That's unfortunate. If a club is dominated by people with any of a variety of personality disorders, then it can be a nightmare. My club went through a bit of this before I joined and the stories I hear are pretty awful. Fortunately, the club survived and thrived. Of course, every club will have members that are well-liked/respected and some folks less so. That's just part and parcel of any social organization. As long as no one is egregiously self-serving or worse, then it usually works out OK.
Bumping this thread, as I have another question.....or ten. At your coin club meetings, do people bring coins to sell before/after the meeting? I joined a second coin club, and it looks like there are a few members (a few older gentlemen, and one 13 year-old boy) who bring some coins to each meeting (I've only been to two meetings so far) and lay them out on the table in front of them, to be sold. Just wondering if this is standard practice at most coin clubs, or not. Also, if you were a long-standing member, would you have issues with a new member bringing in coins to sell, also?
I wouldn't have a problem with any Member bringing in coins to potentially sell. Our club has an auction sheet where members can list up to 15 line items for sale at auction. The club gets a 5% buyers fee, there is no sellers fees. On occasion members bring it items for show and tell and for sale outside of the club auction. I sold 6 uncirculated blue seal $1 silver certificates to a member after the last meeting. Before the same meeting I handed a member some scrap gold to checkout and he bought a few pieces after the meeting. We have a pretty small club, I don't hold an elected position but I do donate raffle prizes and purchase the raffle items for the Christmas party.
Funny story. I used to belong to a Metal Detecting club. I know, a little off form coin club but the people often would bring in Metal detected coins, and some would offer to buy them. Had a guy offer me $100 for a Colonial buckle I found. BTW: Nothing was ever stolen as coins were often displayed. As far as outsiders stealing from Us at our library spot in the basement? Two young girls commented that we were in an AA meeting. I just laughed...
Our local club encourages members to set up a table to sell. We have a couple local dealers that bring stuff most months. It gives members a reason to show up early.
It sounds like great fun and I'd like nothing better to hang with a bunch of older coots with the same passion. We have an old established club here in Chicago that meets once a month but I know the city and it would be very difficult and expensive to park downtown, and as a former Chicago cop I also know I'd have to pack a gun. Plus I dont get around to well anymore and dont see well at night driving. So I just haven't bothered with it. But it would be fun. The presentations and Lectures look very interesting.
Unfortunately, in my area the nearest coin club is 2.5 hrs. away! Fortunately, I'm a member of a server on Discord which I equate to an online club. It's more specialized which suits my interests. Plus I have Cointalk. While I believe CT is an older crowd, the discord bunch is much younger, with me, at 41, being one of the oldest members! I like the online coin venues mostly because I can scroll them at my leisure and they don't tend to drain my social battery as quickly as in person events. I have often thought about trying to start a local club and maybe I will some day when I have more free time. My largest concern is I live in a very small community (1,000 people), so for security reasons, I am not a big advertiser of my hobby. Online I can maintain a certain degree of anonymity.
