Curry’s Chronicle Page Launched on New C4OA Website

As you might have noticed, there has been a lot of construction occurring on the new C4OA website (http://www.carsoncitycoinclub.com/). We’ve been adding new threads to the Discussion Board, publishing new posts in the News and Articles section, and steadily working behind the scenes to create a user-friendly, attractive, and versatile website where all “CC”-enthusiasts can thrive. As of today, June 9, 2009, we have added a new “wing” to this website, and we believe that this is one of the most special additions yet.

If you glimpse at the new website's left navigation menu, you'll see we've added a new item called “Curry’s Chronicle.” On this page you will find thumbnail images of the front covers of each award-winning Chronicle, which link to their respective table of contents. Within each table of contents, there are selected articles, complete with images and tables, just as you’d see them in the copies of the quarterly.

In the past, many of our members have wondered if there was an online edition of Curry’s Chronicle. At the time, we didn’t have the proper platform to be able to produce such a feat. Now, with the help of the new C4OA website, we are able to give readers a taste of what each Chronicle has to offer.

We hope those interested in our publication will join the club and receive Curry’s Chronicle. But, for now, we hope that you enjoy this peek into our club publication’s history.

Don’t hesitate to leave your comments about this new “wing” of the website in our “Curry’s Chronicle” thread on the new website's Discussion Board. We certainly love knowing how much our hard work is appreciated by those who warrant it most—our beloved C4OA members!

This Blogsite's Potential Strives Against its Failure to Elicit Member Participation

For almost two years, the Carson City Coin Collectors of America has provided this blogsite to its members and to any other cyberspace visitor who might pass by. Over 440 people have signed up for membership in the club since its inception in May 2005, and approximately 300 of them have maintained their dues-paid status. All current members receive four times a year, an issue of the club's award-winning journal, Curry's Chronicle. This blogsite is an added bonus of their membership. Yet, whereas members await with eager anticipation each new issue of Curry's Chronicle, very few of them take advantage of this blogsite. We want to know why.

The success of this blogsite, just as the success of Curry's Chronicle, depends on contributions of content by club members. Fortunately, the articles and letters to the editor continue to pour in for Curry's Chronicle. This enabled us to publish our blockbuster spring 2009 edition, which featured 16 articles. In contrast, only a handful of members---maybe 10---faithfully visit this blogsite, and if several of these members' contributions were eliminated, there would be nothing for other visitors to view. This isn't the way it's supposed to be.

This blogsite is a community domain, where community efforts are required to produce a sense of community pride. Our vision for this blogsite is to have a forum where Carson City coin enthusiasts can meet to exchange information about their passion. We want it to also serve as a reference source for Internet surfers with questions about the Carson City Mint and its coins.

Our original expectation for this blogsite was built on the if-you-build-it-he-(or they)-will-come principle. We believed that a blogsite devoted to preserving the legacy of the Carson City Mint would not only attract our club's members, but would also attract anyone who had even a remote interest in the subject. We wanted the site to resemble a wiki, as in Wikipedia.

If all had gone according to plan, this site would now have hundreds of small postings from our members that covered dozens of different topics related to "CC" coins and the history of the Carson City Mint. In addition, there would be hundreds of comments posted by members and non-members, in reference to the mini-articles, the images of coins, and the questions raised.

If the site had experienced this kind activity, we would have reciprocated by posting dozens of other articles, excerpts from books, a gallery featuring information on each of the 111 different date/denomination combinations in the "CC" coin series, and much, much more.

Visitors to this site could find information on many of the varieties found within each series of "CC" coins, price estimates for every "CC" coin in every grade range, population data for surviving "CC" coins, facts and stories about GSA and Redfield "CC" silver dollars, updates on "CC" coins in the auction place, and images of hundreds of "CC" coins. There would be everything that's found in each issue of Curry's Chronicle and a whole lot more. And the best part would be, that new bits of information and exciting new things would be added to the site every day; plus, visitors would be able to ask questions all the time and people would be able to comment on anything they saw on the site.

I know the faithful few that visit this site on a regular basis are asking themselves, "What are we waiting for?" What I'm hoping is, if you're not one of the "faithful few," and you're just a casual visitor---or even a first-time visitor---to this blogsite, you'll send a comment to express your interest in helping us achieve our goal of transforming it into a popular destination spot for Carson City coin collectors. If you know of another Internet site that's already offering what I've outlined in this article, please let me know about it and I'll post a link to it.

One word about our club

The Carson City Coin Collectors of America is a club that every serious "CC" coin enthusiast should join---you won't find more information on this fascinating subject anywhere. If you collect Carson City coins and you're not a member, you're like a baseball fan without access to ESPN or the sports pages in the newspaper. You're like a food lover without any good restaurants to enjoy. Do yourself a favor and before you add another "CC" coin to your collection, join the Carson City Coin Collectors of America---stop being a fish out of water.

