The Raleigh Coin Club again participated in the annual PAGE Program at Meredith College here in Raleigh. The RCC first got involved with the PAGE program five or so years ago through the efforts of deceased long-time treasurer Wayne Brooke. Among Wayne’s many interest was philately and he was a member of the Raleigh Stamp Club which splits the mentoring duties with the RCC in the class on Coin and Stamp Collecting. No one seems to remember whether the Raleigh Stamp Club through Wayne recruited our help or if Wayne acting on the RCC’s behalf recruited their assistance. Either way it has been a successful partnership.

The PAGE (Parentally-Aided Gifted Education) program is sponsored by a group of parents who want to provide their children with educational enrichment. The classes are held on Saturday mornings for six (?) consecutive weeks in February and March each year. As mentioned earlier the classes are held on the campus of Meredith College on Hillsboro Street in Raleigh. Each student is allowed to take up to three classes. There is a wide variety for them to choose from. There are classes in foreign languages, music, science, technology, board games, and hobbies where we fit in. So as you can see there is a lot of competition for the children’s interest.

We were fortunate to have five participants this year. All of which were very interested in the hobby and also quite knowledgeable already. Unfortunately one left early in the March 22nd session and we were unable to include him in the photograph or get his full name. The four pictured Philip Kelly and Aaron Shojinaga of Raleigh and Jason Beck and Tim Chang of Cary in addition to the neat world coins they received during the class will be receiving copies of the newsletter and given one year Junior memberships in the RCC. Hopefully these fine young numismatists can form the core of our fledgling YN efforts and get us some contacts within their schools interested in starting school coin clubs that the RCC can help sponsor.

Participating club members were Bob Schreiner and Bob Hoadley who gave a talk on Collecting and Grading on March 8th. Aaron Bass on Ancient Coins and Jack Dinger on The Carson City Mint on March 15th. Halbert Carmichael on World Coin Collecting and Identification and David Boitnott on Specialty Collecting: Error Coins and The Charlotte Mint on March 22nd.

The PAGE program is a very worthwhile experience. It is every bit as enjoyable for the presenters as it is for the students. So if you can talk one of this year participants out of their spot consider volunteering for next year’s PAGE program. Mark your calendars and start getting your talk ready for next year.

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