Break December 2006 a bi-monthly guide to Billiard Congress of America member services

BCAin this issue: Sponsorship Opportunities • Hall of Fame voting changes • Expo 2007 • Ultimate Party a Success • Member Update online features BCA Members

Sponsorship Programs BCA turns up the volume

With his keen eye for filling the stands, new CEO Rob Johnson is taking a good, hard look at the BCA’s lineup of marketing and sponsorship opportunities for the coming year. Calling on his NASCAR racing background, “turning up the volume” on all types of corporate promotions is one of the things that Johnson does best.

“All membership organizations have to revolve around the needs of their members” Johnson observed. “We have to identify those needs, then create and enhance benefits so that being a BCA member is a real no-brainer. And we can always make it fun at the same time.”

Fun, you say? Exciting? You bet! You’ll definitely want to see what the BCA has in store for members in the new year.

The BCA’s marquee event - the annual Expo - has always been a sure winner among BCA members who exhibit, as well as those Members will achieve name recognition by sponsoring who stroll the aisles. But members also receive exclusive calls to popular events like the annual EnjoyPool.com partner with the association to support several other special events 9-Ball Championships (above) and the BCA Junior year-round. Nationals (below left) ... events that provide valuable corporate exposure for BCA members. Sponsorships for the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships, the All members in good standing will be invited to bid on exclusive BEF Challenge the Stars, the Junior Nationals and selected pro- official sponsorships in table, presenting, cue, cloth, ball, rack, motional opportunities like the recent “Ballbusters Ultimate Pool chalk, furniture and lighting categories, along with added arena Party” are designed to sponsorships made available to non-competing products and serv- provide valuable cor- ices. Winning bidders receive a substantial return on investment porate exposure for with each of these offers, including premium ESPN broadcast air- BCA members. time. In the coming year, At the same time, the annual BEF Challenge of the Stars will take you’ll see these famil- place on the Tuesday of that event week, on May 15, to raise iar standby opportu- scholarship funds for the Billiard Education Foundation. The spe- nities, with a few new cial benefit offers players a chance to rub shoulders with the top twists. June dates for pros and challenge one of their favorites to a game of 9-Ball. With the Expo have 128 of the world’s top pros on hand, enthusiastic players and fans already shuffled the order for new year activity, placing the will have plenty of opportunities to get up-close-and-personal EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships in the lead-off position. with their favorite billiard stars. Scheduled for May 13-19 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Look for more details on how you can take part in these special Vegas, the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships is in its ninth events, when all-new programs are released in the new year. Being consecutive year of offering professional tour competition for on- a BCA member is just going to get better and better! site fan enjoyment, as well as ESPN network taping. International Billiard & Home We’re Expecting Recreation Expo a Full House! June 21-23, 2007 Vegas The Sands Expo Center

Visit It’s time to ante up and register BCAExpo.com now! Hosted by Billiard Congress of America • Produced by W.T. Glasgow, Inc.

BCA News - Nominations & Elections Expo-At-A-Glance Hall of Fame In 2007, a new procedure for Hall Sands Convention Center Las Vegas of Fame selection and voting will June 21-23, 2007 be used, headed by Committee Chair Mike Panozzo. Large scale Seminars June 21-23, 2007 “field voting” will no longer take place, leaving final selections to be made by the Hall of Fame Committee members. Look for a timeline Host Hotels Venetian, Treasure Island for the submission of nominations in an upcoming issue of the BCA Riviera Hotel & Casino Break, or online at BCA-Pool.com and EnjoyPool.com. Host Billiard Congress of America (BCAExpo.com) BCA Board of Directors With the re-instituted summer dates for the Expo, the association’s Producer William T. Glasgow, Inc. General Membership Meeting also moves to June. This extends the (708.226.1300) deadline for related validating membership into March. BCA members who intend to vote in elections must be “in good standing” on or before

l Billiard & a H March 22 to be eligible to vote for their representatives to the Board. on o ti m a e n r R

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Four voting positions will be up for election, along with one position x p o each in the room and retail categories. See the current board list online under the “About Us” tab at BCA-Pool.com. Then be sure that your membership is current, look for your ballot in May, and remember Visit BCAExpo.com that the turnaround time is very short! for complete information and forms. Ultimate Pool Party draws Solid Ratings A quarter-million plus tune in for September showings

The BCA’s "Ultimate Pool Party" broadcasts drew viewer ratings that reflected solid weekend audiences, as reported by ESPN following the airing of the three-part series in September. One-hour broadcasts of the two semi-finals and the final were shown on consecutive Sundays, beginning on September 10 and recording .27, .29 and .28 ratings, in sequence over the three weekends. Web statistics also showed substantial traffic spikes during the same periods.

