Do you belong to the ANA?

Blade

I belonged to the ANA for 6 years when I was a younger. I am considering rejoining. Do you think the benefits are worth it? I used to belong to get the Numismatist magazine, but as a YN back then it was inexpensive ($15 a year I think). Should have bought a life membership - they were only $500 at the time.

MacCoin

the only thing I belong to is a silver member of CU. but I do wish there was a coin club near me.

Shoedog

I just joined.My main reason for joining was the library.I borrowed 6 videos,you get them for around 5-6 weeks.They have an extensive list of books/videos on the website.They ship book rate so it took a while to get them but they did ship the day of my request and were very helpful.I also understand the mag is excellent.My very limited experience has been positive.
Steve

FatMan

I'm a member. The value of membership is what you make of it. The library is a great source of information. The magazine has some great articles that have much greater depth than what you find in the weekly publications. The membership fee is nominal and I can't imagine any serious collector not giving membership a try.

FC57Coins

I'm a member as well

kranky

I'm an ANA member. The benefits are sufficient for me, but over and above that I think it's important to have a strong national organization that represents collectors. And the ANA seminars alone - if they didn't offer them, you would have private companies doing it and charging five times more.

I honestly believe if MORE collectors were ANA members, we wouldn't be seeing stuff like the Mint selling circulation strike coins at huge markups. A larger, stronger organization would carry more clout with respect to Mint policies and coinage redesign.

4thStooge

I don't belong and would not belong until they clean up their house. Their internal problems are a real tun-off to most.

pmh1nic

Yes. The organization offers a lot in the way of educational resources and is making attempts to be a watchdog in the marketplace to protect the interest of collectors.

Louis

<< <i>I don't belong and would not belong until they clean up their house. Their internal problems are a real tun-off to most. >>




Care to elaborate ?

GaCoinGuy

ACG. It's companies like that that keep me from joining. How can an organization claim to uphold the ethics of a collecting field when they allow people like the Hagars to do what they have for the hobby. And, yes, I realize that Diane Hagar resigned her membership...........but how long did they hide behind their ANA logo?

Trime

I am a member and find their library services and summer seminar series alone are well worth the cost. The staff are exceedingly helpful.
The mag is OK but not spectacular.
I agree with Kranky's comments of the lobbying value of a national organization representing the discipline but recognize that the org is divided between the interests of the coin dealer industry and the grass root members. That is not easy, nor have they been entirely successful. There is much more potential than has been accomplished. They are underfinanced and the hobbyist's perspectives are greatly overshaddowed in influence by the large revenues of the businesses involved in what you might consider a hobby.
For all the reasons above, I recommend you join.
(edited for typos)

nwcs

Yes I am a member and I do believe it is worth the money.

Barry

<< <i>I don't belong and would not belong until they clean up their house. Their internal problems are a real tun-off to most. >>


I don't know about "most," but I otherwise agree.

DDR

I used to be a member but I let my membership drop. I didn't find there to be any benefits to being a member, other than receiving the Numismatist, a journal with some really boring articles. I did not see the ANA doing much to benefit the collectors. I figured my money was better spent elsewhere in the hobby.

MrEureka

I'm a member.

Also, Stooge, I believe that most of the "house cleaning" has already been done. Please tell us if I'm missing something.

wingedliberty

I have been a member for a long time and highly recommend it.

njcoincrank

I joined in 1976 as a YN.

Upgraded to LM in 1987.

Received my 25 year pin a few years ago.

Well worth the membership fee. Library, seminars, etc.

njcoincrank

CarlWohlforth

I just joined. The mag is good and I feel I'm supporting our hobby.

Julian

I am LM 664, having joined in 1968, right after my 21st BD. The reason that I waited is that I did not want a J before my #, while I was already dealing in coins.

No organization is perfect, and the ANA is no exception. They have a dedicated board of governors and officers, a very competent professional staff, and a wonderful facility in Colorado. The assn. also offers many educational benefits, like the summer seminar, library, Numismatist magazine, YN programs, etc.

I heartily encourage all collectors to join. Dealers, investors, speculators will also get more than there money's worth.

As was said before, you only get out of a membership, what you take advantage of.

Happy TG, all.

Veep

I'm a member. I just received five videos that I've borrowed from their library. To me, the library is the #1 reason I belong.

stujoe

<< <i>I just joined. The mag is good and I feel I'm supporting our hobby. >>



I have been a member for almost 4 years and I feel the same way.

paigowjohnny

No I am not. The cost outweighs the benefit for me.

airplanenut

I am a member... and I've been reaping the benefits

I've spent $30 for 2 years of membership... I've gotten:

Some 20 things from the Library for personal use, as well as two research papers. One of the papers won me $2500.

I also got a scholarship to the Summer Seminar... I learned a ton, had a blast, and it was all expenses paid, while normally some $700 with airfare for me.

I'm glad I'm a member

Jeremy

dpoole

I'm a member. I think that if things are going to happen to clean up and improve the hobby over time, we're going to need organization to do it. ANA is the logical place for this to occur. I want to be a member in part to encoruage it in that direction.

Gemini

I have been a member going on 40 years soon and while I haven't been using every service available I do enjoy the newest format of the Numismatist magazine and I now have a collection of them going back to 1919.
While some feel the organization isn't perfect, and what is? I think they are doing a great job.

member 60296

razorface1027

NO!

jcping

I was an ANA member. I didn't see any benefit. I am a PCGS member now

LouisCamp

Life Member #4443

Lou C

Coinosaurus

Worth the price alone to have ANA convention every year......even if they did nothing else......

mgoodm3

No.

pbyco

I am a member, but I joined so that I could directly submit my coins to NGC without having to pay $99 for the right to submit to PCGS without any other benefits

BAJJERFAN

Nyet

4thStooge

<< <i>Also, Stooge, I believe that most of the "house cleaning" has already been done >>



When they get it all done, let me know.

Garneteye

Yes

ConstellatioCollector

Yes sir!

lordmarcovan

R-206823.

(Was briefly a member under another number, back in '92 or '93, but let my membership lapse for a decade.)

Gilbert

When I first read the topic I thought, again with this question, but the positive responses reminded me of why I joined.

I know there is a somewhat negative connotation associated with supporting the ANA, particularly in light of things made obvious by the recent arbitration, if that's what it's being called, but, it almost comes with being a political organization. When you look at what I think are relatively low membership numbers for an organization that could be so much more effective for this hobby, I have to wonder why more "collectors" won't make a commitment to at least try to be involved in the politics that drive everything that surrounds our hobby.

Fatman, Kranky, Trime and many others point out just a few reasons why it is definitely worthwhile and should be encouraged among present and furture collectors. To do otherwise would make me feel like, what .. a bystander?

Merc

I'll join the ANA when they expose ACG and give that big check back to the Haggars.

My coin club has a library with around 1000 books so I don't need ANA for a library.

kieferscoins

Life member and only 21. It is worth every penny if you use the services menioned before like the library, magazine, educational programs etc.

Cameron Kiefer

rauscs

I joined back in 1959 and it has been well worth while. Spent several days in their library on more than one occasion doing research. That alone was worth the dues I paid for over 40 years. Took a grading class with top notch instructors. Also they put on the ANA shows without an enterance fee.

eisq222

I'm a member