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Vol.4,
No.2 — January 26, 2007
| BCA |
:: EXCLUSIVE PARTNERS ... for the 2007 EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships will include official product sponsors: Olhausen Billiard Mfg. (table), Cue-Tec (cue), Championship Billiard Cloth / Tour Edition (cloth) and Super Aramith Pro (ball). In addition the closed captioning bid was awarded to PoolDawg.com and one of five arena sponsorships was acquired by the American Poolplayers Association.
 The long-running professional event will take place at the Riviera in Las Vegas, May 13-19, with ESPN broadcast taping of the semi-finals and finals scheduled.
Last fall, the BCA issued its official sponsorship offers to qualified BCA Business Members, and solicited sealed bids for product sponsorships and non-competing advertising opportunities. The sponsors named above submitted winning bids in the preliminary round, leaving some opportunities available for re-bid. [ more ]
Unclaimed product categories (chalk, rack, furniture & lighting) will remain open for bid through Friday, February 16, along with associated, non-competing ad placement on the arena scoreboard and sideline rotating banners. Bidding remains restricted to BCA Business Members in good standing and more details may be requested by email.
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 Need a 9-Ball banner for your site? Right click on your choice, "save as", and link to www.EnjoyPool.com. |
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| :: BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION |
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NOMINATIONS DUE by Wednesday, March 7 ... You can take part in shaping the course of the billiard industry, by serving on the BCA Board of Directors, and now is the time to speak up! The 2007 Nominating Committee is currently accepting nominations for open seats in all categories (voting, retail and room owner) that will come up for election in the coming months. If you are interested in running for a board seat — or know of someone else who would be a good candidate —please refer to the Guidelines & Election Procedures for more information on how to proceed. |
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| :: EXPO ONLINE REGISTRATIONS |
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It's a whole new game ... The BCA recently unveiled the new EXPO tagline "It's a whole new game" along with a whole new look for its BCAExpo.com website. The re-design by Exhibitors Marketing Concepts in Las Vegas is now administered by show managers at WT Glasgow, who will add many more downloadable forms and paperwork as details become finalized for both exhibitors and attendees.
 The new look and feel of the site includes standard navigation dropdowns and flyouts to guide browsers to the latest information, online registration links, event schedules, travel details, exhibitor lists and ... deadlines ... lots and lots of deadlines ... !
The first of many falls on Monday, February 12, which is the advance registration cutoff date for attendee discounts. Before the 12th, BCA Business Members may order their admission badges for FREE (non-members cost $50 per person). After the 12th, prices go up to $25 for members; $100 for non-members. Register online TODAY! |
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| :: AMERICAN CUESPORTS UPDATE |
The ACS recently announced ... expansion of the 2007 Nationals with 3-person 9-Ball Teams, Mixed-Masters 8-Ball Teams, and two extra days of play. The event in Las Vegas will add two days to the June 7-16 championships at the Riviera Hotel with these new divisions: 3-person 9-Ball Teams [Thursday-Friday, June 7-8]; Mixed-Masters 8-Ball Teams (replacing the traditional Masters 8-Ball Team divisions) [Thursday-Saturday, June 14-16]; and a Master Scotch Doubles division (separating it entirely from the Open Scotch Doubles division) [Saturday-Sunday, June 9-10]. [ full release ]
The ACS website now lists a full lineup of downloadable PDF's, covering topics from the new division offerings, to a full 8-page set of general entry guidelines. Also available is information about the new Artistic Pool Competition to be held in conjunction with the event, including shots, challenges and rules. |
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MEDIA & PR REPORT |
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO ... broadcast a seven-minute interview with Efren Reyes that can be heard online at NPR.org. The preview by Michael Sullivan opened with: "The man many consider to be the best pool player in the world, Efren "Bata" Reyes, is a skinny, almost toothless, 52-year-old Filipino with a slight paunch, an infectious grin and a legion of fans both at home and abroad." [ more ] |
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- IN OTHER NEWS ... The Connecticut Post's online edition published a piece by Bill McDonald, entitled "Billiards Champ leaves troubled past behind"
- The Rocky Mount Telegram tipped the WPBA pro tour opener and announced ticket sales
- The Herald Tribune covered Gallery Billiards' aid to local concert goers in Sarasota
- The Manila Standard announced the Billiards Digest awards recognizing the Phillippines
- The Pegasus News site ran a story about the BETTER play billiards high school program
- The Evansville Courier & Press website commented on economic development in the region, with an announcement about the opening of a new Jillian's Billiard Club
- The Boston Standard's companion online news site, BostonToday.com, noted the visits of two international stars for an exhibition
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MEMBER MARKETING
101 ... From "52 Ways to Make Pool Everybody's Game" |
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TIP № 4 |
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Offer premium corporate memberships to attract new customers and generate additional revenue |
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STRATEGY: |
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Companies are always looking for team-building activities to strengthen employee-working relationships. By offering corporate memberships that allow employees to play for free or at discounted rates, you can reach new prospects. Once they play pool with their co-workers, many employees are likely to return with their families and friends to bring you even more business. |
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EXECUTION: |
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- Send a mailer to local companies promoting special corporate memberships
- Underscore how pool can be a good team-building exercise, an employee benefit to boost morale, or simply a reward for outstanding performance
- Outline special rates with quarterly or annual memberships, or discounts during off-peak hours to smooth out your business flow
- Offer one hour of free instruction to get employees started
- Suggest local screen printers who can create personalized team T-shirts
- Recommend ways to create teams and stage tournaments
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| ::
ORIENT EXPRESS |
The American Poolplayers Association ... recently announced its overseas expansion into Japan. According to a release issued by PR Manager Jason Bowman, the APA granted former member Noriyuki Nanjo approval to begin promoting and administering APA Leagues in Tokyo as the Japanese Poolplayers Association (JPA). The deal was finalized in late December.
