Would you consider voting for an ANA governor if he or she did not read CW or NN?
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
I was reading the latest issue of the Esylum (the electronic newsletter of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society). There was an interesting comment, which I quote below (lightly edited):
“In his ad in the April 2007 Bank Note Reporter, [a] paper money dealer [name omitted] writes: "This past weekend, I had the chance to speak with a member of the ANA Board at a show... He did not read BNR, but then said he did not read Coin World or Numismatic News - I wrote him off my [list of] preferred vote getters. How can a person represent me if he does not know how the industry feels?"
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I also found it rather odd that a candidate or member of the board of the ANA does not read at least one of the standard weekly publications, such as CW or NN. How do you feel about this? Are you less likely to support someone who does not read one of these publications? I know after a long hard day of dealing with numismatics, a person probably does not want to read CW or NN, but perhaps they should? I know both of those newspapers have a significant amount of nonsense included (the inane letters to the editor complaining about the Mint, the delusional editorials by the editor of CW, etc.), but there is also a lot of good content. What do you think?
[Lastly, for those who are not receiving the FREE weekly Esylum, you should sign up at the link that follows. It is incredible, anyone who is anyone in numismatics is a member, and one board member here, after signing up and reading the first issue that he received, actually said he felt like smoking a cigarette after completing it. It’s THAT good. Here is the link:
Esylum
“In his ad in the April 2007 Bank Note Reporter, [a] paper money dealer [name omitted] writes: "This past weekend, I had the chance to speak with a member of the ANA Board at a show... He did not read BNR, but then said he did not read Coin World or Numismatic News - I wrote him off my [list of] preferred vote getters. How can a person represent me if he does not know how the industry feels?"
*****************
I also found it rather odd that a candidate or member of the board of the ANA does not read at least one of the standard weekly publications, such as CW or NN. How do you feel about this? Are you less likely to support someone who does not read one of these publications? I know after a long hard day of dealing with numismatics, a person probably does not want to read CW or NN, but perhaps they should? I know both of those newspapers have a significant amount of nonsense included (the inane letters to the editor complaining about the Mint, the delusional editorials by the editor of CW, etc.), but there is also a lot of good content. What do you think?
[Lastly, for those who are not receiving the FREE weekly Esylum, you should sign up at the link that follows. It is incredible, anyone who is anyone in numismatics is a member, and one board member here, after signing up and reading the first issue that he received, actually said he felt like smoking a cigarette after completing it. It’s THAT good. Here is the link:
Esylum
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
0
Comments
I have not (yet) read my copy of the Esylum, so does the article "out" the candidate? I believe, as I think you do, that someone who does not read either CW and/or NN isn't truly enlightened with what is occuring in the industry. This person would be a LOT less likely to get my vote, so I surely hope the Esylum names him or her. Or, if a candidate is named in the article, mayhap you could mention the name?
<< <i>Why should it bother me? I don't read either of those publications either. >>
I agree. I only occasionally read CW ... and find it incredibly boring since it focuses ad nauseum on modern mint products in which I have zero interest. So yes, I would.
BTW, anyone that is willing to serve on the BOG clearly has enough of an interest in numismatics and in the community that I wouldn't worry too much about WHY he or she doesn't read the papers.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>I also found it rather odd that a candidate or member of the board of the ANA does not read at least one of the standard weekly publications, such as CW or NN. How do you feel about this? >>
When did CW and NN become required reading? More often than not, the news is known before the paper comes out. They both accept ads from companies that are well known to not follow hobby standards. Both run ads from companies who have been expelled from the ANA for (lets call it) bad business practices.
Add this to the fact that the ANA has standards of its own, which change like the wind. It really doesn't appear to me that the ANA is protecting the hobby, or even leading it.
The general number spouted is that there are 100 million collectors. The ANA has 30 thousand members. Now their library is great, but other than that, what "real" benefit does the average person receive?
