2010
by Erick Johnson
Beautiful, green North Carolina is the perfect setting
for a wonderful coin op experience, as the COCA 2010
Convention proved this past July. COCA 2010 Con-
vention Committee Chairman Bill Petrochuk and his
committee worked long and hard to make sure everyone
had a good time. Their efforts paid off with what many
described as one of the best COCA conventions to date.
Despite record setting heat and humidity, the wonderful
coin op community in the Raleigh Durham area opened
their homes and businesses to over 125 conventioneers
for several days of fun and relaxation.
Many thanks to Jeff Scott for volunteering again to
serve as auctioneer. His style and speed made for a
very lively auction.
The Hilton breakfast buffet was necessary again Sat-
urday morning, as everyone needed energy for a full
day of collection tours . Buses and individual cars de-
parted the hotel that morning for tours at the well ap-
pointed homes of Susan Beard, Chuck and Betty Fried-
man, Keith and Catherine Morris and Vinny and Susan
Neumann. All of the hosts served refreshments and for
lunch, the conventioneers were fed a lavish "Sit Down
Southern Barbeque" at the Friedman home. A little late
afternoon free time was wisely built into the schedule to
allow digestion of that great lunch. This was necessary
because Saturday night's dinner at Maggiano's Little
Italy proved to be another incredible meal for everyone.
During dinner, everyone was given the news that the
2011 COCA Convention wi 11 be held in Houston, Texas
and the 2012 Convention is set for Minneapoli s - St.
Paul, Minnesota.
The convention opened Thursday, July 22nd, with
Charles and Sylvia Kemp opening their home for tours,
stops at the S&T Soda Shop and Patterson 's Mill Coun-
try Store for some great nostalgia, Scott and Pat Tidball
hosting an open house at Al Gumballs, and registra-
tion at the Hilton Garden Inn Southpoint. The COCA
Hospitality Room at the hotel opened to serve as "Coi n
Op Central" and convention check in began in earnest.
Keith and Catherine Morris hosted an early bird recep-
tion and collection tour at their beautiful lakeside home
that evening, providing a perfect finish to a great day.
Following another great Hilton breakfast on Sunday
morning, everyone toured the beautiful homes and col-
lections of Mike and Pat Gumula, Charles and Sylvia
Kemp and Bill and Lyn Petrochuk. The convention of-
ficially ended at 2 p.m. on Sunday and a bunch of tired
but happy COCA members and their spouses finally left
for home.
Activities kicked into high gear on Friday morning,
starting with a great buffet breakfast provided by the
Hilton. The COCA Hospitality Room was busy again
registering new arrivals, providing driving directions,
shopping information and refreshments. Room to room
trading kicked off at 1 p.m. on Friday and there was no
shortage of merchandise for the participants. COCA
member Dave Small was seen proudly carrying a beau-
tiful original tin lithographed Pulver gum vendor down
the hallway and there were several other members who
scored great acquisitions. The Chatham Ballroom at
the Hilton was the setting for a sumptuous dinner and a
huge no fee auction that evening. Approximately 140
items were sold to a very eager crowd, ranging from a
collection of old coin machine slugs to a one-of-a-kind
Victor cast iron vending machine from the late 1800's.
The COCA Board of Directors sincerely thanks 20 l 0
Convention Committee Chairman Bill Petrochuk and
his wife Lyn, along with committee members Susan
Beard, Chuck and Betty Friedman, Mike and Pat Gu-
mula, Charles Kemp, Keith and Catherine Morris and
Vinny Neumann for planning, producing and partici-
pating in one of the best coin op experiences we have
ever had. The North Carolina woods sure are full of
wonderful people and great collections. We hope to see
everyone again in Houston next year, if not before.
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