As I read the BB posts, it appears to characterize my position on slabbing as being in favor of slabbing chips. For the benefit of those who are new to the club and for those who never had any interest in listening to my position, I want you to know that my position is the same as is was two years ago when I was running for office. I am against slabbing, that I feel that there is no place for slabbed chips in our hobby and that slabbing will bring in speculators and drive up the cost of chips for everyone without adding value.

I'm very pleased that slabbing has not come to our hobby. And I give credit to the Slabfree Chapter and all of those who worked very hard.

My disagreement with some other members was and still is over the best way to keep slabbing from gaining a foothold.

There are many of us in this club who favored an approach in which the club took a leading role in educating our members and allowing them to make the decision for themselves. This was accomplished by publishing articles from both sides in our magazine and by the club sponsoring an educational seminar at the convention in 2001.

I firmly believe that allowing the slabbing companies to have tables at our convention was the beginning of the end for them. They realized first hand that we chip collectors had no interest in slabbing. If these companies were never given the opportunity to meet and solicit collectors, they might still harbor their lust for our hobby.

The constant push for a ban just didn't sit right with me. It left me thinking about what would be next. I felt that the best method was to educate our membership and allow them to make their own informed decisions. I did not think it right for five Board members or 400 "list" signers to make the decision.

Nate