Ostromecki gives award, announces candidacy

The Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association and the Willamette Coin Club’s 8th annual convention, held Sept. 28-30 at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland, Ore., featured a 90-dealer bourse, educational exhibits, a youth activities table and treasure hunt, a Boy and Girl Scout Merit Badge Clinic and an American Numismatic Association Presidential Award presentation.

Show Chairman Larry Gaye reported that show attendance was brisk on Saturday but fell off a bit on Sunday afternoon.

“The dealers overall were pleased with sales,” he said.

Strategies for enhancing the excitement of the hunt and the sweet taste of acquisition!

“We were again most fortunate to have ANA [Vice President] Walt Ostromecki in attendance,” Gaye said. “Walt staffed the ANA and hobby information booth as well as the Kid’s Zone activities table, where a 10-stop educational treasure hunt began.”

James Reinders and daughter Katie conducted the Scout Merit Badge Clinics. Some two dozen scouts and leaders participated.

The PNNA board meeting commenced on Saturday night, and plans for its 75th anniversary in 2015 were discussed. Other business included a report that noted the group has just completed the purchase of a hand-crank penny press that will be used to create elongated souvenirs for PNNA’s shows and at the Puyallup, Wash., Fair. The association also announced the kickoff of a new award for 2012: The Best Literary Club Newsletter Award, which covers both print and electronic club newsletters.

Following the business portion of the meeting, Ostromecki was introduced and took the opportunity to officially announce his candidacy for the ANA presidency in 2013.

This was followed by the presentation of the ANA Presidential Award to PNNA President Danny Bisgaard.

“Danny is truly a devoted hobby volunteer, someone who can’t just say no,” Ostromecki noted in his comments.

In addition to a few educational displays, five competitive exhibits were on display at the show.

James Reinders took two first place awards for his exhibits “Complete German State 3 Mark Commemorative Type Set” and “Clock Makers Collection.”

Second place was claimed by Gerald Williams for “The Arts: The Numismatic Contribution of the Cooper Union.”

Third place went to YN Katie Reinders for “Happy Birthday Oregon – Pendelton Round Up.” Fourth was captured by another YN, Marie Fernandez, for “Should IN GOD WE TRUST be on coins?”

Judges were Eric Holcomb, Gawain O’Connor and Bisgaard.

The next PNNA convention is scheduled for April 12-14 at the Tukwila Community Center in Tukwila, Wash.

For bourse information, contact Scott Loos by email at scottloos@msn.com. For general information, email Michael Labosier at pnnasecretary@gmail.com.

For more on the PNNA, visit its website at www.pnna.org.