The official ANA usefulness Poll that I hope you'll vote in.

keets · April 26, 2007 4:29AM

With everything that's taking place in the Numismatic world during the past 5-10 years you'd think that the organization formed to further the hobby and act as it's flag bearer would taking advantage of any good will and pushing things to the forefront, hopefully advancing popularity and increasing membership. Such is not the case. We seem to be in an era where megalomania runs rampant, mudslinging is the sport of choice and some type of supposed premium is placed on the political savvy of anyone hoping to attain office.

It's all very sickening to me!!!! When I came "back" to the hobby around 1999 one of the first things I did was join the ANA, mainly at the behest of a longterm member. That lasted about 2-3 years till the stench of what's going on out in Colorado wafted it's way across the air to my doorstep; my exit was quicker than my entrance and required little meditation. Lately, it seems to be one thing after another with CW bringing the next episode to my home and reading room weekly. I find it so, so symbolic that as I read about the new exploits of the ANA board of idiots that I'm generally sitting on my throne and taking a royal dump!!! These guys can't see past their own pointed little noses.

Al H.

RYK · April 26, 2007 4:41AM

My personal feeling is that I am paying very little and getting very little in return.

Longacre · April 26, 2007 4:44AM

I was actually going to put up a similar post asking if the ANA should be disbanded. However, I believe it is some special Congressionally chartered organization so I was not sure if there are different rules for liquidating the entity.

I was thinking if there is any way for collectors who are fed up with the nonsense to contact their congressmen (if those are the appropriate people to contact) and seek to have the organization's tax exemption revoked. Usually this happens when an organization oversteps the tax exemption status rules, such as straying more than the tiniest bit into politics. I don't think that is the case in the ANA's situation, but perhaps if there is some other monkey business going that can be brought to light, then a push can be made to disband the organization.

I think the library is great, as are the summer seminars, but I am not sure whether we as collectors need to support such a large organization and what is appearing to be a fiefdom, all on our nickel.

Zoins · April 26, 2007 4:52AM

What do people want out of a numismatist organization, if they want one at all? If the ANA isn't it (say after the elections), should a new one be started? Or should people just hang out on CU?

ziggy29 · April 26, 2007 4:55AM

<< What do people want out of a numismatist organization, if they want one at all? If the ANA isn't it (say after the elections), should a new one be started? Or should people just hang out on CU?

>>

I wouldn't quite say this board is a substitute for the ANA, but if you think about it, some of it is there.

A couple of the main reasons for a coin-oriented club or organization, be it a small local group or the ANA, are (a) to being like minded people together to talk about and show off their coins to each other, and (b) provide numismatic education. To some extent, you get both here.

flaminio · April 26, 2007 5:27AM

keets · April 26, 2007 7:16AM

picky, picky.........................just vote.

SeaEagleCoins · April 26, 2007 8:26AM

Frankly... I am suspect of this boards' true motivation. There have been too many important decisions made with little or no input from the members. The only Positive I can think of right now is the Numismatist magazine.

In mainstream American politics we are plagued with too many Politicians with their own personal agenda and not enough Representatives who remember that they are supposed to be doing what we want done...instead of telling us what we need to do...or worse, making decisions and not even telling us about them "in the name of National security"... with the Adminstration we have today...I do not feel all that secure...

And so it is with the ANA these days...we have a board of mainly Coin Dealers... do they care about the hobby or the 'hobbyists'? Or are they more interested in furthering their own business interests?

Where are the collectors to represent the collectors who are the ones that the ANA is meant to represent?

...also, where, when and how are we members to get involved? I do not have the means nor the time to make every ANA convention...and I understand that the local level of the ANA has been somewhat dismantled by this Board...since I have joined I have not been approached by anyone in the organization for anything more than "Come to the convention" or "come to the summer seminar"...
what about local involvement?

I have joined other organizations in the past...I have always been welcomed and offered ways that I could be involved, meet other members and help the organization...not with a further spending of money...

The moment an organization has 'secret' meetings and shows the appearance of there being an organization within the organization...I'm 'outta' there...

I intend to wait for some "real" statements of intent by all those seeking office in this next election. Then I will decide on my votes...then we will see if positive AND REVEALING changes are made after the election.

...either the next board makes speedy changes to provide a simple and transparent ANA whose sole purpose is to promote the hobby, protect the hobby and further the education of the hobbyists... or I will not be renewing my membership.

LanLord · April 26, 2007 8:41AM

Im goin'g to say; that Bobs' gettin'g upsetat in corrects graamar

<<

>>

speety · April 26, 2007 8:42AM

I think overall the ANA is pretty much useless except for a couple things each year such as the Summer Seminars, the large shows they put on, and the Money museum in colorado springs.

kranky · April 26, 2007 9:02AM

As long as the board is elected by the members, then anything that is wrong can be corrected. I believe we need a large, strong organization to represent the interests of collectors even if it is flawed. So no matter what the problems are, I don't think the ANA has outlived its usefulness.

Just to take the Summer Seminars as an example - anyone who has been there can attest to the unbelievable amount of knowledge you can acquire in a week or two. This would be completely impossible without the ANA. If the Summer Seminar was run by a for-profit organization, it would cost $5,000 a week because it would cost a great deal of money to get the instructors to attend. They wouldn't be donating their time any more.

keets · April 27, 2007 8:57AM

after thinking some about the flaminio rant, i have decided that Bob blew this one since an apostrophe "s" is the correct manner in which to show possession. such an example might be as follows: the Mint's operating procedure, denoting that the operating procedure mentioned is that of the Mint. stating that sans the apostrophe and reading "the Mints operating procedure is using the "s" to denote plurality, more than one Mint. at least that's the way i was taught and the way that i spell.

flaminio · April 27, 2007 9:08AM

<< at least that's the way i was taught and the way that i spell. >>

Then you were taught wrong, and your spelling is illiterate. (He said, gently...)

