This a rather long post and some of you might find it a bit boring, so to you folks, please don’t read on – just accept my thanks for taking me into your community.

To the rest of you,

I've had several hobbies in my life, made several friends, and was always part of each hobby's community, but, not that I have to tell all of you , the chippin' community is just unbelievable!

As some of you know, I became disabled late last year, lost my job of 35 years, and was forced into a fixed disability income. It was the blackest point of my life. One night I was watching a poker tournament on TV (it was at the Palms) and I was wondering what ‘REAL” poker chips looked like. So, I made a cold call to the Palms and wound up speaking to Gene Trimble – and that was it, I became a CHIPPER. Chip collecting was a perfect hobby for me - it's relatively inexpensive (as I said I'm now on a fixed income), it does not require much mobility (my diabetes makes walking very, very difficult), but most importantly, I have come to love the look and feel of casino chips - I look at each chip as an artwork and a piece of history. But when I went into this hobby, I had no idea of how special the chippin' community was. As I said, Gene got me going and has always been there to answer my "dumb" newbie questions. That said, the help and encouragement I have received from the whole chippin’ community, has been remarkable; e-mails, the message boards, etc.; but if I began listing names, it would be like an Academy Awards acceptance speech. As an example of the community’s kindness, after my little go around with the Capt (proudly I am #41 to be insulted), I received private e-mails and postings from no less than 10 people (some of whom are going to send me a chip because of my Capt problems). You just tell me, where else are going to find a Hobby Community like this one? There is a lot more enjoyment in my life thanks to all of you; so I just want to say:

GOD BLESS AND MANY THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

PS: My wife thanks you - my chippin' keeps me out of her hair!

Fred & Betty Ann Centanni
CC>CC Member R-6784