XIX. Member Meeting

Minutes of the 19th Member Meeting of the PPCP Association

held on March 12, 2026, at Café Mozart, Old Town Square, starting at 5:00 PM

Present: 15 PPCP Association (hereinafter also referred to as the Club) members – Ing. Jaroslav Hanák, Dr. Jaroslav Stuna, Ing. Martin Jurkovič, Ing. Martin Němeček, RNDr. Pavol Lazar, Ing. Vít Vaníček, Lubor Kunc, Mgr. Pavel Mošner, PhD., Martin Plch, Radek Novák, Ing. Petr Valošek, Marek Vrba, Martin Jaroš, Prof. PhDr. Marcel Arbeit, Dr., MUDr. Peter Vaňuga, PhD. 

Apologized: 17 Club members – JUDr. Tomáš Mádl (TM), Břetislav Pour, Zdeněk Matějovský, MBA, Ing. Antonín Blažek, Ph.D., MUDr. Petr Reichert, RNDr. Miloš Hauptman, Zdeněk Filípek, Mag. Friedrich Winter, Dr. Helmuth Avi, MUDr. Ing. Stanislav Havlíček, Nenad Rogina, PhD., Poštové múzeum v Banské Bystrici, Poštovní muzeum v Praze, Ing. Radoslav Míšek, Ph.D., Mgr. Petr Pflanzer Flaška, Ing. Roman Šorejs, DiS., Jan Klim

Guests: Jan Rihak, Dušan Martinček, Tomáš Hejda, Jiří Střecha
Recorder: Ing. Martin Filípek

Agenda:

1. Opening of the meeting
2. Potential new Club members
3. Exhibitions in 2026 and 2027
4. Others
5. Closing of the meeting

Club discussed:

1. Opening of the Meeting (Lazar) – 5:30 PM

Pavol Lazar thanked Jiří Střecha for his service in the Club and highlighted his contribution both to the Club itself and to philately in general. In this context, it was explained that, as of 1 January 2026, the Postal Museum Prague was newly incorporated as part of the National Technical Museum, and this new structure no longer corresponds to the previous model. As the member of the Club is the institution of the Postal Museum as such, and not Jiří Střecha personally, this change results in the termination of his membership in the Club.

Jiří Střecha subsequently delivered a short speech in which he stated that he continues to work at Czech Post, where he is currently completing the process of transferring the Postal Museum to the administration of the National Technical Museum. At the same time, he thanked all members of the Club for their long-standing cooperation and emphasized the importance of the joint exhibitions and activities of the Club. Although he will no longer be a formal member, he expressed his willingness to continue assisting the Club if needed. The members of the Club expressed their appreciation for this offer and acknowledged the previous cooperation, which was described as very high-quality and beneficial in the long term.

Following this change, a vacancy arose on the Club’s Committee, and the Committee is therefore currently operating with a reduced number of members. In accordance with Article VII of the Club’s Statutes, the Committee will be supplemented by the co-optation of a new Committee member by the remaining members of the Committee. Roman Šorejs was proposed by the Committee for this vacant position. This proposal was discussed by the Club members and all present members expressed their agreement.

At the same time, it was noted that it will be necessary to clarify the status of certain institutions and members in relation to the Club, in particular with respect to the Postal Museum in Prague, the Postal Museum in Banská Bystrica, and Porto Gallery represented by Martin Jaroš. In this regard, it was also considered appropriate to consult the situation with Mr. Stanislav Havlíček.

2. Potential new Club members (Lazar) – 6:00 PM

The Club further discussed the possibility of admitting new members. A proposal was raised to admit two new members from abroad. The members discussed whether the fact that these are foreign philatelists could represent a certain language barrier, as the majority of the current members of the Club are of Czech or Slovak nationality. It was noted that in the event of participation of foreign guests or members at meetings, it would be appropriate to adjust the course of the meetings and to conduct communication, at least partly, also in English.

One of the potential candidates is Till Neumann from Germany, who was originally expected to attend this meeting but was ultimately unable to participate due to a cancelled flight to Prague. It is expected that he will attend one of the upcoming Club meetings. Another candidate under consideration is Mark Horne from the United States of America, who has also offered the possibility of exhibiting his exhibit at the Biennale exhibition. The possibility of their admission to the Club will be further discussed at one of the upcoming meetings and will proceed in the standard manner in accordance with the Club’s rules.

