Hi Fellow Members,

Only 30 members have sent in their dues as of last week, so if you haven't renewed your membership you're now delinquent. We changed to a calendar year dues system in November 2012. Please send your $5.00 cash, check or mail order, made out to Ken Hallenbeck, at 711 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903. In a matter related to the dues situation, the membership voted to collect a $1.00 per meeting charge for those attending to help make up for the shortfall of dues. This will help us pay for the use of the meeting room at the American Legion Post.

I heard from Lee Bruton today, and he reports that former member Dick Sawyer has passed away, and Dick's wife would like to sell his chip and token collection in one sale if possible. It is believed to be a general Colorado collection and also some Las Vegas stuff in 3 binders. Contact Mrs. Sawyer at 303-761-7044 for particulars and information.

Lee also told me he's going to have a bone marrow transplant on the 28th of February, and expects to be in the hospital for about 3 weeks, with 8 months recovery time at home. Please keep Lee and Carolyn in your prayers to get them through this latest challenge.

It was discussed at the meeting that the Riviera and Ameristar Casinos have been sold, and a name change should occur at both some time in the future. We can only hope for some new chips to be issued. Our next meeting will be on St. Patricks day March 17th, and it was reported in the Denver Post that Fitzgeralds Casino has been sold to Saratoga Harness Racing, which owns Saratoga Casino and Raceway in upstate New York. Fitzgeralds will be changed to Saratoga Casino-Black Hawk. This should also generate new chips and other collectibles.

Billy's Casino in Cripple Creek is re-racking it's chips, but whether they will be different, no one knows at this time. An attempt was made by a member to get some of the existing chips, but the management said they didn't have enough chips to allow that. The new chips were late in delivery, and they didn't want to sell any of the current chips. This is a new happening, that I can't ever remember of hearing about before, other than roulette chips.

That's all folks!!!!!

Ken Fisk
Club President