The following is a letter received from James Ruder...
Where do I begin? A little background is important.
As the largest independent league operator in the United States and inaugural recipient of the BCA’s League Operator of the Year Award, member of the BCA Leagues and Programs department, nominee and recipient for the BCA Board of Directors Associated Business Organization (ABO) position, and board member of the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA), I feel well qualified and compelled to share with you my personal thoughts on the current situation that has been imposed upon us by our national organization.
A personal perspective -
Times are tough for us league operators when our national association sells us out to a for profit entity. Sounds harsh? The reality is! I have invested in our league operation a lot of personal money in order to make it what it is today. A showcase organization with over twenty-eight (28) divisions, offering professionally managed recreational billiards to interested players in five (5) New England States. Our commitment and the services we offer is what makes our organization a success.
I know many of my league operator colleagues, as well as state association presidents and their boards have invested not only money, but also tons of sweat and stress in order to offer similar types of opportunities to pool players across the U.S. and Canada. The history of poor decision-making and the subsequent fall-out over the years has directly impacted each and every one of us – the sale of the BCA League System was the final blow.
Remember the BCA All American Tour? Gone. Remember the BCA Midwest & then National 9-Ball Championships? Gone. Remember the BCA’s interest and enthusiasm to get billiards recognized as an Olympic Sport? Gone. Remember the BCA Leagues & Programs Department? Gone.
The pattern has now directly impacted each and every one of us – we have no National Non-Profit Organization to call our own.
SOLD – our National System was sold out from underneath us! – How many of you received a questionnaire asking you for your input? I know the answer. ZERO. In my league operation alone, I have submitted over thirty questionnaires and voting ballots because I care what our players have to say – how many have you received as paying members in good standing under the guidance of this organization, the courtesy of being asked your opinion on matters that directly impacted you? Again, ZERO!
As a direct result of the sale of the BCA League System, I personally had no choice but to become involved. My organization’s players would expect nothing less from me. And let me be clear. I hold no animosity towards the BCA, or Mr. Mark Griffin, the new owner of the league system. I’m sure (and I have personally sat down with Mark), that he has the best of intentions and will offer great benefits and service to those who choose to become members of his BCA league. The issue however, has nothing to do with added money to tournaments; dollars back to the state associations, profit versus non-profit, improved service or player benefits, nor Mark’s lifetime passion to the sport, but rather everything to do with the future stability and longevity of our sport that we all love.
Recent history has shown us that there are no guarantees when it comes to the value of something that someone else owns. The value and resultant sale to a private individual has destroyed the institution that each one of us has supported with our hearts and soles for many, many years. And now, as we move forward to a fresh and new tomorrow, are we willing to support another organization (owned by one individual), that, without cause or input from us the players, may be sold again, divided up, or even worse? I say there’s a better way.
Support the new American Cuesports Alliance by sanctioning your league or individually as a player member come this June. I believe American CueSports – ACS is the future of our sport.
Where do I begin? A little background is important.
As the largest independent league operator in the United States and inaugural recipient of the BCA’s League Operator of the Year Award, member of the BCA Leagues and Programs department, nominee and recipient for the BCA Board of Directors Associated Business Organization (ABO) position, and board member of the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA), I feel well qualified and compelled to share with you my personal thoughts on the current situation that has been imposed upon us by our national organization.
A personal perspective -
Times are tough for us league operators when our national association sells us out to a for profit entity. Sounds harsh? The reality is! I have invested in our league operation a lot of personal money in order to make it what it is today. A showcase organization with over twenty-eight (28) divisions, offering professionally managed recreational billiards to interested players in five (5) New England States. Our commitment and the services we offer is what makes our organization a success.
I know many of my league operator colleagues, as well as state association presidents and their boards have invested not only money, but also tons of sweat and stress in order to offer similar types of opportunities to pool players across the U.S. and Canada. The history of poor decision-making and the subsequent fall-out over the years has directly impacted each and every one of us – the sale of the BCA League System was the final blow.
Remember the BCA All American Tour? Gone. Remember the BCA Midwest & then National 9-Ball Championships? Gone. Remember the BCA’s interest and enthusiasm to get billiards recognized as an Olympic Sport? Gone. Remember the BCA Leagues & Programs Department? Gone.
The pattern has now directly impacted each and every one of us – we have no National Non-Profit Organization to call our own.
SOLD – our National System was sold out from underneath us! – How many of you received a questionnaire asking you for your input? I know the answer. ZERO. In my league operation alone, I have submitted over thirty questionnaires and voting ballots because I care what our players have to say – how many have you received as paying members in good standing under the guidance of this organization, the courtesy of being asked your opinion on matters that directly impacted you? Again, ZERO!
As a direct result of the sale of the BCA League System, I personally had no choice but to become involved. My organization’s players would expect nothing less from me. And let me be clear. I hold no animosity towards the BCA, or Mr. Mark Griffin, the new owner of the league system. I’m sure (and I have personally sat down with Mark), that he has the best of intentions and will offer great benefits and service to those who choose to become members of his BCA league. The issue however, has nothing to do with added money to tournaments; dollars back to the state associations, profit versus non-profit, improved service or player benefits, nor Mark’s lifetime passion to the sport, but rather everything to do with the future stability and longevity of our sport that we all love.
Recent history has shown us that there are no guarantees when it comes to the value of something that someone else owns. The value and resultant sale to a private individual has destroyed the institution that each one of us has supported with our hearts and soles for many, many years. And now, as we move forward to a fresh and new tomorrow, are we willing to support another organization (owned by one individual), that, without cause or input from us the players, may be sold again, divided up, or even worse? I say there’s a better way.
Support the new American Cuesports Alliance by sanctioning your league or individually as a player member come this June. I believe American CueSports – ACS is the future of our sport.
