Hi Jim,
My mother used to say that some people are never happy, unless they're complaining about something. As a kid, that didn't make sense to me...if they were complaining, how could they be happy? As an adult, I've met people like that...being negative is their nature, and they are unlikely to change. The chipboard and the club are both made up of a lot of different individuals, with different personalities...and some of those personalities are negative. Tell 'em they've won a million dollars, and they'll complain about the taxes. Tell 'em they won a new car and they'll complain about gas prices...that's just their way of expressing themselves. You haven't let that stop you from coming to the chipboard...I hope you won't let it stop you from becoming a member of the CCGTCC someday.

As for the volunteers being under-appreciated...I agree that this board of directors (which is about to complete their first year) has had a heck of a year. It seems that they've had a lot to deal with, and some of the negative personalities on the boards (here and the club board) haven't helped matters any. But...just this afternoon I read an article, in the club magazine, that was written by the former convention chair. The article was about a trip to Hawaii that he and his wife had received in appreciation for his years of volunteer service to the club. I believe the convention volunteers usually have a thank-you reception and receive a thank-you gift for their services, also. So, while we can never thank our volunteers enough, hopefully they receive more appreciation than criticism.

Of course you have the right to make your own decisions, for any reasons that you choose...but I feel that you're missing out on the best parts of the hobby by not joining the club. By hanging out here and on the CCGTCC board, you see the worst side of the people in the hobby. By not joining the club, and not going to the convention, you don't see the positives that help neutralize the negatives. You don't receive the wonderful award-winning magazine, you won't enjoy the camaraderie at the Splashbar, you won't get to listen to the speakers at the seminars, you won't get to participate in the poker and blackjack tournaments, you won't experience 'sensory-overload' when you walk onto the bourse floor for the first time and see thousands and thousands of chips, swizzle sticks, ashtrays, glasses, china, dice, photos and every conceivable (and some inconceivable!) casino collectible that exists! I've only been to one convention, and for only a couple of hours, but it was amazing!

One day back in January I clicked into my email file. I saw that I had an email from a club member who hangs out on the chipboard, but I've never met him and have had very little chipboard conversation with him. I opened the email which read, in part, "What would it take to get you to the convention this year? How much money? I'd like to meet you and your husband, and I'm sure others would too." An offer from a total stranger, but fellow club member, to help us get to the convention! How could anyone not want to be a member of a club that has members like that? (Unfortunately, we aren't able to be at the convention...I wish we could be there, if only to meet that club member and thank him personally for his kind and generous offer).

Anyway...sorry to ramble on, just felt that you needed to know some of the positives of club membership.

Happy chipping!

p.s. Vegas is more than just the Riviera...you definitely should go! And you should go soon, while you can still see the Riviera, the Sahara, and the Tropicana...which I think are the last of the 1950's strip hotels . (And the Flamingo, but none of the original Flamingo is still standing )