Fundraising for the World 14.1

BayGene

BayGene

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
We all just got the bad news from Charlie Williams that Dr. Michael Fedak is no longer sponsoring the World.
First off we must all thank the good doctor for his irreplaceable assistance in keeping the unbroken string of events in the revival of the World 14.1 going since 2006. Even in the Golden Age of the Championship Game World tournaments were not so consistently held.
Secondly, we have to think about ways to replace some of those funds if we want to revel in another event at Steinway this summer. (I understand that Manny Stamatakis is ready to host the event again in his culinary Garden of Delights.)
I've suggested to Charlie a fundraiser ideally at the SBE this April at Oaks: either a 14.1 Challenge such as the one our Steve, Heather, and Charles ran for years at the SBE and which still happens at Derby City or a "Play Straight with a Pro" format.
I'd like to hear your views on the subject. I haven't missed an event since the revival, and I'd sure like to be at the 75th.
 
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I agree the good dr. should be thanked for his years of contributions. We all wish him well.

I think fund raisers can be good, but how much of peoples donations go to Charlie? Will i be contributing to the dragon promotions fund.
I would like 90% of my donation going to the players added prize fund.
 
The SBE ideas are fine as far as they go but what about all the people who aren't going to SBE?

To be frank, I would not contribute/donate money simply to make the event happen; I would want something in return. From a customer's perspective, I think Accu-stats has a good format with Make-It-Happen: contribute X dollars and get a picture and a shirt and all the DVDs, etc.

That being said, I got a couple DVDs from the World 14.1 a couple years ago and the quality was so low that I didn't buy any since. So they would really need to have a good product -- ideally partner with Accu-stats -- to entice me to contribute. DVD copies of the live stream don't cut it.
 
Wow, sad to hear this news. Doctor Fedak, if you're reading this. I like to thank you for your financial sponsorship, that has helped revived 14.1.

I think the 14.1 Challenge Steve, Heather and Charlie came up with has much potential. It was very successful in the years I saw them at SBE. Maybe there is a way for them to coordinate it and franchise it out?
 
I'll echo the sentiments in this thread. Far better to be thankful for what we've had than what we've lost. Dr. Michael Fedak has always been a great friend to pool (and to me, personally, as well), and I'm grateful.

I'm sure that Dragon will make every possible effort to keep this fine event going. As one of the patron sponsors for many years now, I've assured Dragon that I will continue to financially support the event, but the vitality of the event may rest in the hands of those who've yet to offer sponsorship. Kudos to Steinway Billiards for its continued support of the event going forward.

For those in a position to give even a small amount, I hope you'll consider it ... but let's not be delusional here, it is not our collective responsibility to make up for all the lost sponsorship dollars offered in the past by Dr Fedak. Let's do what we can and maybe this wonderful event can remain on the American pool calendar.

Straight pool junkies, let's get behind this project!
 
sjm said:
I'll echo the sentiments in this thread. Far better to be thankful for what we've had than what we've lost. Dr. Michael Fedak has always been a great friend to pool (and to me, personally, as well), and I'm grateful.

I'm sure that Dragon will make every possible effort to keep this fine event going. As one of the patron sponsors for many years now, I've assured Dragon that I will continue to financially support the event, but the vitality of the event may rest in the hands of those who've yet to offer sponsorship. Kudos to Steinway Billiards for its continued support of the event going forward.

For those in a position to give even a small amount, I hope you'll consider it ... but let's not be delusional here, it is not our collective responsibility to make up for all the lost sponsorship dollars offered in the past by Dr Fedak. Let's do what we can and maybe this wonderful event can remain on the American pool calendar.

Straight pool junkies, let's get behind this project!
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I'm relatively new to this forum and (as a fan, not a competitor) to the current world of organized tournament play. I would call myself a straight pool junkie, but one with very limited knowledge of the politics and money that appear to be wound around and impeding the game. I am really part of a golf family, and understand the structure there: USGA as the governing body for rules and for the national amateur and open championships in the US; PGA of America as the governing body for national professionals (touring and club); and PGA Tour as the governing body for the top touring pros (on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, Champions Tour, and a couple of other developmental tours). There are also non-profit state and regional golf associations that hold amateur and open championships in their states/regions. Yes, there are some "mini-tours" run by entrepreneurs, but private comanies don't own the national and state championships. I'm sure there is a long history, and I'm sure there are a million reasons/stories why pool doesn't have a similar structure, but it really should, and I don't see why it can't. What is standing in the way? I would be more than willing to do my part to financially support the sport (and 14.1 in particular), but I would like it to be by way of membership in a non-profit governing/promotional association akin to the USGA, not by way of financially helping a for profit business like Dragon Promotions (nothing against that company or its ownership). Shouldn't the outreach be to ask for help in changing the structure, rather than in supporting for profit businesses or business people, some of whom reportedly don't even timely pay promised tournament earnings to competitors? Wouldn't it be better to see a "world championship" or "U.S. Open" go idle for a couple of years, if necessary, in order to get things structured properly?
 
sjm said:
I'll echo the sentiments in this thread. Far better to be thankful for what we've had than what we've lost. Dr. Michael Fedak has always been a great friend to pool (and to me, personally, as well), and I'm grateful.

