2005 Convention Update

 

By Jim Steffner

 

Only a few short months…and counting! It’s the CC&GTCC 16^th Anniversary and our 13^th Annual Convention & Show.

 

The convention will have something for everyone…chips, tokens, silver strikes, ashtrays, matchbooks, slot cards and room keys, and other casino memorabilia, along with exhibits, seminars, trade sessions, and best of all the chance to meet some really great people. The show floor was once again an early sell-out with several new dealers joining all your past favorites.

 

The Riviera Hotel will be our host for 2005 and the staff is anxious to assist our club to make this convention another first class event. This year we will be in the Royal Pavilion Room 5-8, which is the newer convention facility. The large show floor, close parking and easy access, spacious meeting rooms, and many exciting events await. We look forward to seeing everyone in August.

 

Pre-Registration – Riviera Capri Room 111

 

Once again, pre-registration is offered to those who would like to eliminate standing in the long lines when the show opens. There will be four lines separated alphabetically to make the process smooth and fast. Your pre-registration envelope will contain your show badge, banquet tickets (if ordered), along with your poker and blackjack confirmations (if you will be participating), a special door prize drawing ticket, and any special coupons, freebies, or give-a-ways that we can obtain. As of early April, the pre-registration package was worth over $35.00 and shows signs of increasing even more. Price is the same as last year, $10.00 that saves $5.00 over the regular three-day admission. Pre-Registration packets can be picked up at the registration desk ONLY between 9AM and 4PM on Wednesday August 3^rd, 2005 and during regular registration desk hours on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.

 

A photo ID with address will be required to pick up your packet and each person must pick up their own. No packets will be mailed to non-attendees. Children under 12 do not need to be pre-registered, but if they will be attending the show, please provide their names and ages and a special Junior Collector packet will be available for them. There is no charge for pre-register packets or for show entry for those under 12.

 

The contract signing dealer will receive one pre-registration as part of their table contract. Table helpers must order a pre-registration packet on their own if they desire. The registration form can be found in this issue of the magazine. Make sure you return the form before the postmark due date of July 1st. Please PRINT all information and include an e-mail address and/or phone number. You can also pre-register on-line at the club web site, www.ccgtcc.com using VISA or MasterCard (sorry no other credit card can be accepted). Be sure you follow all the instructions in each step of the registration process. Follow all steps until you are shown that you have completed the process. With either the mail in form or the on-line process, you WILL receive a confirmation within 30 days. If you do not receive your confirmation, you are NOT registered. Any registrations received after that date will not be accepted.

 

Bruce & Mary Ann Massey will again be handling the pre-registration. Their address and e-mail are on the pre-registration form. Payment by check or money order made out to CC&GTCC must accompany the form. No credit card transaction can be used with the mail-in form. Be sure to include your e-mail, or phone number to receive your confirmation. Please PRINT all information. Full banquet table payment must accompany the form for those wishing to reserve a full table. List all 10 names and membership numbers on the form.

 

Hotel Reservations

 

Hotel room rates for the 2005 convention will be $68.00 for Sunday thru Thursday, and $75.00 for Friday & Saturday. Reservations must be made before July 15, 2005 to be included in the club room block. All reservations made at the Riviera and included in our special club room block with everyone’s help will keep costs down in future years and assist us in negotiating more favorable contracts for future conventions. Support your club and stay at the Riviera.

 

Our special rates are effective from July 29^th thru August 9^th, 2005 for those who wish to arrive early or stay over. Members booking rooms at the host hotel provide the club with the low cost convention facilities and make our group a welcome convention in Las Vegas. If we do not generate enough hotel room nights the cost of the show floor and meeting rooms could rise. The room elevators are only a short distance from the showroom, banquet, exhibits, and meetings.

 

Reserve your room directly with the Riviera Hotel. Call their toll free registration number 800-634-6753 or 702-794-9412. Be sure to mention that you are with the Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club. Be sure to get your confirmation number. Deadline to book our special rooms is July 15^th, 2005 or until our block of rooms is filled.

 

Exhibits – Riviera Royale Room 5-8

 

The exhibits that members provide show their collecting specialties and interests. The exhibits can be either competitive or non-competitive. All members are encouraged to enter an exhibit and compete for cash prizes. Show cases are provided at no cost. Contact Joe Shaw, Exhibit Chairman at databzr@casino-chip.com to enter. See related article and exhibit entry form for more details. This is one of the highlights of the convention and members look forward to seeing what other members collect.

