This page is a summary of recent PNNA president’s messages, as published in The Nor’wester. For older messages/complete messages, please see back issues of The Nor’wester. There is normally a president’s message in each quarterly issue. Thank you!
President’s Messages 2024-2025 by PNNA President Rick Schulz
4th Q 2025
by PNNA President Rick Schulz (elected 2024).
I want to welcome everyone to the 20th Annual PNNA Fall Coin Show, which runs October 3-5, 2025. This show is one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest, drawing about 85 dealers from across the country and the Northwest.
For those PNNA members who received this Nor’wester prior to the show, I look forward to seeing you there, and when you come, bring along someone new to the hobby. A PNNA show is a wonderful place for new, or ‘maybe,’ collectors to view the breadth of numismatics. Non-collecting friends and relatives will find something that draws them in and it won’t take much perusing of dealer tables before you know what interests your guests.
So many of us started collecting by pushing pennies into blue folders. Nothing exotic, but definitely affordable. This seems to be the entry door for most young collectors. An older relative drops a coffee can of pennies and a Whitman folder or two on the dining room table and tells their young prospective collector to “go for it.” Not every kid is receptive to this approach. I tried this with my 11-year-old grandson, and I think all the pennies I gave him ended up at the 7-11! I feel that the best way to get young people interested in collecting is to lay out what is available and let the new collectors decide what interests them.
This is where the PNNA show comes into play. By following a prospective collector, newly exposed to what the hobby has to offer, it doesn’t take long to see what attracts their attention. Then is the time for you to encourage and nurture that interest into a new collector. This is true no matter the age of the budding collector. When I took my grandson to his first show, he zeroed right in on Chinese Pandas. After that it was zodiac coins. It was his choice.
The Fall Coin Show has more to offer new collectors than all the cool stuff to peruse (and talk Grandpa into buying). On Saturday and Sunday there is a treasure hunt just for kids, and if your budding collector is a Scout, we offer a Scouting America coin collecting merit badge workshop on Saturday where Scouts can satisfy requirements for their badge. For more information about our workshops go to “Scouting” on the pnna.org YNs drop down menu.
Hopefully, there will be room for exhibits put together by collectors to showcase their passion. The PNNA’s penny press will be there to crank out elongated coins designed especially for this show for kids of all ages. And lastly, there will be a free drawing for young collectors 17-years-old and younger for numismatic prizes.
Editor’s note: The PNNA 85th Anniversary “coins” shown on the cover of The Nor’wester will be available to purchase for $10 at the show.
We are also planning to have Numismatic Theater programs again this show. As I write this, some presentations are still pending, but one presentation we will have for sure is a seminar on what to do with an inherited coin collection. This is in response to the most often asked questions we hear at this and other PNNA events.
So, as you can see, PNNA coin shows have a lot to offer seasoned collectors, new collectors and ‘maybe’ collectors and folks of all ages.
Have a great time at the show and, if you happen to see me, please say hi, I’d love to meet you. And, as always, happy collecting.
There will be a PNNA board meeting at the fall coin show on Saturday, October 4, at about 6:15 p.m., after the bourse closes.
3rd Q 2025
It’s summertime again and time for all those things that make the season great—backyard barbeques, swimming at your favorite river or beach and just lying around catching some rays. And when it’s too hot or stormy, you can stay indoors and dive into your collections.
Summer is a bit of a slow period for coin collecting. Several local clubs take summer months off, and local shows become few and far between. On the national/international level there are some great shows coming up. The FUN show in Orlando and the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association convention are this month (July). The ANA World’s Fair of Money® is scheduled for August 19-23 in Oklahoma City. If you’ve never been to one of these major shows do yourself a favor and go.
The big news for Washington State collectors, dealers and shows is the state legislature passage and Governor Ferguson signing the budget bill that includes a provision removing the tax exemption on the sale of bullion and coins. This will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and so far, there is a lot of confusion for both collectors and dealers. This will be the main topic of discussion at the meeting of the PNNA Board of Directors this summer. Because the new tax law doesn’t take effect until next year, all plans for this fall’s PNNA show remain intact. What the future holds is still up in the air. Watch this space for further developments.
