UPDATE

First of all, I want to thank all of you for the nice things you have said to me about this blog as we met here and there during the last week. Because of you, I want to write more. That is what you have requested. The next time we meet, you may be telling me I blog too much!

Sadly, I will not be crowned the 2009 WSOP Ladies World Champion, but I did make the money. I went out 84th for a payday of $2,280. Because I was on a freeroll, it was a nice payday. With this win, I also maintain my title of "Most Times in the Money" in the history of the ladies event.

Now, let's back up to Friday, June 5. As you regulars will recall, my first High Heels Poker Seminar took place at Turning Stone in central New York where we had five gals participate. This latest one was in Las Vegas and we had 20 attendees! It was so rewarding, a few days later, when several of the students approached me and told me that I had indeed, helped their game. The following is an excerpt from my friend Marlene Stein who decided to join us and see if she could pick up a few tips.

Dear Susie,
Thank you for the opportunity to attend the seminar.
I found you very informative. I won’t be squandering chips any more. I did that. I was guilty.
No more. I will not play a hand for a bit and take the time to evaluate the customers before
stepping into the bull ring. I will be the bull from now on. No more messing with Marlene lol.

FOX 5 News came by for a visit and interviews. All in all, I'd rate the HHPTA a roaring success and I look for it to grow and grow. I am looking forward to an audience of hundreds within the next year.

If you're in Las Vegas, the HHPT ladies event will take place at the Hard Rock Casino this Wed., June 10, at 7 PM. Join us!

Next up was the "Women in Poker Hall of Fame", To say it was a fabulous night, was to say the least. It was a sellout with standing room only. Over 350 attended. If you want to be a part of the history of women in poker next year, reserve your seat early. The room was grand, the dinner was gourmet and just excellent, the service was the best, Gyla's production of the evening was expert and a good time was had by all. One highlight was a proclamation from the Mayor of Las Vegas, making June 5, the official "Women in Poker" day.

Each inductee from last year introduced the new inductees. I introduced June Field. Most of the young folks of today had never heard of her, but let me assure you, she has made a tremendous impact in our poker world. The following is my introduction speech for June.

June Field – June and Phil … they have been together for a long time. Phil is June’s greatest supporter. Together they have kids, foster kids, step kids, and grandkids – oh, and cats.

June Field has many chapters in her book of life, but career-wise none has been more rewarding that being the founder of two poker publications, The Card Player magazine and Poker Digest.

Benny Binion is touted as being the Granddaddy of poker tournaments. I have an analogy to that. June Field is the Grandmama of poker publications. Let me back up a few years, make that decades, and tell you a few things about June that you probably don’t know.

She went to Rider College in Trenton, NJ. Where she majored in Bus. Ed and minored in journalism. Oh yes, she spent many hours at Princeton in the study of frat parties.

Anyone who knows June knows that she has always loved to dance. What you may not know is that June was a professional dancer … a go-go dancer. If you happen to be so young that you don’t know what a go-go dancer is let me assure you that go-go dancers kept their clothes on!

After she hung up her go-go boots, one of her first jobs, off the dance floor was working for Arnold Palmer. She first tipped her toe in the publication business in this job where she published a monthly newsletter for him.

Decades ago, when I lived in the South and believed “men are to lead, women to follow” June was making strides in the “man’s world”. She worked for the police dept and she was the fifth female blackjack dealer hired to deal on the strip. BTW, it was only after June meeting and getting to know her that I changed my mindset to “Women CAN lead, anyone can follow.”

June worked for the city of LV, receiving the “Outstanding Employee of the Year” award.

June played kitchen table poker until Mother’s Day 1980. Phil had taken her to the old Landmark for dinner and they walked past the poker parlor. He handed her a $20 bill and suggested she give it a try. Unlike most women who are scared, nervous, and intimidated, even thinking about their first time .... in poker, that is! she jumped right in, played for two hours and was hooked. That Mother’s Day changed their life.

In the 80’s June continued to play poker and she began to write articles for the old Poker Player tabloid. (Hold up copy). Her tagline was and continued to be “God I love this Job!”

In 1982, she set a goal to win the ladies event of the WSOP. She took two months off from playing and studied the game. She met her goal and became the 1982 Ladies World Champion.

She eventually became the editor of Poker Player. At this time I also was writing for PP. I would see June at least every two weeks when I took my copy in, but I saw her more at the poker tables. We became acquaintances. She was the first world champion I had ever met and I was in awe. Eventually, we became friends.

In early 1988 PP went down, and it was missed. There was no Internet; this was a time of no poker news except word-of-mouth. Over the next 6 or 7 months, if I had one person, there were a dozen who came to me saying, I’m going to start a poker magazine, will you write for me? Everyone was talking but no one was doing. It all sounded the same, poker publication, bla, bla, bla. In July of 1988, I ran into June at a poker tournament at the Aladdin. She said, “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about a poker magazine.” I thought, “Yea, sure, bla, bla, bla.” She then produced a business card and asked to set up an appointment at her new offices at 1455 E Tropicana, Suite 450 to introduce me to her ideas for Card Player magazine. I immediately apologized to her in my head about the bla, bla, bla thought – this woman was moving and shaking. My Mama used to say, “There are talkers and there are doers in this world.” June Field is a doer!

I went to work for June immediately, Phil taught me how to sell, June edited the hell out of my articles and we were off and running. June and Phil had high hopes of our first issue having 24 pages, it had 42. (Hold Up Copy) We all were extremely proud of this newborn baby. But we didn’t have time to do much celebrating as we had another deadline coming at us – and so it went for five years. Trivia: in the beginning, June’s staff included all women, working and putting together a magazine whose readership was 95% male (I just make that up, but I bet I’m not that far off.) June is an admitted work-aholic. After five years of working practically 24-7 publishing CP, burnout set in and the Fields sold Card Player magazine to Linda Johnson and partners. They signed a five-year non-compete and five years later, to the day, rested and ready, June and Phil introduced Poker Digest to the world. (Hold Up Copy) In addition to giving birth to two successful poker publications, June was also the founder of Card Player Cruises and Classic Poker Cruises. She and Phil served as directors of the CA Card Club Assoc. for four years bringing the membership from 18 clubs to 52!

June has traveled the world, she reads intently. She presently is supposed to be retired. We’ll see.

As her book of life continues. We are honored to add this chapter, “June Field, 2009 Inductee into the WiPHoF.”