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Vol.4,
No.10 — June 18, 2007 |
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THE ANNUAL BCA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING ...
will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at 5:00 p.m., just
before the official start of the 2007 BCA International Billiard &
Home Recreation Expo in Las Vegas. The meeting will take place in
Rooms 103-104 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.
If you’re planning to
attend the Expo, be sure to schedule time to attend the membership
meeting, which will feature a report from BCA President Gregg Hovey,
as well as an update from BCA Chief Executive Officer Rob Johnson,
who will provide an overview of future BCA initiatives.
In addition, the BCA
will be completing the election for the 2007-2008 BCA Board of
Directors during the meeting. If you were unable to submit your vote
via postal mail and are planning to attend the meeting, you may
hand-carry your ballot or you may vote onsite (ballots will be made
available).
Immediately following
the meeting, the BCA will host a membership mixer from 6:00 p.m.
to 8:00 p.m. in Rooms 105-106. All are welcome and encouraged to
attend. During the mixer, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres will be served
and each attendee will be given one drink ticket.
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BCA ANNOUNCES EXCITING NEW MEMBER BENEFIT |
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In an effort to help its members reduce the
rising costs of health insurance ... the BCA is pleased to
introduce a new partnership with
Association Health
Programs (AHP). This nationwide program includes health
insurance, life insurance, long-term care insurance, cancer
coverage, accident insurance, disability income, critical illness,
dental insurance, vision and more!
These benefits allow BCA members to take advantage
of better insurance coverage at the lowest possible rates with its
new comprehensive health insurance program for individuals,
families, groups and businesses. Long-term care and life insurance
are being offered with savings up to 40 percent below market rates
for BCA members and associates.
AHP, of Overland Park, Kansas, has been retained
to administer the program. Stuart Pase, president and certified
senior advisor, welcomes all BCA members to take advantage of these
special benefits, protection, underwriting and pricing. BCA members
will join the clients of AHP, which include over 130 associations
with up to two million members. AHP has been serving these
associations for over 17 years.
If you are planning to attend the BCA Expo, June
21-23, be sure to stop by the BCA Booth #2000 to learn more about
this exciting new member benefit! Stuart Pase will be on-hand and
available to answer your questions and inquiries regarding the
program.
If you won’t be at the Expo, pleases feel free to
contact AHP for a free evaluation of your current benefits at
913.341.2860 or 888.450.3040. Be sure to also visit the AHP Web site
at www.associationpros.com.
Also be sure to keep an eye on the
BCA Web site for
additional information, as well as upcoming issues of BCA Member
Update! |
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NETWORK, CONNECT AND WIN WITH GOEXPO! |
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If you’re planning to attend the
BCA Expo …
don’t forget that your participation includes access to a powerful
online system called
GoExpo!, which provides a FREE
matchmaking service while putting exhibitors and attendees in
contact with each other.
 And,
if you log into your GoExpo! account today, you will be automatically
entered to win an iPod Shuffle! Be sure to log on soon since
this promotion ends at midnight prior to the show opening on
Thursday, June 21. GoExpo! features include:
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Online Introductions — In addition to
matchmaking and online introductions, this feature stores a
complete profile of the attendees and companies that enables you
to schedule appointments with each other and even make contact
with the click of your mouse. Not only will exhibitors be
able to find attendees, but attendees can find, and learn about,
exhibitors’ products and services that fit their interests while
getting a head-start on setting up meetings well before the
start of the show.
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Keep Track of Your Agenda — Your
interactive planner will allow you to organize your schedule,
make appointments, build your show agenda and keep track of your
events.
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Getting Started — Attendees and
exhibitors received an e-mail with their username and password,
which is all of the information needed to get started.
Using GoExpo! is simple, but just in case you have
any questions, please contact
Expo show management for assistance. |
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BACK-TO-BACK COVERAGE OF
TOURNAMENT ON JUNE 24 |
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Dennis Orcollo
Photo Credit: Inside POOL Magazine |
Broadcasts coming up ... Grab your favorite
snack and beverage and get ready to settle in to watch an afternoon
of exciting
EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships on ESPN, June 24,
beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
The men's semi- and final rounds will lead off the
debut airings of the championships at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.,
respectively. That Sunday afternoon lineup will begin with Mike
Davis versus Shane Van Boening in the first hour, followed by the
final between Dennis Orcollo and Van Boening.
