Forum is a new initiative of the APF.   Its purpose is to provide collectors and philatelists with a convenient means of seeking input and assistance with a given project, area of research or problem where the information required is unlikely to be available through conventional research methods, and to make the eventual outcome of that request known to others.

Initiators of Forum requests are welcome (but not obliged) to provide the APF Webmaster with responses they then receive, or they may choose to prepare a summary highlighting key new information obtained if considered more appropriate.  Forum initiators are particularly encouraged to do this where the subject matter is considered to be of general interest to the wider philatelic community.

Forum Guidelines

Forum will operate with the following simple guidelines:

• Forum is open to any bona fide collector;

• Persons wishing to have requests posted to the Forum must provide a short subject title, brief description of the information being sought, and provide a contact name and preferably an e-mail address;

• The APF Research Service is available where information required may already be in existence and should be utilised where appropriate;

• Forum is not to be used to seek exchange correspondents, penpals or advertise private collections for sale;

• Persons able to assist should respond directly to the person listing the topic, not the APF or the APF webmaster;

• It is not a chatroom;

• Forum Requests will remain posted for 6 months with a further period of 6 months on request from the originator.

The APF reserves the right to refuse any request that it considers does not comply with these guidelines.

Examples of Forum requests

• Researchers preparing or updating philatelic literature - where the information being sought is expected to be published, the name of the journal or publication and expected availability should be provided;

• Private collectors wishing to obtain information to assist with exhibits;

• Philatelic Organisations wishing to promote existing or proposed events, publications or formation of meeting groups and are seeking information and/or interested persons.

Current Forum Requests

To register your Forum Request, e-mail the APF webmaster, or write to P.O Box 4087, Patterson, Victoria, 3204.