Theme for
2010 ATA Convention
Robert J.
Mather
Convention and Show Manager
The ATA 2010 Convention and
Exhibition will be held June 25-27 in Denver, Colorado,
at the Crowne Plaza
Denver International
Airport located at 15500
East 40th Avenue. From the window of this hotel
you will be able to look out on the runways of the Denver
International Airport.
Since the hotel and convention hall are located adjacent to Interstate 1-70,
access will be very easy no matter whether you arrive by air or by automobile. For the hotel website please click here.
Reservations for the Crowne Plaza
Hotel for NTSS 2010 in Denver can be made by calling 1-(303)-371-9494 (The Hotel
Direct) or 1-(800)-2CROWNE (The National Crowne Plaza number). Rooms are
blocked until June 8, when they will be released for sale
to the General
Public. Rooms are priced at $104.00 for
single or double occupancy and it would be very helpful to ATA if you would
mention that you are attending the ATA Stamp Show.
This will be the fifth time that
the ATA convention has been held in Colorado.
It was held in 1962 at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado
Springs; in 1973 at the Denver Hilton Hotel; in 1991
at the Radisson Hotel in Aurora;
and in 2003 at the Denver International Airport Holiday Inn. The 2010
convention will be held at the same location as 2003 however the hotel has
changed its name.
The 150th anniversary of the
Pony Express will be the theme of the 2010 ATA Convention. The Pony Express service
started on April 3, 1860 between
the cities of St. Joseph, Missouri
and Sacramento, California.
Covering 1,966 miles, it took from eight
to ten days. There were about 190 stations, 400 station keepers, more than 400
horses, and 800 riders. The mail was carried in leather, rain-proof pouches
strapped to the saddle. The postage- rate commenced at five dollars per half
ounce but was later reduced to one dollar. The Pony Express came to an end on October 24, 1861, because telegraph
connections had been completed from the east to the west coast. As the theme of
the 2010 convention and exhibition, plans are underway to re-enact a Pony
Express run during the ATA convention. Details will be published as they become
available.
The 2010 convention will include
the traditional President’s Reception on Friday evening, the Awards Banquet on
Saturday evening, and many meetings and seminars on all three days. The
highlight will be the all-thematic exhibition known as the National Topical
Stamp Show, and there will be stamp dealers from across the country to service
the philatelic needs of all attendees. There will also be special tours on
Thursday, June 24, and Monday, June 28.
