Hi Leonidas; 2007 will be our 15th CC & GTCC Convention for Brenda and me ... as we've been to all of them. ***I was the Club President from 1988-1999 and also the Convention Chairman for the first two conventions that were held at the old Aladdin, so I more or less, "had to be there". Brenda has served on the Registration Committee as Chair or Co-Chair for several of those 15 years, so she's had to be there as well.

We have always stayed for a week, from Sunday to Sunday. We used to go to Laughlin for the first couple of days, and then came back to Vegas for the days of the convention.

One item I would STRONGLY recommend is to book your hotel room at the host hotel, Riviera. Yes, cheaper rooms can be found in town ... and I know that quite a few club members are comped at nearby hotels ... but for the difference in price and convenience if one is not comped ... we have found that it is more economical to stay where the convention is. Traffic in Las Vegas is horrendous and so is the heat in August. Remember, Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert!! The convenience of simply going "upstairs" to your hotel room to retrieve something you may have forgotten ... or to freshen up and change clothes ... or take a swim ... or to invite someone up to your room to trade or to look at something, is much more convenient that having to travel cross-town and come back between events.

Oh yes, bring comfortable shoes. Just walking the bourse floor will take a toll on even the most fit people, not to mention all the walking to see the marvelous sights on the fabulous "Strip" and downtown as well at night.

We have always rented a car to do some sight-seeing and to check out the new casinos that have opened since the previous year but it is not necessary for most visitors. We visit a few friends each year who live in Las Vegas (O'Neals, Donley's, Follis') and break bread with them. Brenda is a yard-sale fanatic and we usually get to visit more than a few of them on the weekends while we are in Las Vegas.

As others have reported ... there is so much to do and to see, you won't be able to do it all. Some of the events are held off-property ... such as the tournaments, and some trade sessions by silver strikers and slot cards ... in addition to the several open trading sessions that ARE held on-site.

I've never played in the tournaments myself, but many, many club members do and they usually return the following year to experience the fun.

Of course the HUGE dealer bourse is always impressive and exciting for those who are seeing it for the very first time. Over 100 dealer tables from all over the country are booked (with backup tables behind each booth). There are also competitive educational exhibit displays that are set up in a separate area on the bourse floor by club members who like to share their collecting specialties.

Educational Forums by some of the hobby's well known and prominent personalities are held virtually every day on various subjects that are of interest to some who have the time to attend. I'm always impressed with the advance preparations that were done by individuals to prepare their slide show presentations ...

The club has tables of their own that is staffed by volunteer club members where visitors to the convnetion can purchase club items such as tee shirts, convention medals, books, etc. or just stop by to shoot the breeze. Ralph Myers is chained to his chair to process new member applications and take dues renewal payments from current members. Purchase a 'grab-bag' that benefits the club's Building Fund. Meet and talk with your club officers in person ... as well as many folks who post messages on thechipboard regularly. This is an annual gathering of friends. As the old saying goes; "There is no such thing as strangers, only friends who have never met before." Some of the friendships that have developed at CC & GTCC conventions have lasted a lifetime.

I had an experience that I'll never forget that I'll share with you. Fred & Gerri Hemple (whom I had never met before) invited me to attend their wedding vows ceremoney at the Shalomar Chapel on the strip in Las Vegas. They provided limo transportation from the hotel to the chapel and back. An Elvis Presley imitator was the master of ceremonies a the chapel and Brian "Mr. Splashbar" Cashman was the best man. We had invited three unknown young ladies (who were not with our group) who were waiting for a cab while the limosine was picking us up to come be the flower girls and ring bearers. I was the unofficial photographer. A memorable night that I'll never forget where a good time was had by all!!

The auction is another exciting event that is attended by non-bidders, low-bidders, as well as those with deep pockets. There is nothing like a LIVE auction where you can watch all the competitive bidding action take place as it unfolds. Many record-setting bids have been recorded at the club's past annual auctions on some high-ticket items.

One of the convention highlight for me is the Annual Early Bird Banquet that is customarily held on Wednesday night. I know that some members feel that the banquet is overpriced; (and it is to an extent if compared to the cheap buffets available around town). However, one does not get the same social atmosphere of fellowship and comradeship and belonging to a wonderful organization by going to a buffet that one receives by participating at the Annual Buffet. Interesting guest speakers of some notoriety have been speakers at past conventions and deserving awards are distributed to members recognized for all their hard work and club accomplishments. Close to 300 people have attended past CC & GTCC banquets each year. So somebody must be enjoying themselves. Others prefer to take in a show or do some gambling or sight-seeing on banquet night ... especially if they are first-time visitors to the city.

Lastly, but not leastly ... I've always been impressed with the number of people who VOLUNTEER to put these annual events on. Many things that have been done in advance of the show are taken for granted.

Just one example; The actual set up of the ballroom. All those cases and signs and materials had to be transported from the club's storage facility, loaded onto rental trucks in the stiffling desert heat and delivered and unloaded at the hotel long before the first dealer arrived to place his inventory on his table. The set-up of the room is done by club volunteers long before the first person walks through the door when the convention opens on the first day. Then after the convention is over ... the reverse has to happen (usually after all but a handful of people stay on to help out) when everything has to be taken down, loaded on the rental truck and brought back to the storage facitily (in the stiffling Vegas heat) until the next year. Oh, there are many many other preparations that are made in advance that goes on throughout the year, but that is the most demanding one that enters my mind. Those who say the club should have TWO conventions a year really do not appreciate all the work it takes to put on ONE very successful event!

I'm sure that I've left out alot that others will fill in.