postage stamp for CMT

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

You are just wonderful! I am always amazed at your insight and knowledge.

And now you are spearheading the stamp project! Fantastic! Is there any way we

can help you with this?

Elaina. ****Elaina, well, at the moment, let's all think very positive

thoughts directed to the Citizens Stamp Committee in hope that a CMT stamp

becomes a reality! I submitted all the information for it with my proposal -

let's hope the " lucky stars " shine on the CMT stamp idea when the committee gets

together! (They meet quarterly, the first meeting of 2005 is in March)

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Gretchen, can we write this committee to let them know we back you up? Thanks

~DEBI~ *** Well, Debbie, this is an interesting idea. But it is more the stamp

that needs backing up than me! I don't know if letters of support would be

beneficial or not at this point. Give me a day or two to go back in my files and

read up on the guidelines. Sometimes guidelines for grants and proposals are

specific as to 'no mass mail' bla bla bla. I really appreciate your idea on

this. ~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Thanks Debbie and Heidi and others who have supported my CMT stamp idea.

Thought you'd like to know a bit more about the Citizens Stamp Advisory

Committee. Right now, all has been done for our stamp that can be done at this

time. Will let you know if extra letters of support are needed. ~ Gretchen

On behalf of the Postmaster General, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee

(CSAC) is tasked with evaluating the merits of all stamp proposals. Established

in 1957, the Committee provides the Postal Service with a " breadth of judgment

and depth of experience in various areas that influence subject matter,

character and beauty of postage stamps. "

The Committee's primary goal is to select subjects for recommendation to the

Postmaster General that are both interesting and educational. In addition to

Postal Service's extensive line of regular stamps, approximately 25 new subjects

for commemorative stamps are recommended each year. Stamp selections are made

with all postal customers in mind, not just stamp collectors. A good mix of

subjects, both interesting and educational, is essential.

Committee members are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Postmaster

General. The Committee is composed of 15 members whose backgrounds reflect a

wide range of educational, artistic, historical and professional expertise. All

share an interest in philately and the needs of the mailing public.

The Committee itself employs no staff. The Postal Service's Stamp Development

group handles Committee administrative matters, maintains Committee records and

responds to as many as 50,000 inquiries received annually recommending stamp

subjects and designs.

The Committee meets four times yearly in Washington, D.C. At the meetings, the

members review all proposals that have been received since the previous meeting.

No in-person appeals by stamp proponents are permitted. The members also review

and provide guidance on artwork and designs for stamp subjects that are

scheduled to be issued. The criteria established by this independent group

ensure that stamp subjects have stood the test of time, are consistent with

public opinion and have broad national interest.

All proposals are reviewed by the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee regardless

of how they are submitted, i.e., stamped cards, letters or petitions.

After a proposal is determined not to violate the criteria set by CSAC, research

is done on the proposed stamp subject. Each new proposed subject is listed on

the CSAC's agenda for its next meeting. The CSAC considers all new proposals and

takes one of two actions: it may reject the new proposal or it may set it aside

for consideration for future issuance. If set aside for consideration, the

subject remains " under consideration " in a file maintained for the Committee.

Proponents are not advised if a subject has been approved for issuance until a

general announcement is made to the public. While the Postal Service relies

heavily upon the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, it has the exclusive and

final authority to determine both subject matter and designs for U.S. postal

stamps and postal stationery.

Members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee

13 Members (as of 01/05)

BRICK, CARY R.

Retired U.S. Congressional Staff. Adjunct

Professor of Government and History

BROCK, MICHAEL R., VICE CHAIRPERSON

Graphic Designer

Brock Design

EYNON, DAVID L.

Writer

FIRSTENBERG, JEAN PICKER

Director and Chief Executive Officer

American Film Institute

GATES, JR., DR. HENRY LOUIS

W.E.B. DuBois Professor of the Humanities

and Chair of Afro-American Studies

Harvard University

HARRIS, SYLVIA

Information Design Strategist

HEYMAN, I. MICHAEL

Chancellor Emeritus, University of California,

Berkeley; Secretary Emeritus, sonian Institution

HOTCHNER, JOHN M.

Office Director, Consular Affairs, US Department

of State; Philatelic Writer, Editor, Lecturer, and

Judge American Philatelic Society Board

LEWIS, DR. C. DOUGLAS, CHAIRPERSON

Emeritus Curator of Sculpture and Decorative

Arts, National Gallery of Art; Professor,

University Honors Program, University of

land

MALDEN, KARL

Actor

PHELPS, RICHARD F.

Television Sports Commentator

ROBINSON, RONALD A.

Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Cranford, , , Woods

SANTANA, MARIA E.

Division President/Executive Creative Director

Parham/Santana, Inc.

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