I would like to thank you for the work that you commit to the E-Sylum e-mail each week. I find it interesting and informative. I am the President of the Albuquerque Coin Club, and almost every issue has something that I copy and send to one or more of our members. A couple of weeks ago, I sent the section about leprosy coins to a friend, John Grost, who is the President of the El Paso Coin Club. He asked me to get him added to your list.

Since I became President of the Albuquerque Coin Club, I have been pushing education about numismatics to the membership. Each meeting now has an educational program, and we are growing as well as getting increased participation among members. I also started giving books to members a couple of times each year. I purchase 40 to 50 books and at a meeting, we draw numbers, and whoever has that number gets his choice of a book.

I never tell the members ahead of time, and since our meetings have about 70 to 80 attendees, most people get a book (only one winner per family). Personally, I find that using club funds like this is much better than paying for meals at a restaurant. Sometimes it has been Red Books, or ANA Grading Guides, I have also given away Milestone Coins & 100 Greatest American Currency Notes. We have done this 4 or 5 times now, and it is always well received.