I'll explore this interesting concept: TED | About TED- "TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader."

TED | About TED

" 

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer -- TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.

The two annual TED conferences, in Long Beach/Palm Springs and Edinburgh, Scotland, bring together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes or less).

On TED.com, we make the best talks and performances from TED and partners available to the world, for free. More than 900 TEDTalks are now available, with more added each week. All of the talks are subtitled in English, and many are subtitled in various languages. These videos are released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license, so they can be freely shared and reposted.

Our mission: Spreading ideas. 
We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. This site, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress, and you're an important part of it. Have an idea? We want to hear from you."

http://www.ted.com/pages/about

"Established in 1949 [put a COMMA here, I might recommend :) ] the American Topical Association [ ATA ] is the largest philatelic society devoted specifically to topical stamp collecting. Serving members in over 90 countries, we pride ourselves in being the best source of information, fellowship and authority in this field."

Please visit and join:  http://www.americantopicalassn.org/ 

American Topical Association ✆	4:18 PM (3 hours ago)
to me

To: Mr. Dorin Cojocariu, ATA 49811 [See? I am a member! :) ]

ATA NewsFlashForward – Jan 6, 2012

BEST WISHES FROM YOUR ATA FOR A HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!

TOPICAL TIME

The Nov-Dec issue was mailed yesterday. Allowing for the nine business days in which the USPS expects delivery, US members can expect to receive their copy by Jan. 17. This information is regularly posted on our website. Your copy will be encased in plastic rather than a paper cover--saving both trees and dollars.  Wayne Youngblood is working hard playing major catch-up with the Jan-Feb issue.  We thank all our members for their patience.

This issue of Topical Time was mailed to 41 more ATA members than the previous issue!  ATA is making progress on its membership goals; thanks to all who are promoting Topical Time and ATA membership.

The Nov-Dec issue includes interesting lead articles by two of our UK members (Barry Floyd and Jeff Dugdale) on "African Art on Stamps" and "Life in the Colonial Bush." And there is a prepublication offer you won't want to miss for ATA's upcoming book, Handbook of Disney on Stamps. Watch for your copy soon!

NEW ON OUR WEBSITE    www.americantopicalassn.org 

•  Press Release: ATA Certifies The Disneyana on Stamps Society (DoSS) as a Study Unit

•  National Topical Stamp Show (NTSS) 2012 - Lancaster, Pa.

-          Initial venue information

-          Exhibit Prospectus

-          Official Exhibit Entry Form

•  Link to APS Manual on Judging:  www.americantopicalassn.org/exhibiting.hmtl

•  Updated Checklist and Archived Articles listing.  Checklist page now includes info on lists available from ATA Study Units

•  Press Release: ATA Releases Two New DVDs: Scouts on Stamps and Nursing on Stamps

•  Press Release: ATA Names New Director of Chapters: Tonny Van Loij

We hope you didn’t miss the selection of 200 holiday stamps rotating through the ATA main web page in December.  Do stop by the site often and see the wonderful improvements that ATA Webmaster Sean Lamb is making!

NOMINATIONS FOR 2012-2014 TERMS of BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nominations for ATA officers to serve from June 2012-June 2014 are officially open. They may be made in writing by any ATA Chapter or by any ten ATA members in good standing. All nominations, including a brief biographical sketch, must be received no later than January 31, 2012, by the ATA executive director.

Officers to be elected are president, first and second vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and between four and nine directors.

A ballot with biographical sketches will be published in the March-April issue of Topical Time. Deadline for receipt of ballots is May 31. Results will be announced and the elected officers and directors will be installed at the ATA business meeting during our next National Topical Stamp Show (NTSS) scheduled for June 22-24, 2012, in Lancaster, PA.

REMINDER

Our ATA founder, Jerry Husak, and his wife, Sally, now reside in an extended care facility. They would enjoy hearing from you.  Updated contact info:

Freedom Inn

13810 West Sandridge Drive - Apt 304

Sun City West, AZ 85375-4473

Sally’s phone: 623-546-8376 (same as before);   Jerry’s phone: 623-214-5699

BUCK THE TREND APPEAL UPDATE  - WE MADE OUR GOAL!!  

This report includes gifts through Dec. 31, 2011.  The chart in the Jan-Feb issue of Topical Time shows numbers at the time the issue went to press on Dec. 15.