One thing that hasn’t changed this year is my enthusiasm for our hobby and for the PNNA’s place in it. One of my favorite duties as president of this fine organization is visiting local clubs and shows around the Pacific Northwest. In the past three months my travels have taken me to clubs and shows throughout much of Western Washington and as far afield as Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Boise, Idaho. Later this summer and this fall I’ll take in shows in Western Oregon. For many of these shows, I’ll pack along the PNNA penny press. Many of the clubs I visit have penny press dies made up especially for their shows. Kids of all ages love making their own squished penny.
The penny press will also take up residence at this year’s Washington State Fair, which runs from August 29 to September 21. The PNNA’s presence at the Fair is the biggest outreach event of the year. Thousands of visitors stop by our display in the Hobby Hall where volunteers engage with kids of all ages searching for their birth year penny, cranking our squished pennies made especially for the Fair and answering questions about coins, collecting and, most often asked, “what do I do with the collection I just inherited?” We are always looking for volunteers to help staff the display. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, check out the Fair volunteer schedule on the PNNA website, pnna.org, and give me a call or email to sign up or ask questions. For volunteering you will get free passes and free parking to one of the largest fairs in the country. When you’re done having fun at our Hobby Hall display, you can have fun doing the Fair.
Two weeks after the close of the Fair, the PNNA ramps up its fall coin show, scheduled for Oct. 3-5, 2025, in Tukwila. This show and the spring show and convention are two of the largest coin shows on the West Coast. You don’t want to miss them.
So, that is what is happening in PNNA-Land. I hope you have some time this summer to indulge your collecting appetite. If you see me at one of this summer’s events, stop and say “hi,” and if you have any questions, ideas or complaints, let’s talk about them. And, as always, happy collecting.
2nd Q 2025
Hello once again everyone. This second quarter issue of The Nor’wester highlights the 74th Annual PNNA Convention and Spring Coin Show. If you’ve received this issue before April 11-13, I hope you plan to attend. If you are one of the many who picked up this copy at the show, welcome. There is always a lot going on at our spring show, so be sure to read our convention chairman’s message elsewhere in this issue.
Putting on a show of this size takes a lot of work, and most of that work gets done by volunteers. Without our volunteers, there wouldn’t be a show. Before every show it’s my job, along with others, to convince members of our coin collecting community to help out. For those of you who are willing to step up and help out, you have my sincere gratitude and thanks. As I said earlier, without you, the show won’t go on.
PNNA shows are not the only opportunities for volunteering. Every local club depends on volunteers for their very existence (including the PNNA). Every club officer is a volunteer. Every club function needs someone to manage and coordinate its activities (examples: YN program, drawings, auction, club shows, etc.). I know that many local club members are reluctant to commit to something that requires their presence at every meeting. If this describes you, how about volunteering to give an educational program? It is not too hard to talk for 15 to 20 minutes on some aspect of collecting that interests you and you can make it as basic or as elaborate as you wish. If you’re comfortable with public speaking, how about volunteering to give a talk to some groups in your community? Organizations are always looking for guest speakers for their get-togethers.
Don’t wait to be asked to volunteer, ask what you can do for your club. Clubs are there for their membership. A lot of what you get from your club depends on what you can give. Don’t miss a chance to help.
After all that being said, I want to remind everyone that a PNNA event is coming up that requires a large number of volunteers. I’m talking about our display in the Hobby Hall of the Washington State Fair, which runs from August 29 to September 21 this year. Be sure to read the article on the Fair, written by our display coordinator, elsewhere in this issue [2nd Quarter issue of The Nor’wester].
I want to make one final comment on volunteerism. There are many opportunities to volunteer other than local coin clubs. Organizations in your local community (such as the food bank) are always looking for help. If you can spare an hour or two, I know it would be greatly appreciated
Finally, I’d like to remind everyone that there will be a PNNA membership meeting on Saturday, April 12, after the bourse closes for the day. Please join us, ask questions, see who gets awards, etc.
I hope everyone has a great time at this year’s convention and, if you happen to see me, please say hello. And, as always, happy collecting!
1st Q 2025
Hello again everyone. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. As I write this, it is still a few days before Christmas, so we’ll have to compare notes next time we meet.
