There’s an important acronym that attendees at this year’s Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) convention will hear a lot about: CAFNE.
And anyone associated with CAFNE is hoping it will become top of mind for all numismatists, thanks to a special reception that will be held during the Ottawa convention.
CAFNE stands for the Canadian Association for Numismatic Education. As stated on its website, the non-profit organization’s mandate includes:
- To educate the public about numismatics on the study of coins, currency, medals, tokens, paper money, and related objects primarily from Canada, but also including other cultures, past and present, through the provision of educational programs and activities;
- To conduct research about primarily Canadian numismatics and to communicate the results therefrom to interested individuals, groups, organizations, academics, and governments in order to educate the public about numismatics; and
- To give scholarships and bursaries for the study and research of numismatics.
Thanks to CAFNE, especially its mandate to “educate the public about numismatics,” collectors have been able to enjoy some great presenters in recent years as a number of symposiums have been funded, in part by CAFNE, including:
- Ottawa Coin Club 2011 publication, Moneta
- RCNA 2012 Annual Symposium, Calgary
- RCNA 2012 Annual Coin Grading & Preservation course, Humber College in Toronto
- RCNA Coin Kids events, 2012
- RCNA 2013 Annual Symposium, Winnipeg
- RCNA 2013 Annual Coin Grading & Preservation course, Humber College
- RCNA 2013 Coin Kids events, Winnipeg
- Educational Symposium at the 2013 Toronto Coin Expo, fall show; the 2014 and 2015 Toronto Coin Expo, spring and fall shows; and, the 2016 Spring Show
- RCNA 2014 Educational Symposium, Mississauga, Ont.
- RCNA 2014 Coin Grading and Preservation one-day course, Mississauga
It is important for collectors to understand that CAFNE is fulfilling a major role in supporting numismatic symposiums and programs for all collectors in Canada. The above list needs to continue to grow. The late, great numismatist Jim Charlton believed in this. He was a major benefactor of CAFNE.
As well, esteemed numismatist Charles “Chuck” Moore played an instrumental role, along with a group of notable Canadian collectors, in starting up CAFNE. Moore was chairman of CAFNE until his death in 2015.
CAFNE is a great resource for remembering the legacies of Charlton, Moore and others by financially donating to the non-profit organization.
As stated in a story published months ago in Canadian Coin News on the organization: “CAFNE’s mandate is education. It is only through education, that Canada’s numismatic community will be able to attract new collectors and it is only through education that will help keep them in the hobby.”
We all need to support CAFNE. Your donations will not go unnoticed as it’s collectors of all levels who reap the benefits of numismatic education; of course, that benefits our entire numismatic community and culture. The special reception will take place on July 21 from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Link Lounge on the Mezzanine floor of the Delta Ottawa City Centre hotel.
CAFNE Chair Bob Forbes will be providing more details during the reception and a number of great items will be available for the auction, with all proceeds going to CAFNE. As well, RCNA executive director Paul Johnson reports a “generous” matching donation from a well-known numismatist.
“Mr. Alexander “Xan” Chamberlain of Palo Alto, California, a well-known numismatist and strong supporter of numismatic educational programs will match all donations in United States dollars up to a maximum total of $1, 000,” Johnson says. “For example, a donation of $100 will convert to about $225 after the matching donation. All Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt.”
For anyone unable to attend the reception, CAFNE is set up to accept donations by mail or online, and issues charitable tax receipts. For more information, go to cafne.ca.