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Recently I provided an insight as to the business side of the ADA (ADA Invades Northeast). This article generated a lot of responses from officers of small independent dart leagues.
I’m not surprised. One of the biggest problems with independent dart leagues are they “reinvent” themselves every year. Consider this, eighty-six percent of these leagues are managed by unpaid volunteers elected for one-year. In a business enviornment these are frightening statistics! Under these conditions long-term planning simply does not exist. In addition many officers do not understand they are managing a small business.
None of the above existing conditions apply to the ADA. One of the reasons the ADA continues to grow in the declining organized darts market is the core of the American Dart League has a solid foundation. I reported how American Dart Leagues are developed and maintained by franchisees, similar to other major sports. They own the franchise and are committed to making it successful.
The ADA provides the necessary materials required to start and then maintain their franchises. In addition to the three-day Basic Training Seminar these materials include rule books, score sheets, sales posters, brochures and most importantly of all, a customized computer software program. On-going support is an important part of the package. Two full-time ADA staff members are just a phone call away to solve any problems our Franchisees experience in the “field”.
Annually our franchisees get together at the ADA Franchisee Convention. During this three-day convention we review the past years activities and present new programs, products and services for the upcoming year. The convention also provides an opportunity for Franchisees to submit changes to make their franchise more efficient and prosperous. Traditionally the convention is held prior to the ADA National Championship and this year’s took place July 21-23 in Chicago.
![Photo: Rob Coleman [left] with Glenn Remick](../news/photos/2003.08news_business-side-p01.jpg) In addition to the reviews and forecasts I have the honor of presenting the Representative of the Year award to the Franchisee who does an outstanding job in maintaining and developing their franchise area. The choice this year was a difficult one as so many of our Franchisees did a great job managing their franchises. The recipients of this award go to Rob Coleman and Tommy Walker. As partners their franchise is located in the Hampton Roads/Newport News/Virginia Beach area of Virginia. Both have done an outstanding job to increase membership, teams and locations in their franchise area.
In the last article I reported how the ADA was expanding to the great Northeast. Five prospective Franchisess attended and I’m pleased to report our new Vermont ADA Reps, Ned & Cyndi McPherson started league play in Rutland on July 16th. Rick Rheault begins league play in western Massachusetts on September 8th, followed by Rockland County New York Franchisees Steve Veralli and Irene Tatti in mid September. Finally, Stacy Gaspar is planning on a start up of her franchise in Maine by October 1st.
I’ll continue to update you on new market areas in the future.
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![ADA Darters [www.adadarters.com]](../images/logotext-ada01.gif){kind=small}
