Dear Members,

Over the past quarter I’ve given thought to the meaning of ECI. With ECI membership approaching the 400 mark, it seemed like a good time to reflect and evaluate just what makes membership so valuable.

First, I realized that clubbing, uniting or combining for a common cause, certainly isn’t new. Mankind has been doing this for thousands of years. We’re a sharp species since we’ve come to realize that there is strength and value in unity.

Second, I thought, coin clubs and coin collecting certainly aren’t new.  After all, many of us in ECI are members in many other numismatic organizations, write books about coins, give presentations, and read all the coin magazines and newspapers we can get our hands on. All of these numismatic type activities are very satisfying.

ECI however, has successfully, perhaps even heroically, forged a union of the older coin club model with the computer science of the Internet. It built a website rivaled by none. It’s a website that contains an almost unbelievable amount of information about our little niche hobby.  And here’s the best part…it’s always up-to-date!  Like a beautiful song it goes over the Internet as a small piece of perfection.  But, like all art, what seems so simple – ain’t.  If you haven’t set ECI to be your home page, do so. You don’t want to miss anything there.

And many of us have a friendly relationship with members across the country and around the world.  We have members in 10 countries now and 47 of the United States. At this writing only possible members from Alaska, Delaware and Montana are missing out on the fun because we haven’t found them yet. But we will.

It isn’t the same relationship as one might have at the local coin club or show, but a far-reaching relationship. It’s like having a personal numismatic watchdog ---another person whose only joy is reporting and sharing information about our hobby. Let’s face it, we encased collectors are a small, but mighty, branch on the numismatic collecting tree, so sharing information is vital to our survival…and our collecting fun.

That’s it. “Knowledge Through Fellowship” is not a hollow motto. There is an everyday practical meaning to that motto.  So as we march toward that 400-membership goal, I think it’s good to remember that a great part of the fun is the journey…the meeting and greeting of all these fellow collectors. 

And selfishly speaking, I invite you to send all your thoughts or questions to me as your Editor. I love hearing from all of you. Elaine