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In the last day of the WPA’s second annual membership drive, Jesse Jones, founder and chairman of the World Poker Association, stands tall like a proud papa. We meet at the WPA’s booth, just a stone’s throw from the main entrance to the 2007 World Series of Poker tournament arena at the RIO All Suites Hotel and Casino.
Jesse takes great pleasure in dispensing black and gold lettered WPA patches on all comers to the booth. He carefully affixes the Velcro badge of honor on the right side of my shirt. “When shaking hands, the eyes are drawn to the right,” he explains. As Jesse Jones would tell you, the devil is in the details.
In November 2005, Jones turned his vision for a world poker association into a reality, forming a non-profit entity whose purpose was to chart innovative waters on the high seas of the poker world. By April 2007, the organization’s membership complement neared 1000, a board of directors was elected by the membership, committees were formed, and discounts on travel were available to members. The seed money that had been provided by leaders and supporters of a new world of poker laid the foundation for a fully organized board of directors to move forward with Association projects.
The board of directors of the WPA reflects a broad diversity of business experience and a unity in its passion for poker. In addition to Jones and Eolis, Harry Thomas and Joe Hachem are officers of the WPA, serving as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. The remaining board of directors includes Annie Van Bebber, Lou Krieger, Marcel Luske, Thomas Kremser, and Paul Wasicka. Their individual biographies are published on the WPA website, www.wpapoker.org.
The first meeting of the newly elected board was convened April 16th, 2007. The board’s initial business included creating a promotional tagline for the organization, developing its mission statement, and establishing an Ethics Compliance Pledge as part of the membership application and as a condition for continued membership. Several permanent committees were put into place, and each board member was appointed to a leadership role as a committee chair or co-chair.
WPA Chairman Jesse Jones, together with Vice-Chairman Wendeen H. Eolis, secured for the WPA the only booth not affiliated with Harrah’s that was allowed to do business in the immediate vicinity of the WSOP tournament arena. Jones says, “This was no small feat. Wendeen and I put on a full court press with members of the WSOP team. We talked up the Association’s simple mission of promoting professionalism in poker worldwide and supporting the highest ethical standards in poker competition. Harrah’s responded graciously, arranging prime space for our membership drive as part of its community relations initiatives.”
The membership drive was paired with a members-only raffle drawing. Steve Crockett, a founding member, held the winning ticket for a free seat into the Main Event of the World Series of Poker, plus $1,000 pocket money. Proudly displaying the black and gold WPA Velcro patch, he took down a piece of the prize in the final event. The WPA was equally proud in having raised $5000 for Corps of Compassion, a Las Vegas-based charity that helps to feed hungry children in the Clark County district.
The WPA now boasts more than 1300 members, including many of the best-known names in poker. By all accounts, Jones has been single-handedly responsible for having attracted hundreds of the Association’s members. He says, “Now we have the critical mass and an amazing talent pool within the organization to succeed big time in the pursuit of our mission.”
Harry Thomas adds, “This train has left the station and is on an express track in its commitment to grow poker competition as a professional sport.”
“The train will be moving at a brisk clip with Joe Hachem at the helm of the membership committee,” interjects Eolis. Hachem has already gained acceptance from the Board to establish two classes of individual membership, with professionals paying dues of $500 per annum and supporting members at $50 per annum. Membership category is self-defined and listed in the Members Directory. Each member has the same weight of one vote.
The Association’s membership drives have resulted in bringing together four generations of poker players, dealers, tournament management, and other individuals active in the business of poker. A quick look at the founding member board on the back wall of the booth reveals marquee poker names like Brunson, Chan, McEvoy, Hellmuth, Moneymaker, Greenstein, and Reese on the long list of poker professionals who are committed to bringing increased mainstream interest and respect for tournament poker worldwide. WPA’s membership star power also includes Jennifer Tilly and Shannon Elizabeth.
In addition to individual memberships, the WPA has opened its arms to poker-related organizations, offering a separate category of membership at yearly dues of $2,000 that includes a seat on the WPA Advisory Council as well as an individual membership opportunity for one principal of each organization. Poker Royalty, 1Room12, Poker News, and TK Poker Consulting are among the diverse organizations on board as champions of the WPA mission.
Jesse Jones’s dedication to his vision for the poker world never pauses. He doesn’t miss a chance to tick off more WPA accomplishments and planned projects: By-Laws and an Ethics Code have already been established for the current year, and TDA Tournament Rules have been accepted with plans to revise and expand them, as appropriate for future use under the banner of the WPA.
As our visit at the booth comes to a close, the WPA’s faithful personnel surround Jones. They are still upbeat and smiling as they get ready to dismantle their booth. To the very last visitor, they repeatedly point to the bold lettering high above them on the backlit wall, “Promoting professionalism in poker worldwide.”
Eolis reminds that last guest, “Membership in this association is more about giving time and effort to our grassroots movement than about instant gratification. Jones says confidently, “With the help of our talented and supportive membership, the WPA is going places. Thomas quips, “It’s a safe bet; this train is getting to its destination.”
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