I'm sure that Dragon will make every possible effort to keep this fine event going. As one of the patron sponsors for many years now, I've assured Dragon that I will continue to financially support the event, but the vitality of the event may rest in the hands of those who've yet to offer sponsorship. Kudos to Steinway Billiards for its continued support of the event going forward.

For those in a position to give even a small amount, I hope you'll consider it ... but let's not be delusional here, it is not our collective responsibility to make up for all the lost sponsorship dollars offered in the past by Dr Fedak. Let's do what we can and maybe this wonderful event can remain on the American pool calendar.

Straight pool junkies, let's get behind this project!
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There are way to many issues here. First off thanks for all of your support to such a great game. Dragon (Charlie Williams) has an absolute terrible name for a long time in the Billiard scene and its really bad currently and that's why he will never get a big sponsor but got extremely lucky to have Dr.Fedak line his pockets with a lot of cash.. With no control of where the donated funds would go to why would anyone ever donate a single dollar and also why wouldn't Dr.Fedak continue the donations.

Can you or anyone else please list the exact amount of donations from Dr.Fedak, yourself and all others so it can figured out with all the entry fees how much actually goes to the players. The next issue is the setting of the brackets and matches. We all are aware that Charlie sets the brackets to benefit himself the best for himself and the players he has investments in to get back the biggest financial return for himself. This is why many top Pros wont play in his events including myself. I personally think its a slap in the face to use words like the World Tournament and other words to benefit his pockets and its time for the event to completely stop.

The time has come to have a brand new promoter and do it all over and correctly and make it a 100% official World Championship and seek sponsorship that way and maybe corporate Companys might get involved and more money can go to the players instead of one sided promoters. I for one would donate and also play in such an event and I am calling out Mark Griffin to see if he would take over and get everything on the right track so we can have a real World Championship and not a make believe one.
 
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Shut up and buck up!

I know that Charlie isn't popular in all quarters.

I also know that, anytime anyone proposes an idea to advance pool, the boo birds come to roost and complain about everything. I experienced this closely while Charles, Steve and Heather struggled to create a 14.1 challenge event at SBE-the same goal at which Dennis Walsh et al. have done so much at Derby City.

It really is simple. If you want 14.1 to continue, you need to support it. Dr. Fedak, who did so much, has left the scene as did Randy Goldwater before him. Do YOU want the World to continue as it has since 2006?

Buck up, babies. If we don't do it, it won't happen.
 
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Bottom Line

That's an expression I hate; I'm not an accountant.

Stu has got it right: Dr. Fedak is gone. Replace the money in your own modest way, peeps, or you will not be watching the event in August.
 
Wish I could win the powerball. I'd support this event. I don't really know much about Charlie's rep other than the few vague tidbits I've read on here, but unlike another certain big event, I haven't heard of any non payments when it comes to the World 14.1
 
I am involved with the DCC 14.1 and want to go on recird that we do not use this event to raise money for anything else meaning we take no money out. We payout 100% of the entries and all of the added moneys. Marop and Dennis take nothing out. I buy all of the camera equipment. This event at the derby is used solely to promote the 14.1 game and have been lucky enough to gain tremendous support from all of our sponsors along with play from many world class players. I am not trying to detract from this thread in anyway but want all to know that we use our event solely to promote 14.1 and the players at our event.
 
elvicash said:
I am involved with the DCC 14.1 and want to go on recird that we do not use this event to raise money for anything else meaning we take no money out. We payout 100% of the entries and all of the added moneys. Marop and Dennis take nothing out. I buy all of the camera equipment. This event at the derby is used solely to promote the 14.1 game and have been lucky enough to gain tremendous support from all of our sponsors along with play from many world class players. I am not trying to detract from this thread in anyway but want all to know that we use our event solely to promote 14.1 and the players at our event.
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I commend and thank all of you, and it is quite evident that I have lots of company. This is exactly how it should be -- non-profit. I have no problem with the idea that the fans, me included, should contribute funds to support the game, but in the context of national and "world" championships, contributions should be for the good of the game, not the good of the promoter. Concluding that because it isn't that way now, and because the sledding is tough, we should all just accept it rather than work to change it -- is not long-range thinking. If the game is going to grow, it won't happen by itself. It will be built. And if you are going to build something, build it right. No better time to set things off on a new and proper course than when the bottom has been hit.
 
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