ANA Chicago Show...next week!

Hi Maryelise

What a great experience this is for youngsters...I only wish I had discovered the joys of "CC" collecting when I was that age....heck, I wish I could remember when I was that age! :silly:

the (old) drummer

Dear Mary Elise (D3, Coattails, etc.),

Wow, you got the full-on experience of your first ANA WFoM convention!

The ANA definitely does its part in getting kids involved in numismatics. Sadly, since I'm no longer 22, I can't pass as a "Young Numismatist." I guess that makes me an "Old Numismatist" now, haha.

It's good to hear that they didn't have you on diaper duty, or as you said, setup as a "human tree," or something else that you weren't prepared for. You got to be a part of an enlightening experience for tons of kids (and their parents, too)!

As for directing traffic, the volunteers are always needed! The WFoM is SO huge, and there are so many "stations" even outside the bourse floor--all the thank-yous you got must have been well-deserved. And the cookie looked like a pretty good thank-you, too!

It will be great to hear what you think of the C4OA meeting going on this afternoon. Now that I look at the time, I realize it's only about an hour and a half away! Hopefully we get a nice turnout, and you meet some of the people you've only ever heard about.

I'll keep an eye out on the Discussion Board for your continued on-site reporting, haha. Hopefully you'll get to do more today than take pictures of airplanes and swat wasps!

Maya

Wow Mary Elise, I think I would’ve been a little nervous at first too if I had heard I was going to be working the “Kids Zone” at the ANA, haha! Coming from someone who has never experienced a coin show of that magnitude before, after your review of the Kids Zone, I think that’s what I would want to volunteer for, if I was to ever to attend . It sounds very informational and a great experience for not only our younger numismatists, but all of us! I loved the picture of Stephanie, and as well her “Ocita” coin. Thanks for such a great insider perspective at the Chicago ANA! Looking forward to seeing more posts from you.

The [Old] Drummer...you're not the only one who can't remember some of the younger days. Worse yet, three days of tradeshow, and there isn't a part of me that doesn't ache. I'm not completely sure I'm going to make it back on Friday. And, yes, the cookie was delicious!

Ms. Maya & Alwayzsmiln1...the Kids Zone turned out to be my best ANA volunteer experience. A show attendee that I met named Sandy, orginally from Britain (great accent), attending the show from somewhere out west, liked the Kids Zone so much that she even volunteered there yesterday!

Thursday was C4OA meeting day at the World's Fair of Money in Chicago!

This is Mary Elise reporting live from my living room, where hubby is watching Pennsylvania versus Pennsylvania…that is, the Eagles versus the Steelers. (Go Steelers! Mary Ann Arnold would never let me live it down if I didn’t root for her team.)

Today I’m going to tell you…absolutely nothing about the meeting! No, I’m not trying to punish you for not being there. Honestly, my newbie brain is spinning from information overload. I have two hours of recorded meeting minutes, and I’ve been charged with writing an article for Curry’s Chronicle, so you’re just going to have to wait for the Fall issue to read more.

OK, OK, I’ll tell you a little…

We were thrilled to have 19 people attend the Carson City Coin Collectors of America meeting…20 people according to Rusty. Apparently someone didn’t sign in. I was remiss in my duties. Sorry Rusty! A handful of attendees were not members, and at least one excited gentleman from the great State of Texas departed with the promise to have his membership application in soon.

There were no speakers at this particular meeting. Instead, Rusty arranged the tables and chairs in a large rectangle, so we could all sit together informally and have the opportunity to participate. Everyone chatted about favorite CC coins, history, statistics, trivia, and more. I learned words/terms like UNC and bourse, and a number of others I’m going to have to look up if I want to sound remotely intelligent about numismatics in my forthcoming article. We also discovered that Rusty Goe and Darrell Low unknowingly competed against each other in an auction…which was good for a few snickers.

When the meeting wrapped up, Rusty hit the bourse floor before heading off to the evening’s auctions. What a hard-working guy Rusty is, one who is greatly blessed to work in a field he loves so much! And what a great blessing Rusty is to all the CC coin lovers who now have a forum in which to share their knowledge and stories, in person, through the website, and in Curry’s Chronicle…thanks to Rusty’s creation of the C4OA!

Maryelise,

Your contributions to the CCCCOA have certainly become an added joy to anyone reading this forum! Too bad many members, myself included, were unable to make it out to Chicago.

Those attending the Carson City show will certainly look forward to seeing Mary Ann and Tony!

We all will look forward to your next and any future contributions to Curry's Chronicle and the CCCCOA forum!

Best,
deepsouthspike