Mobile 2005 Photos

Mobile Mid-Year Gathering
11-13 NOV 2005

13 NOV 2005 -- During the weekend of 11-13 NOV 2005, the Confederate Stamp Alliance met in historic Mobile, Ala. Approximately fifty Confederate Stamp Alliance Members and Guests gathered together for the traditional annual Confederate Philatelic Weekend. Van Koppersmith, the host for the event, put together a great experience for the attendees even in the wake of Hurricane Katrina including the very active traditional CSA Hospitality Room.

Formal Presentations included --

  • "Reconstruction of the Sheet and Plating of the 5c Blue Mobile Provisional Adhesives - A Work in Progress" by Van Koppersmith.
  • "The Recovery of the CSS Alabama" by Guest Speaker Phillip Nasser, a local Mobile teacher and prominent historian who heads the American section of the CSS Alabama recovery efforts.

On Saturday evening, a Southern Supper style banquet was held for the members and guests which featured absolutely fabulous Gulf Coast Mobile Cuisine. The dinner speaker was Robert Eddington of Mobile, another prominent historian, who discussed the current progress with regard to the recovery and preservation of the CSS Hunley.

For the first time at the annual Gathering, formal one-frame exhibits were shown. Our thanks to the following members who showed their exhibits --

  • Deane Briggs MD -- Confederate Florida
  • Van Koppersmith -- Confederate Mobile
  • Jim Monroe -- Confederate States Navy
  • Conrad Bush -- Confederate Straight-Line Cancels on General Issue Stamps.
The Gathering One-Frame Exhibit Award was presented to Dr. Briggs for his Florida material.

CSA Generals in attendance were Gen Conrad L. Bush, Gen Jerry Palazolo, Gen Patricia Kaufmann, Gen Peter Powell, Gen Roger Oswald, Gen Ron Tate, Gen McCary Ballard, and Gen Rick Calhoun. McCary Ballard had the distinction of being the senior member present with the lowest member number (428). The member who traveled the furthest to attend was John Church and his wife Eileen from England.

Many thanks go to the following dealers and members in attendance who helped to underwrite the cost of the event -- John Kimbrough, Stanley Piller, James Taff, Newton Crouch, Roger Oswald, Hudson McDonald. And a special thanks to Stanley Piller and James Taff who also sponsored the Southern Supper Social Hour and table wine.

Incoming CSA President Jim Monroe (left) with CSA Treasurer Van Koppersmith (right) at the conclusion of Van's presentation on the 5c Mobile Provisional Adhesives.

Vam Koppersmith at the podium introducing Guest Speaker Phillip Nassar (left) -- The Recovery of the CSS Alabama

The group during the CSS Alabama presentation.

Hudson McDonald (left) from Spanish Fort, Alabama and Bobby Riggs (right) from Pensacola, Florida.

Peter Powell (left) from Richmond, Virginia and Ron Tate (right) from Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Roger Oswald (left) from Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Tom Royster (right) from Sante Fe, New Mexico examining Confederate material in the trading room.

John and Eileen Church from England traveled the furthest in order to attend the event.

Owen and Edith Merwin from Roswell, Georgia.

Trish Kaufmann from Lincoln, Delaware and Conrad "Connie" Bush from Fort Walton Beach, Florida both wearing their CSA General's Medal at the Saturday Banquet.

From Left -- Ron Tate (Manitowoc, Wisconsin), James Taff (Sacramento, California), Charles Hanselmann (Yorktown, Virginia), Stanley Piller (Oakland, California)

Deane and Joyne Briggs from Winter Haven, Florida

Outgoing CSA President Ron Teffs and fiance' Andrea Fletcher from Castro Valley, California.