VENTURA COUNTY INCLUDES STAMP COLLECTING LEADERS.

Byline: Jean Russell Vogel Community Columnist

With its corporate headquarters in Simi Valley and its exhibition manager in Oxnard, the Pacific '97 World Philatelic Exhibition spotlights area leadership for stamp collectors and dealers around the globe.

As executive officer for the volunteer board of directors, Simi Valley's Jim Bowman explains that the exhibition in San Francisco from today to June 8 will be the first world-class philatelic exhibition to be held on the West Coast.

First planned soon after Chicago's international exhibition in 1986, Pacific '97 elicited a great outpouring of volunteer support. Four years ago the board also recruited Bob Thompson of Oxnard as exhibition manager for the $3.5 million enterprise.

The only paid staff for Pacific '97, Thompson had for 10 years been exhibition manager for the annual stamp Exhibition of Southern California. He is currently on leave from his job as a systems engineer for flight testing and weapons development.

Secretary for the Pacific '97 board of directors is Bob de Violini of Oxnard. Since 1989 Violini has issued a periodic news bulletin to 7,000 stamp collectors and dealers in the United States and overseas. Area leadership also includes Lois Evans-de Violini, who serves as controller for the Pacific '97 corporation.

Thompson expects 150,000 visitors to attend one or more of the 10 days of exhibits, sales, seminars, auctions and special events in San Francisco's recently expanded Moscone Convention Center.

Pacific '97 will be the first international-level stamp show to admit visitors without charge.

``The free admission will provide more opportunities for families and those newly interested to attend,'' Thompson said.

Pacific '97's bourse will market the wares of 225 dealers, foreign and domestic. Postal administrations from 150 countries, including the United States, will be represented in displays, as will numerous philatelic societies, Thompson explained.

The exhibition marks the 150th anniversary of the first stamp issues in the United States - a 5-cent Franklin and a 10-cent Washington - Bowman noted. Revalued to 50 and 60 cents, they will be reissued in souvenir sheetlet form as Pacific '97 opens.

Earlier this year the U.S. Postal Service issued its first triangular stamps, two designs featuring Pacific '97. Postal cards with printed stamps of San Francisco views also will be issued.

Pacific 97 has formed a Court of Honor assembling outstanding philatelic material representing countries bordering the Pacific Rim.

There also will be a special section for young collectors. The Tucson Stamp Club has processed a large quantity of donated stamps into packets to give to interested youths.

Like many philately enthusiasts, Thompson and Bowman began collecting stamps in their youth.

A native of Newton, Ill., Thompson put his hobby aside during college, eight years in the Navy and computer studies. He reconnected with collectors in 1974 upon visiting the Ventura County Philatelic Society.

Bowman began his stamp collecting in Glendale, where he grew up. He and his wife, Marian, a Nebraskan, have lived in Simi Valley since 1964. Each has served as president of the Simi Valley Stamp Club, which meets twice monthly.

Marian Bowman's involvement with stamp collecting began with their marriage. Since Jim Bowman's retirement from Rockwell International Corporation, the couple have been attending many world-class philatelic gatherings.

In recent years, these trips have involved promoting Pacific '97, including a major distribution of material at the 11-day Singapore '95 World Stamp Exhibition.

More details about Pacific 97 can be obtained at its Web site: http://www.west.net/-stampsl/pacficl.hmtm Pacific '97 is under patronage of the Federation International de Philatelie, which sets standards. Gene Tinsley of Los Angeles is president of the Pacific '97 corporation.