Give someone a pat on the back

I have just returned from the Central States Numismatic Society convention that was held in Schaumburg, Ill. While it is easy to get caught up in the convention and hotel facilities themselves, it is important to remember that it is the many club volunteers and workers who make shows of this kind possible.

What would we do without them? I hope I never have to find out.

Since 1974 Numismatic News has tried to do its bit to say how much we appreciate what these hobby workers do for us all. We created an award called the Numismatic Ambassador Award and Clifford Mishler gave to Charlie Colver, a longtime California hobby activist and paper money collector.

Charlie is gone now, but he is alive in my memory. If I ever want to think of what a Numismatic Ambassador should be, I think of Charlie.

In the nearly 40 years since the award was created, we have given many awards and in recent years I have had the honor of inducting new Ambassadors at the annual Numismatic Ambassadors at annual the Ambassador breakfast held during the American Numismatic Association summer convention.

It is time for the next class to be nominated and inducted. This requires your help. Please take a few moments to make a nomination and send it to me. We have provided a handy form on Page 64 for your convenience. Please feel free to write on it to simply use it as a guide to send us a nomination email.

Each element of this multimedia package provides a distinct educational opportunity for any coin collector.

I expect you all have a mental picture of the ideal numismatic volunteer, someone who has filled club offices, given talks, exhibited and written articles for the club newsletter. There is no precise profile that says 20 percent of this and 15 percent of that equals a Numismatic Ambassador, but it is amazing at the shared traits of the many holders of the Ambassador honor.

Please respond by June 4. Once we have your nominations in hand, we compile all of the biographies of the nominees in a handy packet and we send it out to all of the current Ambassador Award holders to vote on this year’s nominations.

You see, this award truly is a recognition provided by one’s hobby peers. Numismatic News just has the privilege of being the conduit for the good news.

Volunteers know and appreciate the work of others just as much as their own. They know that the organized hobby cannot long endure if we all just stand around waiting for someone else to do the job. They are a hands-on group.

If you are a hobby volunteer, please make a nomination. I expect there is already someone in your club who is doing the same for you. That’s the beauty of numismatics.

It would be an honor for me to call your nominee forward on Aug. 9 at the Ambassador Breakfast in Philadelphia to join this illustrious group comprised of individuals who have given so much to help us all realize a quality hobby experience.

What are you waiting for? Send in your nomination now.

Click here to download the nomination form.