Midland Masters

[DesD]

hoodwink of an association

Comments like the above is why Richard. 

As I said previously, you have made up your mind and communicated your opinion of APAT on several UK forums throughout the last few months. 

I appreciate that Tony needs to respond back on the above thread, and I'm sure he will, but I do not think there is anything he or I, or anyone connected with APAT will say that will convince you that we are aiming for the same positive outcomes in the game as you are.

Unfortunately it will take scale to achieve some of those goals, and that takes time.

Regards,

Des.

All I want is to be proved wrong Des, but not getting any assurance?

As for the uk forums that I comment on, I think you will find that I have been informing people about it, not in a negative way either, so please dont try and make me out to be an arse!!!

The redeeming feature that APAT has got going for it, is the fact that when it comes to poker Tony and Richard are respected by myself and most of the poker community, however, you sir are a businessman and IMO have joined a poker bandwagon at one of the most crucial points needed by the industry.

Richard,

I agree with your sentiments on Tony and Richard entirely and you shouldn't forget that both have been extremely successful businessmen in the not too distant past - so that sort of background should not be considered a negative.  Quite how you think they could be involved in anything that was not 100% pro poker players is a mystery. 

As for myself, sure I work in business but I've played small stakes games in London for years and I played at the Rio in '05, so I'm not exactly a stranger jumping on the bandwagon. Although, I'm the first to admit, I'm still mr very ordinary at the table.

One last thing from me, and then I am leaving Tom to recover his thread...lets not forget that Tony Kendall is Chairman of the APA, not me, and I do not believe you will find a better individual to lead the Association during this formative period.

Regards,

Des.

[dik9]

Woah, hang on, I have never implied at any stage that they are doing this other than for the good of poker.

I also 100% concur that Tony is the best man to chair the association, i am just curious as to when and what the association will do, as all i have seen is the Tour.

From a previous point, "I do not think there is anything he or I, or anyone connected with APAT will say that will convince you that we are aiming for the same positive outcomes in the game as you are." How wrong you are, I am begging to be convinced.

[kvnstv]

Obviously tournament structures should be within the remit of the amateur poker association to lodge complaints to casinos on behalf of the membership. Would you think instances like the casinos failure to act against abusive individuals should be a matter for the APA as well?  

The trouble with that is they have no durastiction whatsoever with casinos, this relates to the question myself and Dik were trying to get answered on the apat thread.
Richard, i was referring to that comp, the manager editted the structure as people on here asked for them, my point was that he did it because he wasn't full, maybe he wouldn't if it were?
Though i'd like to think he is willing to do this for his punters.

Juristiction is largely measured in commercial terms by the large casino groups.  When the APA is in a position to fill their cardrooms week after week then you will find that we will have a significant influence in the way players are treated and in the quality of games they play. 

However, the APA will never acquire that power while players wait on the sidelines for something 'notable' to be achieved.  Until the players get fully behind the Association, its ability to influence the industry will be marginalised and nothing notable can be achieved. 

I know some of you are uncomfortable with the amount of focus we are putting on the Tour, but in the short term, while we organise and grow, this is one area where the APA can demonstrate a vision for the industry under a strong and united Association.  Great venues and structures, serious added value and publicity, and players getting the opportunity to enjoy a premium experience with low financial risk.

If we can prove ourselves commercially to the major casino groups, then local and regional tournaments will become a reality and at that point we will be in a position to enter legislative discussion in an authorative way.  I'm afraid stomping up and down outside the venue is simply not an option.  You will simply get banned.  When we have 20,000 members, a stomp might become a great deal more meaningful.

If you identify with the concerns highlighted in Tom and Paul's posts; and are still not a member of the APA, I would ask you to genuinely consider your reasons. 

Please bear in mind that the commercial company behind APAT have NOT sold 1 advert or struck 1 affiliate deal since launch in August.  That is despite having had over 100,000 visits to apat.com and having had plenty of offers to mail stuff to our members.  We have not spent one penny unwisely and everyone involved has invested a great deal emotionally and in many other ways. 

Perhaps the £5 / £10 membership fee is a barrier?  If this was not the only source of funding that the APA has, I would recommend to the management team that it be abolished in the morning. 

Regards,

Des.

I was just trying to get an idea of how people viewed the role of the APA and was certainly not looking for a row. When I joined I envisaged the association, to use a business analogy as a 'casino user group'. Using the weight of membership to apply pressure on the casinos and card rooms of the country to satisfy the customers issues. I thought the incidences Tom mentioned should very much be the within the remit of the APA and not just tournament structures and levies inflicted on players and I wondered what others thought. 

[TightEnd]

Fallout Staus Upgraded to Red


Off out for the day, enjoy!

[RED-DOG]

Fallout Staus Upgraded to Red

Leave me out of it.

[dik9]

You can go back down to Fallout status "Yellow"

Firstly can I apologise to Dani V and Red for hijaking thread, it would have been nice to have it on a different thread.

However, my Girlfriend and Best friend have said that I am coming over too strong with this, and that my personality changes when I get going on this, and i agree with them that i am like a bear with a sore head when APAT is mentioned. It clearly winds me up.

For all the people that pm'd me, your on your own now, it's your battle as you are the players it will affect, I will be wishing APAT the best of luck, Tony I wish you well for the association, please get it going ASAP as the industry needs it, I just really hope it will be influencial and you can get the large chains on side.

DesD please don't forget it is an ASSOCIATION and tour

Best of luck with it guys

It's been emotional!!