As the originator of the Chip Of The Year and Token Of The Year Contest (COTY/TOTY) please permit me to explain for the benefit of newer club members how this annual activity was originally set up several years ago. Of course the current Chairman, Jim Follis, is at liberty to make any changes he sees fit.

Keep in mind that the COTY/TOTY voters are in fact volunteer judges. In order to qualify to be on the JUDGING COMMITTEE... all one has to do is to simply submit a nomination for any chip or a token that was issued the previous year and you are automatically on the committee who will then select the winners. Generally speaking, COMMITTEES are not made up of the entire membership. Want to volunteer for this committee? Simply send in a nomination and you're in!!

It makes no sense (to me) to send out color pamphlets and judging materials and ballots to those club members who have no interest in the contest and who are more than likely going to throw these materials into the garbage... and then criticize the club for spending such a large amount of dues money. Only those members who have actually expressed interest in the contest, by submitting a nomination, become judges. No one is excluded.

If a club member wants to have a vote in the outcome, I believe that such members should show an interest in the activity by submitting a nomination. It doesn't take that much of an effort on the part of a club member who would like to be a volunteer judge .... compared to the tremendous amount of effort and WORK that the COTY/TOTY Chairman puts in to prepare and conduct this contest.

There is a considerable EXPENSE involved with conducting this activity each year. Personally speaking, I can't justify the expense of mailing these materials out to all 3000 club members, many of whom could care less, when a large interested VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE can represent the membership's views just as well.

Do the math.