Re-Subscribed to the ANA (Mistake or Not)

Yesterday I received a notice to renew my subscription o the ANA. After giving the decision a good bit of thought with much consternation I decided to submit my payment for one more year.

Since I'm not a dealer, subscriber to TPG services, or even follow the gossip of the hobby was this a decision you would have made?

Thanks
Ben

 

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I'm going to be making the same decision in a few months. Other than getting "The Nimismatist" every month, I'm not sure if it's worthwhile to me.

 

I have joined twice in the past, and left twice in the past because of the internal politics of the ANA. One does have to wonder how, if there are so many collectors why does the ANA have such a minimal membership?

 

i let mine go,they are in it for themselves not the hobby.

 

Just like everything else.

 

I received the renewal notice yesterday but decided against it. Not worth it for me.

 

Come to think of it, venues like CoinTalk have replaced coin clubs for me. I find the discussions here far more fascinating, learn more and we are largely free of the political bickering, adverts etc. I don't have to worry about someone mismanaging funds, or passing someone else over for a job promotion etc. Plus I pay no usurious dues here, but hope I contribute by sharing knowledge etc.

 

I am open to donation if you find it necessary.

 

Mine came up for renewal this month but I let it go. The magazine was nice but there really were no other benefits that I used. I'll think about rejoining when they give away a double eagle with each renewal.

 

Ben, you made a good decision.

 

I'm letting mine go, I just don't see the point of belonging to an organization that requires a lion share of effort from myself just to keep up on what is going on. Not to mention coin collecting for me is about coin collecting, not politics, or an interview with the monetary contributor of the year or other squabbles, foibles and the whatnot.

 

Ben , your a better man than me , you're supporting programs for kids , which is our hobbies future . BTW , How much are the dues ?
rzage

 

You say you're letting it go but your signiture still indicates that you are an ANA member....me thinks you have issues and dilemas.

 

I'm still curious as to what benefit's you get for having a membership? Are they worth what you pay? Outside of rzage's comment, which I would support, what do you get out of being a member? Better yet, are you utilizing them?

Allen

 

I will post one more thing...associations are very important. AMA (American Medical Association) ALA (American Library Asocciation). All of these orginizations command respect and dignity. Granted the ANA has had trouble in the past but I do believe it is cleaning up its' act. Lets all hang together for surely , as one famous American said, we shall all hang seperately.

 

Oh and one more thing.....we legitimize the hobby.

 

I guess I am in the minority here. I am a member of ANA. I am a Life Member so I don't have to renew every year but if I were a regular member I would renew. Contrary to what others have said I think the ANA does a lot for the coin collecting community. I don't think "they are only in it for themselves". That is a pretty jaded and inaccurate view IMO.

Yes, ANA has had some issues the last few years but I really feel they are getting things righted and headed in the right direction. ANA had some bad leadership and consequently lost their focus for a while but that has now changed.

Today Larry Shepherd (the new ANA Executive Director) came to my grading class and spoke to us at length. He told us many of the things that have been changed to get ANA back going in the right direction. But like a ship changing directions it will take time for all these changes to take effect. I asked when we might expect the lawsuits to end and Larry's answer was "soon". I think the lawsuits were a big issue and a big negative for many ANA members - and rightly so. (I am VERY unhappy with the nature of the lawsuits and the amount of money being wasted on lawyers.) Keep in mind these lawsuits (other than the eBay-related suit) were initiated by the former Executive Director who is no longer around.

ANA offers a lot of educational opportunities - but it's up to you to take advantage of them. If all you do is read the Numismatist magazine you are missing out on a lot of what ANA has to offer.

If $36 a year for dues is considered "usurious" I have to ask "What should the dues be priced?" $10? $5? Come on! $36 a year is a good deal for the magazine alone. If you took advantage of the other things ANA offers you might just learn something that could save you MUCH more than the price of your dues. Learning just ONE thing about grading or counterfeit detection could save you HUNDREDS of dollars on just one coin.

I don't understand why some people find the need to bash ANA so much. If you don't like ANA or if it's not your cup of tea that's fine. But it would be hypocritical to bash ANA and then attend an ANA coin show. You should stay away from the ANA World's Fair of Money and the other national shows. Guess what you will be missing. Larry Shepherd announced to us that ANA has reached an agreement with the Smithsonian to display some of the Smithsonian's unseen rarities at their national shows.

Bash away but I think the ANA does a lot more for the hobby than any coin message board can ever do (no offense to CoinTalk).

Tomorrow I will continue my education at ANA Summer Seminar and expand my knowledge of grading coins. (Let's see you do that on a message board.)

I'm putting on my asbestos suit so flame away.

 

Right on Hobo!!!!

 

Unfortunately i wont be able to reknew my subscription. the numismatist is an excellent magazine IMHO