it's important to have new ideas introduced such as your "once a year" published magazine. I was a BoD member for a few years many years ago and the subject of the club magazine was brought up & discussed at every BoD meeting. The problem was (is) that there were (are) many club members that support the club but would not agree to stop the printed magazine. I really do like your idea of one magazine that would cover/include the four electronic quarterly magazines & really do wish that idea had been raised back when I was involved because there still may have been the same groaning, but it may have actually passed...and saved the club years of additional costs. I'm a Life Member, but I don't receive the club magazine because my twenty year interest in (most) casino collectibles has faded. I still attend the conventions, but that is mainly to see friends that I have made over the past twenty years.

I've heard mention that the younger generations aren't collectors -- I don't agree with that...they just don't collect casino stuff. I have a 34 year old that has an amazing collection of Disney pins & collectibles. And she is part of a HUGE society of Disney collectors...with people from every age group imaginable & from every corner of the globe. And these collectors spend some money. There is no "club" that they belong to but yet they communicate, they know where to find things on-line and have various sites where they buy, sell & trade items. My daughter has made friends all over the world through her collecting. Why so popular?? Because it seems that EVERYONE has good memories of their trips to a Disney park or they loved a particular Disney movie. They collect because those things bring back good memories. Very few of the younger generations have stepped inside a casino, so these little clay or plastic discs hold no meaning to them so they don't collect. I started collecting casino chips in 1995 because of the Hard Rock in Las Vegas -- I loved that place & could not get enough of it. It got to the point that I would take Fridays off when they did their chip releases, drive out to Vegas, get some new chips, gamble and then drive home to LA. I would bet that many chip collectors started their chip/casino collecting journey for the same reason -- a fun trip to Las Vegas or Atlantic City where they brought home a chip or two, found it weeks/months/years later & became "intrigued". Maybe a chip from a grand opening, or a fight or a concert. But there are no more "special" chip releases...no real reason to get excited about chips or casino collectibles, especially for kids trying to make their way in this world. You can gamble on-line...why go to Vegas?

It's very unfortunate for our hobby, but there just doesn't seem to be much potential for growth. What Andy noted is just a sad realization of the facts...and Andy has been one of this club's best supporters for as long as I have known him.

I wish you luck in your endeavours.

Steve Bedo
LM-5259-111