The American First Day Cover Society has presented one of its highest honors, the Distinguished Service Award, to four members: Dave Bennett of California, Rollin Berger of Virginia, Kerry Heffner of Nebraska, and Mark Goodson of Indiana.

DAVE BENNETT is a talented cachet artist who gives freely of his talents to the AFDCS and its Claude C. Ries Chapter in Southern California. The former professional animator also is vice president of the Ries Chapter and is chair of the Auction Committee, which produces auctions each year in different venues.

ROLLIN BERGER’s service to the AFDCS goes back more than 35 years. He has been the Society’s secretary as well as president and editor for the Robert C. Graebner Chapter, in the Washington, DC, area. He chairs the Court of Honor first day cover program, and personally arranges for the production of the cachets. In addition, he is the auctioneer for the live auctions each year at Americover.

KERRY HEFFNER has served as exhibits chairman of Americover, the AFDCS's annual show and convention, for more than a decade. In addition to managing the exhibit entries, he has created some of the most creative and unique awards in philatelic exhibiting.

MARK GOODSON chairs the AFDCS board of directors and also its Philip H. Ward Award committee, given for the best in first day cover literature. Before becoming chairman of the board, he served on the Board and was also First Vice President. He assists with the AFDCS Archives, and is a key contributor to research into when cachetmakers have started production.