The ladies will round out the afternoon with
Jasmin Ouschan versus Allison Fisher in the semi-final round at 4:00
p.m., and the final match up between Karen Corr and Fisher at 5:00
p.m.
ESPN2 will also air the women's semi-final match
on August 25 at 3:00 p.m. Be sure to tune in!
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:: ELLERBY TO
PARTNER WITH INSIDE POOL MAGAZINE |
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Inside POOL Magazine recently announced
… a partnership with Sarah Ellerby for online media content.
Ellerby is currently ranked seventh on the WPBA Tour and has won
over 80 titles in English 8-ball.
The industry knows Ellerby as a WPBA player, but
off the table she owns a sports entertainment and consulting
company, and her long-term goal is to grow the sport and elevate the
marketing value. Ellerby hopes the deal will expand her fan base
while giving her fans an exclusive up-close and personal look inside
her world.
Ellerby will be providing a Q&A section and live
chat sessions at
InsidePOOLMag.com. She will be available for scheduled live
online chat sessions, a Q&A section and an exclusive
forum.
The first live online chat session is scheduled for June 19, 2007,
at 9:00 p.m. EDT. The Q&A page is active, and Ellerby is expected to
submit content shortly.
“We're very excited about the deal with Sarah
Ellerby and expect great things for both parties,” said Inside
POOL Magazine publisher J.R. Calvert. “We know Sarah has a large
existing fan base. We also know that most fans never make it to a
professional tournament. We think that our visitors are going enjoy
interacting with her in real time like they've never done before."
Be sure to visit
InsidePOOLmag.com for the
launch of the online forum, Q&A and live chat sessions. |
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BILLIARDS IN THE NEWS |
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 HOLLAND'S
ROB MOLLIEN …
became the first ever Dutchman to win the
highly prestigious
PartyPoker.net World Pool Trick Shot Masters title.
A magician by trade, Mollien finished off with a finale
that involved spearing his cue through a pack of flying
cards and impaling a card pre-selected by a member of
the audience.
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more
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IN OTHER NEWS ...
Players from around the world gathered at Bankshot
Billiards in Jacksonville, Florida, for the
2nd Annual Simonis Amateur Open. Pros, semi-pros and
top-rated amateurs were not allowed to enter. The big
story of the event was that a female won the Men’s
9-Ball Division — teenage Korean superstar and pool
powerhouse Yu Ram Cha went undefeated to win the prize.
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Alex
Eskin is one of five recipients of the 2007 Clay
Research Prize, presented by the Clay Mathematics
Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for his work in
rational billiards. He examined behavior of billiard
balls on unusually shaped frictionless tables.
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Thomas Engert won
the 2007
PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters tournament, edging
out Spain’s David Alciade in a 5-8 victory. This becomes
Engert's second masters title after also winning in
2004.
- South Dakota’s
Shane Van Boening accepted a sponsorship agreement
from the BCA Pool League (BCAPL) just days before his
breakthrough runner-up performance at the EnjoyPool.com
9-Ball Championships in Las Vegas.
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MEMBER MARKETING
101 ... From "52 Ways to Make Pool Everybody's Game" |
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TIP № 41 |
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Write a billiard column for
local newspapers to attract new
interest in pool. |
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STRATEGY: |
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Want to ensure that pool
will always be one of
America’s most popular
activities? It’s
possible, if we promote
pool, and make sure it
stays top-of-mind among
current and potential
players. By writing a
billiard column, you not
only help increase
awareness, but you
establish yourself as an
authority. And that
gives readers a good
reason to visit your
business. |
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EXECUTION: |
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Contact
the lifestyle and sports
editions of local newspapers
and propose a regular
billiard column.
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Explain
how a billiard column will
set them apart from other
newspapers and draw new
readers by using statistics
about pool popularity or
demographics on pool
players.
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Submit
a sample column on any
topic, from the history of
the game to national or
local tournament news or fun
facts about pool.
