I gave it one more year (after my initial 2 year membership), but I'm not exactly "overly impressed' with their availability for those of us who #1. aren't close to their headquarters, and #2. the lack of effort to reach out to the "hinterland" areas of the nation where many collectors reside.
Here is a letter (and response received) I sent the staff a few months ago which I was told generated the recent questionere about their operations that was sent to the general membership, if you recall.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////
Hi Ben,
Thank you for your interest in improving the
ANA, I have forwarded your e-mail to the senior staff so that they will be able to consider your recommendations. However, because I am the numismatic educator, I can address some of your concerns and will answer as best as I can.
#1. The
ANA needs to reach out to the nooks and crannies of the Nation. Advertisement is desperately needed on a national television level.
Unfortunately, national television advertisement is very expensive and there is a concern that said advertisement would not reach our target audiences.
#2. The
ANA must realize that a disadvantaged or poor collector is still a collector who yearns for knowledge. It's expensive for a young collector to try and attend a seminar in Colorado even traveling from say Roswell, NM. Why not send out an emissary with material to teach a class in a small town? Of course the word has got to be spread about such an action, but hey it's cheaper for one to travel and teach many, than for many to travel and be taught by one. The boyscouts/girlscouts of these areas would flock to a seminar held by an instructor from the
ANA.
During our Summer Seminar program this year, we have been able to host over 50 young numismatists, the vast majority are on scholarship from the
ANA or their local club. We encourage young collectors to apply for scholarships so that they have an opportunity to attend this wonderful event. Money for scholarships is raised through 2 YN Auctions. One being held each week of the seminar. Over $13,000 was raised last week for YN scholarships.
We offer a class for teachers called Coins in the Classroom during Summer Seminar and at various places across the country. The class is designed to show educators how to use money, in all of its forms, using their already established lessons. Just this year, the seminar was held in Houston, Virginia Beach, Colorado Springs (Summer Seminar), and will be held in Cornish, New Hampshire. If you would to bring Coins in the Classroom to your area, I will be happy to discuss the possibility. All that is required is a registration of 15 teachers or more and coverage of travel expenses (a registration fee of $45 per teacher helps to defray some of the cost).
Regards,
Rod
Rod Gillis, Numismatic Educator
American Numismatic Association
818 N. Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903
719-482-9845
www.money.org
From: Ben Blake [mailto:danegeld2@msn.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 8:35 AM
To: Rodney Gillis
Subject: New
ANA ideas from a member, #3130358
Greetings Sir,
My name is Ben Blake and I'm a member of the
ANA, #3130358; I'm also a senior member of the internet forum Cointalk.org which has around 15,000 members and discusses the aspects of the hobby and the
ANA quite frequently.
The reason for my writing you is to possibly plant a few seeds/ideas in the minds of
ANA Leadership about what the (MILLIONS) of small time coin collectors across the USA would like to see and if implemented (just one of these) would increase
ANA Membership to new highs. New highs mean more money, and more money... Well you get the idea. :)
Here are a few ideas.
#1. The
ANA needs to reach out to the nooks and crannies of the Nation. Advertisement is desperately needed on a national television level.
#2. The
ANA must realize that a disadvantaged or poor collector is still a collector who yearns for knowledge. It's expensive for a young collector to try and attend a seminar in Colorado even traveling from say Roswell, NM. Why not send out an emissary with material to teach a class in a small town? Of course the word has got to be spread about such an action, but hey it's cheaper for one to travel and teach many, than for many to travel and be taught by one. The boyscouts/girlscouts of these areas would flock to a seminar held by an instructor from the
ANA.
#3. The average small-time-town-casual collector doesn't care about fancy advertisements for auctions that only 1/1000th of the collectors in America could afford. Remember, there is a large strata of American Citizens who aren't taken in by bright shiny items offered for sale simply because they are on good paper. These are the collectors who can get along with the old standbys (
RedBook and Whitman Folders) and when they do spread their collections you might be convinced that the focus of the
ANA is in the wrong direction.
Why not put out a smaller/say B&W newsletter or pamphlet type of bimonthly magazine for those who would like to subscribe to it. This smaller version could feature a small town (100,000 or less pop) coinshop and do a little story about the owner and what they specialize in or maybe a small-time collectors collection and how they came by it...
#4. Think about opening a satellite office or two or three around the USA inorder to offer a closer POC for this casual collector who has questions and maybe has a coin to be looked at by an educated set of eyes. I'm not talking about slabbing the darn thing. I'm simply suggesting that they could verify it as genuine of what variety it is. Have some literature available to the person who drops by and maybe a book or two for sale. This would really spread the word/good work the
ANA does.
And lastly #5. Many collectors (me included) don't have the time or the money to hop in a plane and jet all over the USA to attend shows and visit numismatic organizations which are always in the same place. And you and I both know that the costs of recreational travel are rising.
Why not hold a (again well advertised) convention or show in some smaller cities and try to hit area quadrant of the nation so-to-speak. Maybe Rapid City or Sioux Falls, SD etc... The positive impression that this would make would indeed be something...
I sincerley appreciate you taking the time to read this e-mail and you can contact me via phone at ********** or snail mail at:
Ben Blake
23174 Radar Hill Rd
Rapid City, SD 57703
Respectfully
Ben Blake
Posted 08/23/2008 10:13 am
