News & Press Releases
Frederick C. Skvara is Selected as ATA 2012 Distinguished Topical Philatelist
April 20, 2012 pdf version
Physician and philatelist Frederick C. Skvara of Bridgewater, New Jersey, has been selected as the American Topical Association's 2012
Distinguished Topical Philatelist, according to DTP committee chair Donald W. Smith. The award will be presented on
June 23, 2012, at the ATA annual banquet in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Skvara has been a member of the ATA Board of Directors since 2006 and ATA Director of Chapters including author of the Topical Time "Chapter Chatter" column from 2006-2011. He has served since 2004 as editor of Scalpel & Tongs, quarterly journal of the ATA Medical Subjects Unit, as well as editor since January 2010 of the Americana Philatelic News, quarterly journal of the ATA Americana Unit. During the past several years, he has also edited and published several programs for the National Topical Stamp Show.
In 2008 Dr. Skvara published an article in Topical Time based on his many years of experience in promoting ATA at the American Stamp Dealers Association Spring and Fall MEGA Shows in New York City. This 2008 article became the genesis of the ATA Ambassadors program. Dr. Skvara's other contributions as an author include writing a column since 1998 entitled "Philatelic Sketches in Medicine" for the newsletter of the Medical History Society of New Jersey, and as editor since 2008 of The Westfield Philatelist published by the Westfield, New Jersey, Stamp Club.
Dr. Skvara was born April 7, 1941, in Somerville, New Jersey; married Margie Kelemen in 1968; and received an M.D. degree in 1970 from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. After completing an internship, residency, and fellowship, he began to practice as an attending pathologist at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, and as associate professor of pathology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway. He retired from both positions in 2005, but continues to serve as the medical director of the Department of Medical Laboratory Technology at the Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey.
Fred Skvara has collected worldwide stamps since childhood. As he developed an interest in a wide variety of topics, he joined more than a dozen different ATA study units. His keen interest in the literature of philately led him to compile a fairly large personal library. He is an avid gardener and gives talks before garden clubs, some illustrated with stamp images. His interest in photography has evolved into a medical photomicrography business with his images used in books, magazines, and wall decor.
The ATA Distinguished Topical Philatelist Award was established in 1952 by ATA founder Jerome Husak to recognize notable service to topical philately. This award has been presented so far to 119 persons, including residents of Canada, Great Britain, and Italy. The current selection committee chaired by Donald W. Smith includes Jack Green, George Griffenhagen, Jerome Husak, Dorothy Smith, Dalene Thomas, and Mark Winnegrad.
ATA Unveils New Youth Area on Website
January 10, 2012 pdf version
The American Topical Association (ATA) has introduced a new area on its website especially for youth collectors and educators. It is found at
http://www.americantopicalassn.org/youth. The youth area of the ATA website will be expanded, with an additional topic
added every two months. Entitled "Topical Tidbits," it will feature a wide variety of interesting and educational material.
The initial "Topical Tidbits" consists of 14 color pages on the topic of Penguins on Stamps. Lavish in color, it uses dozens of stamps depicting penguins to illustrate a wide variety of areas: Penguin Identifier, Penguin Food Chain, Where do Penguins Live, Penguin Poems, Penguin Crossword Puzzle, Penguin Activities, an album page to mount penguin stamps, illustrations of penguin stamps for projects, Penguin Bookmarks, and even penguin party ideas to brighten weary winter days.
ATA's "Topical Tidbits" is spearheaded by its Director of Youth Activities, MaryAnn Bowman, of Waukesha, Wis. MaryAnn also serves on the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum Council of Philatelists and has long been active in Wisconsin and ATA philatelic activities. "Topical Tidbits" is produced by educator and ATA member Aimee Devine, of Janesville, Wis. Special assistance for the first issue of "Topical Tidbits" was provided by ATA's Penguin Study Unit and Jean Stout of Pearl, Miss.
The March-April issue of "Topical Tidbits" will feature Fun Foods on Stamps. Other issues will cover such topics as sports, fine arts, and other animals. A future issue will feature Soccer on Stamps with assistance provided by Prof. Agbenyega Adedze of Normal, Ill. Within each issue of "Topical Tidbits," activities are included that will reinforce major educational curriculum areas: math, science, social science, language arts, etc.
ATA's new website went live last summer; it was designed by Amanda Morgenstern, a graphics designer who divides her time between the UK and Pinckneyville, Ill. Sean Lamb of Madison, Wis., is the ATA Webmaster. He maintains an alphabetic index and also a Webmasters Corner/blog about the website. From the main web page, choose "about" and "ATA website" for particulars.
It is hoped that all philatelists will spread the word to educators and to youths about "Topical Tidbits." Ideas and material for future issues are earnestly sought. Please direct them to the ATA Office.
For additional information about "Topical Tidbits" or about ATA, call 618-985-5100, or email americantopical@msn.com, or write to ATA, PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008 USA.
Disney in the News at ATA
January 4, 2012
pdf version
The Disneyana on Stamps Society (DoSS) has just been certified as a Study Unit of the American Topical Association (ATA). Bruce L. Johnson,
Director of Study Units for ATA, made the announcement in early January. The Disneyana on Stamps Society is the 90th
study unit affiliated with the Association during its 62-year history. Currently there are 48 units actively
affiliated with the ATA.
The Disneyana on Stamps Society is an organization of topical philatelists collecting stamps, first day covers, meters, cancels, and other philatelic items relating to Walt Disney and his legacy. Membership is free! Members have access to the newsletter Disnemation, which will be published online six times a year. Members will be notified by email when each new newsletter is ready on the DoSS website. DoSS website access will be password controlled for members only, and a Disney checklist is included on the site. For more information and to join the Disneyana on Stamps Society, check out the website:
http://www.disnemation.8m.com/home.htmWilliam (Bill) Silvester organized the new ATA study unit, and is its president. Mr. Silvester has been active in the area of collecting related to Disney for many years.
William Silvester also compiled ATA's 162nd handbook, scheduled for publication by March 1. It is entitled Handbook of Disney on Stamps. The new handbook will be ~300 pages, 8½ x 11 inches, perfect bound. It will have a color illustration of each Disney stamp issued. The price per copy is $70 plus $5 for domestic shipping ($12 for shipping to Canada, $14 for shipping elsewhere). A prepublication price of $65 plus shipping is available if payment is received by February 15. Payment by check to ATA, PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008 preferred. Electronic payment may be made to americantopical@msn.com or by credit card (call 618-985-5100).
For additional information about the Disneyana on Stamps Society or the Handbook of Disney on Stamps, call 618-985-5100, or email americantopical@msn.com, or write to ATA, PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008 USA.