Results of the October 21 Annual Meeting

Saturday October 21, 2000 New York, New York- The American Numismatic Society presented a series of reports to its membership on contributions, exhibitions, publications, deficit reduction, and finally progress on the new building at its Annual Meeting this afternoon.

"Difficult times required that we reassess our strengths and weaknesses," President Donald Partrick said during the meeting. "We have emerged stronger and wiser due to a team effort between the ANS staff and Council." He announced that the estimated cost of renovation and moving is $2.85 million, a sum which has already been raised. The initial renovation will cover three floors and general infrastructure. The ANS is hoping to move its collections and offices during the winter of next year.

Kenneth Edlow, ANS Council member and Chair of the Finance Committee, was pleased to present a preliminary statement of expenses. The new software installed by the business office allows more timely and detailed financial reports. The preliminary figures indicate that expenditures, excluding severance pay and extraordinary items, were lower than predicted in the budget of last year. Edlow commented, "Operating efficiencies employed by the staff of the ANS allowed for a further reduction of expenses. These reductions helped to lower the deficit by more than one-third." The audited financial statements will be available on the Web site, www.amnumsoc.org, in December.

ANS Director Dr. Ute Wartenberg gave an optimistic report about the continued support for the Society. This support, which included over 333 individual donations equaling c. $1.75 million, has allowed the ANS to strengthen traditional programs and further the advancement of new programs. Dr. Wartenberg announced that the Graduate Student Seminar would be reinstated for the summer of 2001. A joint exhibition with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an ANS neighbor in the Financial District, is in preparation. The exhibition will run for five years and show a comprehensive display of coins and currency from the collections. Dr. Wartenberg also reported that the Society had recently published three new volumes and that two more were in preparation. She called publishing numismatic books "one of the most important activities of the ANS."

Thirteen councilors were confirmed in their positions at the annual meeting. At the meeting, out of 185 eligible Fellows, 90 voted in favor of the slate and 9 Fellows voted against the slate. The Society received several other proxies by fax, email or late mail, which were not admitted: 7 were in favor and 2 against the slate. A list of the newly elected Council Members and bios is available on the ANS Web site: www.amnumsoc.org/news. Dr Wartenberg commented, "The elections were a positive step towards rebuilding the ANS." She continued, "We hope that those who care about the future of this institution will participate with the same enthusiasm as the staff and the council. If so, we shall succeed."