 WBC PRE-REGISTRATION FORM: The 2015 WBC Pre-Reg form and accompanying information is now posted. Current members who have already purchased Sustaining or higher level memberships need not pre-register UNLESS they want to register their team for the Team Tournament (the earlier the better please—especially if you have a new team name), upgrade to Tribune level to attend pre-cons, or order any of the numerous souvenir and apparel items. However, the four-page folder contains much information on WBC so be sure to check it out anyway—especially for the time sensitive purchase of apparel items.
Remember that WBC Pre-registration ends June 30 and walkon rates are $20 higher. Plan accordingly now.
AUCTION LOTS: The opening bell has sounded for this year's auction as gamers take to their closets to see what they will part with in the annual flurry to register items for the WBC Auction and Auction Store. As the former is limited to 550 items and always sells out, it is not wise to procrastinate. You snooze, you lose. Once again, all items must be pre-registered for both the Auction and Auction Store. The latter is also capping what it will accept this year at 2,200 items so don't delay. Unregistered items will NOT be accepted. NEW FOR 2015: To help cope with the ever increasing paperwork burden for our staff, Auction submissions must have a minimum of five lots; Auction Store submissions must have a minimum of ten lots and Unsold Auction Store lots will have a 25 cent handling charge deducted from the Sellers proceeds for each unsold item.
 TIE-DYE SPECIAL ORDERS AND OTHER SOUVENIRS: A wide assortment of WBC Souvenirs and apparel, most with the BPA embroidered logo, is now available to order for pickup at WBC. Be sure to order before the quoted deadlines, as the duffle bags are only available if pre-ordered by June 15.
 2014-15 YEARBOOKS: The newest WBC Yearbook will be mailed to all qualifying members in the United States next week. Only one book per household will be mailed. Other qualifying family members and foreign attendees may get their books at WBC check-in. If your postal address has changed since your membership was purchased, please advise the change of address at once to conventiondirector@boardgamers.org. We assume no responsibility for books lost in the mail. The on-line version is also available now.
WBC 2015 EVENT PREVIEWS: Each of our record 164 tournaments are previewed in detail as only WBC does them. Check out the formats for your favorite events and get an early look at the WBC schedule.
PERSONAL SCHEDULER UP & RUNNING: View the details of your favorite events and then plan your schedule using Steve Okonski's Personal Scheduler. Check the Schedule page for other scheduling tools, including the iPad and android apps, which will be posted in the period leading up to the convention.
POSTER, POSTCARDS & VIDEO: Our updated Publicity page includes the latest assortment of recruitment aids to help you regain the spirit of WBC and convince your friends to join you. Help spread the word!
PRE-CON ATTRACTIONS: The complete list of events available during the 2015 Pre-Con weekend is online. Please note that unlike last year, due to the presence of another group at the Host that weekend, we will NOT have extra space for Open Gaming until Monday, so do not expect to Open Game until then. To avoid extra cost for At The Door admission, be sure to update any Sustaining membership to Tribune status before July if you wish to attend Pre-Con.
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP STATUS: Those wishing to check their current membership levels may do so on the Pre-Registration page. Use this page to check the status of your registration, troll for teammates, rides or roommates, or even Open Gaming matches or baby sitting gigs. Send your requests to Aconventiondirector@boardgamers.org.
     
ELECTION TIME: It is once again time to elect three members to three-year terms on the BPA Board of Directors. This year's election features three incumbents and as many challengers vying for three seats. Get all the information on the ballot. As usual, voting is effortless and takes only a moment thanks to the electronic ballot. Voting will remain open until July 15. All members (any paid attendee of WBC for more than one day is considered a member) are urged to vote since validation requires sufficient membership participation.
WORK OPPORTUNITIES: Those who would like assistance to attend WBC in the form of free lodging and admission while staffing the Open Gaming Showroom are invited to apply to conventiondirector@boardgamers.org. Candidates must be willing to work the Showroom half of their time at WBC and be flexible with their schedule. Lodging will be assigned with a fellow monitor as a roommate.
SCHEDULED OPEN GAMING DEADLINE LOOMS: Less than two weeks remain to add your demo or scheduled Open Gaming opportunity to the schedule. If you've ever bemoaned the difficulty of finding like-minded gamers to play what YOU want to play in Open Gaming, this is your chance. Merely commit to providing the game in question and playing at a specified time in the designated Demo area in Paradise assembly and we will reserve your table plus advertise your game on the printed, web, android and rotating schedules for all to see and even provide signage for your "game event". The catch? You must commit to it in a timely fashion; i.e., now.
Requirements:
- Must be a Sustaining or Tribune member by June 1.
- Must submit details to conventiondirector@boardgamers.org by June 1 to include:
- Name of published game (limit one game); non-published games must be handled as Commercial Demos.
- Start Time and length of game (even hours only; no half-hour starts; i.e., 7 PM, not 7:15 or 7:30).
- Type of table; 8' rectangular or 6' round (or if either is acceptable, indicate so).
- Game rating - A (expert), B (played previously or read rules) or C (will coach) insofar as experience level of players sought.
- The table must be surrendered promptly to the next user before the next reserved timeslot.
Limits:
- Multi-player games only (must accommodate a minimum of three players).
- One reservation slot per person. Second requests will be honored on a space available basis only after all other primary requests have been fulfilled.
- All requests are based on availability. First come, first served.
Suggestions:
- Submit multiple start times in case your first choice is unavailable.
- A willingness to use either round or rectangular tables will increase your chances of getting a slot.
- The longer your requested time slot, the less your chances of getting a reservation.
- Avoid high usage time slots. Slots on Tuesday evening have little chance of acceptance.
      
