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BGonline.org Forums
USBGF Progress Report
Posted By: Perry Gartner
Date: Friday, 5 November 2010, at 4:42 p.m.
U.S. Backgammon Federation By Perry Gartner, President/Executive Director
This is to update you as to the progress we have been making in achieving our goal of growing the field of backgammon players.
Our start up strategy consists of the following six major elements:
1. Recruiting Founding Sponsors to provide the start-up capital needed to develop a rich array of benefits and activities 2. Recruiting members at tournaments, mailing brochures, and establishing an online membership enrollment system using the expert developers of the U.S. Chess Federation system. 3. Developing a national backgammon ratings and stats system which enables members to track their progress and that of leading players. 4. Making quizzes, lectures, and publications available to members on our website and in a bi-monthly electronic magazine, PrimeTime Backgammon. 5. Developing backgammon clubs, courses, and educational materials to help attract new players to the game, and reaching out to games players in new venues.. 6. Partner with foreign federations to foster international competitions.
Here is how each of these have fared:
First, the Founding Sponsors program includes contributions at the Diamond ($6,400), Platinum ($3,200), Gold ($1,600), Silver ($800), and Bronze ($400) levels. To date we have 40 Founding Sponsors. Phenomenal start.
Second, to date we have about 170 members , most at the Premium level. In view of the fact that our website was a work in progress until October, and a number of benefits have not kicked in yet, we are happy to see this number of people motivated to join so soon by their desire to support our mission . Now we are ready to move forward at an accelerated pace.
Third, our ratings and stats system now includes information from 30 American Backgammon Tour tournaments in 2009 and 2010, with information on almost 1000 players, all currently available on our website usbgf.org . Beginning in 2011, the ratings will be displayed for USBGF members only. Members can find information on their ranking, win-loss record and Elo rating, playing history against opponents, tournament drawsheets, and more. Leading players at the Open, Advanced, and Novice levels are listed in our PrimeTime Backgammon magazine, and the website and magazine carry tournament results and feature articles on leading players.
Fourth, the USBGF has benefits to help players at every level – beginners, intermediate, and expert – improve their game and enhance their enjoyment. We offer lectures and quizzes at major tournaments, with trophies to winners at the Open and Advanced levels. We are planning a series of online seminars with commitments from top players to serve as instructors. We feature numerous analytic articles, recorded matches, instructional videos, and problems on our website and magazine, including Recommended Backgammon Reading Lists for players at different levels.
Fifth, we are recruiting new players to the game through several activities. We sponsor college courses and clubs; a fully accredited backgammon course at Georgia Southern University is now mandatory for business school freshman. The UCLA Chess and Backgammon Club has over 20 players per semester. Lectures at social clubs and information on MeetUp backgammon groups are attracting new players to serious online and live tournament play. Planned outreach and events in collaboration with the U.S. Chess Federation, internet poker, bridge, and other game sites are designed to attract games players to experience and have fun playing backgammon.
Sixth, we intend to engage Federations in Europe and in Japan to foster international competitions. The first such competition, will be an event where overseas designated sites will be connected to the primary site in the US over the internet. More details about this event, taking place in March, will be posted here soon.
The second issue of PrimeTime Backgammon and analytic articles are now available, restricted to Premium and Youth members. It includes articles by Matt Cohn-Geier, John O’Hagan who leads the USBGF player ratings for 2010, Chuck Bower, Mike Corbett, and Mary Hickey, among others, and a profile of Diamond Founding Sponsor Malcolm Davis.
I am grateful to the many volunteers who are helping shape and contribute to the organization, and an engaged member-led Board of Directors. If you are not in, please join at usbgf.org. For those of you who are already members, many thanks for your confidence in us.
Perry Gartner
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