Dennis, here is a short story that is related. I grew up as a coin collector going to coin club meetings every month and I still to this day have some of the prizes I won and some of the coins I bought. This started for me when I was 7 yrs old. My mother and two other dads did everything they could to get other kids to the meetings. It was great and here I am 40 plus plus years later still collecting coins, and now chips and silver strikes. Well as time went along the moms and dads also went away and so did the push for new junior members. Well my son took my two grandsons to the meeting to keep the coin collecting hobby going in the family. My son was asked to not bring the kids back because they are to active. Moving around and chatting and being kids. Well my son took that to heart and said, note to self, this has to change. So this past December he ran for and won the president position. Guess what was on the the table for discussion and placement in the clubs bylaws. A junior program. I am in the process of right now digging out a bunch of misc coins (none expensive) that will now be given out to the juniors in a special drawing each month. There has to be at least two juniors present and drawing tickets are given to each junior. And then part of the normal prize drawings will be the junior drawing. This club has around 30 active members and I would guess the majority are in their late sixty's and up in age. With the coin clubs members getting way up there in age, well what is to happen to the club in around 15 more years without new young blood.

My guess is that who ever decided that chip collecting is not for juniors is because it can be associated with gambling. Me, myself and I have thought about this and we all agree. If given a ballot we would vote yes on allowing juniors to be part of our club. Maybe if written up so that if a junior wanted to be a member he/she has to have a sponsor who is an active paid up adult member.

I would be interested in knowing why juniors are not allowed to become members. Just think what this world we live in would be like if 8 year old kids ran it. Get the adults out of the way and life can be really fun.

MY nickels worth.

Dennis R-8000