20  MAR 2013 -- The 2013 CONFEDERATE STAMP ALLIANCE Convention was held 15 - 17 MAR 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio in conjunction with Garfield Perry 2013 March Party stamp show. The 68th Southern Supper was held Friday 15 MAR 2013 with about 50 members and guests in attendance and with President Richard Murphy and Vice President Deane Briggs presiding. Thanks go to the convention hosts, Rex Felton and Bob Frailey, for planning and coordinating the convention. Various CSA dealers in attendance: Phil Warman, John Kimbrough, Schuyler Rumsey, Stanley Piller, Patricia A. Kaufmann, James Taff, Tony Crumbley,  Jerry Palazolo.

The following awards were presented:

• The CSA Trophy was presented to Wayne Farley for his exhibit "West Virginia Postal History: The Civil War and Early Statehood."
• The Haydn-Myer Award for Service was presented to Patricia A. Kaufmann.
• The August Dietz Award was presented to Patricia A. Kaufmann, Jerry Palazolo, and Frank Crown the general editors of the new Confederate States of America Catalog and Handbook of Stamps and Postal History.
• The CP Writer's Award was presented to Kevin Andersen for his article "From Richmond to Columbia: Frank Baptist and 1864 Transfer of the Confederate 10 Cents Stamo Steel Printing Plates."
• Special Trustee's Award for Sustained and Superior Service awarded to Conrad L. Bush.
  

CSA members exhibiting at the convention received the following awards:

• "West Virginia Postal History: The Civil War and Early Statehood" -- Wayne Farley -- CSA Trophy, USPCS Medal, APS Gold Medal.
• "Confederate States of America: the Lithographed General Isses" -- Leonard Hartmann -- CSA Trustee's Research Trophy, Garfield Perry Award for the best US Exhibit, APS Research Medal, APS Gold Medal and Grand Award.
  
• "Straightline, Fancy and Uncommon Cancels on Confederate General Issue Stamps" -- Conrad Bush -- CSA Robert A. Siegel Memorial Award, APS Gold Medal.
• "Independent State and Confederate Mail of North Carolina 1861-1865" -- Tony Crumbley -- CSA John H. Reagan Postmaster General Award, APS Medal of Excellence Pre-1900 Material, APS Gold Medal.
• "Southern Secession, the Confederacy and Uninterrupted Mail Service" -- David Canestro -- CSA Jack E. Moleswprth Award, APS Vermeil Medal.
• "The Confederate States Navy" -- James Monroe -- CSA Brian and Maria Green Award, APS Vermeil Medal.
• "Patriotic Covers Used Within the Confederate States of America During the Civil War 1861-1865" -- John Walker -- CSA President's Trophy, AAPE Novice Exhibitor Award, APS Vermeil Medal.
• "Texas - Confederate States of America (CAS)" - Thomas Richards -- CSA General's Award, APS Silver Medal.
• "Florida Confederate Provisional Usages" -- Deane Briggs -- CSA Gen Conrad L. Bush Award, APS Gold Medal (single frame).
  

Many thanks go to the CSA judges for the event -- Rex Felton, Bob Frailey, Jerry Palazolo, Peter Powell.

Thanks to Schuyler Rumsey for sponsoring the wine at the Southern Supper.

Thanks to convention host Rex Felton for organizing a tour of Johnson's Island for early arrivals.

Excellent presentations on Confederate related topics:

• Harry Brittain -- "Forensic Study of CSA Stamps."
• Curtis Early -- "Ohio Confederates."
• Dr. David Bush -- "History of Johnson's Island and the Dig."
• Curtis Early -- "Morgan's Great Raid."
• James Monroe -- "CSA Naval and Marine Covers."
  

CSA Generals in Attendance -- Gen Frank Crown, Gen Jerry Palazolo, Gen Trish Kaufmann, Gen James Monroe, Gen John Kimbrough, Gen Peter Powell, Gen Tony Crumbley, Gen Rex Felton.

The Annual General Membership Business Meeting was held Saturday 16 MAR 2013 with President Richard Murphy presiding. The Alliance is strong financially. The Diamond Anniversary Endowment Fund has exceeded all expectations and is now closed. 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.