Let me start by saying that each time you have made similar suggestions, the club's BoD has discussed them. We did so again at the BoD meeting at the convention. Are we losing members? Yes. How many? Anywhere from 100 to 120 a year over the past five years. Some through death, some because they lose interest after a year or so, some because they thought that this hobby was a way to make money, plus any other number of reasons. Why are we here on THIS BB versus the club board? Because the club board is basically for club business, although President Smith has done a fantastic job of at least getting eyes over to the club board. Let me ask you a question -- you've posted interesting information on this BB, but haven't posted it on the club's BB. Why? You can post that same info on the club board as you posted here...perfectly welcome there. What the club board is NOT for is for sale of items, which many do on this BB. Can you ask a question about a chips origin or history on the club's BB? Sure you can -- many have asked and have received responses. There's really nothing on the club's BB that needs to be managed or micro-managed. Personally, if I was new to this hobby & found the club board and had to muddle through posts about Tom's dog or what kind of a job Congress is or isn't doing or the price of bananas at Walmart I would lose interest quickly. That's what THIS board has been used for & in many cases, people are referred to this BB from the club board.

Now as far as PAYING anyone for some perceived role in running / steering / expanding this club, I am & will always be dead-set against it. In my eyes, it would be a huge waste of money, but more importantly (to me), it would be an insult to ALL of those people that have dedicated their time & efforts volunteering for this organization -- from past officers to every single volunteer that has helped each & every convention to those that contribute their time & efforts writing for the magazine to blah blah blah... Okay...so we hire this person, this Executive Director for $30K a year just as a part-time gig for him/her. On an annual basis, the club keeps about $4 to $6 per member per year above & beyond the costs asociated with each membership (even less for a multi-year renewal and even less for LM's). So the club would really have to bring in & maintain a membership database of 6000 or more new members in order to help cover that salary. And in order to do that, there will be even greater expeditures to reach those that might possibly have or develop an interest in this hobby. Well, maybe that ED can help us secure a grant or two. That process is neither guaranteed nor immediate. More money to try & make-up.

I understand that your thinking is that this person (or persons) will expand interest in the club, but I believe that either you are a collector or your not...you can't get people to become collectors. Want to help grow the club? Find someone that is interested in collecting chips & buy him/her a membership. Or, do what Archie & Andy currently do -- offer a chip or two as an incentive to that person / those persons that you think would be interested in collecting if they join the club. I've paid for numerous people / friends to join, but they just don't have the collecting "bug". I've spoken at three local antique collector meetings over the past four years...cool Power Point presentation...not one new member. It's not as easy as everyone thinks it is to expand this club. Ask Doug Smith -- he spent a few days at the national ANA convention in Texas last year, volunteering his time as a club representative. Now the people that attend ARE collectors & what they collect is pretty darn similar to what we collect. Tens of thousands of people there...not one new member. Look at our past couple of conventions -- FREE Saturdays that attracted several hundred locals that live in what could be considered a chip-collecting mecca...not one new member signed up there. You can generate a lot of interest, but you just can't make people collectors.

Do I have an answer...no I don't. But I hope that the club keeps trying and I hope that members do what you do & contribute suggestions. I believe that the MOGH and The Chip Guide are excellent places to start. We just need to get them (and the club's website and The Chip Board) to the top tiers on the internet search engines because even old farts like me use the internet to search for stuff.

Even though I don't personally agree with your suggestion, Westen, I more than appreciate your suggestions because it shows the concern & care that you have for the club & for the hobby. Maybe if we grind up a miilion chips into fine particles & sprinkle "chip dust" on everyone...

Steve B