P.C.A. News

Presidential Pointers from Rick Propas

(Re-published from PCAccent)

This Summer has been a busy one for the PCA Board. First we would like to welcome onboard a new treasurer. Last year, when we needed a new treasurer, Russ Ewert, who had helped rescue the organization in 2004, was willing to step up. More recently he has asked to be relieved of those duties in order to attend to personal issues demanding his greater attention. The Board is pleased to both welcome John Jenkins as treasurer and to thank him for stepping forth. Welcome and thanks, John! Thanks to Ernesto Soler who led the search, supported by PCA Vice-President Carla Mortensen.

As exciting as it is to have a new treasurer, we are pleased to announce that we have entered phase two of the project to create a new website to more fully serve the needs of our members. We have before us several fine proposals and expect to award a contract this fall with an anticipated launch in early 2009.

Membership continues to grow and now exceeds one thousand. That figure, we believe, represents an all-time high for the organization. Our thanks to the team of Kim Sosin, membership chair; Terry Mawhorter, and Kim Svabik who help present the public face of PCA at pen shows.

Linda Bauer continues to lead the Pens for Kids program, ably supported by Bill Hong and a team of volunteers, and recently led a grant to get a data projector for the program. Thanks to the Sachs/Fultz Collection, especially Greg Sachs and Keith Zaransky, for supporting this critical aspect of PCA*s educational mission. Those of you who attend pen shows have seen the hordes of excited kids and their parents running the gauntlet looking for signatures on their passports.

As we enter Fall, we look forward to elections. You*ll be hearing more about these elections from VP Carla Mortensen. Due to her efforts for the first time you will be able to vote electronically.

Things have been exciting this year and will be more so in the fall.

Rick Propas, President

And if you have any questions or comments or suggestions please feel
free to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Summary of PCA Board Meeting in May - Bill Hong

The June meeting of the PCA Board of Directors was held by teleconference on 22 June. Among the items discussed were the evaluation process for the Request for Proposals (now closed) for revamping the PCA website.

Also discussed was the contribution by the Sachs-Fultz Collection of an LCD projector for future Pens for Kids workshops;  planning for the upcoming PfK workshop at the DC show; financial reporting matters and latest membership numbers (close to 1000); the ongoing library digitization activity and the adoption of a new pen show sponsorship and promotion policy.

A new policy for tracking membership years from the month of actual enrollment  (vs. the previous policy of accounting by calendar years only starting each January) was also adopted retroactively to March of this year. Finally, it was noted with some disappointment that no new prospective
candidates for the PCA Board had ultimately committed to standing for this year's elections, leaving those Board Directors whose terms are expiring no option but to stand for re-election unopposed.

Finance Committee - Ernesto Soler

The Board would like to thank Russ Ewert for all his time and effort that he dedicated to the PCA as Treasurer over the last year. Due to personal reasons, last month he tendered his resignation to the Board.

Immediately after his resignation, a search team was put together. After interviewing candidates, the job of Treasurer was offered to John Jenkins. John is a CPA, based in Dallas. He has extensive experience in non-profits and is very familiar with the accounting and legal requirements. His pen collecting affliction is relatively new, but he is pursuing it with high energy and fervor. He attends a few pen shows a year and is planning to be at Columbus again this year.

Over the next few weeks he will be transitioning into his new responsibilities. Please welcome him to our organization.

PENnant News - Richard Jarvis

The PCA booth display has proven to provide quite a presence at the larger pen shows. We have been easier to identify at the shows for attendees to find Pens for Kids seminars, scavenger hunts, and Pennant new subscriptions and renewals. We enjoy meeting our membership at the shows and answering any questions our subscribers may have. Membership is currently up to 1036 and we are working hard to keep our current membership satisfied while bringing on new people to strengthen the organization. We are seeking a volunteer or two to help out at the booth for some of the pen shows. If you would be willing to sit in the booth, talk about PCA and sign up new members, please email Kim at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text50006 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let her know which shows you will be attending. We hope to see current members and sign up some new at upcoming shows in Michigan (Sept 5-6), New York/New Jersey (Sept 19-21), Dallas (Oct. 3-4) and Columbus, OH (Nov 7-9).

Local Pen Clubs - Deb Kinney 

The KC Area Collectors meet the 4th Saturday of even numbered months except December in the common area outside The Pen Place, lower level
North end, Halls Crown Center, Kansas City, MO.

The Melbourne Pen Group consists of 20 or so people who meet on the second Monday evening of every second month in the Tower Hotel in East Hawthorn Melbourne Australia. They have guest speakers from within and outside our community and if not we have *display your interesting pens* evenings. For more information please contact Max Braudé, skybird at tbmcommercial.com.au.

Pens for Kids - Bill Hong

A Pens for Kids workshop was held at the Washington DC Pen Supershow on Sunday August 10. Bill Hong handled the workshop in place of Linda Bauer.