NEWS FROM THE PHILATELIC GROUP OF CALPE
Philately is solidarity. In spite of being a collecting that has certain airs of individualism, stamp collectors usually show empathy for great purposes, and in Calpe it is going to be demonstrated.
The philatelic society AFINET, organiser of the 17th CALPEE PHILATELIC CONVENTION 2023-YEAR BOFILL, has launched a new edition of its "Solidarity Auctions", the final proceeds of which, once the event is over, will go to charity in the town where the annual convention is held, which on this occasion is Calpe.
These auctions consist of the altruistic donation of diverse philatelic-postal material, delivered by members of this philatelic entity, and of sympathizers, that later and through the "Philatelic Agora" of AFINET, it is put to auction during a time, after which, all the collected totality, is given to some entity that is dedicated to social aims.
On this occasion and from the organisation of the Convention, the decision was taken that not one, but two entities deserved to enjoy this philatelic solidarity collection, and all the proceeds will go in equal parts to the Maite Boronat Occupational Centre, and the CPEE Gargasindi, news that excited the representatives of both centres and they have been grateful for such an initiative.
The auction is currently in the phase of collecting the material that is being donated to the organisation - AFINET - in order to start the exhibition of the donated philatelic pieces in November. Much of this material has been collected during the AFINET 2023 Convention held in Calpe from 12 to 15 October, where this event was officially presented to the world philatelic community. It should be noted that as AFINET is a philatelic society whose sphere of action is the social networks, this philatelic solidarity auction will reach the whole world.
But the surprise came at the Gala Dinner held on the evening of 14 October when the organisers announced to the attendees that 3 watercolours made specifically for the occasion were going to be auctioned directly in Calpe and the proceeds would start the donation that both groups will receive in the end.
The watercolours showed different areas of Calpe - Playa de la Fosa, Peñón de Ifach and Club Social La Manzanera, and were drawn expressly for this Convention by the watercolourist Paula Lauricica Nieto, who, when the idea was proposed to her, did not hesitate to participate in such a noble cause.
The auction aroused much interest among the attendees, conducted by an expert in the field as is the AFINET member, Mario Mirman, selling the 3 watercolours accompanied by philatelic-postal material donated by Correos, and which managed to raise the first 600 €.
This type of solidarity event was born from the heart of AFINET, between 2002 and 2003, with the cry of "Nunca Mais" (Never Again), to collaborate in a very particular way in the fight against the chapapote that affected the Galician coast, and since then the motto of these auctions is "a stamp, a smile". On that first occasion, AFINET members donated a total of 380 lots, never before seen in an auction of this type, creating an acceptance and interest that has continued year after year since then.
When the auction officially ends, the result will be made public, and it will be known for what purpose the proceeds will be used, which Calpe philately hopes will be substantial and with a participation by the philatelists that exceeds all forecasts.
The philatelic societies of Benissa and Calpe, as well as some of their members, will be participating in this AFINET 2023 Solidarity Auction, donating diverse material to improve the results obtained. Calpe in particular, through its philatelic association, has thrown itself into this initiative, and will donate one of the most sought-after postage stamps at present, due to its rarity, to the cause. It is known as "CALPE", a label that Correos -the Spanish Mail- put into circulation in 1999 at the initiative of the Calpe Town Council. It is currently one of the many modern rarities in Spanish philately, being an issue that was only used in the Calpe Office and with a total print run of only 100,000 copies, of which very few in "new unused" condition have reached our days. This stamp, and others that will be given to the organisation of the Auctions during the Convention, will surely make the profits obtained greater than those of previous editions.