A big Hip Hip Hoorah for our new Club Officers!

Larry Nakata, Mike McKinnon, and Paul Wheeler comprise the new leadership for our Club on the eve of its Sixth Year. The Anchorage Coin Club has never been healthier and is bound to get healthier still.

The meeting had a standard turnout: about twenty ACC faithful showed up. In addition to that several guests attended some of which paid up and are therefore members:

Victor F. Izzo is one such paid up member. Victor started out his membership in tine form by purchasing a Fifth Anniversary ACC Commemorative Medal Set. Also in attendance was Greg Durocher whom we haven't seen too much lately. Hope to see you both at future meetings. I got erstwhile visitor William Hamilton to fork over ten dollars for an associate membership which is designed for folks who can only occasionally attend and gets them a newsletter every month.

The first office "up for grabs" was Secretary Treasurer, Paul Wheeler, being the only nominee, stood up and was elected to rousing applause.

The next election was for Vice President, Incumbent Scot Hornal ("recumbent" may have been closer to the truth since Scot was absent) and challenger Mike McKinnon were announced as nominees. It was stated that Scot had declined to run (hard to say for sure since he's missed a few meetings lately) for his third (fourth?) term to which lame duck (and single-term sufferer) Bill D'Atri said: "He's not here. Let him suffer."

The election commenced: When Scot's name was called a grinning Mike McKinnon raised his hand to peals of laughter (nothing like a bald display of unbridled ambition). Needless to say, Mike won in a landslide.

Finally we elected a new president. The candidates were Steve Mead (applause, please, for his willing to serve) and President Elect (now Prez, period) Larry Nakata. Not wishing to be one-upped by the Vice Prez Elect, both voted for the other, again to general laughter. It was the closest vote I've seen since the Alaska flag edged out a charging mastodon for the honors on our Commemorative Medal. Rod Meade was so inspired he said (with a hint of disappointment), "Nobody assassinates the President anymore!" To which departing Prez D'Atri said:

"You had your chance." Rod replied, "I still have two weeks."

Readers may be relieved to know that Bill made it through his term and is still kicking.

Larry Nakata reiterated the plans for a mail bid auction which precipitated a lively discussion the result of which is summarized later in the Auction List and accompanying Mail Bid Form. Robert Hall was appointed Auctioneer to general assent.

Just thought I'd close the loop and report that I officially met Nathaniel Grab man (the sometime Kevin Guido) and Paula Delairarro-Grabman (a.k.a. One Great Mom I. Ms. D-G thanked me for granting her "my fifteen minutes of fame". The enthusiastic young numismatist showed me his coin album. I'll say this: he has a great start on a World and U.S. collection. (I wonder what the real Kevin Guido thinks of all this?}

The door prize la 1908 Barber Dime in F-12 condition) was won by Jim Walston. The Raffle was won by Larry Nakata. Raffle prize was a 1896-P Morgan Dollar in XF-AU. The membership prize, an 1871 Liberty Seated Dime in Fine was won by Greg Durocher who said "Maybe I should show up more often". Good Idea, Greg.

On 3/3/93 ACC member No. 3 (Rod Meade who exclaimed, "YES!!") won the Membership Interest Prize which is given to an Active Member if his member number is drawn and he happens to be in attendance. Steve Mead showed himself to be a good man and put in $5.00 for the next drawing.

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend the March meeting. Elections went off without a hiteh, with the balance of the meeting providing an engaging opportunity to see the strengths and weaknesses of unbridled diversity of opinion in action.

The March winds of change swept away our old club officers, and brought in fresh faces and intellects to replace the "Old Guard". Larry Nakata is our newly and duly elected President. If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Larry, now would be a wonderful chance to introduce yourself. I think you'll find Larry an enthusiastic, creative leader who wants to bring out the best in all of us.

Larry is the instigator of our new Mail Auction format. Judging from the consignments, some from as far away as JOJA (t'anks to dat JOJA JEM¹ hissef. Bill Fivaz), it appears that this will be an exciting auction. One hundred lots were submitted at the E-Board meeting, with a neat selection of numismatic materials represented. Anyone interested in volunteering to help ensure a smooth program should make a point of talking with Larry.

Mike McKinnon replaces Scott Hornal as Vice President, Congratulations to Mike on his new honors, and "Thank you very much" to Scott for all his efforts on behalf of the club. For those of you who aren't aware, Scott has co-ordinated all the behind the scenes efforts associated with the Cottonwood Mall, Northway Mall, and Sears Mall Coin Shows. Thanks again, Scott.

I look forward to seeing Mike apply some of his obvious energies to the betterment of the club as Vice President. I'm still trying to figure out how "Lone Wolf will respond to his new responsibilities as "Assistant Leader of the Pack". The Fifth Anniversary Commemorative Medal program is in need of active management, and Mike would be an obvious candidate for that role. Judging from his outspoken interest in the program, he will bring maturity, focus, and commitment to a project that has suffered from lack of consensus. If you agree, bring it up at the April meeting and we can vote on it.

It is with mixed feelings that I come to the former and present individuals elected to the position of Secretary/Treasurer. Benita Meyer managed the responsibilities of the club finances with accuracy and dedication for I'm not sure how many years.

Well, enough is enough, and she's not going to be there anymore due to the fact that she has other commitments. Thanks for all your help, Benita! The front table just won't look the same without you.

