14 AUG 2018 -- The 2018 CONFEDERATE STAMP ALLIANCE Convention was held 9-12 AUG 2018 in Columbus, Ohio in conjunction with the APS StampShow 2018. The 73rd Southern Supper was held Friday 10 AUG 2018 at the Black point Steakhouse with approximately 40+ members and guests in attendance and with President Deane R. Briggs MD presiding. Thanks goes to the convention host, Tom Richards, for planning and coordinating the convention.. 

The following awards were presented:

• The CSA Trophy was presented to Randy Smith. 
• The Haydn-Myer Award for Service was not presented.
• The August Dietz Award was presented to Steven M. Roth, Francis J. Crown, Jr. and Patricia A. Kaufmann for their book The Springfield Facsimiles of Confederate Postage Stamps.
• The CP Writers Award was presented to Francis J. Crown, Jr. for his article "Fake Columbia, South Carolina, 5-Cent Handstamped Provisionals" in the First Quarter 2017 issue of the CP.
• Larry Baum received a special presidential award for coordination of book publishing. 

CSA Members exhibiting at the convention received the following awards:

• "Rally Round the Flag" -- Randy Smith -- CSA Trophy, APS Large Gold Medal.
• "Confederate States of America (CSA) Postal Initiative" -- Daniel Knowles -- CSA William G. Bogg Memorial Award, APS Large Gold Medal and Reserve Grand Award, and Postal History Society Award.
• "The De La Rue Stamps for the Confederate States of America" -- Leonard H. Hartmann -- CSA Trustee's Research Trophy, APS Large Gold Medal, German Philatelic Society Special Prize, Philatelic Foundation Best Research Award, U.S. Philatelic Classics Society Award.
• "Federal Patriotic Stationery During the Civil War" -- James W. Milgram MD -- CSA General's Award, APS Large Gold Medal.
  
• "Confederate Patriotic Covers and Lettersheets Used During the Civil War (1861-1865)" -- John H. Walker -- John W. Kaufmann Memorial Award, APS Gold Medal.
• "CSA #1 from Embattled Confederate Capitals" (one frame) -- Kenneth Miller -- CSA President's Trophy, APS Vermeil Medal.
• "Confederate States of America: Dept of State Postal History" (one frame) -- Ravindra R. Vora -- CSA Conrad L. Bush Memorial Award, APS Court of Honor.

Our thanks to Tom Lera, Wayne Farley, and Tom Richards for judging the Confederate exhibits for the CSA awards.

At the APS Writers Unit Breakfast on 12 AUG 2018, the following CSA Members were inducted into the Writers Unit Hall of Fame: VanDyk MacBride (deceased), George Malpass (deceased), Leonard H. Hartmann, Francis J. Crown, Jr. 

Presentations given by CSA members --

• "North Carolina Postmasters' Provisionals 1861-1865" -- Tony Crumbley.
• "Confederate Use of Patriotic Covers during the Civil War 1861-1865" -- John H. Walker.

CSA Generals in Attendance  -- Gen Frank Crown, Gen Jerry Palazolo, Gen Trish Kaufmann, Gen John Kimbrough MD, Gen Tony Crumbley, Gen Rich Murphy, Gen Larry Baum, Gen Rex Felton.

The newly published Confederate Stamp Alliance book Florida Postal History During the Civil War by Deane R. Briggs MD made its debut at the convention and is now available for purchase.

The Annual General Membership Business Meeting was held Saturday 11 AUG 2018 with President Deane R. Briggs MD presiding. The Alliance is strong financially. Sites of future meetings and conventions were announced with details to follow as they become available. The full report of the General Membership Meeting will appear in the next issue of  The Confederate Philatelist in accordance with the By-Laws.