3. Exhibitions in 2026 and 2027 (Lazar, Němeček) – 6:20 PM

Exhibition in Kamenice nad Lipou

Within the discussion on the planned exhibitions, the upcoming exhibition in Kamenice nad Lipou was recalled, which will take place from 17 to 21 June 2026. Approximately 15 frames of PPCP members are expected to be exhibited at this event. According to the current information, the participation of twelve exhibiting members has already been confirmed. The exhibitors will include Tomáš Mádl, Vít Vaníček, Pavol Lazar, Zdeněk Matějovský, Marek Vrba, Jaroslav Stuna, Petr Reichert, Jan Klim, Petr Pflanzer Flaška, Roman Šorejs, Martin Jurkovič and Martin Plch.

In connection with the organisation of this event, the issue of accommodation was raised, as the capacity of local accommodation facilities is limited. The highest demand is expected particularly for the night from Wednesday 17 June to Thursday 18 June, when an off-site meeting of the PPCP Club will take place. Tomáš Mádl has also organised an accompanying programme, including a visit to the local brewery combined with a tasting. Members of the Club were therefore asked to confirm as soon as possible whether they plan to stay overnight in Kamenice nad Lipou so that the necessary accommodation capacity can be secured. Naturally, it will also be possible to stay for a longer period, for example until Sunday, depending on the individual plans of the members.

Biennale 2026

Another part of the discussion was devoted to the preparations for the Biennale 2026 exhibition, which will take place at the Municipal House in Prague from 26 August to 6 September 2026. Martin Němeček informed the members about the current status of the preparations and provided several updates. Although representatives of Stanley Gibbons were originally expected to attend the meeting in person, they were ultimately unable to participate due to an overseas trip.

The possibility of borrowing exceptionally rare exhibits was also discussed, for example through Feldman in Geneva, which is considering exhibiting very rare material. Tomáš Mádl has also been negotiating the possibility of borrowing an exhibit from the Royal Collection. These options remain under discussion and their potential inclusion could significantly increase the prestige of the entire exhibition.

According to the latest information, the number of planned exhibits is gradually approaching 100 exhibits, confirming that the exhibition will be extensive and of high quality. Merchandising is expected to be organised in a similar scope as at previous exhibitions. The issuance of custom postage stamps and euro banknotes is also planned, with one version including an overprint and another without an overprint, in a total print run of approximately 3,000 pieces. The graphic design has already been prepared by Jan Říha.

The issue of printing the exhibition catalogue was also discussed. The members agreed that the print run should not exceed approximately 700 copies. Martin Jaroš suggested preparing a limited numbered edition of the catalogue in a smaller print run, for example around 200 copies, intended primarily for collectors. These catalogues could be paired with black prints, the print run of which could reach approximately 1,000 copies. Jan Rihak offered to arrange the printing of the catalogues under favourable conditions at a printing house he had identified. At the same time, it was mentioned that a competitive price offer for catalogue printing could also be arranged by Zdeněk Matějovský.

Further discussion concerned the budget of the entire event. It was noted that the Club’s objective is not to generate profit from the exhibition but to ensure that all costs associated with the organisation are covered. The members therefore asked Tomáš Hejda and Jan Rihak to prepare a preliminary budget, which could be discussed in more detail during the meeting in Kamenice nad Lipou. At the same time, options for obtaining sponsorship partners are being considered, for example from the banking sector, which could symbolically “adopt” one of the exhibited items.

Marek Vrba suggested that it would be appropriate to promote the exhibition also in neighbouring countries so that a wider philatelic audience in Central Europe becomes aware of this important event. As possible promotion channels, he mentioned specialised magazines, thematic websites and other specialised media.

At the same time, a proposal was raised to contact Feldman regarding the possibility of distributing information about the exhibition to their clients. The possibility of promoting the exhibition through other philatelic events and fairs was also discussed, including at major exhibitions such as those in Boston or Macau. The upcoming exhibition in Bratislava was also mentioned as another opportunity to present information about the Biennale.

It was noted that all materials related to the Biennale exhibition should ideally be delivered to Jan Rihak by the end of May, so that they can be processed in time. This concerns in particular information regarding the planned frames and individual exhibits. At the same time, it was emphasised that the earlier these materials are delivered, the better, and that this matter should be addressed as soon as possible.

Radek Novák suggested considering the possibility of inviting ambassadors or other prominent personalities to the Biennale exhibition. The Club members agreed that this could represent an interesting element of the accompanying programme. In this context, the possibility of preparing a short promotional video or other audiovisual material was also mentioned, similar to the presentation shown during the meeting by Pavol Lazar.

