Jim,

As one of the newest members to the CC>CC I have been welcomed into the club by many of the senior members like yourself. Gene and Brian Bishop have provided me with a wealth of knowledge that I would not have recieved anywhere else. When I first found this site it was like coming out of the dark and finding chip heaven! I am VERY respectful of my "Chip Elders" and would never do anything to hurt a hobby that I am so new into. Since coming on the scene I've listened, read, and learned from all about Slabbing and its effects on the hobby. I have asked questions and recieved answers. I went to a coin collecting show in Lakeland where I got to see my first slabbed chip. I went over to the persons table, asked to see the chip, held it in my hands, and felt guilty as hell. To this day I am not sure why, maybe I felt I was betraying the same people that had helped "raise me" in my chip education. I mentioned it to the person selling the slabbed chip that this was a major controversy in the chipping world.....and he new that it was. But he didnt care. Giving back the chip I thanked the slabber for allowing me to look and left the show. My point is this. To this day I still dont know all the details behind the Slabbing issue. Emails and posts have not answered all of the questions I have. I've heard my "chip elders" loud and clear, but I dont understand all aspects of why it is wrong. I will be attending my first CC>CC Convention in May and am looking forward to the different seminars. I plan on attending the Slabbing Issue forum as well. Not as a buying or selling issue, but to complete my education and to get my questions answered. I am younger and extremely new to the hobby. I am a representative of the other new people in the hobby that without the education, will allow slabbers to continue in the future because of NOT understanding the detrimental effects it may/may not have and purchase there products. I am your target audience that is hungry for the knowledge and if we dont recieve it from you, will get it "on the streets" from the Slabbers. In closing please let me re-interate that in NO WAY do I mean any disrespect by this post. I am humbled by all of you and your knowledge. I look forward to meeting you at the Convention.