SOPEX 2016, the Southern Oregon Philatelic Society’s 54th annual show & bourse is over! The participation of our members again was great -at least thirty members plus four non-member wives helped set-up/tear down, exhibited, chaired a committee, provided security, worked with youth, made coffee, helped a dealer and/or was hospitable. That’s what makes a show – members cooperating and enjoying each other! We also signed up some new members.
There were Federation member exhibits from 5 clubs: Anchorage to Medford as well as several clubs from the Council. The Northwest Federation Thunderbird Medal was awarded to the gold ribbon exhibit of Nick Follansbee “India Refugee Relief, 1971-1973, the press overprinted stamps.” Nick also won the Carley Cup for best foreign exhibit by a club member.
Some highlights of SOPEX 2016 were: 52 frames of exhibits and Evelyn Bryan’s 52nd year preparing and selling our cachet covers; the kids from St. Mary’s High helping set tables and chairs and carrying dealer boxes then manning the Youth Table (and eating lots of donuts & pizza); the excitement of the Chamber of Commerce Pear Blossom Committee over Len Lukens’ Jackson county postal history entry; Rich Moyer, David Brumbach and Shane Loveland staying overnight to guard the show; judges Tim Bartshe and Tony Wawrukiewicz assessing exhibits way past their lunch time; the Memorial exhibit honoring Barbara Herbert; and the Popular Choice Pear Trophy won by Candace Weissinger’s “How did early Americans Spell Relief – the Outhouse!”
Disappointments: no youth exhibits and surprisingly no topical/thematic or display exhibits. [Reported by Nancy Swan]