SLOVPHILEX 2027

Pavol Lazar further informed the members about the preparations for the world exhibition SLOVPHILEX, for which a short promotional video was shown during the meeting (available online at: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqdZQTwONLQ&t=1s)). The exhibition will take place from 30 June to 4 July 2027. The event is held under the patronage of the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, and among the ambassadors of the exhibition will be well-known public figures, primarily from the field of sports, such as Petra Vlhová and Peter Sagan.

A number of individuals are currently working on the organisation, with clearly divided responsibilities related to the preparation of the entire event. The main exhibition hotel should be the Park Inn Hotel, located within walking distance of the exhibition venue.

The organisers currently record approximately 45–46 national commissioners and expect the total number to reach approximately 50. The exhibition should include around 1,500 competitive frames. In addition to the competitive section, a non-competitive section in the form of a Court of Honour will also be prepared, where significant exhibits will be presented. In this context, it was mentioned that the PPCP Club could also participate in this section and exhibit approximately ten frames. The specific form of the Club’s participation and the selection of exhibits will be subject to further discussion among the members.

The organisers are also attempting to secure exceptionally rare exhibits, including the legendary Blue Mauritius stamp. According to available information, the negotiations in this regard are progressing quite positively.

It was also mentioned that the current deadline for submitting exhibits is approaching, with standard submissions expected by 31 July, although in justified cases the deadline may still be adjusted. Given the scale of the exhibition space, there is also the possibility to present a larger number of exhibits.

Those interested in cooperation or partnership with the exhibition may contact Pavol Lazar, who serves as the chairman of the organising committee.

Other exhibitions and projects

The possibility of organising an accompanying exhibition tentatively titled “Kings and Crowned Heads” at the Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle was also discussed. This would be a smaller exhibition of approximately 8 to 10 frames focusing on the theme of monarchs. The idea was introduced during the meeting by Martin Němeček, based on contact with Mr. Carbol, who is in communication with the Lobkowicz family.

The exhibition would primarily serve as a presentation of the Club and philately to the broader public. The exact date has not yet been determined, but it is expected to take place around the turn of 2026 and 2027. Jaroslav Stuna was asked to prepare a brief proposal of exhibits that could be presented at this exhibition.

Radek Novák and Martin Jaroš offered to prepare additional merchandising items that could be sold at this exhibition. They were also asked to contact the organiser of the exhibition and determine whether such sales would be possible within the framework of the event.

4. Others 7:30 PM

It was recalled that membership fees, as well as outstanding payments for dinners, still need to be settled. Members were therefore asked to pay any outstanding amounts as soon as possible. They were also requested to send individual payments separately, in order to ensure their clear identification and to avoid complications during the subsequent reconciliation of payments.

During the discussion, the issue of the PRAGA 2028 exhibition was also raised. It was indicated that the PPCP Club could potentially participate in this exhibition; however, the conditions of participation have not yet been definitively agreed and will be the subject of further discussions.

The members also discussed the update of the Club’s website, particularly the regular addition of rare items from the individual collections of members. It was recalled that a request to provide such materials had already been made in the past; however, the response had been very limited. Members were therefore once again asked to submit their exhibits to Roman Šorejs and Marek Vrba, with Marek Vrba also preparing a concept for the rotation of these rarities. At the same time, a proposal was made to retain on the website also the older exhibits that had previously formed part of the Club’s presentation.

It was further emphasised that if members are approached with a request to cooperate in updating the website, for example by providing materials or preparing an article, it is desirable at least to respond to such requests. If none of the members prepare the required materials or articles, the website cannot be updated on an ongoing basis, as the necessary content would not be available.

The possibility of using social media was also discussed. In this context, it was noted that this activity would need to be managed by a person with experience in administering such platforms and would most likely represent a paid service.

Lubor Kunc further informed the members that Jiří Střecha had been awarded by FEPA for his long-standing support of philately. This represents a significant recognition, and Jiří Střecha is the first Czech recipient of this award. The members of the Club unanimously congratulated him on receiving this honour.

5. Closing of the meeting 8:15 PM

The next Club meeting – the 20th in order – is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, in the already mentioned Kamenice nad Lipou.

Unless stated otherwise, all agenda items were discussed as planned. Pavol Lazar thanked the members present for their participation in the meeting.