Fellow Collectors,

For the past couple of years I have been asking myself why do I collect chips. I have always been a big history buff and so that connection was easy for me to make. Another big reason was that my family has always been active gamblers so the chance that I can owe a chip that might have been held by my grandparents or parents at some time helps me think of them.

This weekend has also taught me another good reason why I love collecting chips. It is the people who you meet and get to know. Through this board I learned of possible new chips in Oklahoma and I thought who do I know that is close enough and only one name that came to mind Dave Pawson. Me and Dave have never meet in person but emailed many times. He had no problems driving the distant and now I have some new chips and will always be thankful for helping me out.

A collector from Georgia has been searching desperately for a 5.00 Gold Shore chip to help complete his collection. I knew I have seen them in the past and told him I would help him one. A quick post on this board and a response by Carl Shalit and we now have a very happy collector in Georgia. Carl could have asked a lot for the chip but gave it to me for a really fair price. I am thankful for the help and also how it made me feel helping someone get a chip that they could not find.

So why do I collect chips. For the History, Connection to loved ones long gone and the great people we link together throughout or small community.

Paul Schaffer
LM-7745-264