Linkadoodles.

ModernCrapNut · April 27, 2007 9:10AM

I've just gotten back into collecting after many years away from the hobby. Two points, I'm learning a lot in the forum about grading, spotting scams, neat coins and photographing them. From what I read, I see no reason to join and/or support the ANA. I've belonged to other organizations where the original purpose had been replaced by political back-stabbing and high cost travel for a few.

keets · April 27, 2007 9:12AM

i have been called worse by better and will continue my illiterate ways, much to the disdain of those who know better. hopefully, that willn't be two troublesome.

keets · April 27, 2007 9:16AM

the ANA seems to provide a few good thing's such as it's Library, it's Summer Seminar's and it's magazine's-------sorry, Bob, i couldn't help myself'(s)!!! past that i figure there's a certain sense of over-importance amongst the Board of Governors since they seem to fall short in all other things they claim to be doing for us. politics in this sense is a very bad thing.

ricko · April 27, 2007 9:19AM

The organization has grown beyond usefullness and become a political quagmire for inflated ego's. The minimal redeeming value that may be obtained from some seminars or a library do not justify the bloated, salary rich administration that achieves nothing but self aggrandization. Cheers, RickO

flaminio · April 27, 2007 9:31AM

<< sorry, Bob, i couldn't help myself'(s)!!! >>

Sur'e, wh'y no't. Ju'st pu't apo'strophe's whe're'eve'r yo'u wan't. I'f yo'u d'o i't, i't mus't b'e cor'rec't...

goose3 · April 27, 2007 9:45AM

From what I've read here so far, people have neglected to point out the benefit of the ANA's Dispute process with members and/or member dealers.

If it was not for that benefit, I am certain I would have had to have taken much more action on my part to secure my refund.

As far as the current clowns running the place, vote every last one of them out and start over. That's our only choice at this point to show our unhappiness with the way things are being handled.

I'd still like to know what happened to all of the money for the legal defense (ACG) fund since members like Craton never received a dime of it.

flaminio · April 27, 2007 9:48AM

<< I'd still like to know what happened to all of the money for the legal defense (ACG) fund since members like Craton never received a dime of it. >>

I'm guessing it either (a) just got absorbed into the general fund; or (b) they used it to pay for their own lawyers, who ultimately settled with ACG.

Stick a fork in the ANA. It's done.

goose3 · April 27, 2007 9:50AM

<< (b) they used it to pay for their own lawyers, who ultimately settled with ACG. >>

that would be my guess.

someone should be able to find this information out.

flaminio · April 27, 2007 9:53AM

<< someone should be able to find this information out. >>

I'd re-up for LM if it could be shown to me that the money went to any of the 54 named defendents in the ACG suit.

ricko · April 27, 2007 11:36AM

The members 're-upping' perpetuate the blatant bureaucracy and political crap that has become obvious to all. Stop the funds, the cancer dies. Cheers, RickO

Ronyahski · April 27, 2007 11:43AM

The ANA needs to get back to basics and get away from the politics. They should focus on supporting local coin clubs, increasing interest of YNs, and continually improve the reputation of the hobby. Move away from such things soliciting monies from TPGs and converting the governance into a corporate model.

I continue to be amazed at what I feel is a paltry membership base. With such a popular hobby, why are there only 32,000+- members? Doubling that number sounds like and aggressive goal, but when you think about the population of potential members, why not? Could they do more towards that end?

A few thoughts off the top:

- Maybe I'm not looking, but I rarely see the ANA with a table at shows looking for members.

- Make the Numismatist more appealling to the masses. A recent poll here seemed to label the magazine as a bit esoteric for most.

- Discounts for joining through a local club.

- Start an internet forum to bring collectors together (o.k., not an original idea, but why not!)

- Put more educational material on the web-site. Maybe an internet based summer seminar course. A members only forum to gripe to the BOD doesn't quite cut it. How about a library listing.

The Summer Seminars, the museum in Colorado Springs, the library; they are all fantastic, but they don't reach the masses. Reach out more to the collectors, that is what you are there for.

fc · April 27, 2007 11:51AM

from my perspective i sorta chuckled when i heard of the ANA.
i was thinking, gee, did any other hobby i ever had need an
organiztion like this? nope.

but their charter goals are worthy i suppose.

tcmitssr · April 27, 2007 12:01PM

Simple....don't vote for any incumbent but Walter. When in doubt, vote for a collector over a dealer but take both over incumbents.

ricko · April 27, 2007 1:13PM

Why preserve an anachronism that no longer contributes? Is it that important to 'belong'???? Wake up and smell the coffee.. wow. Cheers, RickO

Zoins · April 27, 2007 1:16PM

<< Why preserve an anachronism that no longer contributes? >>

It seems like many people like the magazine, library and classes.

keets · April 27, 2007 10:20PM

my impression from observation and the replies is that the ANA has simply strayed away from the original prupose it was created for and gotten into way too much business having to do with personal agendas. belonging to other organizations has taught me one thing------if i can't set myself off to the side on a shelf and focus on service to others, i should probably stay at home. that seems to be the crux of the problem with the current Board. as mentioned by Ronyahski, the membership is shrinking while overall hobby interest is growing.

are they deaf at those closed door meetings as well as blind and dumb(sic)???

The official ANA usefulness Poll that I hope you'll vote in.

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