Attending the 2009 BCA Expo ... just became a lot more affordable! We’ve re-negotiated the rates at all BCA Expo hotels to save you more than 33% on your travel budget. That’s right — our hotel blocks are now a great deal and more competitively priced than the Internet offers. Click here to book your hotel for the 2009 BCA Expo.

BCA members also receive free entry into the 2009 BCA Expo as long as you’ve registered by April 30, 2009. The easy, online BCA Expo registration process is now open — just click the big red button and you’ll be taken to step by step instructions to register for the 2009 BCA Expo. The entire process will take less than three minutes!

So, with free registration for BCA members, outstanding airline deals to Las Vegas and these great hotel prices, how can you afford to miss the 2009 BCA Expo?

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) is pleased to announce ... that they are accepting applications for the 2009 scholarship awards. The BEF Academic Scholarship Program is administered annually under the direction and guidance of the BEF Board of Trustees. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 16, 2009, and can be downloaded by going to the BEF Web site at www.BilliardEducation.org.

The BEF Academic Scholarship Program is divided into two categories: Excellence in Education scholarship (one $5,000 scholarship awarded over a two-year term); and the Aiming for Higher Education scholarships (seven individual scholarships at $1,000 each). The objective of the BEF Academic Scholarship Program is to grant scholarships to high school seniors who have benefited from the sport of billiards and are pursuing a college education.

Prospects must adhere to the following scholarship criteria: 1) hold a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale); 2) must have an ACT score of at least 23 or SAT combined score (critical reading + math) of 1050 or higher; 3) submit a 500-1,000 word essay on how billiards has been an integral part of their life; 4) must be accepted to an accredited undergraduate academic program by June 1, 2009; and 5) must attend an accredited undergraduate institution and carry at least 12 hours per semester.

BEF scholarships are made possible through donations. If you would like to become a donor and make a difference in the growth of billiard programs for our youth, please contact the BEF office at 303.926.1039 or LauraSmith@BilliardEducation.org.

DHL Ends Its U.S. Domestic-Only Service; Choose FedEx ... Now that DHL has ended its U.S. domestic-only service, let FedEx make the transition seamless with flexible U.S. domestic and international air and ground shipping options plus valuable business solutions on the newly enhanced www.fedex.com.

Save money and get reliability and peace of mind when you take advantage of the special discounts, which you receive as a member of BCA. BCA members can enjoy up to 24-percent savings on select FedEx Express® shipping, up to 20 percent on select FedEx Ground® shipping and up to 65 percent on select FedEx Freight® LTL (less-than-truckload) shipping by joining the BCA Freight Savings Plan.

For free enrollment or to learn more, call service providers Siriani & Associates at 800.554.0005 or e-mail info@siriani.com.

For eligible FedEx® services and rates, contact your freight savings program provider, Siriani & Associates. All FedEx shipments are subject to the applicable FedEx Service Guide or FXF 100 Series Rules Tariff. FedEx service marks used by permission.

Yellow and Roadway Together as YRC ... Save money and increase your bottom line when you ship with YRC! Yellow and Roadway have integrated to become YRC, offering the most comprehensive network of regional and national coverage available. As a benefit of your BCA membership, you receive a discount on qualifying less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments with YRC.

To start saving, call service providers Siriani & Associates at 800.554.0005 or e-mail info@siriani.com. If you have already joined the BCA freight program, your discounts will automatically be applied to your YRC shipments.

The Billiard Congress of America (“BCA”) and CueSports International, L.L.C. (“CSI”), the operator of the BCA Pool League ... have entered into a settlement agreement resulting in the dismissal of the lawsuit between them, which had been pending in the United States District Court in Colorado. By entering into the settlement agreement, neither party admitted any wrongdoing. The parties have agreed that CSI may continue to use the service marks “BCA Pool League” and “BCAPL” in conjunction with pool leagues operated by it. Further, the parties agreed that CSI will not have the right to utilize the name and service marks “Billiard Congress of America,” “BCA” or any of BCA’s other marks. All other terms of the settlement agreement are confidential.