ANA BOARD VOTES TO CREATE KIDS’ ZONE AT MONEY MUSEUM
The American Numismatic Association Board of Governors has unanimously approved the creation of a Kids Zone at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs.
The area, approved during the board’s open session at the Spring National Money ShowSM in Denver, will cater to children age 12 and under. This age group comprises 30 percent of Money Museum visitors.
The new area will have exhibits, activities and classes for children, and will be paid for using $6,500 from the YN Fund. The programming developed for the area also will be made available for use by ANA clubs and in the popular Kids Zone area at ANA conventions.
“The new Kids Zone will strengthen the ANA’s educational programming for our youngest numismatists and provide new activities for children all over the country,” ANA President Tom Hallenbeck said.
The Kids Zone will debut at the Money Museum in late summer or early fall.
Conventions
The board passed a motion during executive session to discontinue the Fall National Money Show following the 2012 show in Dallas. It was noted that the fall show was not profitable, competed with an overcrowded national coin show schedule, and that three ANA-produced shows strained staff resources that could be better allocated to strengthen the ANA’s educational mission.
With the fall show’s cancellation, the board will review the best potential venue for the Radford Stearns Memorial Award. It is the Best-of-Show award for exhibits at the fall convention.
The board unanimously voted to accept the Red Rose Coin Club’s $3,500 sponsorship of an Exhibit Class 4 award at the World’s Fair of MoneySM in memory of John R. Eshbach.
ANA member Nick Lagattuta was named as Host Chairman and the Crescent City Coin Club was named Host Committee for the National Money Show in New Orleans, which will be held May 9-11, 2013.
Zerbe Award
Following a motion by Gov. Wendell Wolka, which was seconded by Gov. Gary Adkins, the board unanimously approved the production of five Farran Zerbe awards to be struck by Medalcraft Mint.
“A $5,000 annual sponsorship has been secured to pay for the award, which will allow the Farran Zerbe to continue to be a gold medal,” Gov. Jeff Garrett said. “We wanted to preserve the integrity of the medal, which is the ANA’s highest honor.”
Strategic Plan
The board voted to adopt a strategic plan, which was drafted by about 10 ANA members, board members and ANA staff who were part of a committee that met for several days in Colorado Springs. The committee developed a basic set of guidelines and association goals.
“I do not think a plan like this should be overburdened with detail. Too many details tend to broadcast inflexibility,” Gov. Cliff Mishler said.
The board will use the plan as a guide when making decisions on the implementation and funding of programs, then will give the executive director and staff the mission to carry out the programs.
“This will serve as a road map. All executive director candidates have seen it and been given a chance to comment on it,” Hallenbeck said.
Executive Director Search
A new ANA executive director will likely be announced within the next two to three weeks.
An Executive Search Committee, led by Wolka, reviewed more than 50 candidates’ applications, some with a numismatic background and some with a nonprofit background. These were narrowed to 11 very qualified candidates. Of these, eight were interviewed during the National Money Show, and then a final four were selected.
The final candidates are engaging in more testing and interviews.
“Some of the members are frustrated, asking ‘How long can this take?’ We will take as long as it takes,” Wolka said.
“We look forward to announcing a new executive director,” Hallenbeck added.
Committee reports
In other business, the board heard reports from its technology, library, Young Numismatists, museum and district representative committees.
In executive session, the board passed a motion to create a standing investment committee consisting of the President, Treasurer, another board member and two ANA members knowledgeable in investing. The committee will advise the ANA in its investment strategy.
The Spring National Money Show in Denver was attended by about 2,800 people.
Originally Release Date: June 27, 2012
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9871
Email: pr@money.org