According to a source, the American Numismatic Association Board of Governors voted to hold the 2023 World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh. As part of the selection, the “ANA will be seeking a better deal from the venue than they got in 2020.” If they do not get a better deal, the source interpreted the discussion that the ANA will look elsewhere.
The vote was 7-2 in favor of the decision. President Steve Ellsworth and Governor Mary Lynn Garrett voted against the measure. Both believe that the show should exclusively be in Rosemont.
I have come out against holding the ANA premiere show in one location. Moving it around the country will help reach more people and include its educational agenda in more places. While I love Chicago and have friends in the Chicagoland area, moving the show is in the best interest of the ANA.
For a hobby that is not seeing growth and is having difficulties with diversity amongst its membership, having a traveling show should be an invitation to potential members.
I am still holding out hope for holding the World’s Fair of Money in Washington, D.C. While there have been roadblocks in the past, the environment for making the District more welcoming to the ANA a possibility. I have a few ideas to welcome minority communities to introduce them to numismatics. It would work well in the Washington community.
With all due respect to Ellsworth and Garrett, you miss out on an opportunity to reach out to potential new members. You have to look beyond your self-interests and work for the good of the association!
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Scott, I also largely like the Rosemont shows, but I think Rosemont might just be staring to take the ANA for granted. That may become an unhealthy state of affairs, I fear, if it hasn’t already. Yes, Chicagoland does have much to recommend it, with the O’Hare airport literally on the doorstep, and a very active coin club from which to mine volunteers, which are a life’s blood of any ANA 5-day show. However, Pittsburgh does feature the PAN, a club of clubs primarily centered around Pittsburgh, and they have the experience of putting on both their own shows and a recent National Money Show.
Philadelphia, while it has proven it has no equal in drawing collectors to it, also does have extreme problems on the costs side, with union rules that would make even a longshoreman blush. Even with the record modern ANA convention attendance at Philly in 2018, the show bled red ink. Costs, costs, costs.
I don’t blame ANA staff for being tempted to take the easier path; Rosemont always seems to want us back. But that’s what bothers me a little. Why do they always want us back? I think Rosemont should be a frequently returned to destination, but other cities, and regions, need to be kept interested too. I used to be active in the Photo Marketing Association, and they used Las Vegas like we use Rosemont – the place to return to between having the convention somewhere else. And I’m okay with that.