2024 has been a busy year for yours truly. I’ve had the pleasure of attending coin shows across the Pacific Northwest and look forward to visiting many more in 2025. I take the PNNA’s penny press along to most shows, and it is always a hit with kids of all ages. And I’m always talking about the PNNA and asking folks what we can do to make it a better organization.
I also want to visit more local club meetings this year. I am currently a member of four local clubs in the Puget Sound area so they see a lot of me, but I want to expand out to other clubs when I can. I encourage everyone to occasionally visit different clubs in your area. Every club is different, and all have good ideas. You just might find some features that would work well in your club.
This past year I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to a number of community groups. This is a great way to get the message out about the joy of coin collecting and provides the opportunity to answer the oft asked question, “I have these coins I inherited, now what do I do with them?” If you are comfortable speaking to a group of people, I encourage you to give it a try. There are numerous clubs and organizations that are always on the hunt for guest speakers, and it’s a great way to for local clubs to reach out to their community and be a go-to source for numismatic information. So, what else are we looking forward to this year?
The first big event is the Boeing Employee’s Coin Club show, January 18-19. This is one of the biggest shows of the year in the Northwest and the PNNA will be there. Many of you reading this issue of The Nor’wester likely picked it up at the Boeing show. The penny press will be there with a new die especially for the show. The first PNNA board meeting of the year will take place Saturday, right after the show closes for the day. Our meetings are open to all PNNA members.
The PNNA 74th Annual Convention and Spring Coin Show will be held in Tukwila, Washington, April 11-13. This show, along with our fall show, are the biggest in the Northwest, and draw dealers from across the country.
The PNNA offers one adult and one Young Numismatist (YN) scholarship each year to attend the ANA’s Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs. If you are thinking about attending one of the ANA seminars this year, you need to apply soon. You can find more information and an application in this issue (or on this website).
Our biggest outreach event is coming up in September. I’m talking about the Washington State Fair. It may sound a little strange talking about something that is still nine months down the road, but it takes a lot of planning to do what we do at the Fair. What we do is set up a numismatic display in the Fair’s Hobby Hall. Hobby Hall management requires we staff the display through the run of the Fair, so we need volunteers. I’m bringing this up now because volunteer signup will start in March. Watch this space for more information in the next Nor’wester.
I hope 2025 is a good year for you, your family and your friends. There is a lot going on this year that will continue to fuel your numismatic enthusiasm. If you see me at the Boeing show, please stop and say hello. And, as always, happy collecting.
4th Q 2024
Hello once again everyone. This issue of The Nor’wester highlights the 19th Annual PNNA Fall Coin Show, which runs October 4-6, 2024. For those of you who have a chance to read this before the start of the show, I hope you can join us. This show is one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest, drawing 85 to 100 dealers from across the country and the Northwest. For those of you who’ve picked up this copy at the show (or are reading this online), welcome! Our goal here at the PNNA is to support local clubs and collectors and to spread the joy we get from our hobby to the public. This fall show is one of the events we sponsor to do just that. We put on another show and convention in the spring, April 11-13, 2025. Mark your calendar.
There is a lot going on at the show. Across the hall from the show’s entrance is a room devoted to collector exhibits. This is a great way for collectors to share their knowledge and take pride in their collection. I encourage everyone to examine all the exhibits. You might just learn something new. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite exhibit. Also, I’d encourage anyone to put together their own exhibit for display at future shows. Competitive exhibits are judged, and awards are given by category. For information on exhibiting click on the “Exhibits” drop down menu on pnna.org.
ANACS, a grading service, will be at the show taking submissions for grading and slabbing. There will not be a grader on site. ANACS offers special show pricing (see back cover of The Nor’wester). If you have coins you’d like authenticated and graded, check them out.
Kids are always welcome at our shows. On Saturday and Sunday, they can participate in a treasure hunt on the bourse floor. As families move up and down the aisles of dealers, sharp-eyed kids look for special stickers identifying one of ten treasure hunt stops where they can claim the treasure, something to add to their collection.
Scouts have their own program. We offer a BSA coin collecting merit badge workshop on Saturday where scouts can satisfy requirements for their badge. For more information about our workshops go to “Scouting” on the pnna.org YNs drop down menu.
