Based on membership demand ... the BCA is developing the Billiard Industry Trends Report.  This project will kickoff in March of 2008.  The Trends Report is a new program offered free of charge to BCA members and provides actionable information about how the industry performs year to year.

The Trends Report will accomplish two things: it will detail how the overall industry is performing and it will show how the participating member performs compared to similar members in the industry.  In accomplishing these two items, the Trends Report will provide detailed information about things BCA members care about: sales; item volume; profitability; and overall industry direction.

“The BCA understands that members want to definitively know how the industry is performing,” said Rob Johnson, BCA chief executive officer.  “The Trends Report will provide the kind of information members need.  More importantly, while the BCA is sponsoring the project, a neutral research firm is taking charge of the project to collect all of the information.  This will ensure that private information is kept secure and confidential.”

Ellison Research, a neutral research firm, will collect the information using secure and confidential practices. No private information will ever be disclosed to the BCA or any other party, as all responses will remain secure and confidential.  The information provided to Ellison Research will be totaled so that members understand the health of the whole industry.  Each member will also see how he or she performs compared to similar members.  All participating members will receive a free, personal Trends Report mailed to their business address.

All BCA members are encouraged to participate in this important project. Participation is free for all members.  Here is how it works: four times a year, members will login to a neutral, secure and confidential Web site. Members will spend five minutes answering questions about their business. All responses will remain secure and confidential. Three weeks later, a confidential report is mailed to the BCA member’s business address, free of charge.

More information about the Trends Report will be shared in the coming months. If you have any questions in the interim, please feel free to contact Robin Dahlen, BCA associate managing director, at robin@bca-pool.com or 404.760.4248.

Attention BCA members … don't forget about the partnership the BCA has established 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! 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.

If your company is a current BCA member and is interested in learning more about this beneficial new member benefit, 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.

Seven junior players represented the United States ... at the 2007 World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Junior World Championships in Willingen, Germany. Among the 39 entrants in the boys’ division and 19 in the girls’ division were: Mary Rakin (19), 2006 WPA Junior World Champion, Girls’ Division of Daly City, California; Briana Miller (12) of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Nicole Keeney (19) of Littleton, Colorado; Richard Barney (16) of Mont Alto, Pennsylvania; Landon Shuffett (13) of Greensburg, Kentucky; Christopher Futrell (17) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Joshua Newman (15) of Bessener City, North Carolina. Players earned their entry into the event by virtue of their top finish in the BEF Junior Nationals.

Mary Rakin was crowned the 2007 WPA Junior World Champion of the girls’ division for the second consecutive year. As the number-one seed in the event, Rakin found herself in a less-than-favorable situation when she lost her first match 7-4 to Denise Wilkinson of New Zealand. The pressure continued as she squeaked by her next opponent Anja Wagner of Germany 7-6. Once again, though, Rakin proved that she could handle the pressure, winning a close match 9-8 over Katrina Schagan of Germany and completing her mission by handily winning the next two matches over Kim Witzel of Germany 9-4 and Tina Buhnen of Germany 9-2.

Rakin ended her status as a junior competitor and when asked if pool was in her future she replied, “Yes, but not until after I finish school. School first, then pool.”  Pressed as to whether she would be knocking on the door of the WPBA after college, she grinned, “Yeah, I think so!”

Also in the girls’ division, Briana Miller won her first two matches over Chiaki Komiya of Japan 7-5 and Shu Ling Lin of Taipei 7-6. Landon Shuffett led the U.S. boys’ contingent, finishing in a tie for ninth place.

The USA team leader, Laura Smith, stated, “The juniors were not only eager to show their talents, but they were also honored by the opportunity to represent the United States in this international competition. This gave them the chance to share and learn about other cultures, as well as compete with some of the best junior billiard talent in the world.”