The BJC "Chips" column I write is a short column, usually about 500 words, each issue. They always have pictures of the chips I write about. This issue had pictures of BPOE C&S chips. BJC is very supportive of the Hobby. I get a copy each issue but I never open it. I keep them sealed in the mailing envelope. I do get to see the one the Palms gets but have not seen this issue yet. I did get a note from the Editor, along with my check, saying they had edited some of the column due to space available in this issue so not sure what was left out.
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Chip collector shows are popping up all the USA. Reno, NV, Tunica, MS, Chicago, IL, and several cities in CA to name a few. I just returned from what I considered a great show at Chinook Winds in Lincoln city, OR. Chinook Winds is one of the many American Indian casinos in the western US. They have a full fledged casino with table games, slots, poker, video poker, and bingo. Lincoln City is on the Oregon Coast about 120 miles south of Portland. It is mostly a summer tourist destination. The drive down has some beautiful scenery. The casino and the promoter/poker manager Jim Fredrickson were very hospitable to us. Jim also put on a poker tournament for us and yours truly came in 4th. The winnings helped defray the cost of the trip.

The Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks is one of Americas oldest fraternal organizations, started in 1868. Over the years there have been close to 3,000 chapters and they all have chips, drink tokens, or in trade tokens. I have been collecting their chips since the early 1960’s and have them from over 500 different chapters. I spent the Chinook Winds show looking for BPOE chips. Some of their older chips are called Crest & Seals and were hade at the US Playing Card Co, Cincinnati, OH from the 1920’s through 1947. Many collectors consider C&S chips, the most beautiful chips ever made.

The elk overlaid on the clock has a special meaning to the BPOE. The 11 o’clock toast has traditions of a fraternal organization started in England around 1010 A.D.

“You have heard the tolling of 11 strokes.
This is to impress upon you that with us, the hour of 11 has a tender significance.
Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour falls upon the dial of night, the great heart of Elkdom swells and throbs.
It is the golden hour of recollection, the homecoming of those who wander, the mystic roll call of those who will come no more.
Living or dead, an Elk is never forgotten, never forsaken.
Morning and noon may pass him by, the light of day sink heedlessly in the West, but ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message,
"To our absent members."

The chapters order their own designs for chips and there are literally 1,000’s of different chips from every known manufacturer and distributor of chips, over the years.

For more information on chip collecting, log on to ccgtcc.com, call 877-4CC-GTCC or write to Ralph Myers at PO Box 35769, Las Vegas, NV 89133
I welcome your comments at poker@lvcm.com

BTW, I recieved 2 BPOE chips in the mail from a reader of BJC. The note said, "I've had these for years, happy to find them a good home."