Re-Subscribed to the ANA (Mistake or Not)

Ben,

You picked the single-most busiest time of year to test the ANA for their response time. This week was Session I of Summer Seminar and next week is Sesstion II. EVERY SINGLE staff person is stretched as thin as they can get for these two weeks. I hate to say it but your e-mails are not at the top of anyone's priority list right now. After Session II is over and everyone recovers I'm sure you will get a response.

I will PM you with a suggestion on who to contact for this. Tomorrow I'll tell him to expect your message after Summer Seminar is over.

 

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Apples and oranges.

ANA has 32,000 active members. CoinTalk has 15,000 cumulative members, many of whom are not active and many who were never active. How many spammers became a "member", posted their spam and never returned? How many people joined CoinTalk to ask a single question never to return? How many people have been active here for a period of time but have since moved on?

A person incurs an expense to become (and remain) a member of ANA. There is no charge to join CoinTalk, which invites many to join so they can ask one question - "What is my coin worth?" (not that there is anything wrong with that).

Yes, I wonder how many people CoinTalk reaches. It would be interesting to know how many CoinTalk members are even slightly active (i.e., have posted at least once a week). I'm sure Peter (or an Admin) could check the logs and find out how many unique users visited the site in any given month. It would be even better if they could narrow that down so we could see how many "members" signed in to the site in any given month. That would be a whole lot more useful than saying CoinTalk has 15,000 members.

I wonder how many cumulative members ANA has had through the years. Hmmmmmm.

 

Thank you for the e-mail address. I'll keep the membership here updated with the responses.

Take Care
Ben

 

I'm reading everything here, and I might consider keeping my membership, to keep my cheap collection insurance, we'll see.

 

Colorado Springs is not to far from being in the center of the US 48 states. 369 miles west of the center actually which is Lebanon, KS.

1334 Miles from where I live in Michigan. and I am guess its at least that for the majority of the population. I believe the majority is Cal, NY, Florida, and Texas. Maybe they should consider putting satellites or something in those states?

Cheap flight from Detroit Mi to Colorado Springs $377.00 per person. Not bad I guess, I pay alot more than that to fly to Virginia.

Hmmm, maybe I will shoot out there next summer for a visit.

 

Oh, what the heck. Here is the e-mail I sent to the ANA:
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Greetings Sir,

My name is Ben Blake and I'm a member of the ANA, #3130358; I'm also a member of the internet forum Cointalk.org which has around 15,000 members and discusses the aspects of the hobby and the ANA quite frequently.

The reason for my writing you is to possibly plant a few seeds/ideas in the minds of ANA Leadership about what the (MILLIONS) of small time coin collectors across the USA would like to see and if implemented (just one of these) would increase ANA Membership to new highs. New highs mean more money, and more money... Well you get the idea.

Here are a few ideas.

#1. The ANA needs to reach out to the nooks and crannies of the Nation. Advertisement is desperately needed on a national television level.

#2. The ANA must realize that a disadvantaged or poor collector is still a collector who yearns for knowledge. It's expensive for a young collector to try and attend a seminar in Colorado even traveling from say Roswell, NM. Why not send out an emissary with material to teach a class in a small town? Of course the word has got to be spread about such an action, but hey it's cheaper for one to travel and teach many, than for many to travel and be taught by one. The boyscouts/girlscouts of these areas would flock to a seminar held by an instructor from the ANA.

#3. The average small-time-town-casual collector doesn't care about fancy advertisements for auctions that only 1/1000th of the collectors in America could afford. Remember, there is a large strata of American Citizens who aren't taken in by bright shiny items offered for sale simply because they are on good paper. These are the collectors who can get along with the old standbys (Redbook and Whitman Folders) and when they do spread their collections you might be convinced that the focus of the ANA is in the wrong direction.

Why not put out a smaller/say B&W newsletter or pamphlet type of bimonthly magazine for those who would like to subscribe to it. This smaller version could feature a small town (100,000 or less pop) coinshop and do a little story about the owner and what they specialize in or maybe a small-time collectors collection and how they came by it...

#4. Think about opening a satellite office or two or three around the USA inorder to offer a closer POC for this casual collector who has questions and maybe has a coin to be looked at by an educated set of eyes. I'm not talking about slabbing the darn thing. I'm simply suggesting that they could verify it as genuine or what variety it is. Have some literature available to the person who drops by and maybe a book or two for sale. This would really spread the word/good work the ANA does.

And lastly #5. Many collectors (me included) don't have the time or the money to hop in a plane and jet all over the USA to attend shows and visit numismatic organizations which are always in the same place. And you and I both know that the costs of recreational travel are rising.

Why not hold a (again well advertised) convention or show in some smaller cities and try to hit that area/quadrant of the nation so-to-speak. Maybe Rapid City or Sioux Falls, SD etc... The positive impression this should make would indeed be something.

I sincerley appreciate you taking the time to read this e-mail and you can contact me via phone at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or snail mail at:

XXX XXX
XXXXX XXXXX XXXX XX
XXXXXX XXXX XX XXXXX


Respectfully
Ben Blake

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I honestly don't expect to hear anything about addressing such drastic changes. Again, it's just my random thoughs, but as a member I wanted the ANA to know what some of the "common folk, like me " are thinking.

