2011 TEAM TOURNAMENT: What do we do for an encore after the 104-team field of 2009? Will the record fall again? Will Nest of Spies be the prohibitive favorite yet again? The Happy Handicapper's opening odds are posted and the first 56 of the new team logos are appearing at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/teamtour.htm. Register your team with a simple email to conventiondirector@boardgamers.org. All teams must have four members identified as playing a different game who are pre-registered to attend WBC 2011. 

Don't miss the annual Team Tournament Prediction Contest. All pre-registrants will be emailed when the final odds are posted and given an opportunity to win a free membership by predicting who will be the top ten teams in this year's tournament. 

EXPANDED BPA GAME LIBRARY: BPA thanks Queen Games, Rio Grande Games and Alliance Distributors for sponsoring the Open Gaming Theatre & BPA Game Library in 2011. The 13,000 sq ft dinner theatre will be open for a complete week in 2012. For a complete list of new additions to the library, see http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/library.htm. 

OPEN GAMING REQUESTS ON BGG: Don't wait until you get on site to discover what is happening in the Lancaster Showroom during WBC week. Surf over to to the GeekList http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/69383/wbc-open-gaming-geeklist to make an entry or comment on one for Open Gaming requests. Make some new friends even before you arrive.

GAME TRADE MAGAZINE: Check out the article by our fearless leader in Issue 137 of Game Trade Magazine at http://www.gametrademagazine.com/public/. GTM is produced by Alliance Distributors who have become a sponsor of the Open Gaming Theatre at WBC. 

SAMPLER SHOWCASE: The eight games featured in the Sampler Showcase demonstrations on Tuesday are now listed at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/sampler.htm. The new fare include Luna, Innovation, Kaigen, Airlines, Whitechapel, Rails of New England, Haggis and 20th Century.

SEMINARS: What WBC lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Joe Angiolillo is pulling out all the stops to entertain his audience at each of his three seminars on the early days of wargaming with lots of hands-on prototypes, dvd interviews with designers, and promotional giveaways. Make time to catch his presentation. See http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/seminars.htm.

BOARD ELECTION ENDS: This year's election of three directors to three-year terms ended on July 15. We thank the 200+ members who voted, making it a legal election. The results will be announced on Tuesday at 3 PM in Lampeter Hall of the Lancaster Host during our Annual Meeting at WBC.

WBC LODGING: Lancaster Host is sold out for most nights, but has limited availability for rooms with a King Size bed (no doubles) on the remaining nights. Not to worry—BPA also has group rates at the nearby Continental Inn across the street. The Continental offers bargain rates and free hot breakfasts when you ask for the World Boardgaming Championships group rate. Although the Continental deadline has passed, they still have limited rooms available for July 30 and Aug. 2-3. There is no problem getting rooms for July 31 and Aug. 1, but Thursday thru Saturday is sold out with the exception of a few suites. Get the details at http://www.boardgamers.org/hotellan.htm There are many other hotels in the area - some within walking distance—ranging in price from $48 to $259 on hotelroom.com. 

AUCTION SELLOUT: While there is still lots of room in the Auction Store, the Auction has reached its limit and has stopped accepting items. See http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/auctionlots.htm for the list of items in this year's Auction. Pre-registered Items with lot slips are to be delivered between 8 and 10 PM Monday. However, registration for the Auction Store remains open until July 26. Auction Store items will NOT be accepted on Tuesday, Aug. 2. 

Auction items can be delivered from 6 to 10 PM on Monday, Aug. 1 AND 8AM to noon on Tues., Aug. 2. However, Auction Store items are limited to Monday. You can download a Microsoft Excel version of the Auction Lot list at http://www.boardgamers.org/downloads/auctionlots2011.xls. 

Located in the same hall with the Auction, buyers will be able to peruse items with a set price within view and earshot of the Auction. You need not prepay any fees until you deliver your items to the Auction Store but the items MUST BE pre-registered. 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.

