Shovels full of fun and radio to boot

Mother nature dumped around 11 inches of snow on Iola, Wis., this morning according to a weather reporting station in the area.

I spent 40 minutes shoveling.

The muscles in my lower back tell me they have not been exercised enough.

I will also need to finish up at some point later today.

Thoughts of Florida popped into my mind as soon as I went inside to thaw out.

I am heading down to the Florida United Numismatists show in Tampa next Wednesday. I hope to see old friends from across the country and many escapees from the North there.

Before I get too cocky I need to remember that there have been years when the weather trapped me in Iola and I didn’t get there at all. The most recent occurrence was just two years ago.

However, there is some importance that I make it this year.

The FUN organization has taken over the Numismatic Ambassador Award. The next round of awards will be given at an Ambassador Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 8.

Numismatic News founded the award in 1974 and the last awards were given under our banner in 2014.

FUN has very thoughtfully invited Clifford Mishler and me to help lead the program and to signify the smooth transfer of the award.

It has been a pleasure working with Tony Swicer, who has taken the reins in his hands. He is first class as is the entire FUN organization.

While I am daydreaming about warmer weather I should mention another FUN-related item that reached my desk after the FUN issue of Numismatic News went to press.

The Women In Numismatics organization will hold its general meeting at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 9, in Room 3 of the Tampa Convention Center.

Guest speaker will be Wendell Wolka, paper money expert and an old friend.

His topic is, “The Odd Things You Find on Obsolete Paper Money.” He will discuss unusual vignettes, frauds and other topics.

Obsolete notes are non-federal issues from the late 18th century to 1866 when a federal tax put an end to this form of paper money.

Don’t cry for the banks. They then could charter as National Banks and issue notes all the same, a right that only ended in 1935.

But Nationals are a topic for another day.

WIN says everyone is welcome and I hope they attract a crowd.

Wendell is a good speaker. The audience has a good time and when the talk is over, you realize you have learned quite a bit of useful and interesting information.

WIN will also hold its social mixer at Champion’s Bar in the Marriott Tampa Waterside Hotel beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the same date. Snacks will be provided. It is a cash bar.

Tonight I will try something new. I will be joining Rick Dupuis on Pocket Change Radio by telephone at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Visit www.pocketchangeradio.com.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper has twice won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."