Hosts Mitch and (left) kept the conversation lively throughout the tape- delayed broadcasts, and presented framed souvenir photos of themselves to their 12 high-profile “houseguests” as prizes.

The first hour featured the self-dubbed "Team Irresistible" trio of , Vivian Villarreal and Charlie Williams squaring off against "The Favorites" of , Karen Corr and in their semifinal (reach- ing 250,929 households). The following week, audiences were treated to the second face off between the "Dream Team" of , Jeanette Lee and and "the Tag team" of Alison Fisher, Gerda Hofstatter and Tony Robles (in 267,917 homes). The third hour (seen in 260,676 living rooms) was the finale, with Team Irresistible ousting the Dream Team.

Attention RetailerRetailerss Special Holiday Offer!

The BCA is now offering close-out pricing on its billiard-themed clothing ... sizes & availability are limited, so call early for best selection!!

719.264.8300 BCABreak December 2006 Billiard Congress of America BCA BREAK • December 2006

Editor...... Linda Mojer Design & Production ...... Ginni Francis

The BCA Break is published bi-monthly as an insert to Billiard Retailer Member Update Drives Online Traffic and made available online as a download BCA Members featured in E-Newsletter at BCA-Pool.com

Billiard Congress of America Have website, will travel! Want to see your company website featured in an 4345 Beverly Drive, Suite D issue of Member Update? It’s easy. Any BCA member company with a web- Colorado Springs, CO 80918 site is fair game, as long as the site is comprehensive and has enough “about Ph: 719-264-8300 • Fax: 719-264-9400 us” info to glean a short brief. BCA-Pool.com • EnjoyPool.com

BCA National Staff Selections are made using recommendations from staff, early Expo sign-up Rob Johnson ...... Chief Executive Officer lists, company promotions and press releases directed to the BCA, as well as Diane Bryant ...... Accountant by random chance. If a deadline rolls around without any prospects, the edi- Ginni Francis ....Graphic Design/Production Alison Hall ...... Office Manager tor opens the BCA Membership Directory and runs a finger down the page. Tanya Holmes...... Asst. Dir./Trade Services Here’s a sample of the last few choices published: Carolyn Lewis ...... Director/Trade Services Linda Mojer ...... Director/Communications EXPRESS BILLIARDS.COM ... is the online retail storefront for BCA Kathy Simmons ...... Member Services business member Betbeze Billiards in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In addition to its billiard line, the online storefront offers poker supplies, Table Tennis tables, BCA Board of Directors Foosball, and Table Hockey tables. The company recently issued its first Gregg Hovey (Pres)...... Olhausen e-newsletter to customers in July, and an opt-in subscription page is under Mike Baggett (1VP) ...... Cue & Case construction. Ivan Lee (2VP)...... Iwan Simonis Renee Poehlman (Sect.) ...... APA Pat Conners (Treas.) ...... AMF SLATE DOLLY USA ... Advises anyone in the table business to "Roll it. Nick Alexander...... Clicks Billiards Don't carry it!" when managing residential and commercial installations. Slate Jeri Brown...... American Games handling over long distances, through doorways and up stairs is made easy Sean Cummings...... Brunswick Dan Dishaw ...... American Cuemakers with this specialty equipment, while reducing worker's comp claims, insurance Kathy Etheridge ...... Showcase Billiards costs and employee turnover. www.slatedollyusa.com Mark Griffin ...... BCA Pool League Barry Hart ...... Viking Cue NEONETICS specializes in neon art - offering posters, lamps, free standing Jim McDermott ...... Magoo’s Billiards and wall sculptures, clocks and signs that present a colorful and distinct com- Bob Radford ...... Antique Billiards Kathy Vegh ...... Danny Vegh’s bination of art and lighting. Alan Obligin, a chemist who learned the craft at Eric Weber...... CueStix the New York School of Neon, recognized an emerging business opportunity and opened Neonetics in Randallstown, Maryland in 1989. He later called upon an old friend, Brad Sotoloff, to work on marketing the company, which now offers a line of more than 100 neon products. www.neonetics.com

STORIS Management Systems ... is the pace-setter in business solutions for the retail industry. Vision R8, STORIS’ powerful enterprise system, brings more profitable operations within reach. As a member, service partner, and Our Vision: Achieve a united, growing, prosperous and highly regarded EXPO exhibitor, the company offers billiard-specific solutions to BCA mem- billiard industry through BCA leadership. bers. www.storis.com

Our Mission: Enhance the Find out about these – and many more – BCA Member companies, in back issues success of our members and promote the game of billiards. of BCA Member Update. They’re archived online at BCA-Pool.com!