New counsel at ANA

New year, new legal counsel.

That might be the motto for the American Numismatic Association board of governors, which met Jan. 11 during the Florida United Numismatists convention.

Colorado attorney Hollie Wieland was chosen to replace Michigan attorney Ron Sirna as legal counsel. The decision was arrived at in closed session and announced in open session.

Wieland is with the firm of Karp, Neu Hanlon, P.C. in Glenwood Springs, Colo.

On another personnel matter, the board authorized a “360-degree” review of executive director Jeff Shevlin’s job performance. His one-year contract expires in June. The ANA will seek to hire a human resources firm to help the organization conduct this review.

The upcoming election in June for the nine officers and governors positions will be conducted by both paper ballot and electronic voting at the option of the ANA members. All prior elections have been conducted by paper ballot.

Cost of running what they called a hybrid election would run about $8,000 and be conducted by the firm Survey and Ballot Systems. The contract would pay for up to 14,000 paper ballots. Current ANA membership is now approximately 27,000.

The board postponed until its May meeting at the National Money Show in New Orleans any decision to add Sundays back to the summertime World’s Fair of Money convention schedule. Getting dealer feedback before a decision is made about this matter was considered imperative.

Also postponed to New Orleans was the issue of museum security.

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With the World’s Fair of Money about to be anchored to suburban Chicago for three years, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the question of what to do in 2017 and beyond was raised. The 2016 convention already has been slated for Anaheim, Calif.

Shevlin recommended instituting a geographical rotation for the summer convention. After a discussion, the board declined to act on the issue at this time.