Already "prepping" for next year's BCA MEMBER DIRECTORY ... the BCA is busy processing business data for inclusion in its annual reference book, which lists all new or renewal members in good standing — as of January 15, 2007. That leaves just a few short (holiday) weeks to complete your paperwork and return it to the national office. So don't risk misplacing it in the seasonal shuffle — send in your renewal NOW! [ review benefits ]

Some BCA members who exhibit at the annual Expo hold off on renewing until closer to that event, but doing so leaves you "missing in action" for a large part of the year. The BCA Member Directory is the single most comprehensive listing of qualified industry professionals in the business, from major manufacturers to retailers, large and small ... from high-end metro billiard parlors to non-profit centers nationwide. Used by product developers to locate distributors and by consumers seeking any- and everything pool-related, the BCA Member Directory is one-stop-shopping for billiards, pure and simple!

Maximize your marketing presence with a listing in the BCA Member Directory, by making sure that your membership is active BY January 15, 2007.

The American Poolplayers Association [APA] website reports ... "So much for past experience - two first-time competitors in the U.S. Amateur Championship are taking home the titles. Michelle Monk of Palm Bay, Fla., defeated Melinda Huang of Los Angeles in the finals 9 - 4 Sunday evening. In the Men’s Division, Bill McCollim of Freedom, Pa., defeated Richard Andrews of Harvest, Ala., in the finals 11 - 8. Both champions will advance to a pro tournament next year." [ more ]

The Southern Illinois University online newspaper "The Daily Egyptian" ... covered a Gospel Trick Shots exhibition offered by Mike Massey and Steve Lillis on the Carbondale campus in late October. The special event was hosted by Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, Calvary Campus Church and SIU Bowling & Billiards. [ more ]

BCA Hall of Famer Massey and GTS founder Steve Lillis have been partnering for the past five years to produce dozens of GTS Shows around the world. Lillis is an ordained minister and a professor at William Paterson University, who recently made the big-time with a 700-Club appearance that is slated to air this month.

The article was written by junior year journalism student Aerial McCall, who is both a reporting correspondent and one of the web designers for the SIUDE site. The online daily is student-run, and has been serving the campus community (of 22,000 students and 1,200 faculty) since 1916.

The WPBA will induct Belinda Campos Calhoun ... "The Texas Belle" into its official Hall of Fame on November 8, at banquet ceremonies held in conjunction with the Cuetec Cues National Championship women’s tour event at the Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, Oregon.

The official press release states that ... Belinda was introduced to pool by a fellow she was dating during the summer of 1971, in Austin, Texas. “My first attempts were so disastrous, it became an instant challenge,” says Calhoun. “The first time I saw a National Billiard News in 1972 and read that there were tournaments and championships I knew what I wanted to do.”

She qualified to play in her first U.S. Open 14.1 (Straight Pool) Championship in 1977 in her first attempt. “Mother and I flew to Chicago and took the bus to Rockford, Illinois for my first qualifier. The following month I competed in the U.S. Open in Dayton, Ohio and finished 3rd.” She credits her determination to the difficulty of the game itself. [ press release ]

Randy Goettlicher ... is one of the founding members of the Cue-Tech College of Cueing Arts & Sciences. One of an elite group of only eight Master Level Instructors, Randy is certified by the BCA, and recently offered to lend his expertise to the task of answering rules questions sent in to the national office.

He is among the most tireless promoters in the sport of pool, and the Southwest Eightball League (which he started in 1983), is always one of the largest BCA sanctioned leagues. Randy served a three year term on the BCA Board of Directors. During that time he was the chairperson of the League & Program Committee. [ more ]

In addition to teaching at Cue-Tech and running a great league system in Texas, Randy was one of the three founders of the Texas Express Promotions Group. Along with his wife Karen, Randy developed the Scotch-Doubles team play format that is now popular world-wide. Cue-Tech's marketing and business operations are under Randy's care. [ new website ]

Have a question about the finer points of a rule or situation that you've encountered? Send the BCA an email with "Rules Question" in the subject line for a prompt forward and reply!