The Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) board of governors has voted to cancel its 2021 convention, slated for April 21-24 in Illinois, due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
CSNS officials cited “the health of the society’s members and booth holders and roadblocks in Illinois state regulations” as reasons why the convention needed to be cancelled.
“From the moment of the cancellation of our 2020 event, the CSNS board and our management prioritized what was going to be necessary to ensure the health and safety of our attendees as well as the viability of the event as we prepared for our 2021 convention,” said CSNS President Mitch Ernst. “While infection rates are dropping from winter highs and vaccination rates are increasing, we do not have sufficient assurance that travelling and attending a large event can be done yet with adequate safety—or even allowed. We are as disappointed as anyone because we know what our convention means to the numismatic community.”
Convention manager Larry Shepherd noted the group operating within a 13-state Midwestern region “really had no choice” but to cancel this year’s event.
“Illinois has limited gatherings to no more than 50 people for months, regardless the size of the space. It’s not a matter of protocols or spreading out. They have set a limit per event that’s fixed, whether we use 1,000 square feet or 100,000,” Shepherd added.
“We were really hopeful through January, but after initial signals the state would adjust guidelines upward by mid-February, the state kicked the can down the road until March. It’s not fair for us to keep our members and dealers waiting until a month before the convention to get a clear answer. Wishing and hoping and all the preparation in the world can’t overcome a state roadblock.”
The 2022 CSNS Convention will be held April 27-30, 2022, at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill., about 900 kilometres south of the Canada-U.S. border – which remains closed due to COVID-19 – in Fort Erie, Ont.