Five clear reasons why the APS stragegic plan 2026 – 2030 is unlikely to be successful
Background In their newsletter, APS has shared strategic plan for years 2026 – 2030 ( link ). The challenges of APS are, in the big picture, the same as those of Finnish philatelic associations. The difference is that in Finland the decline is proceeding faster, because of order of magnitude lower number of stamp collectors & philatelic association members. And faster digitalization = giving up paper letter mail. I have written about it separately ( link ). But for the same reasons as in Finland, plans for philately in associations are unlikely to grow with any feasible measures – at most the rate of decline can be slowed down a little. 1. The plan depends on a shrinking and aging volunteer base Almost all meaningful APS activity—content, education, clubs, shows, mentoring—depends on volunteers. That volunteer pool is declining, aging, and already stretched . The plan assumes that: volunteer capacity will remain stable or grow, volunteers will take on ...