Casey and I wish to thank the participants of the 2011 OTY Awards contests. Specifically, everyone who submitted scans of chips, cards and strikes to the Un-Official OTY viewing sites (which by the way are up and running for 2012 at: http://www.thechipgallery.com/gallery2012?dir=COTY ) and also those who submitted candidates for nominee consideration. We also thank those who actually took the time to review the candidates and then voted, as well as those who loaned examples of the top ten nominees so that they could be displayed at the Convention!

It would appear that GPI-USA also wishes to extend their thanks, as they once again brought gifts! (But more on that later.)

At 12 o'clock noon last Friday, from the Convention bourse floor, the OTY winners for 2011 were announced and presentation plaques were handed out to the representatives of the several casinos and manufactures in attendance, as follows:

Silver Strike of the Year (SSOTY) honors was given to the Four Queens Hotel and Casino for their Sunshine Mint minted Three Hundred Dollar Gaming Token commemorating Halloween 2011 as the "Queen of Halloween" (shown below). Accepting the SSOTY Award presentation plaques for both the Four Queens and Sunshine Mint, was Mr. Shaun Webster of the Four Queens.

Slot Card / Room Key of the Year (CKOTY) honors went to our Convention host, the SouthPoint Hotel Casino Spa, for the Room Key that marked the 2011 Convention of the ! On-hand to receive the CKOTY Award presentation plaque was "Mo" (Maureen) Robinson of the SouthPoint. Imaged below is the winning room key. Please note that it was one of two different keys used at last year's Convention for the .

Chip of the Year honors was also handed out to the Four Queens Hotel and Casino, which is a repeat win for the Four Queens and in an unusual turn of events, this year's COTY winner commemorates the same event as last year's winner; Veteran's Day! Accepting the COTY Award for the Four Queens was Mr. Mark McDuffie. The manufacturer's award was given to GPI-USA and was accepted by Mr. C. Pearson G0rham and Ms. Melisa Dacher. Both did artwork for the chip and Pearson is also the Director of GPI-USA's Art Department. Shown below is the 2011 COTY Award winner:

At the present time Larry and Alice Kopp have acquired and donated to the Club's "Permanent Collection of All Past OTY Award Winners" the 2011 COTY winner, the $5 gaming chip that commemorates Veteran's Day 2011, as 11-11-11.

Still needed for the Permanent Collection is the CKOTY (room key) and we are currently working a possible deal for a potentially remarkable donation of the SSOTY winner!

Congratulations again to our winners and Thanks to all the participants in this annual event.

Jim Follis
Casey Focazio-Follis
OTY Awards