-- what the club makes off of dealer table fees & entrance fees is not enough to cover the actual costs of the convention...and in 2014, the cost to hold the convention will actually increase. What makes money for the club at the conventions recently have been the raffles & the auction -- both which depend heavily on the generosity of our members. With free admission & rising costs, the club could not sustain itself financially if we had to suffer through a number of years with substantial losses. Raise membership rates or dealer table fees? I don't think so. The solution that the club's BoD has proposed for the 2014 convention was arrived at through much discussion & consideration (and yes, we did discuss an all FREE ADMISSION convention)...and the final decision was made based upon what we thought was the least detrimental and most responsible for the and its members.

Steve B