Education Director Column
Spring - 2013
QUESTION: Are the Central States education programs being utilized? Let's take a close-up look ...
THE FIVE FREE DVD PROGRAM: Fifty-five CSNS member clubs have taken advantage of this "no-brainer" program. Clubs can receive five numismatic DVDs annually at no cost, just for the asking. The list of DVDs to choose from has well over 500 titles and can be sent as an email attachment. To date, 330 DVDs have been distributed. In addition to making excellent club programs, the DVDs can be loaned to club members for personal viewing. Eleven clubs have requested DVDs for the past two years.
THE SPEAKER SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM: This program started on the slow side but has picked up momentum in recent months. CSNS clubs can receive $200 per year to help defray the expenses of a speaker. Twelve clubs have utilized the program to reimburse such speakers as Dennis Boggs (AKA Abe Lincoln), Peter Huntoon, Wendell Wolka, Lawrence Schuffman, Harold Levi, Col. Steven Ellsworth and Joe Boling. The speakers' travel, lodging and/or per-diem expenses qualify for the $200 reimbursement. Some clubs simply pay their speakers an honorarium that can be covered by the CSNS funds.
THE LIBRARY BOOK DONATION PROGRAM: CSNS member clubs donate books to local public libraries and/or school libraries. CSNS reimburses up to $500 for $600 or more of club expenses. Thirty clubs have participated in this worthwhile program. Five clubs have made two donations and another has the record of making three book donations. Clubs and libraries work together to determine their needs and make up lists of numismatic books that meet these needs. Once the club purchases have been documented and thank you notes received from the libraries, the CSNS reimbursement is made.
THE NUMISMATIC SEMINAR PROGRAM: Since July of 2006, CSNS has organized and presented numismatic seminars all over the CSNS region. To date, 13 seminars have taken place with two planned for 2013. Over 520 individuals have attended these seminars. Here is the list of past and future seminars including year, location and speakers.
- July 2006 - Okoboji, IA: Peter Huntoon, Wendell Wolka and Mark Hotz
- Spring 2007 - Indianapolis, IN: Cliff Mishler, Anthony Swiatek, Bob Julian and Wendell Wolka
- Spring 2008 - St. Louis, MO: Eric Newman, Ron Horstman, David Grant, Peter Huntoon, Wendell Wolka and Bob Cochran
- Fall 2008 - Sharonville, OH: Bill Fivaz, Peter Huntoon, John Kraljevich and Brad Karoleff
- Spring 2009 - Cincinnati, OH: Bob Evans
- Fall 2009 - Omaha, NE: Rick Snow, Cliff Mishler, Jim McKee & Chuck Daughtrey
- Spring 2010 - Branson, MO: Norm Bowers, Wendell Wolka & Dennis Haskett
- Spring 2010 - Milwaukee, WI: Bob Evans
- Fall 2010 - Hutchinson, KS: Bob Campbell, Cliff Mishler & Wendell Wolka
- Spring 2011 - Ft. Wayne, IN: Cindy VanHorn, Fred Reed, Chuck Daughtrey & Wendell Wolka
- Fall 2011 - Lenexa, KS: Bob Campbell, Peter Huntoon & Greg Dubay
- Spring 2012 - Westerville, OH: Bob Fritsch, Cindy Wibker, Norm Bowers & Dennis Haskett
- Fall 2012 - Flint, MI: Pru Fitts, Bob Campbell, Rick Snow & Peter Huntoon
- Spring 2013 - St. Louis, MO: Ken Bressett, Steve Roach, Eric Newman, Cliff Mishler, Ron Horstman & David Frank.
- Fall 2013 - Wichita, KS: Rick Snow, Jay Cline, Peter Huntoon & Walt Ostromecki
If this list of speakers sounds like the Who's Who of Numismatics, you are correct! The CSNS seminars have attracted a wide variety of excellent speakers from our hobby. Seminar attendance has averaged 45 with recent seminars approaching the 60 mark.
THE AUTHOR GRANT PROGRAM: This program is only two years old but in that time $40,000 has been awarded to 11 researcher/writers. The program has been well received by a variety of authors looking to add to the universe of numismatic literature. Recipients to date include Neil Shafer, Bob Julian, Harry Waterson, Fred Reed, Jon Amato, Wendell Wolka, Mike VenDen Heuvel, Jesca Scaevola, Larry Lee, Pru Fitts and Kathy Freeland.
Their topics range from Civil War-era stamped envelopes to the rare 1796 and 1797 half dollars, from Red Cross exonumia to square coins of the world, and from Martin Luther medals to coins of ancient India. The Author Grant Program holds great promise for an ever expanding body of numismatic knowledge.
If you have interest in any of the foregoing programs, simply contact the education director at 765-664-6520 or sunrayofmarion@aol.com. You will be glad you did!!
Ray Lockwood
Education Director
