12. The Circulation Packet

It was agreed at the inaugural meeting that a club packet should be made up by the secretary and circulated to all members – the time allotted for each member to hold the packet should not exceed 48 hours. A 10% commission charge to be made on all sales.

This was duly done and by the 16th March 1949 the first letter of complaint was received regarding the length of time people held the packet (Does nothing change?)

This type of complaint is regularly referred to throughout the AGM minutes and at one stage it was suggested that the packet cease circulation Mr S Mawer pointed out that if this was so there would be a large drop in membership, as many members joined the Society solely for the packet. However, it was agreed that the packet secretary should warn those members holding the packet that a continuance of the trouble would involve them being struck off the circulation lists.

At the AGM of 13th May 1972 it was agreed “that the York Exchange Packet should also circulate around the Malton and Norton Philatelic Society, and commissions from sales to their members should be credited to the Malton and Norton Society”. This arrangement remained operational for a number of years.

A heading of the committee meeting minutes of 22nd October 1970 reads “Lost packet” followed by “The Packet Secretary reported that a packet had been lost and was eventually found on the counter of York’s main Post Office. Enquiries were still continuing as to how this arose (as no further mention is made of this matter the enquiry must still be ongoing!)

The Packet Secretary was asked to write and thank the Postmaster for the safe return of the packet.

From the basic 1948 rule (first paragraph) the Exchange Packet Rules now (as at 2005) contain some 12 headings and cover 2.5 pages of A4 paper! And still the same problems arise, such is human nature.

It is fair to say that the commission from the exchange packet has over the years kept the Society solvent and the subscriptions low. This is all due in no small measure to the time and dedication of the Exchange Packet Secretaries. While it may be a little invidious to mention just one packet secretary, thanks must go the Wing Comd Ron Mason who held the office for some 23 years during which over 800 packets circulated. No overall total of packets have been kept but the number must run well into four figures.