You may be wondering why the fee for Nationals this year has increased. Please take a few minutes to read the following. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me or the board of directors at any time.

In 2000, Will Deaver joined the UPA. For the first time the UPA had a staff member fully dedicated to the Championship Series. The decision to hire Will was directly based on feedback from the members that the Championship Series was the biggest benefit that the UPA provided to them. It is my belief that having Will has had a direct impact on the quality of the UPA Championship Series. His presence ensures that our events are run smoothly, processes are followed, and timely feedback is given to our members' needs.

In 2003, the UPA has budgeted to spend $132,500 on the Championship Series. This represents 25% of the overall budget for the year and does not include any UPA staff salaries related to the series. Nationals itself is budgeted for $50,000. In order to close the gap on our budget, the board felt that it was necessary for Nationals participants to contribute a larger share of the moneys required to run the tournament.

Though the board struggled with making this decision, I believe that it was the right thing to do. I fully expect for Nationals to be a great tournament and hope that you enjoy your time there. Best of luck with your respective teams and may the Spirit of the Game be with you.

-Kate Bergeron