Three Ways to Qualify ... Over a dozen prelims are scheduled in May, to wrap up the nationwide series of playoffs that qualify players for the Junior & Intercollegiate 9-Ball Championships. Players become eligible to compete in any one of these three ways:

• Returning finalists: The BCA invites the top two finishers from each division of the 2005 Junior Nationals to compete in 2006. These eight players are exempt from qualifying, but if they care to practice at a designated qualifier, they are welcome to do so.
• BCA Junior National Qualifier: The top two finishers in each sanctioned division at a designated Junior National Qualifier will earn a spot in the Junior Nationals.
• BCA Junior League Assignment: Players may be assigned, exclusively, by a BCA Junior League Operator. Only recognized BCA Junior Leagues are given the opportunity to assign one player per division for the event. Players from any other league systems must attend a sanctioned BCA Junior National Qualifier in order to qualify for the Junior Nationals.

Find the latest travel and lodging information online, along with early scheduling details, and bookmark the Junior Nationals webpage for updates as the event approaches!

The Billiard & Bowling Institute of America ... will accept "on time" registrations for its 63rd Annual Convention through April 30 before beginning to surcharge stragglers! The three-day industry meeting will take place May 21-23 in Palm Springs, California, and will feature a number of exciting programs for billiard manufacturers and retailers. Here's a sample of the what's in store:

New Billiard Manufacturer Forum! What are the barriers that keep the majority of billiard manufacturers and distributors or retailers from taking action to change the nature of their working relationships? While it may be hard to accept, the greatest barrier to better working relationships stems from differences in how manufacturers and distributors think and make decisions. The B.B.I.A.'s new Billiard Manufacturer Forums are designed to help the industry move forward by positioning everyone on the same page.

How is foreign competition impacting our industry? What does the future hold for traditional billiard retail stores? These and other topics will be addressed by leaders in the billiard industry. Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing's Gregg Hovey, AMF Billiards and Games' Bill Tetro and Iwan Simonis' Hank Hayes will lead interactive discussion about the issues affecting retailers in today's marketplace. Dealers are encouraged to initiate dialog on important topics affecting their businesses, too! [ learn more | register | BBIA website ]

Tournament organizers want more than your hard-earned cash ... at least in Maine! Long-time BCA member Jeff Gonzalez of Skillful Vending Distributors, Inc. in Portland, contacted BCA Executive Director Steve Ducoff, after reading about his family's transplant success in the March issue of Pool & Billiards.

The story had struck a chord with players in Maine, where Ray Cote — a friend and Maine Valley League Director for over 15 years — remains on the list for a heart transplant. In the interest of promoting greater awareness about organ donations, Ray had called from his hospital bed to share a great idea for a pool tournament: the entry "fee" would be to sign up as an organ donor.

After running VNEA Leagues with his wife Lynne for 16 years, along with Skillful Vending as Charter Holder and sponsor, Mr. Cote was honored with a lifetime achievement award in Las Vegas last year. He and Lynne were also inducted to the Maine Valley 8-Ball Association Hall of Fame in 1999. Last October, Mr. Cote was admitted to the Brigham & Women's hospital in Boston, where he continues to do well while he waits patiently for a transplant.

"I truly believe my time will come soon," he wrote. "My original idea was when I got home after my transplant was to hold a to hold three tournaments in Maine. One for Open Division players (Masters & A), Sportsman (B players) & Recreation Division (C's and D's). The entry fee would be to sign up as an Organ Donor with prizes coming from donations from various businesses." [ email Jeff Gonzalez | Ray Cote ]

KATHY ETHERIDGE ... has been the co-owner of Showcase Billiards of Westminster Colorado since 1980. Having been in the billiard business for over 25 years (and married to recent board member Clay Etheridge), she is well aware of the multi-faceted aspects of the billiard business in general, and the BCA board’s needs, in particular.

Prior to her entry into the billiard business, Ms. Etheridge had a strong business background specializing in the areas of accounting and bookkeeping. As the overall Operations Manager for Showcase Billiards, which is both a retailing and manufacturing operation, she is very familiar with the differing needs of all the various types of billiard operations that the BCA represents.

Ms. Etheridge is beginning her first term on the BCA Board of Directors, after earning a seat in the 2006 election round. [ board directory | press release ]

:: BCA PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

BCA ANNUAL REPORTS ... were issued at the BCA Annual Membership Meeting in Houston, Texas during the Expo, and are now available on request by BCA Business Members who would like their own print copy (while supplies last!). The text portion of the report is available online as a PDF download, and the print edition includes the complete audited financial statements of the organization. You can find it, and recent quarterly reports, under the "About Us" tab at BCA-Pool.com.