WBC EVENT PREVIEWS: WBC 2009 is now on line with a "host" of new features and attractions. In depth previews of each of the 2009 WBC tournaments, including six Pre-Cons—many with new formats—are now on line in a new upgraded format as only WBC does them at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbkex/

REVAMPED SAMPLER SHOWCASE: Thanks to the globe trotting efforts of our reigning GM of the Year, Tom McCorry, the Sampler Showcase is back as an introduction (not a pre-con) of the new full week of WBC. Sampler Showcase is an Open Gaming festival free to all paid WBC attendees featuring scheduled hands-on sessions for learning new games under the direction of volunteer game mentors who will be on hand to teach all the exciting new games. 14 titles are currently scheduled for sessions and will be available in the BPA game library for use during the Sampler and throughout the week. See the Sampler schedule at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/sampler.htm

WBC AUCTION PRE-REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: BPA is now accepting pre-registration of lots for its annual WBC game auction in Lancaster, PA on August 4th. Items must be delivered in person on Monday night, Aug. 3 or the following Tuesday morning before noon by registered members. Since the auction is very popular and lots are limited to the first 550 registered, pre-registration of items for the auction is highly recommended. Our previous auctions have sold out via pre-registration so don't expect to bring items unregistered to the door. Check out the details at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/auction.htm Download your Lot Forms now. Don't procrastinate! An updated list of items made available for sale will be posted in the weeks preceding the convention.

AUCTION STORE PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: We've expanded our popular Auction Store for the sale of additional lower priced items during the WBC auction. Located in the same showroom with the Auction, buyers will be able to peruse items with a set price within view and earshot of the auction. The Auction Store allows us to increase the number of items handled in less time while offering sellers a more efficient way to offer lower priced items at a reduced commission. Items in the Auction Store have a top price of $30 BUT MUST be pre-registered by July 25th. Don't be turned away for failure to pre-register items as a few scofflaws were last year. Unregistered items will not be accepted. You need not prepay any fees until you deliver your items to the Auction Store but the items MUST BE preregistered. Come prepared with your Auction Store Item forms pre-completed. After processing the submission, the Auction Store Administrator will provide Lot Numbers for the items. See http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/auctionstore.htm for details and to download your Auction Store forms. Sellers are encouraged to read both the Auction and Auction Store details carefully to determine which venue is the best choice for their sales items.

WBC PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS: The current Pre-Reg form can be downloaded from http://www.boardgamers.org/downloads/WBC09prereg.pdf You can also check http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/prereg.htm to check your current registration status or to advertise for rides, roommates, or Open gaming opportunities. It will be updated weekly as information is received. If you'd like help with any of the above, just email your requests to doncon99@toad.net to be listed on the page. All we ask is that you notify us to remove your listing once your need is fulfilled. And if you can't wait for the pre-reg form to arrive in the mail, you can download a pdf version at the same page.

WBC YEARBOOK: The days of the combined WBC Yearbook for the preceding year and a program/schedule for the coming year are over. Our Annual mailing will occur soon and include a copy of the 2008/2009 Yearbook for qualifying members of record residing in the US (one per household). The yearbook contains no schedule information for the 2009 WBC. A smaller program containing a detailed schedule will be available to all members at WBC registration and will also be available on line by mid-June. For our friends residing outside the US and those who are just curious to see what they are missing, an on-line version of the yearbook can be downloaded at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/print/ A limited number of 2008/2009 Yearbooks will be available for $10 each while supplies last. See the pre-registration form for ordering information. Late joining Tribune members may also pick up a copy at registration while supplies last.

WBC SOUVENIR T-SHIRTS: This year WBC returns to the often requested, original high quality, silk-screened shirts featuring the BPA logo of yesteryear. We no longer will be making shirts on site so if you'd like a souvenir shirt, you need to pre-order it for pickup at the show. See the pre-registration form for details. This year's color is light green.

JUNIORS: In keeping with the family-friendly atmosphere of Lancaster Host (which is adjacent to an amusement park), WBC again slates a full schedule of Junior and Teen events. View them at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbkex/jnrpge.htm

WBC SCHEDULING AIDS: Steve Okonski has once again worked his magic and presented a host of convenient programming tools to help you plan your WBC week. Choose from among the Custom Scheduler at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/sviewer/, an All-in-One schedule at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/allin1.htm, or several downloadable pdf pocket schedules. They can all be reached from: http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/schedule.htm

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2009 ELECTION: The E-Ballot for the 2008 Board of Director's election is now available at http://www.boardgamers.org/election.htm. Please take a moment to cast your vote sometime before the July 15th deadline. Even if you're indifferent to the results, by law a % of the membership must caste ballots for a valid election. Failure to do so, will require an additional election at more expense which will ultimately be passed on to the membership. While ballots can be caste by mail or email also, true on-line voting for the ultimate in convenience is available at http://www.boardgamers.org/forms/BoardBallot.shtml.

