Top Sportsmanship | WAM 2011 | Final GM Call | Membership Deadline | Boardmasters | BOD Nominations | PBEM

EMERY WINS SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR: The old adage of "every vote counts" was never truer than in this election where no dominant favorite emerged in the Sportsmanship race and the lead changed hands several times. Winning by a single vote with slightly less than 10% of the 261 votes caste was John Emery. The dean of the Greenville Mafia, John has long been known as one of WBC's classiest gentlemen in the top contender ranks. The two worthies tied for second, a mere one vote behind, were Susan Cornett and Ed Menzel. Also prominent in the tightly grouped leader pack were Joanna Melton in fourth followed by Ray Freeman and Jason Levine at 8%, 7% and 6% of the vote respectively. As WBC's Sportsman of the Year, John will be our guest for WBC 2011.

John Emery WBC Sportsman of the Year 2010	Susan Cornett 2010 Top 6 Sportsmanship	Ed Menzel 2010 Top 6 Sportsmanship	Joanna Melton 2010 Top 6 Sportsmanship	Ray Freeman 2010 Top 6 Sportsmanship	Jason Levine 2010 Top 6 Sportsmanship

WAM DEFIES THE SNOW:There was a major winter storm along the east coast the night before WAM IX was set to begin in Timonium, Maryland during the Super Bowl lull, but the “Card Sharks” dug themselves out and showed up anyway! Victorious in the four tournaments were: James Pei (Hannibal), Chris Byrd (Combat Commander), Tim Miller (Washington's War), and reigning Caesar Stefan MeCay (Twilight Struggle). Complete details can be found on the WAM After-Action page including links to the latest laurel total updates.

FINAL CALL FOR GMs: All WBC GMs are reminded that their "reservations" for events run in 2010 expired on Jan. 1. To run your event again in 2011, you must submit a new event form AND renew your membership by Feb. 28. Please check the Orphans List to confirm that requested times are current. All qualifying events now without GM commitments are listed as OPEN on the Orphan's List.

Thirty-four otherwise qualified events are currently without a GM commitment with little more than a week remaining before they forfeit their eligibility in our annual game of chicken to see who can be the last to step forward. One event's demise is another's opportunity. Events without GM commitments will be replaced by those from the Alternate list with a completed 2011 event form on file by March 1. If you want to be considered for such a vacancy or recommended to a sponsor, submit an event form and be a current member by then. Otherwise qualified but endangered events without a GM form on file include:

• Acquire
• Adel Verpflichtet
• Advanced Civilization
• Agricola
• Air Baron
• Attack Sub
• C&C Ancients
• For The People
• Gangsters
• Great Campaigns of ACW
• Imperial
• Manoeuvre
• March Madness
• Medici
• Napoleonic Wars
• Risk
• Saint Petersburg
• San Juan
• Superstar Baseball
• Titan
• Union Pacific
• Up Front
• We The People/Washington's War
• 1776
• 1960
• Battleline
• Empire of the Sun
• Galaxy
• A House Divided
• Chicago Express
• Fresco
• Win, Place & Show
• Macao
• Navegador

Do not assume that because an event is popular that it will be run. My philosophy on such things is that an event which does not have someone willing to commit to GM chores in a timely manner does not deserve to be run and should be replaced by an event that does. If your favorite event is dropped due to lack of a GM commitment, you have only yourself to blame.

Vendors/Sponsors are likewise reminded to submit or authorize their 2011 Trial Event choices by Feb. 28. We also are in need of a few Seminar speakers. Contact acd@boardgamers.org with any suggestions for same.

SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP DEADLINE: Feb. 28 is the last chance to commit to a Sustaining Membership good for the entire week of WBC admission for just $70. After that, Sustaining memberships increase to $80. Tribune memberships, good for all of WBC—including pre-cons, a yearbook, and t-shirt or hat, remain available for $100 through April. See our Membership Form for more details.

BOARDMASTERS UPDATED: You can view the latest collection of BPA champions who have managed three or more titles in their respective specialties at http://www.boardgamers.org/boardmasters.htm.

BoD NOMINATIONS: All BPA members are hereby notified of their right to nominate members for the three Board seats whose terms expire at the next WBC. To appear on the ballot, members must be nominated in writing by at least three members including themselves. Nominations must be signed and received at BPA, 1541 Redfield Rd, Bel Air, MD 21015 no later than Feb. 28 to be eligible for election in that year. NOTE: Email nominations are NOT acceptable, nor can a member nominate more than one member for the Board. When contemplating nominations, members are urged to consider that the BPA conducts most of its business by email and needs Board members who are able and willing to offer their time and skills to the organization in a timely manner. Board members should be considered more for their ability to contribute to the running of a successful company than for their attachment to any particular game or genre. Besides forwarding a signed nomination for themself, each nominee should submit by March 1 a statement not to exceed 100 words summarizing what they can contribute in service to the Board of Directors of the BPA. The nomination form is on line at http://www.boardgamers.org/bpanom.htm.

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PBeM NEWS:

MARCH MADNESS: Four of our Elite Eight spots have already been filled, two each by Debbie Bell and Harry Flawd. Harry has advanced the first team into the Final Four, his UCLA 2008 team in Bracket B. Check out the progress of the brackets for this year, at: http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/mm-brack-2011.htm.

HERE I STAND: Congratulations to the six finalists in the ongoing PBeM Tournament Final. The contenders are Bryan Collars (Ottoman), Rob Mull (Hapsburgs), Scott Burns (English), Jeremiah Peterson (French), Larry Mull (Papacy), and Kaarin Engelmann (Protestants). For complete tournament details visit the tourney website at http://home.comcast.net/~ebeach/HISBPATourney2009.htm.

All BPA PBeM 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. You need not keep your membership current in order to finish a PBeM event. Players may join the BPA throughout the year. Members are reminded they can upgrade their current memberships at any time by remitting additional funds. See http://www.boardgamers.org/bpaterms.htm for details.

BPA members who would like to see an email tournament for their favorite game are encouraged to step forward as the GM of 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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All BPA PBeM 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 are only $10. You need not keep your membership current to finish a PBeM event. You can upgrade your current membership at any time by remitting additional funds. See the BPA Terms page 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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