I always enjoy the club magazine, as far as I am concerned it is worth the price of membership all on its own. I also enjoy the opportunity to go thru the mag and comment on various nooks and crannies. So, here is my critique of the current club mag. You may want to sit down for this.

The cover of the magazine is striking. I can’t imagine the amount of time it took to put together. I didn’t recognize the welcome sign at first, and then it came into focus. Very nice work Pete Lowell.

Wayne, nice overview, and always great to see volunteers doing so much for all of us get kudos. I am confused about the purpose of the planning committee (before all of you who asked me to not knock them till they have had a chance, I’m not). When it was announced, explained, and discussed online, it sounded like a committee to assist other members with there ideas, and to offer opinions to the board on ideas proposed. Wayne seems to describe it as a long term planning committee (even the name suggests this). I see these as very different tasks. I do have a couple of other thoughts on this, but I will share them with Wayne directly.

The Dealer Rating System is a good idea (no one system will please everyone), but at least the rules are now clear for everyone. I do have one suggestion, if a person has not had a table for several years (say 5), then there should be some mechanism in place to give priority to those who have been here lately. I can see the other side as well, but still put forward the thought.

Business Meeting- I went to my first business meeting 3 years ago, and was impressed with the way the meetings were run. The board maintained decorum without being overly bogged down in procedure. The various members who had comments, questions, or complaints, had a reasonable opportunity to do so. That was the year they first did the first timers handbook (anyone going to their first convention, snag a copy), and I, along with others suggested a workshop for first timers. The next year (and since including this year) there was such a workshop. GO TO THE BUSINESS MEETING.

Jay Sands- I enjoyed your topic, and would like to discuss it with you some more, perhaps at Splashbar if your not to worn out. I would also like to discuss the corporate membership/non-member advertising with you.

Doug Smith- I am glad to see the rumor about you wagering the club funds on Texas to win NCAA tournament were fallacious.

Belinda Hixon- Are the ‘procedures and forms’used by the chairmen available to individual members? If so, what is the procedure for doing so (is there a form?). I agree with the board that contacting walkins sooner is a great idea. Do we ask for their email addresses? If so, we could send them an email shortly after the convention, providing them an opportunity to ask questions or make comments. If we don’t maybe we should. I would be willing to help send out emails. We could also send them questionnaires via email.

My next point is more appropriate to the membership director, but with the state of flux that position is in, I include it here. Is there a way to get a list of those members we have lost-especially in the last couple of years (who gave us email addresses)? We could send them emails touching base, asking why they left, perhaps a questionnaire here would behelpful. As to the last two suggestions, I would be willing to assist in the emailing (at least while I am recuperating).

Finally, what is a “people’s choice award”. I want to nominate the “Peacocks Can’t Fly Chip”. It was a great idea,and came at a great time. I know some of you haven’t gotten yours yet, if I said you would you will-back you hounds. I only have a few uncommitted, perhaps I should give a couple to Spragg to auction off for the club?

The destruction of all those chips was one of the saddest things I have ever seen. Archie, why didn’t you throw yourself between the blades and the chips? You could have shackled yourself to the machine.

Pam, great articles, each one is great, will be hard to pick best. It was hard to tell, when you and your husband were done trespassing all over the Dunes, did you end up paying for the items or did you skip it when you wandered out the wrong door? Glad you made it out before the big kaboom. All the other articles were great also. Read the mag cover to cover yesterday when it arrived-I am now rereading things as I write this.

CLUB MERCHANDISE- We have some pretty nice items available for sale. So I am gonna step on the promotions director’s toes for a moment (go ahead make your little jokes) and hawk a few. A couple of years ago, the early registrants were given totes. The same totes available for sale for $5. These are great. I have squeezed books and traders and info, and a pop into mine. I use it each year. Last year it was with me during the plummet, crashing on the floor at the bottom of the shaft. It came out of it in fine shape (which is more than can be said about me or the scooter). It is a well made little tote, looks sharp, and is very inexpensive.

There are also a number of other cool items available-such as shirts (I wish they had them in my size, heck if they could print the club design on them, I’d supply a couple of shirts). There are pins (I still need to get a 2007 pin and a new 2006 pin (casualty of last year). And there are hats, DVDs, and who knows what else will be available come convention time. I’d like one of those golf fedoras (panamas?) and a big plastic mug with the club logo on it. Oh well, buy some of the stuff, it is cool, useful, entertaining and helps the club. The Museum Fund also has some cool items for sale.

Thank you to all the folks who bought advertising in the magazine. Allan, another wonderful magazine, thank you.