You can send your first year's dues of $20 to:

TREASURER
P.O. Box 16776
Boise, ID 83715-6776
Make checks payable to CCCCOA

Please be sure to include your name, your mailing address, and your email address.

Winter 2008 Curry's Chronicle Deadline - October 31, 2008!

Well hello all you C4OAers!

I just wanted to remind those of you viewing the blogsite that the deadline for article and letter to the editor submissions for the winter 2008 issue of Curry's Chronicle is October 31, 2008.

So, if you have news, stories, or information you're dying to share with fellow Carson City enthusiasts, or maybe a word of praise to the editor about the last issue, please make the effort and send in your typed submissions to mariesgate@sbcglobal.net. (For further instructions and options regarding how to submit articles to Curry's Chronicle, please reference the FYI pages in your most recent issue.)

Many thanks to all those who have already contributed their articles and letters to the editor for the winter 2008 edition, and we look forward to those yet to come!

-Maya

FALL 2008 ISSUE OF CURRY'S CHRONICLE ON THE WAY

All registered C4OAers please be on the lookout for your copies of the Fall 2008 issue of Curry's Chronicle (mailed at the end of August). This special "lucky 13th" edition is packed with 11 info-jammed articles submitted by faithful members. Be sure to check out the FYI pages for a special announcement about our club's journal.

We're happy to announce that the C4OA has passed the 400-member sign-up mark. Yet we realize that many more Carson City coin enthusiasts out there still need to join the club.

We're now gathering new articles for the Winter 2008 issue and invite members to get their submissions in by the October 31 deadline.

With personal greetings from one of the newest members,

Maya Roberts

Memories of C4OA Meeting at Baltimore World's Fair of Money

A group of about 18 C4OA members and guests gathered for the club's annual meeting at the World's Fair of Money in Baltimore on Thursday, July 31, 2008. We discussed a few business matters. Then I (Rusty) presented a brief talk on how my quest for knowledge about baseball and horse racing many years ago transferred over to the subject of the Carson City Mint and its coins. C4OA was launched to help all "CC" enthusiasts discover information that will enhance their collecting experience.

Next, Weimar White spoke on the subject "Why there was a need for a club like the C4OA." He provided his reasons in a four-point presentation, covering, 1. Learning about "CC" coins. 2. Preserving the history of the Carson City Mint. 3. The importance of Constitutional money. 4. The investment potential of "CC" coins.

Next, Michael Parrott spoke on "What the C4OA means to me." He shared how his contributing articles to Curry's Chronicle has turned him into a more confident writer.

We then adjourned, and had an informal discussion period.

Wish you all would have been there---maybe next year in Los Angeles.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ARTICLES FOR NEXT CURRY'S CHRONICLE

The deadline for submission of articles, comments, letters to the editor, and advertising for the fall 2008 issue of Curry's Chronicle is July 31, 2008.

Please don't delay in submitting anything you have to share with our membership.

Spring Issue Mailed

Spring 2008 Curry’s Chronicle Has Been Released!

The eleventh issue of the award-winning Curry’s Chronicle has been released and should be reaching Carson City Coin Collectors of America club members shortly. Thanks always to the members who volunteered to submit articles and letters to the editor. We appreciate members stepping forward and volunteering in that fashion. And as always, we ask our members to consider writing something for the next summer issue of the journal. You do not have to be a professional writer of any sorts to contribute. For more information regarding submissions and deadlines please refer to your new spring 2008 chronicle. If you require further assistance or want to pass an article idea by me, feel free to email me at mariesgate@sbcglobal.net or call me at (775) 322-4455 and I will be happy to assist you.

Typo Announcement and a Solution
There's one additional item that I would also like to address. When you receive the latest issue of Curry's Chronicle you'll notice two obvious TYPOs on the front cover and the title page. The printing company that produces our journal screwed up, and as a result, instead of it reading “Spring 2008” on the front cover and the title page, it reads “Winter 2008.” We were shocked by the mistake made by our printer. But they have apologized for their carelessness and in order to remedy the errors they have created replacement stickers that read “Spring 2008,” which you will place over the “Winter 2008” mistake on your journal.

These replacement stickers will be mailed along with important renewal information to each member within the next six weeks. So, don't flip out when you see the typos, and just hold tight and we'll get the correct information on your journal before summer arrives.

And, just as a reminder, the $20 annual membership dues entitles you to a year's subscription to Curry’s Chronicle. The schedule of release for these journals is as follows:

1. Spring issue mailed out the first of March
2. Summer issue mailed out the first of June
3. Fall issue mailed out the first of September
4. Winter issue mailed out the first of December

Hope everyone enjoys reading their spring journal. I expect to see some blogs written on this site sharing about what you've learned!

-Amy
C4OA Membership Services