2019 Glenn B Smedley Medal
The allegedly offending paragraph began, “One of the reasons I could not be at the World’s Fair of Money was because I was attending two seminars from another show.” (emphasis added)
First, every critic missed the first four words: ONE OF THE REASONS. It was not the only reason. I disclose a lot about myself and my life outside of collecting on this blog. I do not reveal everything. Attending the seminars was only one of the reasons. The other is I have a business to run.
Regular readers know that I started a business last year that is not numismatic-related. While my company does handle some numismatic items, these are not my focus. To maintain a new business, I have to make decisions that I may not like today but will help me in the future. I decided it was not in my business’s best interest for me to leave to attend the World’s Fair of Money.
Critics suggested that I could have attended the virtual seminar from my hotel room in Rosemont. While it sounds logical, let’s look at reality. Hotel Wi-Fi is not conducive to attending an interactive workshop for three hours. Hotel Wi-Fi services are not designed for that type of service. It may support downloading your latest streaming movie, but it does so with the support that you do not see. Since this is not a technical blog, I will tell you as a retired computer person that what you see and what is reality are very different.
Then there’s the question of being cost-effective. I run a startup business. While I have early success, it takes a lot of resources to build a business. I asked about the cost-effectiveness of sitting in a hotel room for a six-hour seminar. The answered varied but did not answer the question about whether the cost adds up.
Nearly every one of the naysayers in email and those who commented was established, dealers. All are over the age of 50. None would answer the question as to whether they would have attended a show that was not related to their business in their first few years of business.
I suspect that many of them have suppressed their early struggles as they have become successful.
I applaud each of their successes. But each has forgotten that the success came at a cost. Even though I might be around their age, I am running a new business and am enduring the struggles they faced at a younger age. It is more difficult for me now than it was for them in the past.
Some who have engaged in a conversation, I asked whether they understood my point? They did not get it!
Where is the outreach beyond the four walls of the convention center? Why is the entire show confined to the convention center? Why is there no attempt to get other people interested who did not attend or could not attend?
The bottom line is why is the ANA not broadcasting the World’s Fair of Money online to a broader audience?
It is possible to contribute the ANA without attending a convention. How do I know this? I have the Glenn Smedley Award to prove it can be done! I did not set out to win awards. I set out to improve the ANA and make it accessible to more people. I set out to move the ANA into the 21st century with technology. I see technology as the force that will promote the ANA.
I also see the Luddite attitude of some as the force that will be the ANA’s demise.
There are many issues the ANA faces, and I am concerned about how the organization’s use of technology will affect its future. I have three concerns that the ANA should address:
- Broadcasting from the National Money Show and World’s Fair of Money. With all due respect to the older members, sometimes it is not possible to show up. With the technology available, the ANA must start broadcasting from the show floors, meeting rooms, and even the auctions. News, interviews, activities, and just plain showing off to an Internet audience will keep current members engaged and spark new interest.
- Online education must be expanded to include courses for the experienced collector and non-collector. The ANA must go beyond was previously discussed. It did not go far enough. The effort was like trying to smell a rose at arms-length because there is a thorn on the side. The ANA must commit to bringing robust education services online or stop trying to dabble.
- Aside from expanding technology in these areas, another enhancement would be to add technology to the exhibits. With all due respect to the exhibit committee and those who have created great exhibits, static displays are in yesterday’s museums. Museum and other exhibits are not becoming interactive. Even the Manley Library exhibits have rotating displays the allow visitors to view both sides of the object. Under current rules, it is challenging to add electronic aids to exhibits. Having access to electricity for each of the cases must be an option for exhibitors. Having access to the Internet must be an option for exhibitors. Add this capability and watch the exhibits really pop!
As of now, I believe I am still Chair of the money.org Committee, the former Technology Committee. If ANA President Steve Ellsworth chooses to allow me to continue in this position, I will work to help the ANA move forward with these goals.
And now the news…
August 19, 2019A Utah businessman paid $1.32 million for a dime last week at a Chicago coin auction. It wasn’t just any 10-cent piece; the 1894-S Barber Dime is one of only 24 that were ever made, according to Stack’s Bowers Galleries, which held the auction Thursday night. Only nine of the coins are confirmed to still exist. 
