Some years ago the APF instituted the One Up Club - an initiative designed to assist international exhibitors to raise their exhibit's medal level by one level - hence the name.

Initially One Up Club services were restricted to exhibitors who had achieved either a vermeil or large vermeil medal at an international exhibition.  If they achieved the next medal level then this would mean either a large vermeil which gave them entrée into an eight frame international exhibit or would give them a gold medal which would increase the number of Australians at this level.

The concept is a fairly simple one - you send the APF Philatelic Development Officer (PDO) a photocopy of your exhibit, together with a short synopsis of its exhibition history, plus a cheque for $50 to cover mainly postage and photocopying.  The PDO will arrange for the exhibit to be reviewed by three experienced judges in the class of the exhibit.  These judges will return the exhibit with notations and notes on how they feel the exhibit could be improved to achieve the next medal level.  The PDO then returns the exhibit to you and the notes and you are then free to use the advice as you see fit.

This service is far better than a few minutes in front of a frame at a critique session and which, even more importantly, may not be available at an international exhibition.  This service has now been extended to the national level.  As a vermeil medal is the minimum requirement for entering an international exhibition, the PDO is inviting interested exhibitors who have previously attained a large silver medal at national level, and who would be interested in exhibiting internationally, to take advantage of the benefits which a One Up Club review can provide.

To participate simply mail a copy of your exhibit, together with its exhibition history, and a cheque for $50 payable to the APF, to The Philatelic Development Officer, APF, at PO Box 528, Cardiff, NSW, 2285.

For further information contact the writer at the above postal address or by e-mail.