LANCASTER HOST SELLOUT: Many WBC regulars will be disappointed to discover that Lancaster Host is already sold out for Wednesday through Saturday for the upcoming 2009 WBC. While you can still reserve rooms at the Host for August 1st - 4th, you must check out by 11 AM Wednesday. Not to worry - BPA also has group rates at the nearby Red Roof Inn and Continental across the street. These hotels have been recently renovated and offer bargain rates and free continental breakfasts when you ask for the World Boardgaming Championships group rate. However, do not delay. Our group rates and room blocks expire soon and when they're gone, they're gone. Lancaster area hotels often sellout during the tourist season. Reserve your room now. Get the details at http://www.boardgamers.org/hotellan.htm

WBC 2009 POSTER/FLYER: Help spread the word. Download the current WBC poster or flyer featuring the artwork of Kurt Miller at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/publicity.htm and post it at your next club meeting or ask your local gamestore to display it.

BPA MAILING LIST: If you want to be added to our mailing list for our Annual mailing of the WBC Pre-Reg form, or correct an address if you've moved in the past year, send your postal address to doncon99@toad.net. Conversely, if you want off the list to "go green" to save the planet either because you'll never attend WBC or can get all the relevant info you need on line, drop us a note at the same address with the Subject "REMOVE" and your real (not on-line) name.

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PBeM NEWS:

ISRAELI DOMINATES MARCH MADNESS: It took just five days after North Carolina's national championship win for first year player Aran Warszawski to pull off the most dominating Final Four in the six year history of this event. His Cincinnati 2000 squad won its semi-final game by 51 points, then backed off to coast to a 50 point 106-56 victory in the championship game over Marshall Collins and his Texas 2006 crew. Others claiming laurels from the 38-entrant field were Bruce Monnin, Derek Landel, Bruno Passacantando and Bob Hamel who finished third through sixth respectively. More details plus updated laurel totals can be found at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/MMSpge.htm

MANIFEST DESTINY: The fourth annual Manifest Destiny PBEM tournament is starting June 1, 2009. Please contact Bill Crenshaw at billcrenshaw@verizon.net by May 25, 2009 if interested in playing. More details can be found on the tournament website: www.markneale.com/bpa/pbem/md/2009/

WAR AT SEA: Bruce Monnin returns to GM the latest version of our annual WAR AT SEA PBeM tournament. This year's version will be a stream-lined affair compared to the previous Swiss Elim format. One loss and you're out. Opening salvoes start June 15th, Contact bdmonnin@nktelco.net. See the details at http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/was_home_page.html

PLAY BY WEB 1960: Registration has been slow for the online 1960 tournament and as a consequence, the start has been pushed back to June 1st. Without additional players at that time, we will have to cancel this event. Contact Max Jamelli at maxjamelli1@yahoo.com to enter this Play-by-Web event. Further information regarding the game, tournament and entry can be found at http://www.geocities.com/maxjamelli1 ADEL VERPFLICHTET: The preliminary rounds have ended. At the last update, 16 points was on the bubble. Unfortunately for our defending Champion Ken Gutermuth, it wasn't enough. The final preliminary games pushed the scores higher so that it took 18 of a possible 25 to qualify. The qualifiers were George Seary and John Pack with 22 points; Anthony Daw, Steve Fitchett, Alex Bove, and Bob Menzel with 19 points; and Keith Layton, Tom DeMarco, Curt Collins, and Mike Kaltman squeaking in with 18 points. Each of these semi-finalists gets to play two more games -- with the winners advancing with the best runner-up.

Three of the four semi-final games have finished at this point. The three winning finalists are Curt Collins (who also placed second in his other semi-final), Keith Layton, and John Pack. Alex Bove finished second twice and is the current leader foir the runner-up ticket ... he finished three spaces past the line with a 9 card set that included the oldest card (1468) for a very impressive second place finish. Still in the running for the last two places in the final are: Tom DeMarco (the WBC GM), George Seary, and Anthony Daw. Tom is in last place at the moment but has 13 cards in his set (compared to George who has the next best set [8] but who is in first place). It should be quite a game down the final stretch! You can see the semi-finals, final preliminary scores, current final qualifying status, and watch the ongoing games at http://www.gameaholics.com/adv_tournament.htm

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All BPA tournaments require current BPA membership when the event starts. All multi-day paid attendees to WBC are current BPA members for the balance of that calendar year. Associate Calendar year memberships enabling play in all PBeM events starting in that year cost only $10 and earn discounts for pre-registered admission to all BPA gaming conferences. You need not keep your membership current in order to finish a PBeM event. Players may join the BPA throughout the year. You can upgrade your current membership at any time by remitting additional funds. See http://www.boardgamers.org/bpaterms.htm for details.

BPA members who would like an email tournament for a particular game are encouraged to step forward to GM such an event. BPA does not run tournaments. Rather, we are an organization of gamers lending support to one another so such events can happen. No one cares as much about your hobby as you do. Get involved. See the requirements  to host a BPA email tournament at http://www.abovethefields.com/top_pbem/

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If you are not already receiving our monthly email newsletters, please subscribe as directed below as we are unable to add you ourselves. To receive our free monthly newsletters you MUST join the BPA mailing list by visiting http://lists.boardgamers.org/mailman/listinfo/bpamail to confirm your address and your desire to be on this list. Subscribing takes only a moment, ensures your privacy, and increases likelihood of receipt. The newsletter will continue to be posted in the WBC folder in the Conventions section of Consimworld and on our website but will otherwise be unavailable to those who do not join the list in this fashion. If already receiving the BPA News you need take no additional action.

Don Greenwood
WBC Convention Director