→ Read more at ktla.com
August 20, 2019The oldest coins minted for colonial Australia have gone on show at the Royal Australian Mint, allowing visitors to lay eyes… → Read more at the-riotact.com
August 21, 2019(MENAFN – Newsroom Panama) The 50 cent coins that were minted to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of Panama City, 500 → Read more at menafn.com
August 21, 2019The prosecutor said that Louis "The Coin" Colavecchio "is effectively unable to enjoy life without conceiving new criminal ventures." → Read more at providencejournal.com
August 22, 2019Gold prices have been hitting a fresh high everyday since Tuesday. → Read more at indiatoday.in
August 23, 2019The penny will go on show for the first time at Saffron Walden Museum on Saturday August 24 → Read more at bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk
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Hi Scott,
I hope you are not counting me among those giving you a hard time about your not being there. Yes, I would have preferred a picture of you getting your Smedley over “Simcha the Surrogate” picking it up, but some things can’t be helped, right? I once had small business obligations as well, and couldn’t attend WFoM events other than a day or two, and only in my metaphorical backyard at that. It’s only since I have a state government gig with vacation time I can sculpt around numismatic events that I have become a National Volunteer who attends each one. I started working for the PA General Assembly in 2008, and my consecutive streak of unmissed WFoM (and NMS) starts in 2010. Coincidence? No way, Jose! Your business comes first, Scott. Don’t let them drag you down and harsh your mellow. Ya’ gotta do whatcha gotta do.
The only thing is expecting the ANA to spend more on ANYTHING in this current environment MAY be a pipedream. Jus’ sayin’.
Kurt: You are not amongst the people I am talking about!
On the contrary, I value your input especially when we do not agree.
The people that I am talking about are all dealers, except for one person. Most are older than me and have accused me of being anti-ANA and anti-dealer. I was also accused of something else I am not going to justify with mentioning. None of these people will allow me to publish their correspondence even removing identifying statements.
I am more pissed off about the private vitriol. I don’t mind criticism but I wish they would keep it polite. I also love public disagreement. It means that they care enough to open a discussion rather than pout in private.
In short, we can all agree, we can all agree to disagree, but let’s not do it disagreeably!
I’d like to see exhibiting brought into the 21st century as well, as would a sizable chunk of the new Board, but I’d hate to see the “legacy type” of exhibits disappear completely also. There is a value in continuity, to my way of thinking. I don’t know exactly HOW to do both, but I swear we’re collectively smart enough to figure it out. The current management of exhibiting is pretty conservative and traditional in their philosophy. Maybe a parallel effort needs to be done with new volunteers and let the viewers decide which gets their attention. I will be attending both, as I can see value and virtue in both.
I would like to see if technology can be added.
For now, we can separate the traditional exhibits from those electronically enhanced.
We can also have an all-electronic category.
The same rules must apply… set it and forget it. No opening the case. No fiddling with the display. It must run on its own.
Give me a plug for each case let me go. I have an idea that I think would do very well!
And some networking through an ethernet cable and a dedicated router, maybe?
Imagine what can be done with a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino setup!
Kurt and Scott
We all have other obligations and responsibilities besides numismatics. I could not attend the the WFM in Denver 2 years ago. My mother was recovering from a broken hip and we were in the process of selling our house and moving. Sometimes it’s not the right time in our lives to go.
Sincerely
Bob
Qualitively, you missed a heckuva show, Bob. In terms of raw numbers of attendees? Meh, not s’much. Denver attendance was a disappointment. It was enough to make it nigh onto impossible to snag a Denver Mint tour ticket, though.
Scott
Who are these Luddite dealers? Let me know so I don’t do business with them. Let’s hit them in their pocketbooks.
Sincerely
Bob Graul
Bob… It’s my policy that private correspondence stays private. I will respect the privacy of those who wrote to me. I appreciate the thought I am going to keep this list private.
Besides, they can be morons but I do not want to hurt their business.
Scott
One change I would make regarding the ANA is get people with retail experience in high level ANA positions. I said to Barbara Gregory at the WFM that the shows are a retailing thing and the dealers are really numismatic retailers and numismatic wholesalers.
Sincerely
Bob