We’ve made mention in the past about the campaign to convince the US Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp honoring the musical contributions of Bill Monroe.

According to the USPS guidelines, such stamps can not be issued until ten years have passed since the person to be honored has died. As such, this campaign launched in 2006 and is heating up now with the goal of seeing the stamp issued in time for the centennial of Monroe’s birth, which will occur on September 13, 2011.

A number of bluegrass artists, organizations, events and personalities are trying to enlist the general bluegrass and Monroe-loving public to get involved in the hopes of swamping the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee with petitions until they cry for mercy!

The Bluegrass Blog enthusiastically joins in this effort, and encourages all our readers to pitch in where they can.

Here are a few suggestions for ways you can help make this happen:

• Bluegrass Associations – make petitions available at meetings, jams and concerts – or consider printing them in your newsletter.
• Bands – take petitions with you to shows, and encourage fans and friends to add their names.
• Radio hosts – post information on the show or station’s web site and encourage listeners to download the petition. You might even find sponsors who would love to have petitions at their business locations in exchange for a mention.
• Festivals – print a bunch of petitions and have a central signing point which you promote from the stage.
• Music teachers – keep petitions in your lesson room and ask students to sign.
• Everyone - contact your elected representatives and ask for their support in this effort.
• Everyone – wear one of the shirts or hoodies from grassware.com with the Monroe stamp image. They make a great conversation starter, and a perfect opening to ask folks to sign the petition you just happen to be carrying with you!

There is a web site with information about this campaign at www.billmonroestamp.org, and here are links to the various resources you need to take part.

Completed petitions should be mailed to:

We have a number of photos of prominent grassers adding their names to the petitions which we will post from time to time, and we encourage anyone who hosts a stamp petition event to send us photos as well.

If we all look for creative ways to generate signatures, we’ll not only succeed in honoring Bill Monroe, but be helping spread the word about bluegrass music in the bargain.

Just do it!