When we have standardized rules, everybody will benefit from it. There really is no uniformity right now and one of the problems with poker is that it has exploded to the point where more and more of these tournaments are sprouting up. We need to get them all on the same page.

Hopefully, we can develop something that everybody will agree is a pretty good way to run a tournament. It will be a standard that everybody will want to replicate.

It gives me much pride ... to see the men and women who stand so bravely to defend our country.

There have always been tournament issues that needed to be addressed, but they were always handled on an individual basis. We want to address these issues as a governing body.

All of the members will get one vote on any key issues that come up. Our goal is to speak with one voice and elevate tournament poker to a more professional status.