PUBLISHER/DESIGNER RENDEZVOUS: WBC always attracts a number of aspiring game designers of varying levels of experience and genre interests. Whether they come to playtest new designs or show them to interested parties to widen their kickstarter/P500 appeal, the opportunity to make connections with publishers is not to be missed. Eight such publishers who will be in attendance this year (GMT, ATO, PKG, Academy Games, Stronghold Games, MMP, Funto11 and Decision Games) have agreed to review a list of those attending for this purpose. They will peruse what you have to offer—and should it fall within the realm of their publishing interests, will arrange to meet with you to discuss the possibilities. To be added to this list, submit a Commercial Demo.
COMMERCIAL DEMO ADDITIONS END JUNE 1: In an effort to alleviate crowding in the Open Gaming theatre, exhibit tables will NOT be allowed in the Showroom. Monitors will be tasked with stricter policing of commercial efforts including prospective game designers who set up displays to troll for P500 backing. While you are free to Open Game anything you like, you will NOT be allowed to monopolize tables with displays that are not being actively played. Instead, designers/publishers are urged to register for FREE scheduled demos in the Paradise Assembly demonstration area. To be included in the schedule, you must be a current Sustaining level or higher member and register your demo no later than June 1. Demonstrations are limited to one-hour duration unless longer periods are requested in advance. Multiple or longer demonstrations are allowed on a space available basis. Contact conventiondirector@boardgamers.org for additional information. Include alternate times and type of table desired (either 6' rounds or 8' x 30" rectangulars) as well as boxart files containing the title of the game for display signage. Reservations will be made on a first come, first served basis. Submit requests via the Demo Form.
2016 RESERVATIONS: Several early birds have already attempted to make reservations for 2016 at Seven Springs. Please be advised that the resort is not accepting reservations more than a year in advance for WBC 2016 and that such attempts will not be eligible for the much reduced group rate in any case. We anticipate no problems in securing reservations once reservations are opened in August and will advise everyone in plenty of time to secure lodging. The greater capacity at Seven Springs was a major reason for our selecting that site, so we urge you to wait for the official announcement of the opening of reservations.
PBeM NEWS:
   
VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC: With the Cinderellas eliminated, the titans waged war over the cardboard Pacific for final victory. Michael Day (3rd seed) accepted a bid of 8 from Ray Freeman (4½th Seed) and took the blue pieces. Things looked grim for the Allied navies after Pearl Harbor fell, but a daring move on Turn 5 into the South Pacific opened a hole in the perimeter and left Ray thinking he just needed one more patroller (to join the mere 16 he'd used). Together with maintaining control over Attu, the USN stayed in it doggedly through the final turn. The climactic battle for the Japanese Islands—with the USN just needing to deny control—came up short. Thus Ray's Japanese emerged triumphant by the 3 POC margin secured by controlling the Japanese Islands. Also earning laurels were James Kramer, David Sherwood, John Lindley and Greg Smith who finished third through sixth respectively. Revised laurel totals can be viewed on the VIP Event Report page.
Join the action this Sept. 15, when the tournament kicks off again. See http://www.gameaholics.com/vitp_tournament.htm for details!
MARCH MADNESS: The BPA 2015 Elite Eight has finally been determined, and we even have one Final Four qualifier in Oliver Searles’ #1 seed Kansas 1957, who is waiting to play either Debbie Gutermuth or Thomas Browne for the right to reach the championship game. Neither of the other Elite Eight games have begun yet, as Marvin Birnbaum is taking on Joe Yaure for one final Four slot, while Dennis Nicholson will battle Aran Warszawski to grab the last Final Four berth. Track the progress of the event at http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/mm-brack-2015.htm.
PRO GOLF: Jessica Finkeldey still leads the field by 3 strokes, reminiscent of Mark Yoshikawa’s four stroke lead after the first round on the way to his 2012 title (also using John Daly). There is little to fear from Mr. Tea Time this year, as he is 5 over par after 15 holes. To track the progress, go to http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/PBeM_Scoresheet.htm.
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Remember…all of the above PBeM fun is free to current BPA members. Others may qualify with a $10 Email membership in the year the event starts. All multi-day paid attendees to WBC are current BPA members for the balance of that calendar year. You need not keep your membership current in order to finish a PBeM event. Players may join the BPA throughout the year. See the BPA Terms page for details.
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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/
Visit the BPA website at http://www.boardgamers.org
If you are not already receiving our monthly newsletters, please subscribe by visiting http://lists.boardgamers.org/mailman/listinfo/bpamail to confirm your address. Subscribing is free, takes only a moment and ensures your privacy. We are unable to add you to our mailing list otherwise.
SOCIAL NETWORKING: Keep up with WBC electronically by joining the World Boardgaming Championships (WBC) Facebook group and the BPA_WBC Twitter Page. You can also easily find us in the Boardgame Geek Forums under Gaming Related, Conventions, WBC.
If you are not already receiving our monthly newsletters,
please subscribe by
visiting http://lists.boardgamers.org/mailman/listinfo/bpamail to confirm your address. Subscribing is free, takes only a moment and ensures your privacy.
We are unable to add you to our mailing list otherwise.
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