I have been reading many of the comments over the past several weeks about why people choose to not become a club member or continue being a member and wanted to share some of my own perceptions and comments.

What is a “Club”? Well according to the dictionaries a club is an association of persons that share a common interest, have similar goals and meet periodically.

But the reality is a club is much more than that. Its being able to share joys and sorrows with friends, its knowing that someone always has your back, its being able to show off your collection to others that are as excited as you are to see them, its getting together with people that like what you like.

Here are some reasons why I believe that membership in the is one of the greatest values on the market today.

1) A superior award winning magazine that is held in the highest regard by even those that don’t collect chips. Our club magazine is constantly top rated among other collector publications and its not tough to see why. The amount of information and history included in each and every issue is in my opinion something that can’t be missed. The magazine along is in my opinion worth far more than the membership fees.

2) Access to the club library – that’s right folks, the has one of the largest libraries of collecting books, magazines and articles available anywhere. This may be the most underutilized benefit of the club. And best of all, the charge for checking out items…. NADA, ZERO, ZILCH !!!! Just pay for return postage and any member can check out any one of thousands of items without charge.

3) Pre-registration for the convention – only those that are club members are allowed to pre-register for the convention. That means any special chips, coupons or extras in the goodie bag are ONLY available to club members. Over the past several years we have had some very special scrip chips, raffle tickets, and lots of other items that were just not available to non members.

4) Ability to get early admission to the convention – Those that have pre-registered over the past several years were allowed early access to the bourse floor and got a great head start on those that were not pre-registered. That means if you want to get in early, you have to be a member.

5) Ability to attend functions that are only for Pre-registrants at the convention – In addition to what I have discussed above there are also several items that are available only to members that pre-register. These include access to the annual Banquet as well as the trade sessions on Wednesday before the convention starts.

6) Club members have access to the “Ask An Expert” Program – Another underutilized program that was put into place to help newer members with their collections

7) Club members have access to the club “Mentor Program” – Yet another great resource for new collectors and those unfamiliar with what to do.

8) Club members have the ability to vote – Voting for BOD positions, Amendments to the constitution, and other items like the OTY’s are only available to club members. While this may not seem like a great benefit, it gives every member a say in what is happening within the club.

9) Superior selling and trading status – While some may argue that is isn’t true, I can personally say that I have more trust in dealing with a club member that I haven’t dealt with before that a non member. Many of our members will mail chips to another member before any money is received, which they more than likely don’t do for non members. Some people with ONLY trade with other club members (Although I don’t personally agree with that).

In my opinion the membership number is like a good housekeeping seal of approval. Because club members are bound to the club Code of Ethics, as a whole they are held to a higher degree of ethics than non members are.

Now I am not saying there aren’t bad apples in the club. Nor am I saying that just because someone isn’t a club member they can’t be trusted.

However if there is a problem with another club member, a claim can be filed and issues can easily be worked out. This is often not the case in dealing with non members as if you’re not a member of the club; you could care less if a claim was filed against you.

10) Access to a full member directory listing (not inclusive of the Do Not Publish requests) – This give members the ability to find other members in their area and gives names and address of many people that are not available in the public online directory.

11) You can be listed in the public online club Directory along with your email, and web site URL if wanted and allow others to learn of your collecting interests.

12) Only members have the ability to use the club logo on advertising, business cards and web pages – each member can get his or her own club logo made up with their member number.

13) You will develop lifelong friendships with other club members – I can’t tell you how many times I have seen members come to the defense of other members. Have a special event in your life; there will be tons of members happy to share it with you. Tragedy strikes, here will be a line of members consoling you and praying for you. Raising money for a special charity, the generosity of our members never ceases to amaze me and they come out of the woodwork when a club member’s family is in need.

Time and time again I have seen members reach out to help other members in a way I haven’t experienced with any other organizations.

14) Only Members can take place in many special chipboard contests and tournaments – While most of these are organized to add benefits to membership, they can be a reason itself to become a member.

15) Members can be involved in an organization dedicated to preserving gaming history

Now what does it cost to get all the benefits I have mentioned above?

$199 a year? …… NOPE

$99 a year? …….. NOPE

$49 a year? ……. Not even that

Most memberships are only $30 a year (regular non foreign). That’s $2.50 a month or only 8c a day !!!!!

People seem to think nothing of spending $75 a month on a gym membership, $25 a month on the newspaper, $5 a day for a Starbucks.

But 8 cents a day is too much ?????????

Now I respect anyone’s decision to not be a member of the even if I don’t really understand it.

Why would anyone that has similar interests and common goals of the pass on being a club member for 8 cent a day?

I guess it just doesn't’ make any sense to me……..

Now as I said before, this is not a post against those that don't wish to be members. Some people just don't like to be part of a club.

Maybe you don't like the magazine, you don't like the BOD, you don't agree with the policies.

Those are all real reasons not to be a member if you feel that way.

But to those that say they are not members because of bickering they see here on the board, I say malarkey !!!!

Do you stop being Americans because of what you see a fellow American do?

Do you stop being Christian or Jewish because you see someone of your own religion doing something you disapprove of?

Do you stop collecting because of what another collector does?

These are all ridiculous reasons to make a decision about your life.

I just wanted to give my opinion as a life member and supporter of the

Thanks for listening.

Doug