I reject many of the analogies made here, and I think there is no need to comment on them.

To me it is this simple: the Chip Of The Year would have more prestige if the entire membership could vote on it (whether they submitted nominations or not). What is so great about nominating a chip? Why penalize those who didn't nominate a chip? Maybe they don't collect new-issue collectibles -- sorry, chips -- and feel they have not seen enough of the year's chips to make a cogent nomination. I bet many members are reluctant to nominate a chip because they don't know the year it was issued. Even a Chineese New Year's (or whatever) chip dated January or February 2002 could have been issued in 2001. Many chips carry no date. Must one do hours of research to nominate/vote?

The whole membership being allowed to vote (nomination or no nomination) has a lot of advantages and no disadvantages I am aware of. The way it is now, COTY should be thought of as Clique of the Year. Greg, why don't you put up one of those voting things on the BB for the issue?

Best regards,
Robert