Rich,
Thank you for the COA usage history.  The bourse is always a major highlight
of the convention for me.
See ya'll in a few days!
Leslie

Def./Etymology ...
Bourse, n.  (boors)  A stock exchange, especially one in a continental
European city.
[from French, literally: purse, from Medieval Latin bursa, ultimately from
Greek: leather]


-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
worldwide
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 10:34 PM
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Some COA History...the word "Bourse" (pron.: boar-z) as it refers to COA
(aka, "Shell Bourse") was coined by the late Ruth Greenberg, proprietor of
Tidepool Gallery in California.  Bourse is a French word often translated to
mean "organized market" among other variations on a theme.  The key word is
"organized".  The creation of the Shell Bourse was in response to
indiscriminate shell selling throughout the convention hotel that was
disrupting the COA meeting proceedings at the previous conventions.  The
first organized COA shell market, or "COA Shell Bourse" took place at the
8th Annual COA convention in Santa Monica, California then hosted by Ruth
and her sister Jan.  Ten dealers participated.  The rest, "as they say", is
[COA] history...which you can read more about in the official unabridged COA
publication "A Twenty Year History of the Conchologists of America, 1972 -
1991" written by Lucy Clampitt.  Knowing your roots often leads to a better
understanding of why we exist as an organization.  As Sue stated so
eloquently, the COA Bourse has become an international assemblage of shell
dealers.  This event now represents the pinnacle of "shell bourses"
in the U.S. if not the world.  Would you dare to miss it?!  Don't answer
that, but hope to see you at the convention and Bourse.

Rich
www.worldwideconchology.com

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