Shaman edits the Society’s highly successful journal, The Canadian Philatelist.

Kasimir Bileski is among Canada’s most venerable philatelists. Having been a dealer for over 80 years, he has bought and sold, re-bought and re-sold many of the most desirable Canadian stamps. Born in 1908 on a Saskatchewan homestead, Bileski has made stamp collecting his life. He placed his first newspaper advertisement at the age of 13, and started what became a philatelic career in the early 1930s. He promoted his first philatelic love, Canadian stamps, by writing a number of booklets. Although he is in failing health, he continues to study and “talk” stamps.

George E. McManus grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick, and joined the RCAF where he served for 30 years. Now living in Ottawa, he is a member of several philatelic societies and stamp groups. As an executive member or director of stamp organizations, he assisted in many projects that enhanced the hobby. His Post Offices of New Brunswick 1783-1930 is an invaluable reference and remarkable contribution to philatelic literature.

Ted Nixon boasts a number of stamp interests, including the 1870 Small Queens and the World War II era. He is a member of several societies and clubs, a Director of the V.G. Greene Foundation, and Chairman of its Expertizing Committee. An actuary by profession, he has a broad range of interests in the hobby. He is now in his fourth term as 1st Vice-President of The RPSC. When he is not coordinating exhibits (CAPEX 1996 and STAMPEX), he regularly presents his material for the judges’ scrutiny.

Ontario native Tony Shaman has been involved with stamp collecting since his early childhood. He traces his first love for stamps to an aunt and later to Richard Lamb, FRPSC, a veteran Canadian stamp dealer. He has written over 500 philatelic articles that have been published in about a dozen stamp newspapers, magazines, and society journals around the world. As editor of The Canadian Philatelist, he has given the journal award-winning status and an exciting contemporary appearance.

Elizabeth Sodero was a childhood collector who says the CBC Stamp Club (Radio) was one of the early stimulants to her collecting. She now toils diligently on the East Coast (Halifax) to make the hobby better for all collectors. Her efforts have enabled The RPSC to add 20 new slide programs to the Society’s slide library, and she is constantly re-typing and updating the older programs. She belongs to several stamp groups, including the Nova Scotia Stamp Club where she was Newsletter Editor for 10 years. She now edits the Nova Scotia Postal Historian. She and Mr. Shaman also received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal at the Hanover convention.

The new Fellows have accented Canadian philately in their collecting, writing, promotion and advocacy, and their interest and support for The RPSC has been untiring. President Charles J. G. Verge, FRPSC, says “their collective experience will give added strength to an already strong Fellows group.”

Information on The RPSC can be had by e-mail at info@rpsc.org or by visiting the Society's website at www.rpsc.org, or by calling 416-979-8874, toll free 1-888-285-4143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael O. Nowlan 506-357-2698
Carol S. Law 416-979-8874