Hey Joe,

First let me say, I like the idea, in fact I've been trying to get some of the chi manufacturers to come to the convention for four years now to talk at the education seminars, and was only able to get CHIPCO (I haven't tried Atlantic - yet...) and they didn't bring samples to hand out

In the Past Michael Knapp was able to get PAUSLON and Bud Jones - and as with me, no samples...

Most of the other manufacturers are skittish - in fact after a while will not return my calls nor e-mails...
Of these, they indicate that they only make chips for casinos - not for people nor collectors...

May be with the plethora of Home Chip Sets being made, may be one or two might be able to make it...

One problem is, what if a manufacturer such as Bourgogne Et Grasset (BG) is asked to come - first they had a distributor (IGP) that is local, yet I'm not sure they will bring cases of plaques - talk with the people that get to go to the gaming convention (I forgot the actual name), where gaming equipment manufacturers come and show their new products - at this convention, BG has a few samples and they are NOT easy to get out of them...

Blue chip will not talk with me either, as they have been "burned" by people going to the plant and asking for samples, then turning around and selling them on ebay.

Again, let me make it perfectly clear - I like the idea, I just don't know when we (as a club) will be able to pull it off...

Regards,

Dick
CC&GTCC Education Director (2002 - 2005)