You should shoot them some of your ideas if you're a member. Remember it's a member's organization so if they don't know what the members really want then like any other elected official in office the organization might become corrupt. :goof::goof::goof:

Also remember if you hear the (we can't because it'll cost too much) answer think to yourself how much they've lost in recent idiotic lawsuits.

Cheers
Ben

 

And the response which was pretty quick and definately not a canned pre-prepared statement. My hat is off to Mr. Gills.

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Hi Ben,

Thank you for your interest in improving the ANA, I have forwarded your e-mail to the senior staff so that they will be able to consider your recommendations. However, because I am the numismatic educator, I can address some of your concerns and will answer as best as I can.



#1. The ANA needs to reach out to the nooks and crannies of the Nation. Advertisement is desperately needed on a national television level.



Unfortunately, national television advertisement is very expensive and there is a concern that said advertisement would not reach our target audiences.



#2. The ANA must realize that a disadvantaged or poor collector is still a collector who yearns for knowledge. It's expensive for a young collector to try and attend a seminar in Colorado even traveling from say Roswell, NM. Why not send out an emissary with material to teach a class in a small town? Of course the word has got to be spread about such an action, but hey it's cheaper for one to travel and teach many, than for many to travel and be taught by one. The boyscouts/girlscouts of these areas would flock to a seminar held by an instructor from the ANA.



During our Summer Seminar program this year, we have been able to host over 50 young numismatists, the vast majority are on scholarship from the ANA or their local club. We encourage young collectors to apply for scholarships so that they have an opportunity to attend this wonderful event. Money for scholarships is raised through 2 YN Auctions. One being held each week of the seminar. Over $13,000 was raised last week for YN scholarships.



We offer a class for teachers called Coins in the Classroom during Summer Seminar and at various places across the country. The class is designed to show educators how to use money, in all of its forms, using their already established lessons. Just this year, the seminar was held in Houston, Virginia Beach, Colorado Springs (Summer Seminar), and will be held in Cornish, New Hampshire. If you would to bring Coins in the Classroom to your area, I will be happy to discuss the possibility. All that is required is a registration of 15 teachers or more and coverage of travel expenses (a registration fee of $45 per teacher helps to defray some of the cost).



Regards,



Rod

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Thoughts?

Take Care
Ben

 

You only have to be a member to post. For every one who posts there are 10 who dont (standard forum eyeballs advertisers rule) so I dont think anyone can suggest that the reach of CT is limited to only 15000 people

 

Or

Imagine if Field & Stream and Outdoor Life took the same approach as the ANA...

 

Ben,

I talked to Rod today and he told me he had received your e-mail and responded to it. Not bad for a Sunday, eh?

 

No, not bad at all, very pleased. Now if say 10,000 or more emembers would provide imput some changes might be made.

Take Care
Ben

 

Because they charge dues, that's why. The same reason I'd ask what I can get out of any other service I'm expected to pay for.

If membership was free, you'd have a valid point.

 

Ben, I just received this email.

Dear ANA members:
In a few hours, you will receive a very important email survey from the ANA, the results of which we will use in helping to determine future sites for our conventions. Please make an effort to fill out the survey and return it to us. This is your Association and it's very important that we receive your input so that we can make informed decisions that best reflect the needs and desires of our membership.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey.
Yours in Numismatics,
Larry Shepherd, Executive Director
American Numismatic Association

 

Jeez, so did I... Coincidence????

 

Finally getting around to this topic Ben. Have read but a few of the first comments. So say what you will folks.

I belonged to the ANA for one year many years ago. Was like a big thrill you know.
Then I saw what I was really getting for my money and it wasn't much.
I worked full time so really being "in the loop" was too time consuming.

As for the Numismitast magazine it didn't do much for me. Great if you have nothing to do but study every coin ever made, can afford to buy them etc. but other than that glossy toilet paper.

Now I work in a shop. I have access to all of this stuff and doesn't cost me a dime. Still don't have the time to check it out for the most part. Why would I pay money for that?

clembo

 

well you have done more person to person here at coin talk then what ANA has done out there IMHO

 

Call me selfish if you like but I don't really care that much about the future of "the hobby" beyond my own participation in it. If I were the only coin collector in the world it wouldn't diminish the enjoyment I get out of it.

However having said that, I like sharing information with anyone who wants to listen. But I fail to see how the success or failure of any one organization bears the sole responsibility for the future of the hobby. There are multiple forums that allow the exchange of information for free (hint: you're reading one of them!) on this amazing piece of technology you may have heard of: the Internet. I can get and give all the information I feel the need or desire to acquire or share for no cost (other than what it costs me for internet access). Young collectors (and young hobbyists of any other kind) certaintly can avail themselves of such opportunities. They may even choose to use less technologically advanced repositiories of information, such as books (cheap to buy usually, and even if they can't afford them, there's always libraries where they can borrow them for free.) I see no reason why the ANA, or any other similar organization, should be seen a the sole pillar upholding the hobby, without which it will eventually cease to exist. As for me, I will continue to get any information I feel the need or desire to get for free or nearly free and spend the money I otherwise would have to spend on membership dues on coins instead.