Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Al Kowsky, post: 4744583, member: 97383&quot;]I don&#039;t know what coin clubs are like today but in the past most of them were very <u>closed door</u> associations. I&#039;d like to relate my own experience of joining the Rochester Numismatic Association (RNA) in 1984. In 1980 I opened a coin &amp; antique store on East Main St. &amp; about a half dozen members of the RNA would frequent my store regularly &amp; 3 of them became active buyers. I didn&#039;t know any of them were RNA members until several years later. One day a regular asked me if I would be willing to give a talk at an RNA meeting. As it turned out this man had just been elected president of the RNA &amp; it was the president&#039;s obligation to line-up speakers for the year. Since I was in the business I thought it would be a smart way to drum up some business <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. I had a large display of Karl Goetz medals in the store &amp; was asked to talk about his medals. My German was still pretty good in those days so I agreed. I spoke before a crowd of about 45 members with only 1 woman present. They were very enthusiastic &amp; gave me a standing ovation <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />! The next day the president of the RNA asked me if I wanted to become a member &amp; said he would be my sponsor <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie12" alt="o_O" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> (you needed a sponsor to apply for membership). He then explained I would have to attend 3 meetings &amp; after the 3rd meeting the members would vote in secret. If any member objected my membership would be refused <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie92" alt=":stop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. I was intimidated by this process but went along with it anyway <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie67" alt=":nailbiting:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. They voted me in &amp; I stayed a member for about 10 years, &amp; gave many more talks on a variety of subjects <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Very few people applied for membership in that decade &amp; a number of people were rejected. There were no minority members during that decade. Many of the members were wealthy &amp; most of them were retired. Some of these members like John Jay Pittman, would bring in coins worth in excess of 100 K for show &amp; tell <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />! In 106 years only 5 women were chosen as president of the RNA <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. In the decade I was in business I don&#039;t recall one female coin collector entering my shop, although better than 90% of my antique collecting customers were female <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in