On October 17, 2008, the Alzheimer's Stamp will become a reality. People all over the United States will be able to purchase these 42-cent stamps supporting Alzheimer's awareness and demonstrating their commitment and the need to find a cure for this horrific, growing disease.
The 42-cent Alzheimer's Awareness Stamp will be available at Post Offices nationwide beginning October 17, 2008. To see a copy of The Alzheimer's Stamp go to www.usps.com.
lmohr, I haven't found a clear answer to that. According to the Washington Post article, which was written in 2001 about the effort to get the stamp approved:
"...will forward the signatures with a proposal to the U.S. Postal Service to create a "semipostal" stamp -- a stamp that sets aside about four cents per stamp for research. The Postal Service has printed one such stamp dedicated to breast cancer research. It debuted July 29, 1998, and to date has raised more than $21 million." Other breast cancer stamps were scheduled to launch in 2002 and 2004.
Elsewhere on the AD stamp, I see stuff about commemorative stamps that raise awareness, which appear to be distinct from "semipostal" stamps that raise funding ... I know that the original proposals sent to Congress were for a semipostal stamp, and that that bill initially foundered. The most recent announcements only talk about raising awareness and refer to the stamp as being "commemorative", so I think Congress backed off on setting aside part of the sales for research in order to finally push the bill through.
Okay. I am thinking to try to find a glassine envelope that will hold a stamp. Buy some AZ stamps and put them in. Staple them to a card that gives a few urls: to this site, the Alz.org site, bigtreemurphys? - others?? and hand them out to people I encounter who are interested. Critique this for me!
bigtreemurphy's might be a little too ... detailed on the poop patrol ... for the average person who is unfamiliar with AD, don't you think?
What about NIA's Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center:
http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/
Or the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation:
http://www.alzinfo.org/
Or maybe just downloading one of the brief overview sheets that are available, to make it reeeeal easy for your recipient to learn without having to work on it ... ?
The Post Office responded to my inquiry. This is an "awareness" stamp, not a "semipostal" stamp. It does NOT raise funding for research. (I gather that semipostal stamps cost more, usually 2-4ยข, with the extra money going to the "cause.")
Trying to get Congress to approve stamps is, apparently, a serious pain. So here's an idea for y'all to consider.
We could create our own postage stamps. There are companies that let you design and print your own postage, fully recognized by the U.S. Post Office. I've found several ... At first, I thought they were WAY too pricey. But maybe not.
I haven't checked to see how low you can go, but Zazzle gives discounts for orders of multiple sheets, even if there are different designs on the sheets, and the more sheets you order, the less they cost.
And, according to their web site, you can save an additional 10% by becoming a contributor and publishing your product to their marketplace for others to purchase.
You can even make a royalty on sales of your products, which we could use to fund research.
I haven't checked into the other companies to see if they do the same thing, yet...
I also found a company that will design postage for you if you don't want to do the design yourself, artisticpostage.com.
Just a comment about the new Alzheimer's stamp. I have read posts from people on other sites that are quite upset over the stamp. They are upset that it shows an elderly woman and does not let people know this disease also affects younger people.
As far as some people being upset with the stamp ( Oh Well). I for one got a big lump and tears just looking at the stamp for the first time. joang had put that story of the hand on her back and that was all she needed at that point but was very special to her at that time. You can take the stamp picture and having the elderly lady depicted as a caregiver getting a soft touch on her shoulder.
Ann I see your point and it is valid and thanks so much for sharing another persons view of the stamp. I looked at the stamp and saw........(sigh) I guess my view. Jenene
It is a beautiful stamp ... but I've noticed that while I can talk to my husband about the fact he has AD and that seems to be OK, he has gotten VERY uncomfortable when those blasted Aricept commercials come on TV. I imagine he'd react the same way if I let him see the stamp.
(Source: Washington Post) - Ethel Kessler is used to squeezing big ideas into tiny spaces. As one of four art directors contracted by the U.S. Postal Service to create stamps, the Bethesda designer has produced hundreds of peel-and-stick commemorations.
But when it came to reducing the vast and tragic issue of Alzheimer's disease to a one-inch canvas, that was tough. Because that was personal.
Kessler's mother is in the later stages of Alzheimer's. And it was just as the designer began working on an Alzheimer's awareness stamp three years ago that her mother began a steep decline, stopped recognizing her daughter and had to move to a nursing home.
"It's one of the most emotional projects I've ever worked on," Kessler said.
David Failor, the Postal Service's executive director of stamp services, said officials looked at dozens of designs before Kessler provided one that fully captured the serene menace of the disease.
The 42-cent Alzheimer's stamp is now available at your local Post Office.
Since so many people seem dissatisfied with the official Alzheimer stamp, I am willing to design whatever stamp you would like and sell it in my Marketplace. It will be a 42 cent stamp - approved for use by the post office - as valid for use as any U.S. postage stamp. It will cost more than 42 cents to buy, but I am willing to donate part of the proceeds to the Alzheimer's Association.
You can have whatever design or picture that you want. If anyone is interested, let me know.
I e-mailed the USPS to ask if the Alzheimer stamp was being sold in our post office. E-mail reply "we do not have the information"!!! I drove to the PO and bought two panes of the stamps. I think they are lovely.