BCA Bylaws Change - What is your opinion?

[Harold Acosta]

The BCA recently approved changes to their By-laws to include an "elite player" as member of the executive board. I believe this is a good approach in complying with USOC requirements, and will probably advance our interest in getting our "sport" recognized at an Olympic level. What do you people think about this?

The following news was posted recentely at www.playpool.com (http://www.playpool.com):

<font color=blue> [b]BCA Bylaw Changes Passed

Proposed changes to the Billiards Congress of America’s bylaws were passed at the trade association’s annual general membership meeting July 24 in New Orleans at the BCA Trade Expo. The bylaw changes will add four "elite players" to the BCA’s board of directors, including one who will sit on the executive committee. These changes bring the BCA into compliance with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s organizational requirements to be recognized as a National Governing Body.

Because of the extensive bureaucracy involved, the USOC’s April board meeting is the earliest that action would be taken by the Olympic organization. The BCA plans to hold player-representative elections at the BCA’s 8-ball tournaments in Las Vegas this coming May.

[jjinfla]

My perception of the change is that they were necessary in order for pool to become an olympic event. Jake

[Doctor_D]

Good morning:

The question remains as to whether or not the "BCA" is the proper organization to represent competitive billiards at the Olympic level.

The BCA is a business trade organization and NOT an athletic and/or sports organization which represents players and/or athletes.

Dr. D.

[Drake]

Bravo Doctor D.!!!! I second the motion. Not only does the BCA accept lobbying from billiard companies....The Board itself consists of Billiard Company owners!!?? Talk about clouded judgement!!!

[Harold Acosta]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote: Doctor_D:</font><hr> Good morning:

The question remains as to whether or not the "BCA" is the proper organization to represent competitive billiards at the Olympic level.

The BCA is a business trade organization and NOT an athletic and/or sports organization which represents players and/or athletes.

Dr. D.
<hr></blockquote>

You have a good point but is there a sports/athletic organization out there that would truly represent all the players? (Men and Women).

Would the APA be qualified for this representation? All other US Organizations that come into mind are either Men or Women organizations.

Any representing both sides besides the BCA?

Thanks for your reply honorable Doctor D!

Harold

[Tom_In_Cincy]

Billiards Digest had a editorial and news article about this very subject about 4 or 5 months ago.

The league orgainizations (i.e. APA, VNEA) didn't want to take on the added expence of running the Olympic organization committees. In fact the APA is one of the BCA voting board members.

The BCA was chosen (or volunteered) to run the USA's Olympic Organization. To qualify per Olympic rules, at least 10% of the voting board members must be players (athletes) to be part of the Olympics. That's why two more spots were added to the BCA voting board members.

Like so many other situations in our sport, the BCA is the only game in town. For at least the past 7 years, no one else had stepped to the plate. But please, God, don't let one of the "elite players" be Strickland! (Duh, Huh?)