The PNNA has a penny press for making elongated coins. A new design is created for every PNNA show. These squished pennies make great show souvenirs that include the date and location of the show. If you are a collector of elongated coins, talk to us about other collecting opportunities.
PNNA shows are always a lot of fun. They are opportunities to find new items for your collection, meet people who share your interests and reconnect with friends. If you are not currently a collector, don’t be shy. There is history at every table, and folks on both sides of the tables willing to explain the significance behind most every piece. In fact, if you are a collector and plan to attend the show, bring a friend or relative along. The coin collecting mojo in the room can be catching.
Have a great time at the show and, if you happen to see me (I’ll be there all three days), please say hi, I’d love to meet you. And, as always, happy collecting.
PNNA Washington State Fair information:
https://www.pnna.org/wp/events/fair/.
PNNA Tukwila fall coin show information:
https://www.pnna.org/wp/events/fall/.
3rd Q 2024
Hello, my name is Rick Schulz, and I was recently elected president of the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association. I’d like to take this time and space to tell you a little bit about me and how I came to be involved in this august organization.
I started collecting coins in the early 1960’s but set it aside after graduating high school to pursue higher education, military service, a career, a family, and other endeavors. I picked collecting again in the mid 1990’s. For the next fifteen years or so I joined and sat on the board of four local clubs. In 2010 I was asked by then PNNA president Lisa Loos if I would take over as coordinator of the association’s display at the Washington State Fair. I agreed and figured I probably should become a PNNA member. I am still our fair display coordinator along with co-coordinator and current PNNA vice president Kevin Charboneau. Shortly after joining the PNNA, I was elected to the board. For the past four years I’ve held the office of vice president.
As president I look forward to leading the PNNA and its mission into the future. My emphasis has been and will continue to be outreach. Our current outreach activities include two coin shows a year (the two largest in the Northwest), our display at the Washington State Fair, and every few years, Wash Jam, Scouting’s regional Jamboree. In conjunction with our shows, we hold seminars for Scouts to earn their coin collecting merit badge.
We also reach out to our local member clubs. Many of the clubs have their own coin shows and, when possible, the PNNA is there, often with our penny press.
One outreach activity that I feel is underutilized is giving talks to community groups. This is a great way to introduce the public to the joy of collecting. Also, there are a lot of folks out there who have collections they inherited and have no idea what to do with it. This is a great opportunity to help, it’s a great public service and one that fits well with our mission.
But the PNNA isn’t just about outreach. It is important that we continue to serve local and national dealers. We must continue to provide dealers with friendly and well-run shows so they can provide collectors with a vast array of numismatic items, and it is important that we continue to encourage collectors to trade with local dealers and those who set up at our shows. This is what the numismatic community is all about.
There. That’s who I am and some of my goals for the PNNA.
We have two big events coming up in the last few weeks of summer and early fall. First is the Washington State Fair which runs from August 30 to September 22. The Fair is our biggest outreach activity where we have the opportunity to show thousands of fair visitors the wonders of collecting. Since March, I’ve been recruiting volunteers to help out at our display in the Fair’s Hobby Hall. There are always shifts available, even beyond the opening day of the Fair. If you are interested in helping out, you can view the current schedule on our website, pnna.org, or you can call or email me with any questions. My contact info is also on our webpage. Whether you volunteer or not, I encourage you to come to the fair. It is one of the biggest in the nation and has something for everyone.
The Fall PNNA Show is coming up October 4-6 in Tukwila Washington. This is one of the largest shows in the Northwest and draws dealers from across the country. In addition to all the dealers and all their wares, there will be collector exhibits that compete for awards. If you are interested in exhibiting, information is available on our website. There will be a Scouting seminar for Scouts to earn their merit badge. There will be a treasure hunt Saturday and Sunday for kids. And hopefully, there will be programs in the numismatic theater.
I am very excited for the future of the PNNA and numismatics, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to lead our association for the next two years. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can, either at a show or at local club meetings. If you have any questions for me, call or email any time. And finally, HAPPY COLLECTING!
For older messages, please see back issues of The Nor’wester.