Poker Player’s Alliance to turn focus to local level in 2008
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Recent comments from leadership at lobbying group Poker Player’s Alliance strongly suggest that the PPA is looking to beef up its local, grass-roots organizational apparatus in 2008.
PPA Executive Director John Pappas stressed the need for local organization in an article over at Pocket Fives:
“We’ll be reinvigorating our State Directors program very soon by reaching out to our 875,000 members and seeing who wants to be more active at the state level. We’ll have a more sophisticated and robust plan for them to be active and the PPA will be more visible.”
“We’re not expecting them to work blindly or on their own. The PPA will be giving them strategic guidance on initiatives they can undertake, such as recruitment of new members for 2008…”
PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato echoed Pappas’ sentiments in his January 2008 Message From the Chairman. Excerpt:
I can tell you from my own political experience that there is no more important mission for the PPA than to have a strong, vocal and coordinated grassroots effort. With 2008 being a major election year, it is even more pressing that the PPA become a player in the key battleground states and districts.
We are taking steps to empower our State Directors. Currently we have state directors in 30 states, but this important component of our organization will not be complete until every state in the Union is fully represented. State Directors are volunteer positions. You will not be compensated monetarily for your work; however, neither will you be expected to incur any expenses of your own. We are expanding the program so that there are multiple representatives from each state. And then, with guidance and support from the PPA, State Directors will engage in activities at the local and national level that are aimed at building the organization while promoting and defending the great game of poker.
PPA State Directors will also receive access to special events planned for the 2008 World Series of Poker and in Washington D.C. You will also be given recognition on the PPA Web site and in leading poker publications. State Directors will be the frontline in the fight for poker. Your fellow poker players will know you are a leader in the fight to protect the great game.
