Anybody See Beth Deisher's Editorial About The Ana?

For the most part situations like these are exactly why I don't join organizations. In the end its all about money with the orginal intent, of the organization, taking second or third place to the money and the struggle for power. Money and power breeds corruption and forces dedicated individuals to eventually take sides. The enternal strife that follows, which seldom gets media attention, causes far more damage inside the organization and this is a typical example. I was a volunteer fireman for 10 years, reaching the rank of chief, and it evens happens there! We usually referred to our groups as the A team and B team and that seperation of forces constantly bickering for what they assumed was "power" finally ended my career and I stepped down and swore "Never Again"! Most organizations today "talk the talk" and say what you need to hear but how many of them actually deliver?

ND, Terry, and catman, all you have said is true, even, sadly among the Boy Scouts of America in which I have devoted 52 years, an organization to which a higher purpose should take precedent. But, this is human nature with all the frailties of egos, personalities, and politics for which there seems no escape and around which the lowest common denominator seems to emerge rather than be submerged. I would hope that the full story at the ANA will eventually come out and the organization will return to the business of numismatics.

Throughout my life my WORD has been my contract. If I say I will do something you can bet the farm on it. To me there is no stronger bond than the spoken word and a handshake. A little scribble on a piece of paper will, in the end, mean nothing if the people involved will not stand for their WORD! It just means a lawsuit!
I have raised Bobwhite Quail for years and years. Don't ask me why as I couldn't really tell you. Years and years ago, being an avid bird hunter, I developed a deep respect for that little bird and realized I didn't know squat about them so I decided to find out what they were all about and have been raising them ever since. Wasn't long my little hobby turned into a business and I made VERBAL committments summer after summer to folks wanting Bobwhite Quail each winter for various reasons. Some buy for food, others to train dogs, some to release and hunt, others release just to boost the wild birds in their repective area and I sell to other game breeders. I, for the last few years, have had a VERBAL CONTRACT with a hunting preserve to have the birds for call out when they want them and also supply birds to a company for a company outing every winter. They count on me so one way or another I have always managed to have the birds ready when they come to pick them up. Now this is NOT an over night deal as I start raising birds, incubating, hatching, feeding, watering, moving to various locations in May of each year. They require daily care and every thing Mother Nature can throw at you can devastate them. Then we have to contend with the predators year around. Why do I continue to do it? For the love of the quail and the fact I SAID I would do it! My word means more to me than any piece of paper ever will! Is it all worth it financially, probably NOT (you should see my feed bill) but I provide a much needed service and these birds are like coin collecting! Once it gets under your skin it sure is hard to quit!

I'm a member of ANA. I'm not happy at all. I wonder how NGC feels about the ANA now. Is it worth paying the ANA for the endorsement?



Jerry

Sometimes it seems random whether or not an organization such as the ANA does a "good" job or not. I am a member of several organizations which are illustrative of the "good, the bad, and the ugly". Several here have noted my comparison of AOPA (airplane owners and pilots association) with the ANA. AOPA is outstanding. They give a free six month subscription to flight training magazine-with abosolutely no "catch" (such as a need to cancel to avoid billing after that point) to student pilots. They support and recognize programs to get folks involved in aviation. They have a terrific website with state of the art weather info for members. They educate members on airspace changes (very important in teh post 9/11 world). They try to keep airports open (very important in this day and age when real estate developerws salivate over ant open land near cities). their magazine is well written fun and informative.

The ANA is almost in the "bad" category in my book-they do nothing substantive save for run their meeting and provide very, very minimal standards. Their sellout to ebay has been commented on here many, many times.

The ugly is the sierra club. I've been a member for many years, and they do lots of good work, have a good magazine, etc, but they all too often stray from what I feel their membership really wants-which is environmental education and advocacy-period. The politics of that organization is byzantine as well. But regarding board representation-they do a good job of having folks running for their board state who they are, what their goals are, etc.
Don

Nope, did not receive CW. I keep my promises, when they eliminated their talk forum, many there swore to cancell their subscription. Well, I didn't cancell it, but I did let it "expire", besides, they all started to become same ole same ole, same advertisers, same crap--Once in awhile they would have an interesting article, but over all, I lost total interest in their rag..

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Originally posted by Connecticoin

I'd like to see Beth require higher standards from Coin World advertisers.

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I would settle for them enforcing the rules that they already have. Seems as if NO ONE is willing to enforce their own rules these days.