Marc; Since you have invited another HOF member to respond, and in case HOF Chairman Michael Knapp does not..., as a HOF member I would like to offer an explanation or the reasoning behind not having the vote for HOF taken by the entire club membership ... and there are several valid reasons... in no particular order.

#1 Baseball's Hall Of Fame inductees as an example are not determined by a vote of the fans ... it is the baseball writers who vote based on their knowledge of past histories and individual perfomances of the game.

#2 Newer club members (let's just arbitrarily pick those members with five years or less for the purpose of THIS limited discussion) would not be familiar with the long term historical accomplishments or worthy performances made by individuals to the club and/or to the hobby.

#3 CC & GTCC Hall of Fame inductees should not be decided by who gave someone the best deal on their chip purchases or best buddy social standings.

#4 Our club has a historic numismatic background. Many club members are former or are current coin collectors. Lots of similarities can be made between coin collecting clubs, individual collecting traits or habits, and our organization. An example; Numismatic News has a Numismatic Ambassador's Award Program ... in which subscribers to Numismatic News may submit individual names for consideration, but it is the Numismatic Ambassadors who conduct the final vote ... not the subscribers to the publication.

#5 The HOF Committee welcomes and encourages input from interested club members which is why HOF recommendation forms are included in the club magazine prior to each convention... so as not to shut out club members not known to the HOF Committee who are deserving of consideration.

#6 Expense. Sending out ballots to 3,000 members are expensive propositions ... HOF notwithstanding. Most club members frankly could care less. Past voting results by the membership at large (whether it be Election of Officers, COTY/TOTY/SSOTY/RKOTY/SCOTY, C & BL changes, etc. have been dismal.

#7 The club officers (and the Club President in particular) appoints club members to various committees ... from Conventions, to Magazine Editor, to Attorney, to Museum of Gaming History, to Elections, etc., etc., etc. NONE of these committees or individuals are bound by votes submitted by the entire membership in order to function. That is why we elect club officers every two years... to make such important appointments.

#8 As Jim Follis has posted with respect to the OTY awards ... if anyone would like to propose a formal change to the method of electing future CC & GTCC Hall Of Fame members ... they certainly have the right to petition the BOD.

I've just listed several of my own candid observations and explanations in response to the subject matter as to why it is the way it is. I'm sure that others may have different constructive opinions or suggestions, or who may take exception to some of my remarks. Let's hear them... or better yet ... send them to the elected BOD.