Bill Monroe Stamp Still a Possibilty --Let's Make it Happen!

The U.S. Postal Service Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee is currently considering Bill Monroe as a subject for a commemorative stamp. No date for the final decision has been given. There is no way of knowing what level of support it will take to make this a reality, i.e. no magic number is given for the amount of letters or petition signatures needed. What is clear is that now is the time for the Bluegrass community to work together and ask the U.S. Postal Service to honor Bill Monroe and Bluegrass music. The 100th anniversary of Monroe's birthday will be September 13, 2011. Wouldn't that be the perfect day for the stamp to be issued?

Here’s what Bluegrass fans and professionals can do to help:

1. Download this petition and take it to the next jam session, concert or festival you attend. It's not the number of signatures that are important but the authenticity of your petition. Once your petition is completed, mail it to:
   Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee,
   c/o Mr. Terrance W. McCaffrey,
   Manager of Stamp Development,
   U.S. Postal Service,
   1735 N. Lynn Street #5013,
   Arlington, VA 22209-6432.
2. Add a link to this information on your website
3. Email this information to your friends and ask them to participate
4. Additionally, Bluegrass professionals — musicians, luthiers, promoters, educators, writers, radio announcers, record company executives, anyone who makes a living working in the Bluegrass industry — should write a letter to the committee outlining how Bluegrass contributes to the arts and to the economy. Again, a sample letter can be downloaded.

Photo of Bill Monroe at a festival in Franklin, Ohio, September 1968. Photograph by Carl Fleischhauer; used with permission