... everyone who made it possible.
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Special highlights:

Seeing my life-partner Glenda literally bouncing up and down on her seat in the first round of the blackjack tournament when she realized she was going to make the second round (this was the FIRST time in her life that she had ever played blackjack without me there to tell her what to do). In the semi-final round, she finished 4th on her table (thereby besting you-know-who, the first player knocked out in the semis!).

Then, seeing her bouncing up and down again Friday morning after she discovered silver strikes (while looking at Jack Haddock's wonderful exhibit of patriotic strikes). By the time we left Vegas on Sunday, she had already joined the SS chapter, acquired a silver strike guide book, accumulated 18 strikes and ordered a display frame from Tiny Treasures to hold them!

BTW, special thanks to Rich Figarotta who very generously GAVE her half a dozen strikes just to help her get started.

Glenda & I also particularly enjoyed working at the registration table with Archie & Brenda Black and Art & Muriel Sanderson. So much so, that we volunteered to do it again next year.
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More highlights:

Greg Susong's ChipBoard Get Together Tuesday night at the Palms. If anyone has done more to bring the chipping community together on a regular basis than Greg, I don't know who it is.

The Early Bird Banquet. Thanks to my special friend Paul Sax, who treated Glenda & I to this one. For those who don't know the story, it was Paul & his wife Peggy who introduced Glenda and I to begin with, for which they have my never-ending gratitude.

The blackjack and poker tournaments (didn't do very well at poker this year, but enjoyed the tournament anyway). Gene Trimble and the Palms (which was like a second host hotel this year) deserve a great deal of thanks for their hospitality. Also, of course, Bob Pardue, who seemingly spent two full days at the convention making these tournaments happen.

The CPC meeting, during which the chapter presidents and members of the old and new boards had some very frank and IMO very valuable discussions about club-chapter issues.

The club auction, during which I won six lots, including two chips I have long coveted (Railroad Pass $25 and Silver Slipper Bicentennial). Barry Weintraub, Howdy & Kregg Herz, Jim Steffner and the inestimable Jim Kruse (as well as all of the other volunteers) did a great job making this auction the best ever.

Ditto the Building Fund Auction at the Last Dance. Jim Kruse, Jill Bitner & others made this another great experience. Bought more chips in one minute during that one than I ever had in any year before that!!

The Exhibits and those who put them together. My personal favorite -- Bob Feeney's absolutely awesome collection of snappers.
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More thanks:

To Jim & Sandi Steffner and all of the other volunteers too numerous to name who made this entire convention experience the best ever.

To Nate Pincus, John Zoesch, Mike Quinlivan, Tyrus Mulkey and Ralph Myers for all of the hard work that they, as our board, did to make the convention happen.

And to Mike Skelton, Wayne Thompson and Belinda Hixon for their willingness to join Mike & Ralph in making up the new board. We are all looking forward to a great two years.

To Pete Sanders, who filled in for my during my second volunteer hour at the Building Fund table after I realized that it conflicted with the CPC meeting.

To everyone else, volunteers and attendees, who I haven't otherwise mentioned!
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New friends:

Met a lot of chippers for the first time and I'm afraid I can't recall everyone to mention here.

But, I did enjoy meeting Wilson Gee, John Mayercik and Ross Poppel ...

.. Also, Don Logerwell (with whom I shared an open poker table at the Palms for awhile after we got bounced out of the club tournament!) ...

... and Casey Follis, who spent a lot of his time volunteering at the club promotions table ...

... Patti Smith and John Long, who graciously autographed my copy of their excellent guide to cruise ship chips ...

... the effervescent Jill Bitner. We kept missing each other for awhile, but finally managed to hook up when she "served" me with "papers" from the "Clark County Superior Court"! I think Jill was the inspiration for the Energizer Bunny. We neeeeeed more members like her! ...

... Finally, my choice for Chipper Rookie of the Year, Will Knight, who proved every bit as friendly, helpful and enthusiastic in person as he is on the ChipBoard. We could use more members like him, too.
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Old friends: Way too many to name them all. So I won't even try.
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A few disappointments:

Missing old friends I didn't see: Marv Weaver, Marty Kaplan, David Moore, Bob Hermans, Todd Desnoyers and Scott Blackburn in particular.

Missing one new friend I had hoped to meet in person: Al Mancini, I'm still looking forward to getting together sometime for some legal-philosophical conversation.
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Can't wait for next year!! ----- jim o\-S