1) I went to our last convention to pick up checks from various clients. I did not stay long but had to leave because of business commitments. After the convention I spoke with the same individuals who told me it was the worst convention, from a selling point, they ever experienced. Maybe it was the material they were selling that nobody wanted. I don’t know but this was not the first time I heard this type of feedback. However, it was the first time I heard it from that many different individuals. I never comment other than to say tell the board. They won’t tell the board. Maybe it’s time to allow other types of merchandise for sale such as coins and paper money. It might help increase attendance. Just a thought!

2) I notice club members have been discussing ways to improve attendance for the convention. I always have had faith in quality advertising. True, it costs money so maybe we should raise some money to do some quality advertising. Regardless of how others justify their disagreement it is a wealthy person’s hobby. If you do not believe me just check a few dealers show cases and binders. Well, we can always blame the economy even though the flush collectors are picking up beautiful pieces at a steal! If you notice, except for a few individuals, those who are selling need the money.

3) Gaming revenue here in Nevada has been off. Gee, I wonder why??? It couldn’t possibly be the way the joints treat their customers. Publicized crime, especially carjacking, muggings, shootings and general violence doesn’t help. High prices for rooms, food and shows just add to the reasons. I am not a fan of Indian gaming and riverboats but I understand many of them know how to treat customers. Maybe it is time to get rid of the bean counters. I remember the reaction of old man Binion when he told his food and beverage director “I don’t care how much your department lost…..what’s our bottom line?” He only cared about the bottom line. The old man was a smart business man!!! His son was/is also. Today’s corporate executives could learn much from the “old” days. Slogans like “We love locals” do nothing except irritate customers. Especially those customers who had their roll over status credits taken away. Maybe a survey should be taken to see how many customers were lost to other entities because of this stupid management decision.

4) Michael Gaughan, once again, hired Jimmy Vaccaro to run the sports marketing for South Point. What a move!!! That is why Michael Gaughan is so successful. He hires the best and consequently his business investments prosper!

5) I notice recently individuals post birthday wishes for various individuals. Ever notice when two persons are posted for the same day. One person gets 50 well wishes while the other person gets 3. I realize many do not know the second person but come on people if you post to one post to the other. It really doesn’t matter if you know the individual or not. I no longer post birthday wishes because I’m hardly ever on the board.

6) It looks like poker rooms, like chip dealers, are closing. The corporate executives want the poker rooms to show a profit. Hello!!!! Poker usually will not show a profit. Oh don’t get me wrong poker does make a profit but not as much profit per square foot as slots. So, I got an idea, let’s put in more slots. No one is playing the slots already on the floor but who cares! Maybe I’ll get a bonus for my idea. After all, wasn’t it my idea of having poker dealers where shirts advertising “ultimate computer poker” so I can lose more business. People, this is why the gaming business here in Nevada is in trouble. Poker must be played “LIVE”. How else can you effectively read the other players? Oh, I know you read how they bet!!! Shrewd.

7) Our hobby is losing people. Those dying and those quitting. We cannot do much about the first but maybe we can do something about the second. I wish I had some significant ideas but I don’t. Hell, maybe the board should take a shot and open the convention 100% “free”. So we lose some money. Maybe we would increase membership and get that money back. Nothing else seems to be working.

8) Did you ever notice when suggestions for improving our organization are discussed, the discussion ends up with the following type of statements thrown at each other:
a. Everyone is a volunteer and is doing the best they can.
b. Why don’t you volunteer if you believe you can do it better?
c. It’s the “click” who does not want to change things.
d. Too expensive!
e. It’s the hotels policy that is why it cannot be changed.
f. We have to appreciate the volunteers, after all what if the stopped volunteering?
g. We have many members who are not on line.
h. The board is doing the best it can and I resent your comment.
i. The board evaluates each and every suggestion submitted.
j. That idea has been discussed on the chip board before. Why do we keep discussing the same old ideas?
And on and on it goes! No wonder nothing ever really changes.

9) The land each downtown casino sits upon is generally owned by several different families. If one recalls Steve Wynn wished to purchase the Pioneer Club and expand the Golden Nugget, when he owned it, to include the Pioneer Club land. He received several commitments from some of the families to sell but some of the other different family owners wanted more money. Hence, the sale never went through and the Pioneer Club sits closed. Wynn became disgusted sold the Golden Nugget and moved out of downtown. The same was true with the Las Vegas Club. The individual family owners of the land underneath the Las Vegas Club wanted to increase the rent went negotiating the lease, beyond what the Las Vegas Club owners believed could be generated from gaming. The owners sold the rights to the casino to a different group of investors who moved the casino across the street and negotiated a better lease with the families who owned that particular parcel of land land. This is a very troubling problem with downtown casinos that has stifled growth and added to the decay of what was once a vibrant area of town.

10) It has been a while since I have written anything to post to the board. If you notice I have constructed this document over a period of time. I don’t know maybe it’s me but I have kind of lost the desire to write. It has happened before and always comes back over time. I am happy I still can write and remember “little tidbits” from over the years about my town. Thanks for taking the time to read my scratching’s and hope you enjoyed what you read.