Directors:
John Pereira
Like many other stamp collectors, I began collecting stamps at a fairly early age, but stopped some time in my high school years. It wasn't until a couple of decades later did I began collecting again. What drew me back into the hobby was my curiosity of my Portuguese decent, what a great way to learn about it through stamps! In addition to collecting Portuguese stamps, I collect wild flowers of artic and desert regions, New Zealand, Nepal, National Parks, and Macau. I’ve also have given back to the hobby by assisting the chapters activities committee of the American Philatelic Society on a couple of projects and serving as Vice President and webmaster for the Fall River Philatelic Society.
In addition to my stamp interest, I also spend time volunteering for various organizations and pursuing other hobbies. I’m currently on the development committee for Friends of Acadia, assisting with a White Cedar restoration project for the Trustees of Reservations, and surveying rare plants for the New England Wild Flower Society. My other hobbies include collecting U.S. and world coins, books, and comic books.
My professional background has been very diverse. I have bachelor degrees in environmental studies and photography, and a master degree in conservation biology. I have done conservation work for The Nature Conservancy, The Lloyd Center for the Environment and Randolph Mountain Club. I've co-founded a nonprofit, Whaling History Alliance, in order to help the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park carry out its mission. And finally, I've worked in various retail companies, with Target being my current employer.
Dick Roman
Started collecting the world in 1955 when I was young and silly. Over the years, I was drawn to stamps with mammals and birds depicted. As years went on, I sold all of Africa, all of South America and concentrated on Scandinavia and Semi-postals, still up to 1955. In 1978 I realized there were other Topical Collectors and joined ATA. My collection then was Wild Mammals and Birds.
Then I found Biology Unit and the marvelous checklists and Handbooks. I reorganized my collections from Countries (How boring) to biological Families and Genera. As an avid Nature photographer, I integrate my photos near the appropriate species stamps. As a database master, I have amassed taxonomic lists for the mammals birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. That is used to generate album pages for a family, genus or a single species. For the last few years, I’ve printed and mailed the Biophilately to all members. Jack Congrove twisted my arm and got me to edit the Herpetology column, covering both reptiles and amphibians. Chris Dahle taught me how to find the needed information. The database allows me to find binomial names for stamps Linn’s usually identifies by Common names. I’m happy to assume a director role with Biology Unit. I graduated from ATA Board member.Frederick Skvara
Donald Wright
I started collecting stamps in the mid-30's and started collecting insects on stamps in 1953 after I got out of the Army. I joined the ATA #5009 and BU #243 about 1954 and started contributing articles and annual indexes to what is now "Biophilately" shortly thereafter. I have been the Entomology Associate Editor since about 1955. I authored the insect half of ATA Handbook #98 and authored all of ATA Handbook #123 as well as its update (1992 to date). I was Editor-Publisher of "Bio-Philately" for a couple of years back in the 60's, and have been President, Vice President or member of the Board of Directors almost continuously over the past 40-some years since I joined the Biology Unit in the early 1950's. I have been on the ATA board of experts (whatever they call it) to answer member's questions on Insects, Butterflies, Malaria and Entomology for perhaps 40 years and a former ATA Regional Vice President.
I attended Yale and have a degree in Entomology from the University of Connecticut. I worked for American Cyanamid Co. as a research entomologist for 39 years, mostly in charge of the insectary where we reared about 20 species of insects and mites and tested about 20,000 new chemicals per year looking for new insecticides.
I am married to Ellen, an artist who did the cover illustrations for Handbooks #98 and #123, and we have three sons and 4 grandchildren scattered around the US.
Alan Hanks, President Emeritus
Alan has been involved with organised philately for many years and has affiliations with a number of organisations, serving as President of the American Topical Association from 1984 through 1987, member of the Board of Directors for a number of years and currently the Judges Accreditation Director. He was given the Distinguished Topical Philatelist Award in 1985.
Alan is the immediate past president of the Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada, a member of the Royal Philatelic Society, serving on the judges accreditation panel and currently President of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa as well as being a member of the American Philatelic Society and the Rhodesia Study Circle. Exhibiting has been up to the International level with his interests in the stamps and postal history of Rhodesia and a thematic interest in insects on stamps. He also pursues an interest in real insects as Treasurer of the Toronto Entomologists Association, editor of the annual publication on Ontario butterflies and moths and member of the Lepidopterists Society, acting as the summary co-ordinator for Ontario and Quebec
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