If the ANA really was concerned about what the hobby is doing, they would have more open meetings, and allow more than a few people to speak. Maybe even remember that they are suppose to lead our hobby instead of playing politics.
As far as the weekly papers are concerned, maybe when they enforce their own rules for the advertisers, and choose to cover real numismatic stories versus the day to day fluff, they could be considered a "must" read....
<< <i>
The general number spouted is that there are 100 million collectors. The ANA has 30 thousand members. >>
You getting that number from the Coin Vault show?
Steve
My Complete PROOF Lincoln Cent with Major Varieties(1909-2015)Set Registry
<< <i>
<< <i>I also found it rather odd that a candidate or member of the board of the ANA does not read at least one of the standard weekly publications, such as CW or NN. How do you feel about this? >>
When did CW and NN become required reading? More often than not, the news is known before the paper comes out. They both accept ads from companies that are well known to not follow hobby standards. Both run ads from companies who have been expelled from the ANA for (lets call it) bad business practices.
Add this to the fact that the ANA has standards of its own, which change like the wind. It really doesn't appear to me that the ANA is protecting the hobby, or even leading it.
The general number spouted is that there are 100 million collectors. The ANA has 30 thousand members. Now their library is great, but other than that, what "real" benefit does the average person receive?
If the ANA really was concerned about what the hobby is doing, they would have more open meetings, and allow more than a few people to speak. Maybe even remember that they are suppose to lead our hobby instead of playing politics.
As far as the weekly papers are concerned, maybe when they enforce their own rules for the advertisers, and choose to cover real numismatic stories versus the day to day fluff, they could be considered a "must" read.... >>
To me, the current events section of the newspapers are a good overview of what is going on in the numismatic world. In my opinion, even if a dealer is in the trenches on a daily basis, sometimes he does not know everything that is going on in the industry, including new legislation, etc. Therefore, I think it is important for a governor or candidate to at least take a look at NN and CW, even if it is to get an idea of what people are discussing that week. In my profession, there are certain daily journals that are must reads, and if you don't read them and are not able to discuss the current hot issues, it says something about you as a professional. Maybe numismatics is different, though.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i> In my opinion, even if a dealer is in the trenches on a daily basis, sometimes he does not know everything that is going on in the industry, including new legislation, etc. Therefore, I think it is important for a governor or candidate to at least take a look at NN and CW, even if it is to get an idea of what people are discussing that week. >>
Absolutely. The vast majority of dealers get there day to day info from dealer networks, forums, and discussions with collectors. The market is certianly bigger than all of us dealers, despite what some of us think. The majority of collectors want education, good information, and a level playing field. It is a shame that most will not take the time to read or study this wonderful hobby. They rely on what they see rather than taking the time to learn.
As an example, in the weekly papers you see ads for third world holders, why? Anyone who has been in this hobby long enough knows better. Another person made mention of the TV shows. These companies sell more coins than most dealers combined, why?
How many people have come onto this forum and talked about being burned?
The weekly papers support (indirectly) these bad dealers and bad grading services, and yet the ANA does nothing. The one time that they (indirectly) did say something, they were sued.
If the govenors or potential govenors did read the weekly papers, what would they see that they don't see on every forum or hear at every show?
Despite the great articles by Dave Bowers and Mike Fahey, the rest is filled with ads and complaints. We can find that information everywhere.
I also learn something almost every week.
I think that it is important that BOG members do everything that they can to keep up with the numismatic hobby and that would include reading the papers. If a potential member was dumb enough to have answered Tom's question negatively, then perhaps he should not be included as the most qualified to represent my views on the BOG
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
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<< <i>I, like most dealers, do read the weekly numismatic press.
I also learn something almost every week.
I think that it is important that BOG members do everything that they can to keep up with the numismatic hobby and that would include reading the papers. If a potential member was dumb enough to have answered Tom's question negatively, then perhaps he should not be included as the most qualified to represent my views on the BOG >>
I agree Julian. Now I read NN, CW, World Coin News, and also visit Coinlink.com for my numismatic info.