“The APA League was a great place for me to learn about the game of pool and meet many new and interesting people,” said Nanjo. After graduating from college, he had inquired about starting an APA franchise in Japan, then completed months of work, finalizing details and attending extensive training to earn final approval for the international franchise.
“We’re very excited to bring the pool league concept to Japan. The sport is extremely popular in Asia and we hope the success of the JPA will eventually help us tap into that popularity throughout the rest of the continent,” said APA President Reneé Poehlman. [ full release ] |
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| :: BCA MEMBER NEWS |
:: BCA SPOTLIGHT |
Rockwell Billiards ...opens its website with a welcome message that promises to provide the highest level of customer service, by "making your experience with us as easy and satisfying as possible," along with help in finding anything you need to outfit your home game room, bar or pool hall.
 The company offers a full line of custom pool cues, wood pool tables, cue racks, pool table lights in many designer styles, regulation pool ball sets by major makers, plus glow in the dark pool balls and snooker sets. In addition to a print catalogue, the company features online "super specials" on its full-service internet storefront.
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With a commitment to personal service, this BCA Business Member tries very hard to keep saying "no problem" rather than "no". |
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 Laura Smith ... recently accepted the position of Executive Director of the Billiard Education Foundation, following an announcement by the BCA that it would transfer the oversight and management of all junior programs to the organization. [ press release ]
A trustee on the BEF board since November 2002 and a pro player on the WPBA tour, Smith leaves behind a six-year stint with Cuestix International in order to focus full time on the new post. Contact Laura Smith at 303-926-1039, or by mail to: Billiard Education Foundation, PO Box 818, Lafayette, CO 80026. [ full release ]
| :: PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT |
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LIMITED EDITION ... this commemorative poster from the 2004 BCA National 8-Ball Championships is reproduced from Arthur Robins' striking original painting titled "The Last Shot", which features a low-angle, corner-pocket perspective before sinking the 8-ball.
The original painting is valued at $70,000.00, but you can hang this very-cool, one-of-a-kind piece in your game room for only $30, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Billiard Education Foundation. [ order ] |
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| :: BCA NOTES & NEWS BRIEFS |
| 8-BALL ENTRY LIVE |
The PlayBCA.com website ... has loaded the BCA Pool League's 16-page tournament newsletter and singles entry form for the 2007 BCA 8-Ball National Championships. |
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| Players and fans can download the PDF from the site, and begin their planning now. |
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COLLEGIATE ACTION |
On Campus ... The Purdue Exponent reported on the Purdue Billiard Club victory over Indiana University in their annual challenge ... The Daily Egyptian featured the renovation of the Student Union at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. |
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| BCAHALLOFFAME.COM |
 Having trouble locating the Hall of Fame? To make it easier to remember, the BCA recently acquired the domain name BCAHallofFame.com. Punching up that URL will now take you directly to the section of the BCA website where the Hall of Fame info resides. Bookmark it!
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| XTREME RALF |
Inside Pool reports ... that Xtreme Billiard Technology, Ltd inked an agreement with World Champion Ralf "The Kaiser" Souquet, to wear the company logo and use the X breaker jump cue exclusively for his break and jump shots. [ more ] |
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| THE HUSTLER |
Details Magazine ... recently published an article about IPT founder Kevin Trudeau by J.D. Dolan. The piece is entitled "The Hustler" and can be viewed in full on the magazine's online companion site Men.Style.com. |
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| Elsewhere, Billiard Digest published the latest email from Trudeau to the IPT tour players. |
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| ! DATES TO NOTE ! |
| 02/12 |
Attendee Badge Orders (FREE before the 12th) |
| 02/16 |
9-Ball Sponsorship Re-bid offers due |
| 02/21 |
Ouschan vs. Fisher |
| 03/07 |
BOD Nominations due |
| 03/22 |
Membership deadline for Board Election voting |
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 An exclusive service to Billiard Congress of America Business
Members, the
BCA
Member Update
is announced via email twice monthly and
archived
online. Please forward, print and circulate this newsletter widely and feel
free to submit your comments
or contributions to Editor Linda Mojer, BCA Director of Communications, 719-264-8300 x120. |
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Copyright © Billiard Congress of America |
NEXT
ISSUE: Vol.4, No.3 – February 9, 2007 |
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