I just re-read my last post, and I can't find anywhere where it says that the public is not invited to our meetings, nor welcome. After a short business meeting last year, we opened the trade session to the public. We had several large signs advertising this fact. We also signed up 5 new members at that session (which was FREE to the public), and another 14 new sign-ups at the chapter table, during the convention. Getting into the convention was NOT free to the public. The general public either had to pay at the door, or join the national club, before going in. I have yet to see anyone, either a national club member, a chapter member, or a member of the general public, complain about the entry fee.

JUST FOR GENERAL INFORMATION: I not only live in Las Vegas, but I work here, too. I work for a company that provides security services for 3-4 conventions every month. The CC & GTCC convention is one of a very, very few that are, indeed, open to the public. And those few that allow the public entry, charge that same public around $50 per person to get in. They also hire us to make sure that, once inside, the public does not get in to any of their sub-meetings, chapter meetings or seminars, unless they have paid an additional "registration fee", usually between $200-$300.