 

Educational Seminars – Riviera Royale Room 3 on Thursday & Friday. Saturday TBA

 

Dick Covington will try to outdo last year’s excellent venue of seminars. Many good suggestions were received on the survey forms for seminar topics. Dick has lined up some great speakers to keep everyone well informed and educated. Plan your schedule for Thursday to hear another chapter of the great Doug Saito stories, Friday when Steve Fisher will enlighten all of us about the history of the Riviera and Las Vegas casinos, Saturday morning with a speaker to be announced, and possibly one or two during the day.

 

Bruce Landau Memorial Auction – Riviera Royale Room 3

 

Once again Barry Weintraub will be organizing the Bruce Landau Memorial Auction. With record-breaking bids last year, he has assembled some excellent lots for this year’s auction that may include some lower and medium priced lots plus items other than chips. Be sure to order your auction catalog as they usually sell out by show time. Check related article for ordering information. The auction will be Friday evening August 5^th starting at 6:30 PM.

 

Early Bird Banquet and Trade Session – Riviera Grande B-D

 

The banquet is scheduled for Wednesday evening, August 3^rd. Reserve your tickets using the registration form or on-line. No tickets will be available at the door. The banquet is always a sellout so don’t miss your chance to attend. After last year’s speech by Robert Maheu, it will be hard to top his appearance but we are working on another great speaker and just need to complete the arrangements.

 

You can reserve a full table of 10 seats so you and your friends can sit together. Cost will be $35.00 each or $350.00 for a full table. Please provide all ten names and full payment when you send in the reservation form. Several serving lines, fabulous food, elegant deserts, and plenty of seating room will add to an event you won’t want to miss.

 

All banquet attendees must be club members. If you plan on bringing a spouse or friend, make sure to sign them up for club membership BEFORE the banquet. There will be no opportunity to join the club at the show before Thursday morning after the exhibit hall opens. Banquet tickets will be in your pre-register envelope and can be picked up at the registration desk between 9AM and 4PM ONLY on Wednesday.

 

When the banquet ends about 8PM, the tables will be open for a gigantic trade session. Bring what you can carry, allow space for others and remember NO direct selling of items. Trade session is open for members only. Have fun!

 

Poker Challenge and Blackjack Tournament – Palms Hotel & Casino

 

The poker and blackjack sessions will again be held at the Palms, same as last year. The Palms and Gene Trimble have gone out of their way to provide a nice facility for both tournaments. The action starts on Wednesday with the Blackjack Tournament at Noon. The Poker Challenge will be Thursday evening with an earlier start time of 7:00 PM. Check related article for all the details. Advance signup for both sessions can be done on the registration form or on-line at the club web site. Players can also sign up at the convention for the Poker Challenge if seats are still available, but they usually sell out well before.

 

A special set of tournament chips will be available and one set is included with each players seat. These chips are used for both the blackjack and the poker tournaments and will be available to players and for purchase starting on Friday morning when the show opens. Additional sets can be purchased from the Promotion table at the show or by mail. For any questions, please contact Bob Pardue, pardue@cox.net

Blackjack Tournament Rules
Poker Tournament Rules

 

Trade Sessions – Riviera Capri Rooms 114-116

 

Several trade sessions are planned during the show. Several evening sessions are also planned. Check the show schedule for any additional trade sessions that may be scheduled. Bring some binders but leave space for others. Please, no outright sales of merchandise.

 

Last Dance Swap Meet – Riviera Capri Rooms 114-116

 

On Saturday, August 6^th, the Last Dance Trade Session will be held. The event will begin at 7PM and last until the last two traders call it quits. This is not a “dance” with a band or music but just the last chance for members to get together after the convention closes to find that elusive chip, token, or slotcard. Check show schedule for location.

 

Chip and Medal Design Contest

 

Put your artistic talents to work, or even if you can’t draw a straight line, submit your ideas and rough drawings. You don’t need to be an artist. Enter the chip and medal design contest and compete for cash prizes, which will be awarded for first and second place in the chip, medal, and T-shirt design categories. Your winning entry could be on the club chip or the silver and bronze medals for the 2005 13^th Annual Convention. See the article in this issue, start thinking, and submit your entry. 2005 is also Las Vegas 100^th Anniversary, the Riviera is celebrating their 50^th Anniversary, and our club has been in existence for 16 years. Good Luck!

 

See you all in August and have fun collecting!

 

 

Help Wanted

 

Part time positions are open for members who wish to volunteer a few hours during the show. It is because of these volunteers that the show goes on. Without their donation of a few hours we could not provide all the fun and excitement that the members enjoy.

 

If you wish to volunteer for several positions such as registration, promotions table, auction table, or membership table, or setup and teardown, please contact Bob Bickford, Volunteer Coordinator, oldberea@wowway.com  or call Bob at 440-243-0478.

 

If you have some experience in video or television production and would like to help with coordination of the video production DVD that will again be produced, please contact Jim Steffner, convention@ccgtcc.com.