... perhaps I could suggest that anyone who has information they would like to post on the BB first send it to me via email, indicating their desire to post. After reviewing it, I will advise whether I would like to keep it confidential while I continue the inquiry. There probably is some generic information which could be posted, though I think the general thrust of the inquiry has already been mentioned on the board to alert everyone to be on their guard (the primary focus of my inquiry is with respect to counterfeit or "remanufactured" brass core chips).

There are several good reasons for my request:

1) I have made it a basic premise of the claims process that I will keep the inquiry confidential until it is completed and a report submitted to the club board of directors. To the extent possible, I would like to abide by that principle.

2) Confidentiality encourages people to come forward when they otherwise might not.

3) As you mentioned, confidentiality will prevent someone from being unfairly (and perhaps inaccurately) identified on the BB.

4) The best way to get the truth in any situation is to acquire information from individuals without having them comparing notes or otherwise trying to "please" the investigator by providing what they think he needs or wants, based on what they've heard from other sources.

I have been involved in conducting legal and criminal investigations for 25 years and the #1 lesson I've learned is that the fastest way to screw one up is to have people blabbing all over about it.

Again, patience please. This won't take that long (perhaps a few weeks). In the meanwhile, don't take any wooden nickels or brass core chips!

----- jim o\-S