President Parks asked to create a presidential award for the most outstanding Michigan Numismatist of the year. He projected the cost at $60. Pall felt more money should be devoted to such a prestigious award. Paper Money’s Wallace E. Lee award spends $100 – ribbon, medal, and plaque. Parks said just one would be given per year. Friedman said glass plaques are impressive. Parks needs input from all board members as to whom might be nominated. Sirna asked that we be sure to avoid nominations of any sitting board member or President / Vice President / Secretary Treasurer. Selection will be President’s discretion. Al Bobrofsky moved, and Dennany seconded, that the President should be able to give a Presidential award as often as annually to the most outstanding Michigan Numismatist of the year, at his sole discretion. The motion was approved. Sirna will send Parks ANA’s criteria as a draft input.

No major changes. 5-6 silver 50^th anniversary medals left. Just short of a roll of circulated 1956 halves. For Awards: One quarter, 1 tenth ounce golds; a couple of proof sets.

Please consider this report closed, though not an official document. We had budgeted to loose $1700, but actually lost only $500-600. Al Bobrofsky moved, and Friedman seconded, a motion to approve this report, which motion was approved.

The MichMatist will be over budget on the 4^th issue. MSNS will be in the red for calendar year 2009. Income from donations and interest on funds is down.

For the Fall show, the bourse fees were split – early payers at $350, remainder $375. It is estimated 100 tables were sold before the August 1 deadline. We have sold about 125 tables thus far. Reminders are sent out continually to non-respondents. There will be a rush to meet the October 1 suggested deadline. There will usually be a few October and a few more November respondents. Malnar says we are short of where we should be by now. Since this is a main driver of our revenue, potentially it is a problem.

Friedman would like to investigate the reasons that past dealers haven’t returned. Malnar said the reasons include the passing away of older dealers, and dealers doing more, smaller, local shows. Others suggested the internet is reducing sales.

Friedman moved, and Pall seconded, a motion to approve the Fall budget. Motion Passed.

Brenda Bishop, an ANA employee with whom LeBlanc has communicated says that the ANA is developing a standard 5-6 city rotation that would not include Detroit. Their experience at the 1984 and 1994 shows included excessive Union fees, e.g. $25/circuit plugged in.

Joe Binno wrote to the club, sending best wishes regarding our MichMatist.

8. 2007 Sales Tax Refund LeBlanc

We are entitled to a refund of sales tax we paid to the Hyatt in 2007. The amount is north of $1000. The Hyatt is reluctant to modify their past paperwork to pay this amount to us, but LeBlanc is still working on it.

Chandler wants us to print a bigger membership page in the MichMatist, to cover benefits more thoroughly. We discussed this, but decided NOT to do it, since the venue for this application mainly reaches only current members. It was decided instead to distribute flyers as below.

Several ideas were discussed, but no action was taken, because the committee was not of one mind on the implementation of the idea. They were: the making of the Early Bird privilege permanent for members; the idea of providing a VIP invitation to all members in advance of each show, like CSNS does; and to offer a reward of a prize drawing for tips on missing members at the MSNS table (Strub would donate 45-power microscopes as some prizes). Dr. Parks asked that this committee make a definitive proposal at the November meeting. He instructed them to coordinate with the dealer committee.

This manual was supposed to be mailed to all of us. Dr. Parks will see that it is edited with Al’s and Andy’s changes and mailed / emailed to the board members, both before and after changes.

The speaker’s bureau has not received any requests yet.

There will be a third edition of the special Felix Schlag nickel design fund raiser memorabilia restrike medals. One is a matte and one is a proof. We have $2900 and need $4500 for a new historical plaque, so 30 of them sold at $50 apiece will hopefully bring us to the total needed.

Polo shirts would be $19-$22 plus embroidering cost. Blazers are as low as $59. Either could be royal blue, which is close but not exact as our current "MSNS blue"

Denanny moved and Chandler seconded that each board member may choose what they want (3 shirts or 1 blazer) and request it, paid for by the club. Motion passed with minimal opposition.

Friedman moved, and Pall seconded, that $1100 be budgeted to pay for shirts or jackets; this passed unanimously.

Dennany moved, and Rothfeld seconded, that board members be required to wear such shirts or jackets when at the show. Passed.

Rothfeld moved that only current board members can use the jackets and the embroidered logos. Plus, those that own their own jackets own them but do not own the emblem. No second. Tabled by Parks to consider how to put various caveats on it. You definitely should not wear them while doing business other than club business, or representing MSNS. Rothfeld agreed to withdraw his motion if a committee would look into it. Parks agreed that the executive committee would do so, so Rothfeld withdrew it.

This October 29-31 show needs workers, and is in Ann Arbor. Wostyn can work the 31^st but not the first two days (Thursday / Friday). LeBlanc has also volunteered a day. Get names to Wostyn no later than September 30^th.

65 responded not at all to multiple requests. These have been removed and will be reinstated immediately if they contact us again and request it. This will result in a large savings to us on membership costs.

LeBlanc’s correspondence with ANA yields this: To move forward and get the information into the MichMatist, we need to set the tuition. ANA can do a one or a two day class. Their recommendations: One day should be $149 if ANA and MSNS member, and $50 more if not members. $294 for a two day class if MSNS and ANA member, and $50 more if not members. Timing being considered is prior to the Spring 2010 convention, Wednesday and Thursday or Thursday only. Instructors prefer 15 people in a class. If the class gets lots of interest, we may get a second instructor.

Sirna said that 2 day classes would halve the attendance versus 1 day classes. 9 board members expressed personal interest in a one-day class, and 4 expressed interest in a 2-day.

Wostyn moved that we accept the ANA recommended prices as stated above. Friedman seconded. Passed unanimously.

The prior board offered free tables to a few grading companies. Only one accepted for November. Sirna, advised against offering again

Fall of 2010 and forward is open. Al Bobrofsky moved, and Pall seconded, to grant a 50% of Fall 2010 to the Downriver Coin club, which motion passed.

We received a book in our inventory – Dr. Lee’s Paper Money Book. We have no facility to do anything with this book. The ANA library would love to have this book as they do not own a copy now. Pall moved, and Friedman seconded, a motion to give it to the ANA, which passed.

LeBlanc asks for a silent auction for two other books. The second and third book being, the Bowers book on obsolete paper money and a world paper money book. Rothfeld moved that a drawing be held to give this book to an attending member of the next convention. No second. Dennany moved, and Chirco seconded, a motion that there be a silent auction at the next convention to benefit MSNS. Passed unanimously.

LeBlanc notes a recent break in at his office complex. He has a concern that MSNS sometimes has exhibit awards in his office. Chirco moved, and Pall seconded, a motion that LeBlanc spend up to $100 to rent a safety deposit box for MSNS valuables. Passed.

Since the membership program for a free book on renew is not being continued into 2010, at this time LeBlanc does not request a dues increase. But, since dues have not been raised in many years, and with inflation, he may request an increase to take effect on and after January 1^st, 2010 for renewals after that date.

Al Borofsky moved, and Pall seconded, a motion that any expenditures proposed (and not in budget) at a board meeting may not be voted on until the next Board meeting. With opposition from LeBlanc and Sirna, Friedman moved, and Chirco seconded, a motion to table this until November, which passed.