Details about the 2011 banquet: (complete, see report below)

• Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 5:00 PM, banquet dinner at 5:30 PM at Tukwila Community Center.
  Speaker/topic: Heidi Wastweet (see below)
  Display topic: None due to banquet.
• The 2011 BECC banquet was held from 5:00 to 8:00 at the Tukwila community center. Dinner consisting of Prime Rib, Salmon, Halibut, and more tasty treats started at 5:30. Our guest speaker for the event was Heidi Wastweet who has many years experience designing coins, tokens, and medals. She is even on the U.S. Mint's Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). I have no doubt you have seen her work before and not realized it. We had door prizes again, and also had a short auction for the 2011 unique medals. The evening was a great time to eat, learn and connect with old friends. [Information supplied by banquet chairman Michael Nau.]

2011 Banquet Report by Terry Kamm

The silver eagle has been with us for 25 years now, which makes this the "Silver Anniversary of the Silver Eagle," which was the theme for this year’s banquet. The banquet was held on October 26, 2011 at the Tukwila Convention Center. It started at 5:00 with dinner at 5:30 or shortly after that. There were 64 members and guests. Photos: 2011 banquet cakes commemorating the Silver Eagle and the Boeing KC-97.

Mike (Nau) started off the banquet with some introductions and then the early bird prize. Sunny S., a guest, won a 1986-S silver proof American Eagle. Mike next asked Terry Kamm to call for nominations for next year’s Executive Board. Mike started the evening with a “get to know your neighbor” event. Mike passed out to each table a sheet with 10 questions about the history of the United States Silver Eagle. Mike said that in order to score a point for a correct answer, your answer had to match his answer. Mike gave each table only a few minutes to make their choices. Soon, Mike using a computer put up a presentation on the wall. He started with each question, asked for answers and then revealed the correct answers. After the answers were provided, Mike asked how many correct answers each team had gotten correct. Mike explained that the motivation to get the correct answers would result in the order in which each table would be allowed to be dismissed to the buffet dinner. The table with the most correct answers (6) was near the front of the banquet hall, so we got to eat first. The menu consisted of Prime Rib, salmon, halibut, shrimp platter, mashed potatoes, rolls, butter, soda, coffee, tea, cake, green salad, coleslaw, fruit tray and veggie tray and two types of cakes. Thanks to John Enges and his staff for preparing and serving this outstanding meal.

During the later part of the dinner break, Mike got up and introduced Heidi Wastweet. Heidi has been designing coins for several mints and many years now, and is even on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) to the U.S. Mint in Washington D.C. You can read about her and her studio at her website found at www.wastweetstudio.com.

Heidi Wastweet is a leading American Medalist and sculptor who specialize in bas-relief bronzes. In conjunction with a wide variety of private mints she has produced over 1000 coins, medals, tokens and rare coin replicas since 1987. She was chief engraver for Sunshine Mint for 11 years and lead designer/sculptor for Global Mint for 5 years. In 2001 she opened her own studio and relocated from Idaho to Seattle, Washington in 2002. She serves as vice president for the American Medallic Sculpture Association and is current president and founder of Seattle Sculpture Guild as well as a member of FIDEM. She has been shown in Coin World and Coinage magazines and exhibits her non-commissioned work regularly including the National Sculpture Society in New York and the Norwegian Heritage Museum in Washington. In 2010 she was invited to serve a four year term on the Citizen's Coinage Advisory Committee for the U.S. Mint.

She works at the Inscope Bldg. in Seattle. Heidi presented how she sculptors coins and medals. She answered many questions about the mint, current coin design and several other coins. She had with her several of her current designs for display. She mentioned that in her career she has made coins for several clients, even international clients. She shared some of her early experiences at the Sunshine Mint in Idaho. She noted that there are not many sculpture artists in the world; they are a vanishing breed. After her wonderful presentation, Mike awarded Heidi a Boeing 50th Anniversary three piece medal Set.

Next Greg presented this year’s committee, volunteer, appointed and executive board officer awards. Members received a bronze medal and another gift.

After the presentation of awards, Mike asked Terry to stand and introduced this year’s recipient of the Jim Payne Memorial Award. Terry said that there were five members nominated for the award this year and it took three rounds of voting until a winner was chosen. This year Jon Enges was the recipient of the Jim Payne Award. Jon was presented with a 2012 KC-97 three piece medal, silver, pewter and bronze set in a special holder with a mirror base. To say the least, Jon was “not expecting” to win the award. Jon shared a few humble words with the membership. Congratulations Jon!
Photo: John Enges (left) receives the Jim Payne Memorial Award from Terry Kamm (right).

Next, Greg arose again and with the help of several assistants, drew random numbers to award door prizes. Prize’s ranged from Canadian and foreign coins to Indian cent coin sets. Other prizes included Canadian proof set, Irish coin set, silver eagle, silver half dollars plus many others. Members appreciated the gifts.

The final event of the evening was the special auction for the unique one-off copper, silver plate and brass Dreamlifter medals. These special medals are explained in the July – Sept 2011 newsletters. Del was the auctioneer with Terry as his assistant. The first medal auctioned off was the silver clad. Bidding started slow but increased with each bid and finally was won by Tom K. for $100. The brass medal was auctioned next with the highest bid of $75 by Bruce C. The coveted copper medal was auctioned off last. The bidding started with only a couple of bidders and then several members got into the action. The bidding lulled a bit around $150 and soon climbed as only two bidders remained. The final winning bid was $300 for Greg S. Terry delivered each medal to the winning bidder and collected the $$ for the club accounts.

An additional grand door prize was awarded at the banquet. Heidi Wastweet provided a "Seaweed" token to the BECC and it was awarded to Chip V. as a random door prize. The final grand door prize consisted of an 1886-S $5 coin that was won by Mike N.

See 2003 to 2008 banquet summaries. | See 2009 to 2010 banquet summaries.