President's Convention Report
FUN President Tony Swicer's 2012 Convention Report
President's Report for 2012 FUN Convention
FUN Show
January 5-8, 2012
The 57th Annual FUN convention was held in Orlando, Florida. This year the temperatures were very nice with nights in the 40-50’s and the days around 70 degrees. This was the largest show yet with 597 dealer tables and 1608 dealers registered. The show was in the Orange County Convention Center, Hall SB, South Concourse, the new building next to the Peabody Hotel and facing International Drive.
FUN membership before the show had 650 life members, 2525 regular members, 364 associate members, and 274 junior members for a total of 3815 members. It is expected that about 300 new members signed up at the show.
Opening ceremonies were Thursday morning at 10AM. The FUN Officers and Board assembled, Jeanne Shepard was presented with the FUN Presidential Award for a decade of service to FUN. Carrie Best received FUN’s highest award, The Medal of Merit, for her many contributions to FUN, and the ribbon was cut opening the show to the public.
General Chairperson Carrie Best’s theme for the show was “Back to the Basics of Coin Collecting,” sharing knowledge, attending coin clubs, coin shows, joining numismatic organizations, speaking, exhibiting, and collecting coins. Her FUN giveaway lighted magnifier was a big hit with everyone.
There were 16 well-attended educational programs. Public attendance was 10,000+ from Thursday thru Sunday. The Young Numismatists program drew 75 youngsters Saturday morning and the Scout Merit Badge Program drew 50 Saturday afternoon. They all received lots of goodies.
Once again FUN had several attractions for kids to adults, with the Piedmont Gold Panners, Abraham Lincoln (Dennis Boggs), Ray Dillard’s Elongated Cents, Mike Bean’s Spider Press, and the Hobo Nickel Carvers. All of the major grading services were in attendance. PCGS had a grading contest during the show. Many national specialty clubs had tables and meetings at the show, along with local coin clubs.
The Heritage Auction sold an uncirculated 1793 Chain Cent for $1.38 million, a new record price for a cent. This story is all over the news and FUN officers and board members have received many emails about the record sale. The auction grossed over$64 million.
The exhibit area continues to grow, with three rows of tables and 143 cases assembled by 28 exhibitors from 13 states and Canada. The Best of Show Exhibit was won by Dennis Schafluetzel from Tennessee. The People’s Choice Award was won by Bob Russell of Orlando. ,ANA Chief Judge Joe Boling gave two free seminars on “Judging Numismatic Exhibits”. Those who qualified became certified ANA exhibit judges.
Five Florida coin club buses arrived on Saturday morning. Greater Jacksonville CC had 49 on board, Ocala CC had 25, Palm Beach CC had 41, Sarasota CC had 41, and West Hernando CC had 25 for a total of 181 club members on the buses attending the show.
FUN sponsored a Florida coin club get together on Saturday at 1PM. Fourteen clubs attended the meeting. After a luncheon, there was a discussion on coin club websites, coin show security, communication between clubs, ways to promote your club, theft & burglary prevention, and coin show scheduling conflicts. The new 2012 FUN Coin Club Manual was handed out to each club representative along with ideas for coin club programs. Ten door prizes were given out and we hope everyone went away with lots of new ideas for their coin clubs.
In the FUN General meeting Sunday morning, FUN VP Donna Moon received the Polly Abbott Service Award and outgoing board member Tom Palmer received a plaque for his years of service to FUN. ANA President Tom Hallenbeck swore in the new FUN board members for 2012-14.
Many dealers stated the fact of how smoothly the show ran. As far as we know there were no robberies, however FUN cannot control what happens after a dealer leaves the show. There were a couple of slight of hand thefts at dealer tables and a few numismatic items were lost and found, and given back to their owners.
Summer FUN is July 12-14, 2012, Orange County Convention Center 9800 International Drive, Hall D1. The 58th annual show is January 10-13, 2013, OCCC, 9899 International Drive, Hall SB, South Concourse.
Opening Ceremony
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Photo Credit Erin Leigh
FUN-TOPICS Magazine
This article will appear in an upcoming addition of FUN Topics. FUN-TOPICS The official publication of the Florida United Numismatists, Inc.
FUN-Topics is the official publication of the Florida United Numismatists, Inc. Published quarterly, FUN-Topics is provided free to each FUN member and includes interesting articles on all aspects of numismatics, along with regular updates on the organization and its activities.
Dealers: Help support FUN and our yearly conventions by becoming a member of FUN. Increase awareness in your business by advertising in FUN-Topics. Click here for more information Or reach out to Jim Best FUN Topics Editor here for advertising rates and deadlines.
**FUN is a State of Florida chartered, non-profit organization dedicated to the education and enrichment of numismatics in our State and beyond.
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