I hope nobody is reading this from my area. Usually the entire meeting is centered around an auction of 99% junk. A table is laid out with everything for the auction and people receive a list of coins in the mail a week prior. I usually arrive 30-45 minutes late on purpose so I can miss 100 listing or so. Afterwards I might catch the one gentleman who is into franklins, but it is usually a 5 minute chat. People come up to me and say "Nice Box" and what do you have there, but we usually part ways when I find out that they are into some extinct token. The highlight of my trip is getting to speak with the lady who I go metal detecting with, but she is the secretary of the club and always busy at the meetings. How about your meetings? Are they exciting? Do they have nice stuff? How do they run the club? Thanks
Jack Lee used to run the talks at our local club, and although interesting, nobody had the bank roll to follow him up. It was nice to know Jack and see his newest acquisitions though. We did have an error collector (I forget his name) who would come up with some real beauties, but I haven't seen him in some time. He may have moved away. All in all I still like our little meetings, but we only have about twenty members left.
Our regular meeting are smallish. We have a formal meeting with giveaways, usually a raffle or 2 (sometimes gold!) and some lower value items for auction once a month. Last time there was a presentation on a farm machinery company and the tokens/medals given out for being the best in certain areas. There are complimentary cookies and beverages at formal meetings as well. Non-formal meetings every week at a local restaurant are fun too. Jam a bunch of tables together and everyone sections off to their main interests. Everyone is close enough together that cross conversations happen as well. The summer picnic and winter party are the best. Everyone gets a door prize. Gold raffle. Not much else happens with coins at these two events, just coin people and their families hanging out. Up until last year, every member got a silver eagle at the winter party. Members now get a slightly less valuable coin. Once they get to know a person, other collectors will let ya know if they have or see something that fits your interests and will bring it to the meetings. Totally worth the $10 yearly dues
At our local meeting we try to have a guest speaker, or one of the members will do a presentation. Then we have a show and tell, then we usually finish up with the auctions. When we were unable to have a speaker and they do extended show and tell, the meeting usually has poor attendance. The auction is usually a mix of low quality/cleaned coins and foreign coins with a small amount of decent priced bullion/junk silver and even some nice coins from time to time. I enjoy every one I go to.
Well, we don't have hundereds of coins in our auctions, maybe like 25-30 on a long day, but mainly we talk about cool finds, current (Coin events) Bullion and such. I always put something in for show 'n tell. We always talk about our coin show and how to get YNs involved. Every March, we have our coin show, then the next meeting we discuss. Then we have raffles and the auction. Not exactly boring because I talk to some people but I do get angry because a kid who isn't there has his mother buy tickets and the kid always wins! I always say quietly "Dang Jarek!"
Sounds about right. 98% common dreck. The rest is usually a cornucopia of cheezy modern commemoratives, colorized painted Obama quarters, Princess Di medallions, and other sorts of granny bait. Now and then, if it gets really exciting, an 1859 G4 IHC will hit the auction block. LOL.
I always try making the auctions iteresting with 2c pieces, Flying eagles, Nice Morgans and the such. But nobody carries over $50, so I end up selling online.
We have a small reports from Sec and Tres. Then old business, new business. Members reports which are about shows or new finds. Then a program, break followed by a 30 coin or so auction and lastly a raffle. Usually 40-60 people.