SOUVENIRS: WBC hats, yearbooks and T-shirts must be pre-ordered—and unlike last year—are not automatic freebies unless you joined at the start of the year. Tribunes after April 30 and Sustaining members after Jan. 1 will NOT be getting these items unless they paid for them separately. If you want one, email conventiondirector@boardgamers.org asap, and we will order yours and collect payment at registration.

COLOR PROGRAM: The 2011 program containing the complete alphabetical and chronological schedule is now posted on line. Since this is a colorized version as opposed to the B&W copy we provide at WBC, many prefer to download it at home for easier reference. Other scheduling aids are also provided to help you plan your WBC week. Choose from among the Custom Scheduler, an All-in-One schedule, or several downloadable pdf pocket schedules in color or black and white. All of these can be found at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/schedule.htm.

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

WBC 2011 PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS: The current Pre-Reg form can be downloaded from http://www.boardgamers.org/downloads/WBC11prereg.pdf. You can also check http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc/prereg.htm#coordination for your current registration status or Open Gaming, rides and rooming opportunities. If you'd like help with any of the above, just email your requests to acd@boardgamers.org to be listed on the page. All we ask is that you notify us to remove your listing once your need is fulfilled.

Pre-registration is advised to save both time and money. If you'd still rather pay at the door anyway, remember WBC does not accept credit cards so bring your checkbook. Procrastinators can get off the hook and pre-register until July 27 by using Paypal to paypal@boardgamers.org. Indicate in the Paypal message section of the payment, the name and postal address of the individual the payment covers and a listing of everything purchased. Postal registration ends July 23. Save yourself some money by pre-registering—even if only coming by for the day. Do not attempt this after July 27.

WBC 2011 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.

DELUXE BREAKOUT NORMANDY DEBUT: "WBC isn't often the site of the initial release of new games—such honors usually going to larger commercial venues. However, we had some leverage in this case so for once WBC gets to debut a new title. The L2 2nd edition of BKN seeks to clarify and simplify what has become recognized in most quarters as a classic design while improving play balance based on virtually thousands of games played. Improved graphics and enlarged pieces complete the package. L2's suggested retail price is $75. Shipping charges will more than eat up any direct mail discounts, but those picking up their copy at WBC will get the bargain price of $60. The catch? Since he's bringing them from Canada, Art needs to know how many to bring. So, to get this price you must pre-order at http://L2DesignGroup.com/BN/WBC-Order.html by July 15. Those waiting to buy at the show, run the risk of the game being sold out."

Naturally, when we ran this announcement last month, L2's website had a stroke, so Art is extending the deadline on this order to July 19. Order now to get your copy packed for the convention. 

WBC ON FACEBOOK: Discover tips for WBC and plan your trip by visiting the WBC Facebook Group. Scott Nerney posts a discussion topic of the week and has been getting a lot of good feeback. Join in on the fun and feel the excitement building for this year's convention.

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PBeM NEWS: 

NICHOLSON WINS PRO GOLF: That's Dennis, not Jack. The upstate New York Yankees fan has given you another reason to heckle the Evil Empire as his loaded dice appear to be heating up for the upcoming WBC, besting 40 other duffers in the 2nd BPA Pro Golf PBeM tournament. Placing second, like he needed more laurels, was Bruce Reiff who bested Mike Pacheco in a three-hole playoff. Debbie Gutermuth, Robert Kircher and Bill Morse took 4th—6th place laurels respectively. 

SPEED CIRCUIT: This upcoming event will add racing to the PBeM menu Sept. 1. Check out the rules at http://lucidphoenix.com/sc/wbce/ and/or speak to GM Robert Rund at the WBC races or at wbcspeedcircuit@verizon.net. There will be two qualifying heats qualifying six from each heat for a 12-car Final. Total time for the event should be approximately 8 months with a 36-hour response time between moves. 

VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC: The next PBeM tournament begins this Sept. 15. Join by contacting john@gameaholics.com. Get the details at http://www.gameaholics.com/vitp_format/vitp_bpa_format.htm.

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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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