Stefan Mecay	Bruce Reiff
Caesar 2010	Consul 2010

HAIL MECAY DEUX! Stefan Mecay became BPA's first back-to-back Caesar by repeating as our top competitor in 2010. It was a far cry from his record setting pace of 295 laurels in 2009, but his 182 laurels still ranked as the 4th highest annual laurel total earned to date. Even so, it proved necessary to outdistance a record setting Consul performance by the plaque king, Bruce Reiff, who finished just 19 behind despite limited email and no mini-con participation. Rounding out the top six BPA competitors for 2010 were Bert Schoose, Terry Coleman, Richard Beyma and Robert Kircher in that order. Only eight of last year's Top 25 players managed to retain that high ranking (up from seven in 2009) led by Mecay who remained atop the heap. The other top scorers to retain their high standing were Richard Beyma, Keith Wixson, Alex Bove, Arthur Field, Tom DeMarco, James Pei and Chris Byrd. For more details, see http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/caesar.htm.

REIFF PROCLAIMED CONSUL: The plaque king finally outdid himself and had a week in which he could do no wrong—well, almost. His 151 laurels during WBC bested Jeff Cornett's 2006 total by 17 to set a new mark for dominance while winning four events outright and placing in four others. You can count his championships—all 44 of 'em—at http://www.boardgamers.org/medals.htm which has been updated to list every BPA tournament champion to date. See how many plaques you are behind Consul Reiff.

TOP 25 RANKINGS: The BPA list of top ranked players through March 7th, 2011 has been updated at http://www.boardgamers.org/l_sums.htm#top25. After viewing the best, check out the rest at http://www.boardgamers.org/l_sumsall.htm which has been updated to list all BPA laurel winners. See how you fare against the best.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW is now summarized at http://www.boardgamers.org/archive/history10.htm with the listing of our top Centurions and capsule comments on the past year.

2 ORPHANS: BPA thanks its membership for again rising to the challenge by manning all but two Trial events for the 2011 WBC as we look forward to another record summer schedule. 1960 and Kingmaker were dropped from the Trial events for lack of a GM and replaced by 7 Wonders and Tikal. We remain in need of a few Seminar speakers. Contact acd@boardgamers.org with any suggestions for same. The complete schedule and pre-registration forms should be available on line next month along with the 2010-2011 Yearbook.

YEARBOOK & FREEBIES DEADLINE: April 30th is the last chance to commit to a Tribune Membership good for all nine days of WBC admission plus a 2010-2011 Yearbook and free shirt souvenir or hat. Qualifying members can expect their Yearbook in the mail in early May. Programs with the 2011 schedule will be available only on line and at WBC. See http://www.boardgamers.org/forms/MemberForm.shtml.

BOARDMASTERS UPDATED: You can view the latest collection of BPA champions who have managed three or more titles in their respective specialties.

Jon Lockwood	Ken Gutermuth	Kaarin Engelmann	Bruce Monnin

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011 ELECTION: The E-Ballot for the 2011 election is now available at http://www.boardgamers.org/election.htm. Jonathan Lockwood is again making a bid for a Board seat against the three incumbents; Ken Gutermuth, Kaarin Engelmann and Bruce Monnin. 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 required % of the membership must vote 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

BPA MAILING LIST: If you want to correct an address if you've moved in the past year, send your postal address to conventiondirector@boardgamers.org. Yearbooks lost in the mail cannot be replaced. 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:

SINIGAGLIO REPEATS IN BITTER WOODS: The Deluxe BitterWoods Tournament featuring the "Patton's Relief of Bastogne" Scenario has ended with Bruno Sinigaglio's Americans besting Mike Kaye to successfully defend his email title. Bruno also took first place in the WBC DBW tournament so he reigns at the top of the Bulge heap. There were 23 games played in all between 24 players with the Germans winning 13. Lance Roberts of Fairbanks, Alaska won a gift certificate from L2 for being the highest finisher from the lower seeds as generated by AREA ratings. Must be something about those long Alaskan winters that makes for good boardgamers, right Bruno? The other laurelists were Larry Meyers, Tom Gregorio and Jeff Lange. More details and updated laurel totals can be found at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/bwdpge.htm

MENZEL WINS MARCH MADNESS: Bob Menzel took his 3rd seeded 1991 Kansas team to the Final Four with an average of 23-point wins over Jim Gutt’s Illinois 2005, Thomas Browne’s UCLA 1964, Debbie Gutermuth’s Duke 2004 and Mike Pacheco’s Cincinnati 2000 squad. He then defeated Debbie Bell’s Houston 1983 Phi Slamma Jamma team 96-86 to move on to the final game. But that's when the joy ride ended and the nerves got a workout as Tom Browne’s Seton Hall Pirates provided a championship game with plenty of suspense. The result was in doubt till the final die roll with Bob pulling out a one-point win for his first ever BPA championship! Also gaining laurels from the 44 player, 87 game event were Debbie Bell, Harry Flawd, Mike Pacheco and Daniel Leader in that order. More details and updated laurel totals are available at http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/mmspge.htm#pbem.

PRO GOLF: It must be spring! Pro Golf will commence its second annual BPA PBeM rendition on April 1, 2011, approximately one week before the 2011 Masters tournament begins. A time limit of 3 weeks will be set for each round. A round not finished in that time frame will result in the player being disqualified from the competition. No scores for any round are considered final until the round has been checked by the GM or one of his assistants. The top two thirds of the field (rounded up) and ties after the first round will make the cut and play a second round on the Lancaster Host course used in the WBC Skins game. The combined score of the two rounds will be used to determine the top one third (rounded up) and ties who will make the second cut and play the third round on the Muirfield Village course. The combined score of the three rounds will be used to determine the Champion and other Laurelists. Any ties will be resolved using a 3-hole playoff on the 2002 Augusta National course. If still tied, another three holes will be played. For details, see the event webpage at: http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/pro_golf_PBeM_2011.html.

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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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