Hi Steve. I'm pretty new to the CCA (a year or so in the club, 18mo seriously collecting). I saw someone else comment that you're not an active member of the club. This board doesn't appear to have a requirement to be a member to chat here, which is nice, but if they did, wouldn't you find that feature alone to be worth $35/yr? I don't know about everyone else, but I'd bet I've had conversations with a good 30+ people here. I've purchased chips from several, and many purchases I've made on eBay have been from folks who are on this board, offering free advice, good jokes, awesome pictures (of chips and other items), bad politics, sweet success stories and sour grapes. Just 2 nights ago, I met up with another fellow collector who's on this board who lives one town over from me, so we met up for a chat. Turns out we both attended the same college, had similar career paths, and we both proposed to our wives at (or in my case, just after) eating at the same restaurant! Serendipity! Fun meetup. That alone is worth the membership cost. I would encourage anyone who logs in here even once a month to consider "pissing away" $35 each year to keep things going AND (this is the best part) to shut everyone up who nags you about joining. You don't have to come to the convention. You don't have to submit articles for publication. You can scream about how things should be done (and have more of a voice in that) and remain the beloved curmudgeon I picture you to be. I'll tell you what... if you join and pay for this year, I'll pay next year's dues for you and buy you a beer or something at the next convention (in 2026, right? ). Hard to beat that deal, eh? Unless being a member would truly cramp your style. Lemme know if you want to take me up on that offer. Be well.