2011 BTTF Campaign—FINAL REPORT
GOAL OF BUCK THE TRENDAPPEAL	$50,000
Reported received in last TT issue	31,274
Received since that last report	22,539
TOTAL TO DATE	$53,813
EXCEEDED OUR GOAL !!	$ 3,813

A RECORD 404 MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED – UP 10% FROM LAST YEAR.

A BIG A THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED!!

ATA AMBASSADORS…

…are usually trained by Executive Director Vera Felts to help staff ATA tables at stamp shows and events.  Theypromote the ATA and its resources as well as encourage showgoers to become members.

NATIONAL POSTAGE STAMP SHOW, New York - Oct 13-16. New members: 4

Ambassadors: Caroline Scannell, Allan Fisk, Fred Skvara

AAPEX, Michigan - Nov 4-6. New members: 4

Ambassadors: Sandra and Andy Lingler.

CHICAGOPEX, Illinois – Nov 18-20. New members: 7

Ambassadors in Training: Agbenyega Adedze, Roger Ashley, Roland Essig, Eliot Landau, Bob Mather, Sadruddin Noorani , Bob Pechinski, Van Siegling, David Witkosky

Plan to attend APS AMERISTAMP in ATLANTA, Jan. 27-29?  Please volunteer for ATA's Ambassador-In-Training program at that show!  Choose the day (Fri/Sat/Sun) that you could meet for the "training" from 9:15-10 a.m.  You'll then help staff the ATA table for a couple of hours during the show at a convenient time for you.  We'd love to have you as a new Ambassador for ATA!

WANTED –

Contact Jack Denys if you are interested:  Jdenys@verizon.net

▪    AWARDS CHAIR FOR ANNUAL SHOW (NTSS)

Purchases, organizes, transports, coordinates and helps distribute exhibit certificates and awards for NTSS 

	National Topical Stamp Show Lancaster, Pennsylvania June 22-24, 2012 www.americantopicalassn.org/shows.htm
Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster  PA  17602

Designed to draw attention to the wonders of the United States, this international rate stamp shows the glories of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with one of its beautiful, iconic farmsteads set amid gently rolling hills. Known for its breathtaking rural scenery, agricultural bounty, and small towns with evocative names like Bird-in-Hand and Paradise, Lancaster County is perhaps most famous as part of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The Amish, with their horse-drawn buggies, one-room schoolhouses, and traditional lifestyle, give the county a traditional, Old World charm. Their pristine family farms, surrounded by neatly cultivated fields, offer visitors a glimpse of another century and a quieter way of life. From: http://www.beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview/#stamp-lancaster-county-pennsylvania First Day of Issue:  Jan. 20, 2012, Lancaster, Pa. (no ceremony)

__

Vera Felts
Executive Director
American Topical Association
PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008
americantopical@msn.com
http://www.americantopicalassn.org
Phone/Fax: 618-985-5100

Not a bunch of CROC. The DWARF CROCODILE (Osteolaemus tetraspis) is the smallest extant crocodile species in the world. Also, The AFRICAN SLENDER-SNOUTED CROCODILE (Crocodylus cataphractus). WWF MAXICARDS from The Republic of the Congo (French: République du Congo), sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville

UL and UR: 

The DWARF CROCODILE (Osteolaemus tetraspis) is the smallest extant crocodile species in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_crocodile

LL and LR: 

"The African Slender-snouted Crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus) is a species of crocodile. Recent studies in DNA and morphology suggest that it may belong in its own genus, Mecistops,^[1]but at present most continue to use Crocodylus for this species".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodylus_cataphractus

Republic of the Congo République du Congo (French) Repubilika ya Kongo (Kituba) Republiki ya Kongó (Lingala)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Unité, Travail, Progrès  (French) "Unity, Work, Progress"
Anthem: La Congolaise  (French) "The Congolese"
Capital (and largest city)		Brazzaville
Official language(s)		French
Recognised regional languages		Kongo/Kituba, Lingala
Demonym		Brazzaville Congolese
Government		Presidential republic
-	President	Denis Sassou Nguesso
Independence
-	from France	August 15, 1960

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo-Brazzaville

=======================

Happy PFF (Postcard Friendship Friday)!

Please visit: http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/ (wait until Beth posts the today's Linky tool for the meme, then make your entry, if you want to join).