When a person looks for a job, he or she looks for a number of conditions in the prospective position. For example, long term employment, compensation commensurate with abilities and experience, pleasant working conditions and chances for advancement. In the charitable gaming industry all of these conditions are important. However, with charitable gaming there is another condition. This condition cannot be condition. This condition cannot be measured, seen with the eye or grasped with the hand, yet it may be the most important. That condition is the personal pride a person feels knowing that what one does makes life better. A person engaged in the charitable gaming industry has every right to feel that pride.

When I was appointed to direct the regulation of charitable gaming in Minnesota, I felt, at first, that my assignment was to educate, regulate and police licensees. It wasn't until I began to read the reports of how organizations used the proceeds from charitable gaming that I realized I was part of an industry that used profit exclusively for others. When I think of youth baseball, I think of the American Legion.

When I think of Voice of Democracy programs, I think of the VFW. When I think of people receiving care for vision problems, I think of the Lions. When I think of our improving outdoors, I think of wildlife organizations. When I think of parochial schools, I think of parishes and synagogues. When I think of civic improvements, I think of service organizations. While too many uses of the proceeds from charitable gaming exist to list here, you know who you are and how you return the proceeds to your community.

Whether your role in charitable gaming is one of a manufacturer, a distributor, or a worker for an organization; you should feel the personal pride of providing entertainment for players and financial support for needed causes. You are continuing the great American tradition of providing assistance to the needy, that assistance is provided with the only qualification being the degree of need.

So, as you approach your role in our industry, remember that many good things happen every day that would not happen without our industry. Because of that, you can walk al little taller and smile a little broader, because you take personal pride in what you do.