As you know 2 challenges the club (and we on the Membership Growth and Engagement Committee) face are:

- Limited resources (both money and people) to get things done
- A desire to keep doing things like we have always done

Club presence at ANA/FUN shows WAS successful before, so it's natural that people desire we keep it going. Your experience and Barry's at the FUN show prove that it no longer delivers significant results (certainly not in return for the effort that has to go in to it).

I know others disagree, but I think we shouldn't spend any more time even talking about it.

In order to stabilize (or, gasp! GROW) the club, we need to focus on modern methods of connecting to collectors, and providing value for members. I know for some people it was controversial, but limiting advanced ChipGuide features to members was a good first step. Beside that and an excellent magazine (which younger folks don't value), what quantifiable benefits do we offer?

We are no longer in a pre-internet world, with a club run out of a basement. While the club and grown from the start (and shunk by 2/3 since it's peak), the hobby has continues to grow.

I think we need to spend resources reaching out to where collectors already are. In eBay right now there are 90,000 listing for 'Casino Chip'. Someone's buying them. There are at least hundreds of 'set collectors' that are potential members, if we can reach out them in a positive way. And show them the value if joining the club.