Frank Draskovic forwarded this press release about the upcoming convention of the Orders & Medals Society of America (OMSA). Thanks.
-Editor
This year's annual convention of the Orders & Medals Society of America will be held in Grand Rapids,
Michigan from Thursday, August 10 until Sunday, August 13, about one week after the ANA convention.
Like the ANA's summer meeting, OMSA's annual convention moves around the country enabling
regional members the opportunity of attending without traveling long distances.
Known colloquially as OMSA (ahm-suh), members of the numismatic specialty group collect, research
and preserve Orders, Decorations & Medals (ODMs), often generically called "decorations" by the
general numismatic community. Items of interest include American and worldwide award medals of all
kinds, such as Orders of Knighthood insignia, Decorations for gallantry or distinguished service and
Medals for various types of service, both military and civilian. The vast majority of such award medals
are of the portable variety, that is, medals that can be worn by the recipient, often on a uniform, though
award medals of the non-portable variety, called table medals, are also enthusiastically collected. Once
acquired, researching the history of the circumstances surrounding awarded medals plays an important
part of the hobby and is a value-added aspect that cannot be overstated. Simply put, discovering the
many fascinating tidbits of information about the medals and their recipients is great fun!
The OMSA convention is perhaps unique among specialist numismatic events insofar as it is a collector
financed affair, the costs of the convention being paid by registered attendees, rather than primarily
commercial bourse table holders, the latter method most common in the numismatic community.
OMSA attendees pay a registration fee, this year $170 ($195 for registrations after July 1). For that
amount, they have access to the convention floor for the four day bourse and exhibits, two days of
seminars on faleristic (ODM related) topics, a donation auction, several excellent meals and cocktail
parties, including a lavish annual banquet. As members subsidize the event, inexpensive bourse tables
are available to any registered OMSA collector or dealer at only $60 each, enabling members of all
means to participate as a seller. Exhibit tables are always available at no charge to the exhibiter.
The convention will be held at Hilton's Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids,
MI 49503, (616) 774-2000 from August 10 through 13, 2017 for registered OMSA members. The
convention bourse floor and always fascinating exhibits will also be open to non-registered OMSA
members and the general public one day only, Saturday, August 12, 2014 from 9am to 5pm, for a
modest admission fee. Those presently, or potentially, interested in learning about medal collecting are
cordially and enthusiastically invited. For more information about OMSA, see www.omsa.org. Those
wanting more information about medal collecting or attending monthly meetings of the Southern
California Orders & Medals Society, should email Frank Draskovic, President, Southern California Orders
& Medals Society at fdraskovic@hotmail.com.
Wayne Homren, Editor
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