Chuck; You have ended your reply to Gene Trimble with, "I hope the rules have changed".... rest assured, some have. There have been a few modifications made to the rules regarding this year's COTY/TOTY; primarily due to the big misunderstanding over the 1998 COTY contest. This year; if there are different designs on each side of a chip (excluding a casino logo) BOTH sides of the nominated chip(s) will be illustrated in full color on the ballot that is mailed out to the judges committee. Whether one wears a casino uniform or a three piece suit to work has nothing to do with the club contest. Whether one has submitted artwork, or has merely forwarded an idea, has nothing to do with the club contest. Whether or not one sits on a casino in-house chip selection committee has nothing to do with the club contest. It's the nominated chip itself that is being judged... not the person or committee who may or may not have created it. Having said that, it is my personal opinion, if one did not design a particular chip, he/she should not be suggesting that is "MY" chip.
Ballots will not be mailed out to the entire membership however as has been suggested. It makes no logical sense to mail color photocopies and ballots of nominated chips to thousands of club members who have no interest in this annual contest. This is a COMMITTEE activity. All club members are once again invited to serve on the judges committee... as they have been invited in the past. All one has to do to be eligible to serve on the judges committee is to submit a nomination of up to five chips and/or up to five tokens after all the 1999 chips and tokens have been issued. If one only collects tokens and knows nothing about chips.... all they have to do is nominate ONE token to be eligible to be on the judges committee. Over 100 judges were on the judges committee last year. I hope there will be more judges for the 1999 contest. Let me mention one other concession for the 1999 contest. If someone does not wish to nominate a chip or a token .... but still wants to be part of the judging process, I will accept an empty SASE (Self Addressed Envelope) from those individuals and I'll send out the same packet of information in that SASE that all the other judges receive.... including a ballot. The judge's commitee decisions will be final.
See the upcoming January issue of the club magazine for a complete rundown of 1999 COTY/TOTY rules... which will also be published on the club's website at the proper time. I don't plan to debate individuals on this forum over the pros and cons. The time has passed for that. I will answer any legitimate questions anyone may have. Thank you to those who took the time to send in your COTY/TOTY suggestions and comments. The purpose of this post is not to generate a lengthly debate... but since the question came up, is to explain the rules changes in this years activity. As COTY/TOTY Chairman, it becomes "my business" when the final decision of the judges committee has been challenged. I have no vested interest in who comes in first, second, third,.... or last.
Good luck (in advance) to ALL nominees for 1999 Chip and Token Of The Year..