The 2006 CSA Convention was held in conjunction with the American Stamp Dealers Association, Spring 2006 Postage Mega Event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, March 17-19. The CSA had a lounge right on the show floor for the duration of the show and we were happy to accept some new applicants and talk to them about our favorite subject - Confederates!

The traditional Southern Supper was held on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, at Keen's Steakhouse located only about four blocks from Madison Square Garden. It is a top quality restaurant located in the old theater district since 1885. The menu selections were a choice of filet mignon or pan-seared wild king salmon, both of which were superb and capped off with a nice wine selection or mixed drink, underwritten by Siegel Auction Galleries as the evening sponsor. We are grateful for the gracious hospitality is their exciting city.

Almost as big a draw as the great show, was the spectacular Confederate sale of over 550 lots on Thursday, the first day of the Mega Show which featured original offering by a large southern archives as well as part of the collections of our own Gen. Peter Powell. The Peter W. W. Powell collection almost doubled its pre-sale estimate, reflecting the keen interest in his carefully researched collection of Advertised, Forwarded and Missent mail. We also noted great strength in General Issue stamps and covers. You can read more about the sale results in detail in my "Eye on the Market" column in the April-June 2006 issue of "The Confederate Philatelist". One of the most important decisions by the trustees was the appointment of new CP editor, Col. Dick Sine, who brings a superb philatelic journalism resume with him. See details on Dick and this critical change elsewhere on the website.

The CSA Trophy was won by Tony L. Crumbley for his superb collection of North Carolina Postal History. The Haydn Myer Award for service went to Col. Rex Felton for his 10 years of diligent performance as CSA treasurer; the August Dietz Award for outstanding research and writing on Confederate Postal History once again was won by a very deserving Steven C. Walske for his excellent article in the November-December 2005 issue of the "Collectors Club Philatelist". Jerry Palazolo and Bill Parks won the CP Writers Award for their joint article in the July-September 2005 issue of The Confederate Philatelist entitled "After Secession and Confederate Mail Service in the Yazoo River Basin, Mississippi". Past President Ron Teffs and Col. John Kimbrough were both promoted to General.

Our mid-year meeting will be held in Jacksonville, FL, at the Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel on the South Bank of the St. Johns River. The dates are November 10-12 and rooms are available for a special rate of $80 per night. Our CSA host will be our Membership Chairman, Col. Ed Joyce. See more details on the conventions page. Our mid-year meetings are superb get-togethers where we show and buy material and swap stories in the setting of smaller southern cities. There are usually a variety of interesting speakers and the fellowship alone is worth the price of admission. Won't you join us?