Paul Wheeler won a landslide vote to replace Benita, and I like to believe that all of us will support Paul during his multi-year tenure as Secretary/ Treasurer. One of his initial tasks will be to update the membership database. Anyone willing to help will find Paul very appreciative, I'm sure.

With any luck this will keep Paul out of the local coin shops long enough for me to find all those fantastic errors and varieties that he likes to stick under my nose.

In closing, diverse interests and opinions can make the club a vital, educational place to share thoughts and ideas on a tremendous range of subjects, numismatics not the least. Our new leadership wants to help focus the personalities of the individual club members towards positive, pro-active horizons. We should all make a personal commitment to support them.

¹ Translation to the uninitiated: "Georgia Gem"

"Later baby," he said after inhaling the last bites of the meal I had prepared for him. I watched him go whistling out the door and thought to myself, "Great, another lonely Wednesday night while he and his cronies are doting over a bunch of crummy old coins!"

It was 7PM, cold, and dark that fateful night when a rebellious idea wormed its way into my consciousness: "Why do 1 have to hang around here? He'll be gone for hours...1 could do anything and he'd never know!" Well, I don't have to tell you that I was convinced right away; I needed some excitement and adventure, and, after all, this was Spenard.

So I went into the bedroom and opened my closet, not the left side of it where I kept all my normal, rational, everyday-wear, but the right side where my slinky black skirts and sheer blouses waited patiently. "I am stepping out tonight," I said out loud as I shimmied into a little red number that I had never worn before. What did it matter that it was snowy outside, I wouldn't be on the streets for long.

And I wasn't. No sooner had I made my way to Spenard Road, using my spiked heels as ice picks, than a black Trans-Am pulled up to the curb.

"Hey Baby, need a lift?" said the guy inside.

"Sure do!" said I. He was a studious-looking dude with a tie that didn't quite match his shirt. I knew the type.

"Engineer, eh?" I queried.

"How'd you guess??" he said.

"Electrical, right?"

"Yeah...how'd you know?" he said, incredulously. The guy already had one strike against him.

I crossed my legs, and the sensuous sound of rubbing nylons filled the interior of his car.

He adjusted his tie, and asked what my name was. Inspired by "China Blue," in the flick I had seen last Wednesday night² I said, ironically,

"That's 'Full Mint Red,' to you, sweetheart."

Taken aback, he said, "But that's...do you realize...that's a coin thing...wait, this is—"

"—This is Wednesday night, sweetheart, and you're late for the meeting. Lemme out here." I had to live with a coin fanatic; I didn't need one now.

Thirty seconds later another guy in a sleek, black, Japanese job pulled up, "What's a fine lady like you doing out on a cold night like this?" he said. He wasn't wearing a tie; neither did he have a flannel shirt on. Surveying the guy, I thought, "This is something different." So I said,

"Waiting for you, sweetheart."

Afterwards, he turned to me with a satisfied look on hia face, "Full Mint Red," he said, "I wouldn't give this to anybody but you."

Fishing around in his pants pocket he pulled out a single coin: a blazing mint red 1856 Proof Flying Eagle Cent.

"I'm touched," I said, choking on the words, "but it's 9:30, and I'm outta here."

Grabbing the coin, I stumbled to the door and wondered how I could have been so wrong: another coin fanatic. Was there no escape?

Snuggling comfortably under the covers in my own bed a half-hour later, I heard the front door open. I put on my best innocent, sleepy-looking face and waited for him. But his attention was distracted. Like a homing pigeon, he made a B-line for my night table and eyed the pristine coin. "Hey, baby, this is a Proof--"

"—Flying Eagle Cent," I said, "with full mint bloom and cameo devices surrounded by deep watery fields." He looked at me uncertainly as he made to pocket the coin.

"Not so fast," I said, "that Flying Eagle is mine."

As I drifted off to sleep, with the numismatic engineer wedged into my every curve, I knew that this was only the first Wednesday night. There would be, oh, so many more.....

² Kathleen Turner bares a lot more than her soul in dimes of Passion as "China Blue" the night-time persona of a day-time clothing designer.

The Anchorage Coin Club is sponsoring yet another Sears Mall Coin Show April 17 and 18 during the usual Mall Hours. That's 9:00-6:00 Saturday and Noon-5:00 Sunday. See you there!

Dates as follows: '34-D, '35-D, '43-D, '44-D, '46-D, '51-D, '52-D, '57-D. 75-S.

Complete with holes, including: 1910 &1911 Barber Dime, 1944 &'4S Dimes, and 1964 Kennedy Half (all holed); Bust, Seated, and Barber Dimes (all Poor with no date); 1905 Barber Dime: and Jefferson Nickels ('50, '54-D, '55-D, and a delaminated '45-P)

(9) Sales Tax Tokens, (2) Indian Cents (24) Game Tokens, (3) Wood Nickels, (1) Wood Dollar. Wooden tokens are imprinted, not engraved or carved.

1900 Half (WWTS candidate); 1899, 1906-S, and '09-S Halves; 1930-S Quarter; 1943 Half; 1893 Columbian Half.

Obverse shows Seward flanked by two Grizzlies, Reverse has an Alaska Flag over mountains and clouds.

¹ "World's Worst Type Set"