AAPA Member Services

The American Amateur Press Association provides a variety of services for its members.

On-Line Services

Members who have Internet and e-mail access can take advantage of the following AAPA services:
Project ALERT
AAPA's Project ALERT coordinator, Ivan Snyder, gathers AAPA news and announcements into e-mail messages sent to members who want to receive them. For further information, send a message to Ivan.

Online Membership Directory
If you need an AAPA member's e-mail address, visit the on-line directory. Members who want to access the list must first get the password from AAPA's Secretary-Treasurer. (Note: The file excludes addresses of members who have indicated they do not wish to participate in the list.)

Web Page Listings
Have a Web page you want listed on the AAPA site? If it includes a link into the AAPA Web site, your page can be included in the AAPA's ``Reciprocal Links'' page. If it describes a letterpress printshop, you can have it listed on the ``Hobby and Professional Letterpress Printing'' page. Just send the information to Dave Tribby dtribby@stanfordalumni.org

E-Journal Archive
Members who publish their journals electronically can send them to Dave Tribby for inclusion in the AAPA archive. Dave's e-mail address is dtribby@stanfordalumni.org

Other Services

Much of the text in this section was taken from the Handbook of the American Amateur Press Association, published in 2002 by Les Boyer.
The Bundle
The mortar that binds the Association together is the bundle! Every month members receive from the Mailer a packet containing a copy of every paper published that month. Occasionally a publisher mails his journals directly to members, but almost always the needed number of copies are sent to the Mailer who then handles the mailing chore. The Mailer perodically announces how many copies are required to cover the current membership, plus possibly a few extra for sample bundles to be sent to prospective recruits. In recent years, approximately 250 copies have been needed, but when it comes time to publish your journal you should check with the Mailer for the latest requirements.

Official Organ (American Amateur Journalist)
Published by the elected Official Editor every other month and distributed in the bundle, the AAJ contains official reports and articles of interest. Back copies are available for purchase from the Official Organ Exchange. Recent issues are available on-line in PDF format.

Manuscript Bureau
The elected Manuscript Manager fills copy needs of publishers from a supply of manuscripts furnished by AAPA writers.

Laureate Awards
The Association annually awards laureate certificates to members producing the outstanding piece of work in each of the following categories:
  1. letterpress printed journal
  2. non-letterpress printed journal
  3. journal of overall excellence
  4. prose fiction
  5. prose non-fiction
  6. poetry
  7. original work of art.
One or more honorable mentions may also be awarded in each category.

The 12-month period covered by the awards commences on July 1 and ends the following June 30. Winners are selected by a three-member Laureate Board, and any work distributed to the membership is eligible.

The Convention
The annual AAPA convention is usually held over a weekend during the summer.

Shortly after taking office, the President determines a convention site, usually in a city where there are several active members. A Convention Chairman is appointed, who begins working with a volunteer commmittee many months in advance of the actual date.

The hotel or motel chosen usually provides a hospitality suite where the conventioneers can gather to socialize, snack, and hold informal forums on ajay subjects. No official business is conducted at the conventions, although there are usually discussions concerning Association affairs. Often there are ``how to'' sessions concerning printing and writing or related graphic arts activities. Side trips to local points of interest are sometimes arranged.

For many, attending the convention is the highlight of the ajay year. Personally meeting a member known previously through the bundle is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Many members attend conventions year after year, and look forward to renewing acquaintances with their long time friends in the hobby

Annual Cooperative Publication (Ink Cahoots)
Members who want to participate in the yearly edition of Ink Cahoots send the required number of 4-1/2 by 6 inch pages to the coordinator before the deadline of August 31. The coordinator collates the pages, binds them into the cover, and sends them on to the Mailer for inclusion in the bundle.

The only coordinator (so far) has been Dave Tribby. Write to him for publication details or a sample copy.

Constitution and By-Laws

For details on member services, duties of officers, and rules governing the operation of the organization, refer to the Constitution and By-Laws.

Go to the AAPA home page.

This page was last modified August 31, 2008

Dave Tribby / dtribby@stanfordalumni.org