This hobby is expanding. While I have heard contrary view from some, I’m in a position (via this newsletter, which now has an e-mail circulation of over 1900) to see the growth. While I may interact with the on-line members of this hobby more than those not on-line, I still think it is representative of overall growth. Every day, I get e-mail from new collectors excited about this hobby.
We’re gaining people who have been exposed to phonecards and are starting to collect. There are more casual than serious collectors. What I mean by this is people who pick up a card here or there, but may not collect like a coin collector completing a series, or a sportscard collector completing a set. A lot of these new collectors started with promotional offers from various products and or have purchased cards to use - Something I and others have been saying for what seems many years now - The only way that this hobby is going to expand is when people used phonecards. The unbelievable number of "limited edition" sets geared toward collectors in 1994 and 1995 seem to be on the decline. This is good news as well.
Promoting this hobby should not be left to just dealers and writers. Every collector can promote the hobby - Share it with others. One collector, Art Becker, drops used British phonecards wherever he goes. (even on other dealers tables at shows) Give a phonecard to a child. I have done this with quite a few, and they now have awareness of phonecards. I even learned about the vote for the president cards in boxes of cereal last fall from a nephew who I introduced the hobby to. We all can expand and promote the hobby.
Any news updates, as well as the auction catalog, will be posted there. Check back frequently. Additionally, I have produced a phonecard specifically to promote this auction. There are 100 produced, each a 5 unit card from Tell-One. This card will NOT be for sale - You must bid in the auction to win this card. Anyone who writes a check to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for $25 will get a card free of charge. This means if you win less than $25, you can increase your check to $25 to get a card. This auction begins June 6th.
The next meeting of the Washington DC Phone Card Collector's Group (WDCPCCG) will be Wednesday, May 7,1997. Since no one ever agrees to any other location we will meet at the Pentagon City Mall near the pagoda at around 7:00 pm until we all get tired. As usual there will be no attendance taken, no agenda, no dues, and no bylaws. It's a wonder we've been able to continue functioning.
I am considering what to bring to show, share or trade. Of course I'll pack my PCM Report and my MoneyCard Collector magazine. I'll also bring some recent phone card acquisitions - The Bulls AT&T "4 rings" giveaway card, the rec.collecting card bought from Kars Ltd, (including several of the cards depicted on it), the Nations Bank expired SVC cards acquired from Powell Associates and my Card Mall 1 and 2 cards. The Walgreen's Disney Card included in specially marked Kodak packages, found in Minneapolis and some bus transfers from the Minneapolis public transportation system. I'll even bring a little holder I acquired from the city of skyways. Who knows what the other folks might bring. Of course the meeting is free to all who wish to attend -- you won't need your IPC card for free admission.
If you are in the area stop by. I am sure there will be a lot of topics for discussion.
Yes, you may have thought that a lot of free advertising comes with this notice. Dealers, manufacturers, and other phonecard fanatics may offer door prizes for our meetings and we will be grateful and perhaps mention you in our minutes, unofficially of course.
MCI & The Family Channel Promote A National Contest to Celebrate Mother's Day
With Mother's Day, one of the busiest calling days of the year, right around the corner, MCI has unveiled the gift that keeps on giving long after Mom's special day passes -- the MCI PrePaid Card Floral Series. Two cards are available, good for either 30 or 60 minutes of domestic long distance calling, featuring images of a single rose and a Bouquet. The card is highlighted with the words "Especially for You." The new prepaid calling cards also make a nice complement to a gift at any time of the year, or on for any special occasion.
The MCI PrePaid Floral Series is available today in more than 1,000 Wal-Mart stores across the country. In the coming months the Floral Cards will be available nationally in retail stores, gift shops, specialty, and department stores. The 30 and 60 minute denominations are for domestic long distance calling at any time to anywhere in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. International rates vary.
Mother's Time to Shine
In celebration of our moms, MCI has joined with The Family Channel, 1-800-FLOWERS and Woman's Day magazine to promote a national Mother's Day Contest. Fifty special mothers will be selected at random to receive a special bouquet of flowers, a $250 1-800-FLOWERS gift certificate and a 60 minute MCI PrePaid Calling Card from the new Floral Series.
The agreement calls for LCI to provide its long-distance network and calling card platform to support the Kmart/LCI prepaid calling card. The prepaid card, which will be available in 40 and 80 minute calling denominations, will allow users to place telephone calls from anywhere in the United States and to 230 countries worldwide. Unlike other prepaid cards that round calls to the next full-minute, the Kmart/LCI prepaid card will charge customers in six-second increments, thereby only charging them for the time they actually talk on the phone.
"As one of the first telecommunications providers to offer an international prepaid calling card, LCI realized early on the amazing potential this service had to offer," said Thomas J. Wynne, president and chief operating officer for LCI. "LCI is actively involved in the explosive $1 billion prepaid card business and we are very excited about the opportunity to provide prepaid services to Kmart and the 180 million people that shop in its stores each year."
Unlike other prepaid calling cards available through many mass market retailers, the Kmart/LCI card will have a point-of-sale activation feature which makes the card usable only after it has been scanned at the register check-out. This added security feature grants the merchandiser greater flexibility in displaying the prepaid cards. In addition, LCI will also handle all customer support for the Kmart/LCI cards through its prepaid calling card customer service center.
http://www.modernphilately.com.au/
This site offers access to pictures of every single phonecard produced by Telstra, and a searchable database.
"Touching Moments" Sweepstakes
P.O. Box 3396
St Cloud, MN 56397-3396
Enter as often as you wish, but each entry must be mailed separately. Entries must be received by 12/1/97."
From: Jim Silva, California
From Roger Streit, New Jersey
From: Andrew Henderson
From: Maureen Toonkel
- source Tennis Server Online
From: Linda Brunn
Inside a 4-Pack of TDK® VHS T-120 AQ Video Tape. One of the 4 tapes inside the cello wrapped package is cello wrapped again. That is the one that contains the FREE Talk5 phonecard. This is a pretty good anti-theft measure, IMO, since some of the previous TDK promo cards were removed from the audio tape multi-packs, and placed back on the store shelves.
The card is a paper card, that can be removed via the perforations around it. The larger paper card that it is attached to, is the exact same size as the VHS video tape. The carrier services are provided by LCI International Inc.
The card has 5 minutes of domestic calling time on it. The PIN number is exposed. The card expires on 01/31/98.
The front of the card has an orange to yellow bleed, from the top left, to the lower right, diagonally. The TDK® logo is prominently displayed in the upper right 1/4 of the card, with the words Long Distance Card underneath. To the left is a green map of the entire USA, with the Talk5 on it. A yellow telephone handset and cord are on the lower left of the card. Under the TDK® logo, in blue lettering, are the words, "Five minutes of prepaid long distance to or from anywhere in the U.S. In black under this, it says, "Important dialing information on back".
From: Kurt Kemmling
From: The Phonecard Shopper (EMCards@aol.com)
From: Frank Duzick
From: Maureen Toonkel
Until Next Week,
Alan
2) Direct e-mail. Send a message to: phoneline@cardmall.com
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