Present: Cali, Hart, Lange, Nicholson, Parsons, Rowbottan, Tirums (a quorum)

1. President Parsons complimented Drew Nicholson, Editor of our journal Excelsior! for an excellent job. This is the first journal produced by Drew.

2. Color pages for Excelsior!: Drew Nicholson proposed, prior to the meeting, the inclusion of a limited amount of pages produced with a color ink cartridge. Some covers, particularly advertising covers, show their attributes best if shown in color. The pages would be printed by Nicholson using the 28 lb paper (also used in the black ink pages) to be provided by Lange. Nicholson estimated the printing cost at approximately 17¢ per single sided page. Lange presented a cost analysis which compared production costs of black ink printed pages vs. pages printed with color cartridges. Several options were listed. These were:

a. 2 color pages, one sheet $143.30;

b. 2 color pages, 2 sheets, $144.44,

c. 3 color pages on 2,sheets, $179.29

d. 3 color pages on 3 sheets, $180.49 These costs are for production of 205 sets and include mailing costs to/from Drew.

Corresponding total production costs for the entire Journal based on a Journal of 40 pages and 205 sets then are predicted at:

The use of a single sided page only is based on the assumption that the other side will be printed in black by BOCES. Costs also are based on mailing of the 205 sets of color pages Nicholson to Lange Using Media Mail rates.

On a trial basis for the next journal, the Board accepted the Nicholson/Lange proposal and authorized Nicholson to proceed with color pages if he deemed that appropriate, with any of options a, b, c, d listed above.

2. Card stock as cover/back for Excelsior!: Editor Nicholson proposed the use of covers sheets. "I think we have reached the time when EXCELSIOR! requires" a stiff cover front and back. Virtually every journal/bulletin I have viewed in the past two months has had a heavier weight cover." This proposal was approved by the Board and the $20.50 cost is included in the preceding options.

3. ESPHS Website: President Parsons stated that Glenn Estus, our Bulletin editor, had contacted him regarding the existing ESPHS website which can be derived from Glenn's personal space. Glenn is willing to continue with that approach but feels we need more visibility. Using Yahoo/Geocities pricing - "for $11.95 a month ($25.00 startup fee) we can get the following web address: "www.esphs .org" "www.empirestatepostalhistory.org" is also available but might be too long for an address." More info was in Glenn's letter which was also read. VP Rowbottom stated we should have a website that is easy to get to, particularly for young people. The Board authorized Estus to proceed with the creation of a website as he saw fit; the only restriction being that the total cost for the first year shall not exceed $200.

4. Multistate competition at ROPEX 04. Letters to other PH Societies were sent in August. A positive response has been received from Ohio; an indirect response from PA. The Board decided against offering a winning Society plaque.

5. Stamp Insider submissions: President Parsons reminded those scheduled for pages of the dates due. (The 'Stamp Insider" is a publication of the Federation of Central NY Philatelic Societies for which we receive free page inserts with a membership fee of $15.00/year.)

6. Future publications:

a. Maris Tirums - Doane Cancels. Working actively and continuing to get information; no publication date given.

b. Bill Hart - NYS RFD's - Bill Stated that this would be discussed in his talk at the membership meeting to follow.

John A. Lange, Jr.

Secretary/Treasurer, ESPHS

11/15/03