However, let me preface my comments by recognizing that your post (and Dan F's) seem more directed to the contested position of Presidential candidates, however, as a candidate for Secretary, a one-fifth stakeholder in the Club's leadership, I believe that there is also interest among the membership to hear what I have to say and what my position is on these very important topic. So, here goes...

1. My ideas on the future museum.

As you may or may not be aware, this idea/concept has been around and evolving over the past several years. At this juncture I take no exceptions in the current structure, process and methodology being taken by the two entities working towards that goal (the Building Project Finance Committee and the Vision and Feasibility Committee) as being directed by the Club's Board of Directors.

However, while some say "not in my lifetime", I say, "Yes, in my lifetime!" This is not to rush the project, but to support substantially and give it the needed prioritization to make it a reality more sooner than later. I believe that we can get it done and it will be our repository of the educational goals and accomplishments of our Club.

2. My ideas on continuing to make the Convention even better.

Increased membership by both individual members, through organized and directed recruitment techniques and objectives, as well as the presence and participation of the gaming industry, i.e., the casinos, the equipment manufacturers and related businesses.

I believe that we can explore the inclusion of other, related hobby organization, convention and gatherings into our Big Show. Just as we currently welcome and include the Silver Striker's Club to have their Convention concurrent to the Convention, and in some respects we do the same for the Slot Card and Room Key Collectors Club, can we not explore the same possibility for the inclusion of the dice collectors/clubs, card collectors/clubs, ashtray collectors/clubs, matchbook collectors/clubs, etc.?

3. In general what could be done to continue to make the club an even better club.

Again, increase our membership!

Our chief resource and most viable attribute is our members and we should continually strive to increase our membership and provide educational resources for those members for their on-going self improvement. We should also structure ourselves to be an open resource of trusted and relevant information to those outside our hobby who periodically visit to find some information. If nothing else, we may be recruiting a new participant or at the very least showing off our pride and esprit de corps!

On another note, I would be remise if I didn't also mention that even though this wonderful Message Board is viewed by 100's of collectors daily, it remains that thechipboard.com is not the Message Board. While I live in many different Message Board worlds, and understand the differences of each, not everyone else does.

There is always some degree of confusion or unawareness that Greg Susong's thechipboard.com Message Board is not the Message Board. As the 's On-Line Communications Director (OLCD) I continually strive to base the Club's business around the Club's Message Board.

Although I have no problem with information spreading away from the Club's Message Board, it is only befitting that it should be spawned from there when the subject is the . If every on-line Club member were to be conversant in that world (as well as this one) I believe that it would strengthen the Club, i.e., make the Club better, in the long run.

Dan, I hope I have answered your three questions, but if I have missed the mark, or you want further details, please do not hesitate to ask. I'd prefer it be done on the 's Message Board (http://www.ccgtcc.com/cgi-bin/mb/webbbs_config.pl) which will be cross-linked from here by the OLCD, but by all means please do ask. After all, it is in the questions that we learn about the candidates!

Respectfully,

Jim Follis
Candidate for Secretary