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Make
sure that the column is
non-commercial in nature,
but write your business name
in your byline.
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:: BCA
SPOTLIGHT |
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BCA ASSOCIATE MANAGING DIRECTOR ROBIN
DAHLEN … is another new addition to the BCA team. Robin
is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee,
Florida, where she obtained a Bachelor of
 Arts
degree in Communications, and she has over 10 years of
experience in association management. She is also a member
of the Georgia Society of
Association Executives (GSAE) and the
American Society of
Association Executives (ASAE).
Robin is Florida native, but has been
living in Atlanta since 2000. While she enjoys life in the
big city, she tries to get back home to Tallahassee as often
as possible, especially in the fall when the Florida State
Seminoles football team takes the field.
Robin is based in Atlanta and can be
reached at
robin@bca-pool.com. In her role with the BCA, Robin is
responsible for a variety of functions, including
communications and marketing, electronic and print
publishing, public and media relations, strategic planning
and membership development. |
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| :: BCA NOTES & NEWS BRIEFS |
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COMING UP ... |
>>
JUNE
... 24th BCA International Billiard & Home Recreation EXPO
in Las Vegas, June 21-23
... EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Broadcasts on
ESPN, June 24
>> JULY
... 67th ACUI Collegiate
9-Ball Championships/19th Annual Junior Nationals,
Minnesota State
University,
July 10-15
... BCA Board Meeting in Atlanta, July
11-12
... U.S. Open Wheelchair 8-Ball Championship,
Northfield, Ohio,
July 20-22
>> AUGUST
... APA National Team
Championships in
Las Vegas,
August 17-25
... EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Women's Semi-Final
Rebroadcast on ESPN, August 25
>>
OCTOBER
... 32nd Annual U.S.
Open 9-Ball Championships,
Chesapeake, Virginia,
October 14-27
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SEE YOU AT THE 2007 U.S. OPEN |
| This year marks the
32nd Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships ...
which will be held
October 14-20, 2007, at the Chesapeake
Conference Center, in Chesapeake, Virginia.
The field is limited to 256 players and the entry
fee is $500. Added monies are either $50,000
or $72,000 with a full field of 256.
 The
event will comfortably accommodate 1,000 spectators
with general admission and VIP seating.
General admission passes cost $10 per session (two
sessions per day). VIP passes vary from $120 to
$200.
Passes are now available online.
In addition, the event will feature 30 vendors
showcasing their products, including custom cues,
production cues, cases, accessories, gadgets,
apparel and more.
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WHEELCHAIR EVENTS |
| The
National Wheelchair Poolplayer Association
... schedule lists the 4th Annual U.S.
Open Wheelchair 8-Ball Championship in
Northfield, Ohio, as its next event.
The July 20-22 tournament is slated for
play at Scoreboard Billiards, and more
details can be requested by e-mail to Lance
Kepler at
thegunfighter87@earthlink.net. |
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BCA PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT |
| Attention BCA
members … don’t forget about the BCA Credit Card
Processing Program, which offers improved service
and savings for all your credit card processing
needs. The program’s mission is to provide retailers
with reliable and cost-effective credit card
processing services. Online Data Corp. (ODC), a
nationwide credit card processor, manages this
service on behalf of the BCA. Get started today!
Contact Henry Cunier, ODC coordinator, at
800.338.8363 or
henrycunier@comcast.net to evaluate your current
relationship, provide you with a complete savings
analysis, answer any questions or concerns you may
have and set up an appointment to get you enrolled
in the program. |
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TUNE IN! |
Pool &
Billiard Magazine lists ...
plenty of billiards action via rebroadcasts
in the month of June.
Broadcast highlights
include the 2006 WPBA Florida Classic
and the 2006 WPBA Midwest Classic. |
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 An exclusive service to Billiard Congress of America Business
Members, the
BCA
Member Update
is announced via e-mail twice monthly and
archived
online. Please forward, print and circulate this newsletter widely and feel
free to submit your comments
or contributions to Robin Dahlen,
associate managing director. |
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Copyright © Billiard Congress of America |
NEXT
ISSUE: Vol.4, No.11 |
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