ANA asks Congress for coin

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Asking Washington, D.C., to both give and to take away dominated actions by the American Numismatic Association board of governors Aug. 13 during the World’s Fair of Money in Boston.

It asked Congress to support a commemorative coin honoring the 100th anniversary of the national 4-H program in 2015. Beth Deisher, Coin World editor, presented a draft of a bill calling for 500,000 silver dollars and 750,000 clad half dollars. The effort has been led by Mike Ellis of Goergia, but he was unable to be at the meeting to make the case. No legislation has yet been introduced.

It opposed the new 1099 tax information form reporting requirements on business purchases of $600 or more per year. The board called for ANA members and other hobbyists to join the national effort to repeal the requirement by contacting their elected representatives.

Hobbyists are urged to check www.house.gov, or www.senate.gov for information about contacting the members of those legislative bodies. Individuals without computers can telephone the U.S. Capitol at (202) 224-3121 to find out how to offer their opinion.

It is suggested that hobbyists express support for either the House bill, H.R. 5141, or the Senate version, S 3578. Both are called the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act.

Diane Piret of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets gave a report to the board during the Town Hall portion of its meeting about the issue.

Much of the ANA board meeting was dominated by routine business.

Rights to the summer preshow auctions 2011-2013 were awarded to Bowers and Merena, while Stack’s won the rights to the World’s Fair of Money Auctions in the same years.

Heritage will call the National Money Show auction in 2011.

A stripped down version of club dues called Club Choice was adopted. This annual fee will be $15 as opposed to the full-service membership charge of $75.

ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd reported that in the first eight months of the fiscal year revenues exceeded budget and expenses were lower, leaving the organization $164,000 better off than forecast. He also noted that last year money was put back into the endowment.

A new look will be given to the ANA website, he said.

Dealers who sign up for tables at next year’s Chicago and Pittsburgh conventions will get a 20 percent discount on the fee if they pay in advance.

Museum assets are being evaluated.

Brenda Bishop, who coordinated national conventions, resigned. Shepherd said her duties would be reallocated among team members.

Legal counsel Ron Sirna said the trial date is now Feb. 11, 2011, for the suit and countersuits involving former executive director Christopher Cipoletti and the Denver legal firm he had chosen to handle previous ANA litigation against employees. Cipoletti has also appealed a previous arbitration award, Sirna said.

The board also named Kerry Wetterstrom as local host chairman for the 2012 World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia. The title replaces the name “general chairman.”

The dates of Oct.13-15, 2011, were adopted for the first autumn ANA convention in Pittsburgh at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. May 10-12, 2012, were the dates selected for the spring convention in Denver.