In June 2009, accompanied by my wife, Lynn, and Corgi, S'Carlos, I visited the American Philatelic Society's headquarters in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. For somebody who has collected stamps since the early '50's and been an APS member for seventeen years, this was a pilgrimage to the Mother Womb of Philately for me.

We were one week into a one-month road trip to the Finger Lakes region of New York, where I grew up, and my 50th high school reunion in Olean, New York. We checked into a campground north of town, parked our 1978 13' Scamp trailer and spent the night.

Rainy, misty weather covered the Bellefonte area the next morning as we headed for the "Match Factory" and APS. What a cool old building! What a fascinating location! What a pleasant town!

From our first step to the receptionist's desk to our exiting "good-byes", the whole APS staff made the gloomy day a sunny one. We were flattered by the time so willingly given to us by the whole APS gang. Our three hours flew by (I could have spent three weeks, locked up in the research library); my expectations were greatly exceeded...and I got the chance to ogle an "inverted Jenny" up close!

Philatelists, polish your loupes, hone your tongs and head for Bellefonte!

Rick Jenks

APS 167384