Greetings. As we draw closer to our scheduled Conference and Meeting in Vero Beach (actually 63 days to be exact) things are moving at a rapid pace as we work out the details which are necessarily involved in an event of this nature. What follows is a short report of information that we believe will be of interest to those planning to attend. First, though, a couple of suggestions. If you are planning to attend, it is wise to reserve your hotel room now. If you are going to stay at the Costa d’Este Beach Resort which is where our conference is being held, then I recommend, again, that you plan now. If you do make your reservation at Costa d’Este, let them know that you are going to the 1715 Fleet Society Conference. Use the following discount link: ShipWreck Conference Discounted Link
Also, if you are planning to attend our Meet & Greet/Reception on Monday, January 7 at the Heritage Center in Vero Beach (2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach) from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., please let us know so that we can properly advise our catering service. Note that this event is open to the public and you can bring a guest if you wish. If you plan to attend the conference please get your tickets now as the event is quickly filling up. We are also planning to have a dinner meeting on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. much like last year. We are searching for a restaurant that can accommodate us. We have received many suggestions from our members but it seems that no local restaurant is able to oblige us. We are still looking and will keep everyone advised.
If you have any questions, please call me at (724) 344-3171 or email our staff person, Lenore, at lenorewetzel@gmail.com. Our on-site volunteers Jim Wilson and Roberta Murray have been a huge help to us. They have done a lot of work helping to organize the event and doing things in person that I cannot do. Many thanks to them.
Below is a brief summary:
Description: The 1715 Fleet Society is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a Conference & Meeting at Costa d’Este Beach Resort in Vero Beach, Florida from Monday, January 8 – to Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
Shoutout and huge thanks to our Conference Sponsors:
- Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, sedwickcoins.com
- Vision Development & Construction, visionconstructionatlanta.com
- Collectors, PCGS Division, pcgs.com
Supporting Conference Sponsor:
- West Bay Trading Company, westbaytrading.net
Total Attendees (thus far): 56 Guests
Link to purchase tickets: https://1715fleetsociety.com/shop/2024-conference-ticket/
1715 Fleet Society members receive a 10% discount on all ticket purchases with a discount code at checkout. If you have not received the code, please email Lenore.
Please note that 50% ($125.00/$62.50, respectively) is NON-REFUNDABLE. The 1715 Fleet Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Much of our work is done by volunteers but there are still expenses that come up from outside vendors that have to be met. Many of our expenses for the conference are based on the number of attendees. We believe that this is a reasonable policy so our basic expenses can be met and enough will be left over to make our efforts profitable if cancellations are made.
Monday, January 8, 2022:
- 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Meet and Greet/Reception — FREE! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! at The Heritage Center located at 2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach
BOOK SALE | ARTISTS | “SHOW & TELL” COIN & ARTIFACT EXAMINATIONS/APPRAISALS
Bring your coins and artifacts for examination by experts. We will have several authors available to sign books including Allen Balogh, Tammy Gross, Alex Kuze, and Carol Tedesco to name a few. Major bookseller, Alan Workman, will have a wide array of shipwreck, treasure, and related books from his vast and impressive inventory.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Tuesday, January 9, 2024:
- 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Continental Breakfast
- 8:45 a.m. to 900 a.m. Welcome — Ben Costello
- 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Charlie Winn — “ New Information and Insights on 1715 Fleet Pedigreed Coins”
- 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Carol Tedesco — “Silver Treasure Coins of the Americas: Histories and Mysteries”
- 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Break
- 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. John Brandon — Topic: TBA
- 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
- 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Rick Beleson — “The Dragon Whistle”
- 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Break
- 2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Carl Allen — “Allen X and Current Work on the Maravillas and New Wrecks”
- 6:00 p.m. – Dinner Meeting — TBA
Wednesday, January 10, 2024:
- 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Continental Breakfast
- 8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Welcome — Ben Costello
- 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Jorge A. Proctor — “New Archival Research on the 1715 Fleet”
- 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Nichole Johanson — Topic: TBA
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Cori Sedwick Downing — “ The Charles and Joanna Silver Coinage of Santo Domingo, 1542 – 1552”
- 12:00 Noon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
- 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mike Perna — Topic: TBA
- 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Break
- 2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Barry Clifford — “The Pirate Ship Whydah and its Relationship to the 1715 Fleet”
- 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Conference Gifts and closing remarks — Ben Costello
The schedule is tentative and the times are subject to some modification.
Ben Costello
President, 1715 Fleet Society
