WFSC Road Trip - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
June 19 - 22, 2008
The Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs is sponsoring a bus trip for collectors to the American Philatelic Center. A minimum of 30 people is needed to make the trip. The maximum allowed is 53 passengers. Tentative plans are listed below. Members of the Greater Toronto Area Philatelic Alliance just returned from a similar trip to the APC and had a wonderful time. You can read all about it in their posting on the Virtual Stamp Club's message board.
- Thursday, June 19
- Leave at 7:30 a.m. from Goerke's Corners, just off the I-94 freeway at the corner of Bluemound and Barker Road in Brookfield, near Waukesha, Wisconsin. Travel provided by Badger Bus. Possible pick-up in Illinois for Chicago-area people wishing to make the trip. Travel all day with stop for on-your-own lunch. Arrive at Elyria, Ohio, for evening dinner (included in trip price) followed by philatelic games with prizes from the estate of Mary Ann Owens. Overnight accommodations will be at the Country Inn and Suites.
- Friday, June 20
- Free continental breakfast. Travel to Bellefonte with arrival expected around noon. Pizza lunch at APS. Tour of APS, Sales Division and Library, presentations by APS staff and members. Dinner catered by Hoags in Sundman Hall at APS. Overnight stay at Best Western Nittany in Milroy, PA.
- Saturday, June 21
- Free continental breakfast. Arrival at American Philatelic Center to attend Scopex and participate in the dedication ceremonies of the Headsville Post Office and the Mary Ann Owens Thematic Reference Collection. Lunch on own. Depart APS at 4:00 with travel to Holiday Inn in Elyria, OH and dinner.
- Sunday, June 22
- Free continental breakfast. Return trip to Wisconsin. Lunch on own. Approximate arrival time in Milwaukee area is 5:30 p.m.
The cost of the trip is $400 per person double and $600 per person single. The costs include:
- Roundtrip motor transportation
- Overnight accommodations for three nights
- 7 meals (three breakfasts, one lunch, and three dinners)
- Tax and tips for meals and services rendered including driver's gratuities.
All times are estimated and are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. Likewise, Badger Bus has the right to substitute hotels and meals. A minimum of 30 people is required to operate the tour. If the group does not obtain the minimum of 30 passengers, the WFSC will either have to cancel the trip or impose an additional $75 fee per person in order to operate the tour.
Reservations are still being accepted pending hotel room availability. Checks should be made out to the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs. Cancellations before May 20, 2008 will result in a full refund. For cancellations between May 20, 2008 and June 4, 2008, a $50 administrative fee will be charged. For cancellations made on or after June 4, 2008, all costs are nonrefundable.
An optional travel protection plan is available at $32 per person double and $46 per person single. The optional protection plan is basically a travel protection plan in case of last minute cancellations or if someone has to get home because of an emergency while on the trip. It would reimburse the costs related to the travel expenses to get back plus it would reimburse for the portion of the trip that was missed. This is optional and no one has to purchase it.I hope you agree that this trip is a bargain. Our president, Maurice Wozniak, made an analysis of the trip. It is about 660 miles and a 10-½ hour drive between Milwaukee and Bellefonte. If the car gets 25 mpg, you would pay $169 for gas (at $3.20/gal) for the round trip. Three nights lodging would cost about $300, and dinners would run conservatively $10 each. This adds up to more than $500 and doesn't include the wear and tear on your car, grief over road construction and directions, etc. It also doesn't include entertainment, socializing, and fun on the bus with fellow philatelists. Join the group for a weekend of philatelic phun!
Forms for download (PDF's):