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Figure 1a and 1b: The "Phoenix Rises" challenge coin in brass and silver
The Phoenix Rises for MPC Fest 24
The first in-person MPC Fest, after missing three years due to the COVID pandemic, took place at Camp Leo May in Port Clinton, Ohio on the weekend of March 17-19, 2023. This was officially Fest 24.
About 45 people participated in Fest 24 which included a bourse, 25 or so presentations, a national championship "March Madness" contest, a pre-fest shooting contest, reenactments of military procedures, common meals, an awards ceremony, an MFC currency conversion from series 191 to series 231, a "Texas Hold-em" poker tournament, and an auction. The age range was 9 to 90 with the youngest fester being my grandson Leonardo McCloskey Feller. The oldest was the venerable Neil Shafer who was able to zoom in for some of the talks.
The keynote speaker was Tom Sparks who spoke on the non-profit educational short snorter project. This 64 feet long 141 note short snorter has incredible signatures from a literal who's who of WWII. It is signed by over 100 generals, admirals, and statesmen of that era. The 141 note short snorter was the property of Major General Clayton Lawrence Bissel. Tom also spoke on how he became interested in short snorters. （Figure 2)
Other notable talks were on Certificates of Post War Credit by Bill Myers, Canadian Victory Loan Bonds by Harold Kroll, Isle of Man railroad tickets for internees, by Leonardo McCloskey Feller and Ray Feller, Boer War notes by Roger Urce, a short snorter owned by a guard at the Nuremburg trials with fourteen infamous Nazi signatures by Jim Downey (winner for the third time of the Bob Olson Award for best presenter), DP Camp notes by Steve Feller, the SS Bremen's history by Larry Smulczenski, An overview of the French OCR-PI (Central Office for the Distribution of Industrial Products) Issues, and much more. In fact, the focus on the weekend is on military numismatic training-hour upon hour - this is distinct from virtually all other numismatic events in the world.
Here are further pictures from the 2023 MPC fest. （Figure 3-12)
It is customary to reenact the special way MPC (military payment certificates) was converted to a new series. To minimize black market activities MPC was suddenly withdrawn in favor of a new series. This was done at the fest with high quality MFC-military fest certificates.
Further information on the fest may be found at mpcfest.com. This is a very special event and all are welcome to attend. It is typically held annually in the March-April period. It is held at Camp Leo May, Holiday Inn Express in Port Clinton, Ohio. For a nominal fee a fester gets a room at the hotel, all meals, snacks, all supplies, access to dealers, much discussion and a world of fun to boot.
The Phoenix Rises for MPC Fest 24
The first in-person MPC Fest, after missing three years due to the COVID pandemic, took place at Camp Leo May in Port Clinton, Ohio on the weekend of March 17-19, 2023. This was officially Fest 24.
About 45 people participated in Fest 24 which included a bourse, 25 or so presentations, a national championship "March Madness" contest, a pre-fest shooting contest, reenactments of military procedures, common meals, an awards ceremony, an MFC currency conversion from series 191 to series 231, a "Texas Hold-em" poker tournament, and an auction. The age range was 9 to 90 with the youngest fester being my grandson Leonardo McCloskey Feller. The oldest was the venerable Neil Shafer who was able to zoom in for some of the talks.
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Figure 2: David Leong and David Frank pose in front of
the incredible short snorter that the keynote speaker, Tom Sparks brought and displayed
the incredible short snorter that the keynote speaker, Tom Sparks brought and displayed
The keynote speaker was Tom Sparks who spoke on the non-profit educational short snorter project. This 64 feet long 141 note short snorter has incredible signatures from a literal who's who of WWII. It is signed by over 100 generals, admirals, and statesmen of that era. The 141 note short snorter was the property of Major General Clayton Lawrence Bissel. Tom also spoke on how he became interested in short snorters. （Figure 2)
Other notable talks were on Certificates of Post War Credit by Bill Myers, Canadian Victory Loan Bonds by Harold Kroll, Isle of Man railroad tickets for internees, by Leonardo McCloskey Feller and Ray Feller, Boer War notes by Roger Urce, a short snorter owned by a guard at the Nuremburg trials with fourteen infamous Nazi signatures by Jim Downey (winner for the third time of the Bob Olson Award for best presenter), DP Camp notes by Steve Feller, the SS Bremen's history by Larry Smulczenski, An overview of the French OCR-PI (Central Office for the Distribution of Industrial Products) Issues, and much more. In fact, the focus on the weekend is on military numismatic training-hour upon hour - this is distinct from virtually all other numismatic events in the world.
Here are further pictures from the 2023 MPC fest. （Figure 3-12)
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Figure 3: Joe Boling reads an orderof the day.
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| Figure 4: Leonardo McCloskey Feller 9, sits at a bourse table. |
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Figure 5: Steve Feller's meal card
for Fest 24.
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Figure 6: The Traditional Birthday Cake at the Fest.
It featured a sugar rendition of the group photograph.
It featured a sugar rendition of the group photograph.
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| Figure 7: Individual Pay Book for MPC Fests |
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Figure 8: Part of the attentive crowd of festers
It is customary to reenact the special way MPC (military payment certificates) was converted to a new series. To minimize black market activities MPC was suddenly withdrawn in favor of a new series. This was done at the fest with high quality MFC-military fest certificates.
Further information on the fest may be found at mpcfest.com. This is a very special event and all are welcome to attend. It is typically held annually in the March-April period. It is held at Camp Leo May, Holiday Inn Express in Port Clinton, Ohio. For a nominal fee a fester gets a room at the hotel, all meals, snacks, all supplies, access to dealers, much discussion and a world of fun to boot.
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| Figure 9: Ray Feller and Leonardo McCloskey Feller listen intently toour keynote speaker. |
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| Figure 10: Noted MPC Fest original fester Larry Smulczenski. Note the used World War II Remembered. |
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| Figure 11: Two Certificates of Post-war credit from Bill Myers talk. |
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| Figure 12: Company Clerk Fred Schwan awards Loretta Freyser the Roy Toy Award for Distinguished Fest Service.This is the top award given of several. |
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| Figure 13a and b: Series 191 MFC 10-dollar face and back. The face features Rosy the riveter |
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| Figure 14a and b: Series 191 MFC 20-dollar face and back |
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| Figure 15a and b: Series 231 MFC 24-dollar face and back |
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| Figure 16a and b: Series 231 100-dollar MFC face and back |