March Party set for April, but at least it's going forward

CLEVELAND — The 131st annual March Party of the Cleveland-based Garfield-Perry Stamp Club is going ahead as planned. Club members believe the coronavirus pandemic has eased enough to allow for the show to occur April 9-11 safely, albeit with changes in the usual activities and events. "We are taking precautions and following public health guidance to make sure people remain safe while enjoying some of the traditional activities of the March Party," show co-Chairman Rocco Caponi said. The show will take place at the Holiday Inn Strongsville, 15471 Royalton Road, Strongsville. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 9-10, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 11. Admission and parking are free. The show is the first in the immediate Cuyahoga County and Lorain County area since last year's March Party. Nationwide, numerous stamp shows have been canceled or postponed because of pandemic-induced shutdowns. The McKinley Stamp Club of Canton held the first stamp show in the region in nearly a year March 6-7. Club officers said everything went well and collectors were happy to attend a show for a change. The McKinley and March Party events are serving as a kind of test run for the Cuy-Lor Stamp Club's annual show Oct. 30-31 in Rocky River and the one-day Black River Stamp Club show Nov. 20 in Elyria. Caponi said 33 dealers will be on hand for the bourse-only March Party. Because social distancing will be the rule, no exhibits will be on display for showgoers to enjoy as is customary during a World Series of Philately event. The March Party is one of about 30 WSP shows nationwide where the grand award winner advances to compete at the annual Great American Stamp Show. However, the WSP is on hold until the pandemic subsides. In line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Ohio Department of Health guidance, all March Party attendees will be required to wear a mask. The number of visitors on the show floor will be limited. Each visitor also will be required to sign in so that if a case of COVID-19 is confirmed, contact tracing can be initiated. Other normal activities such as specialty society meetings, presentations and the beginner's area will not be offered this year. Despite the limits, the American Philatelic Society-affiliate club is looking to host dozens of stamp collectors from throughout Ohio and neighboring states who are seeking treasures for their collections and yearning to renew long-standing friendships. "We want to continue the tradition of the March Party," Caponi said. "That means we'll offer the opportunity to come together. We expect our guests will find the show enjoyable even with restrictions in place." The show annually is considered one of the best in the country for collectors of postal history. Caponi said indications in the stamp market point to pent-up demand among collectors that has developed during the pandemic. While online buying has seen a boost as people have entered or returned to the hobby, collectors know there's no better way to examine possible additions to their collection than by seeing items firsthand. Dealers from across the country and England will offer a wide variety of stamps, postal history, supplies and philatelic ephemera. They will be spaced more widely throughout the hotel's conference area. Chairs will be widely separated at each dealer's table to allow for adequate social distancing. More information about the 2021 March Party, including the names of all the dealers expecting to attend, and the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club is online at www.garfieldperry.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GarfieldPerryStampClub. Dennis Sadowski can be reached at sadowski.dennis@gmail.com.