Answer: The campaign was kicked off in 2003 because the Postal Department Guidelines suggested that any such campaign be started at least three years prior to the eligibility of the nominee. Bill died on September 9, 1996. The guidelines at that time said the honorees must have been deceased at least ten years prior to the issuance of a stamp, so technically, Bill could have been so honored in the latter part of 2006, even on his birthday, September 13, but as we know, he did not make the list either in 2006 or 2007. Not having the skill to create a web site for the campaign, I sought out as many bluegrass-related sites as I could find on the Internet in February of 2003 and sent them an announcement that I asked them to post. The very first site to respond was www.blisteredfingers.com, followed by many more. Stewart Evans, owner of the Tribute to the Blue Grass Boys site (doodah.net/bgb/) became aware of the campaign and very generously offered to create a web site for the campaign, which he did, at www.billmonroestamp.org. All of the information about the campaign can be found there, including sample letters, petitions, and radio announcements.

Question: Who originated the idea of the commemorative stamp campaign?

Answer: I don't know for sure who had the idea first. I got on the Internet in 1997, the year after Bill died and I can remember discussion at that time about a commemorative stamp on the Bluegrass-List. The late Frank Overstreet, a long-time bluegrass musician, promoter, writer, and a retired postal employee, may have started it.

Question: Describe if you will, some of the difficulties and successes so far in the campaign.

Answer: The greatest difficulties in this electronic age are persuading people to sit down and write an old-fashioned letter or card and then mail it to the citizens' stamp advisory committee. Most people would much rather send an email or make a cell phone call. Of course, this being a postage stamp campaign, a written letter, card, or petition is required. On the other hand, we have found that most bluegrass fans that become aware of the campaign are happy to participate, including fans living outside the United States. We have had participants from Australia, Japan, England, France, Wales, Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, and Norway who have either signed petitions at festivals, written personal letters, or both. We hope this will impress members of the stamp committee of the worldwide popularity of bluegrass music. Hundreds of letters and petitions have already been forwarded and we intend to continue the effort.

Question: Is there any way you can predict the chances of Bill Monroe being honored by a commemorative postage stamp?

Answer: Unfortunately, no. The Postal Department acknowledges every letter, card, or petition they receive with a form card or letter but they give no hint as to whom is being seriously considered for the honor. They announce the successful candidates annually, usually in late November, for the upcoming year.

Question: How can a Bill Monroe fan best contribute to the success of this campaign?

Answer: The best thing to do is to go to the web site:www.billmonroestamp.org, read all the information there, and then write and mail a letter or card recommending Bill Monroe for a commemorative postage stamp to:
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
Stamp Development
US Postal Service
1735 North Lynn Street
Room 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432
And then, after you have mailed your letter or card, tell all your BG friends about the campaign and refer them to the web site.

Question: Would it be a good idea to try to influence the citizens' stamp advisory committee through political office holders in Washington DC?

Answer: In my opinion, no. It appears that the committee was formed to prevent political influence in the selection of subjects for commemorative stamps. However, if you have good reason to believe that one of your Representative in Congress or Senators is a bluegrass music fan, a letter making them aware of the campaign and seeking their support would seem to be OK. We have reason to believe that President George Bush knows about and appreciates bluegrass music because he had the Nashville Bluegrass Band perform for the visiting President of China. You might write the President a letter asking his support for the Bill Monroe Commemorative Stamp Campaign. The same goes for your Congressional Representative and Senators in Washington, DC -- but only if you have reason to believe they are bluegrass music fans, not for merely political pressure, which may very well be counter-productive with the citizens' stamp advisory committee. They have the sole responsibility of selecting those who will be honored with a commemorative stamp.

Jim Peva

Jim later updated this announcement with the following important statement"

Because of inept computer skills may last posting concerning the above subject was difficult to read and so I am re-posting it in an amended version. The last part, about writing to Washington, DC officials is being watered down and amended. When this campaign was initiated in 2003 it was my inclination to avoid political pressure to get a stamp for Bill Monroe. In his career which spanned seven decades, Bill's achievements, honors, and music appreciated all over the world speak for themselves. A citizens' committee, appointed for the purpose of recommending people for the honor of a commemorative stamp on their own merits, might resent political pressure. This was my initial stance on the issue. But friends, acquaintances, and even others who had been through these campaigns, assured me that Washington DC political influence was essential to success. So, after Bill Monroe had been passed by for the honor both in 2006 and 2007, I came up with a plan that each of us should write the President, (President Bush must know and appreciate bluegrass music because he had the Nashville Bluegrass Band play for the visiting President of China), each of the two Senators representing our home state, and the Congressman representing our Congressional District. I did just that, and to date have received replies from one of my Senators, Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana, and just today, Representative Steve Buyer of Indiana.

It was Representative Buyer's reply today that has caused me to re-think the strategy of writing these officials. He included with his letter, a copy of "CRS Report for Congress -- Commemorative Postage Stamps: History, Selection Criteria, and Revenue Potential". The content of this publication indicates that prior to the creation of the citizens' stamp advisory committee in 1957 by the Postmaster General, "...political influence often determined what stamps were issued." It further indicates that this 15 member committee, operating under 39 U.S.C. 404(a) (4-5) is an independent body and that it has, in the past, considered, but not acted favorably, on "sense of the Senate" resolutions that commemorative stamps should be issued. The report also states that in the 108th Congress 22 commemorative stamp resolutions in the House and 6 in the Senate were introduced, but none of these emerged from committee. It would appear that Congress itself, since the creation of the citizens' stamp advisory committee, now recognizes that it is the responsibility of that body, and not Congress, to determine what or who will be honored with commemorative postage stamps.

In view of the above, I believe we should abandon any wholesale effort to write Senators or Representatives solely for political pressure in the campaign, which might be counter-productive. On the other hand, if any of us has reason to believe that a Representative, Senator, or the President, knows of and appreciates Bill Monroe and his music, I see nothing wrong with a letter from a constituent asking support for the campaign. We know that Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia is a fiddler. I would think it perfectly in order for fans from that state to write Senator Byrd asking for his support. dj has suggested to me also that the Representatives and Senators from Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina must certainly be aware of BG music. But it would be the people from those states who would be most likely to know those who would genuinely be interested in and want to support the campaign on its own merits.

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