It was about a month ago that I got home from our Convention in Las Vegas, and while I have calmed down considerably since then, I find that I am still excited, pumped in fact, at the prospects for our Club's and the hobby's future. A future that I want very much to be a part of. With that in mind I would like to announce that I am running for Club Secretary in the 2001 election.

It has been approximately 6 years since I began collecting casino chips in earnest, that is to say, 6 years since I realized I was a collector. Until then I thought they were just really great souvenirs. In that time I have involved myself in more than my collection alone. In the very early days I was online with CompuServe, with a touch of Prodigy thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed the online auctions, the chats and the daily correspondence with new found friends.

I like to 'roll my sleeves up' and get things done, and since then I have been working to promote the hobby and enhance communication between all chip & token collectors. That communication was the original concept behind Chequers of which I am co-founder. After Chequers was created we created Chequers Magazine of which I have been the Editor since its introduction. I am very happy and proud of its steady growth in both numbers and stature.

Currently, I am a Contributing Editor for Casino Player Magazine and co-author a monthly column for Casino Player Magazine entitled "Collector's Corner" where the focus is on our hobby. I have also emceed the Electronic Chipping Seminar (1999) at our Convention.

By all accounts our hobby is growing. I believe it will take close attention, creativity, a hearty dose of technology, and hard work to steer a successful course through these periods of growth. I noted once that returning to our convention was almost like going back to a family reunion. I do not want that warmth to get lost in the expansion that is to come. I believe that well reasoned judgement and patience will go a long way towards making correct decisions for our future.

Having personally been involved in volunteer organizations in the past, I feel I know the kind of effort it takes. I am willing, eager, and ready to provide that energy if given your support and elected as your Club Secretary.

Marty Kaplan,
R-3634