How can the association maintain impartial objectivity when it is driven by making a profit for the owners?
The fact that it is profit driven is not clear at first.
When a new chairman is elected next year will they be paid?
It's starting to look like another poker venture dressed up as something else, i am all for the concept but it feels like i will just be paying an extra rake to APAT to organise a decent tournamet series.
If the tour will be televised will television revenues be added to prize pools?
Looks like I am going to have a problem here, as you seem pretty anti, but that's your absolute right, & I will answer your questions as best I can.
OK, lets call those Questions 1 to 5.
Question 1.
By appointing a Chairman who they believe can maintain that "impartial ojectivity". Rightly or wrongly, Des D thought I was competent to handle that. Anything he wants to do with APAT, he has to run through me. Anything & everything. And he does. And we argue, to & fro. If he wishes to implement something I disagree with, I have the right to refuse. If there are those who feel I am unable to manage that remit with "impartial objectivity", well, they won't become Members I guess. As I indicated in my "APAT & tikay" missive, it's tough to elect a Chairman for Year one, so I was selected. For year two, the Members will vote for who they wish to be Chairman.
Question 2
Well we never, ever, anywhere, hid it. Why should we? Tighty's "Press Release" had 3 signatories, two of whom (I was the odd one out) were listed as Directors of Amateur Poker Ltd. Surely that's not hiding the status of the Ltd Company? Do you really think we could, or would, hide this, & keep it secret? I have also explained the Terms of Employment of myself, as have Tighty & Mel. I dont take salary because I need to maintain impartial objectivity. I never, at any time, requested shares, but I was asked to take them. This was agreed, as it happens, in the last 7 days in my case. To be honest, I like blondes to know exactly where I am at on potential conflicts of interest, & I have answered every question, & more, 100% openly & honestly. To clarify once more, I am Chairman of the AMATEUR POKER ASSOCIATION TOUR. It's a non-profit making Association. It's owned by Amateur Poker Ltd. A commercial organiation, designed, we can assume, to be profitable. The Association's Chairman is there to represent the Association's Membership. Des D thought he had found someone as Chairman whose motives were above suspicion. He has.
Question 3.
No idea, but I very much doubt it. And in the unlikely event that I am elected, I most certainly shall not accept a salary, even if offered.
Question 4.
I don't understand this question. On Live Events, it wll be a maximum of 10%. (And added value will be in place for EVERY Live Event). The Membership, be it £5 or £10, is for a year, & will include, I believe, the right to play in 30 odd Events. That hardly strikes me as onerous. We are trying to make the Live Events "special", as those that partake will, I hope, soon see. If they are not happy, they won't return, simple as that. And the thing will fall flat on it's face.
Question 5.
No idea - TV Coverage has not been agreed for Season 1. But it will remain an APAT fundamental that EVERY APAT Live Tourny will have added value. That, in itself, is something I'm pretty pleased about. I have played in less than a handful of Tourneys this year that had added value. And certainly not for a £75 entry fee, plus or minus a bit of Rake.
Hope that clarifies things for you, if not fire away, I'm on the APAT case all night by the looks of it!
Author