Update: We Need Your Voice Now
First, thank you to everyone who has continued to support this petition. Your signatures, messages, and encouragement have kept this effort moving forward.
Unfortunately, after months of waiting, we have still received no response from the APA National Office regarding the concerns raised in this petition. Despite the serious allegations that have been brought forward by players and former members, there has been no public acknowledgement or meaningful response from the organization.
What has been especially discouraging is that, while these concerns remain unanswered, APA National representatives have continued publicly recognizing and working with Johnny Maricich, including photographs with him and allowing him to continue serving as a referee at the APA Championships in Las Vegas. Many supporters of this petition believe this sends the wrong message while these concerns remain unresolved.
We Need a Call to Action
At this point, we need your help more than ever.
If you believe the APA National Office should investigate these concerns, please contact them directly. Tell them how you feel about the allegations involving Illiana APA League Operators Johnny and Gloria Maricich, and respectfully explain what actions you believe should be taken.
APA National Office American Poolplayers Association, Inc. 1000 Lake Saint Louis Blvd., Suite 325 Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367
Phone: (636) 625-8611
Please also consider using the contact form on the APA website to submit your comments directly to the National Office.
Share Your Story
If you have had personal experiences with the Illiana APA, we encourage you to document them.
Please send your experiences to:
refusebusinessillianaapa@gmail.com
You should also submit your concerns directly to the APA National Office so they can hear from players firsthand. It's easy.. just CC them on the email that you send to: refusebusinessillianaapa@gmail.com
Over the coming weeks and months, we plan to begin a series of Facebook Live broadcasts highlighting player experiences and discussing concerns that have been shared with us. Our goal is to raise awareness so current and prospective players, as well as businesses considering hosting the league, can make informed decisions.
If you choose to submit your story, please indicate whether you are comfortable with your name being shared publicly or if you would prefer your experience to remain anonymous.
Finally, if you believe accountability is warranted, we encourage you to respectfully share this petition, discuss it with fellow players, and make your voice heard. Even if you have not had your own experience with these League operators, please consider reaching out to the APA national office and ask them to acknowledge this petition and the many stories that have been shared by so many people. It is astonishing that they have continued to ignore these players for this long. It is clear that they do not intend to give intention to these matters and that they do not care about the players here in Northwest Indiana. Only that their revenue streams continue to come in.
Thank you again to everyone who has continued supporting this effort. I will continue on this journey for as long as it takes and I will keep growing this movement until action is taken.
As stated above, this is a call to action and I cannot do this without you. We need your stories, we need your emails to go out and we need your phone calls to the national office. It takes a village..
Lastly, we need to start talking to our local businesses and let them know what has transpired over at Griffith Billiards and how Johnny Maricich abuses his power by forcing the hand of local business owners that he has done business with in order to push other leagues out and try to own the game of pool. And how he has threatened to take his league out of Griffith Billiards if they did not kick out another league that merely tried to coexist and provide pool players in the area with another fun format of pool for them to enjoy. It may even be a good idea to consider boycotting local businesses that work with Illiana APA LLC until some accountability has been taken...
THE ABUSE HAS TO STOP. BUT IT WONT UNTIL WE ALL STAND UP AND STAND TOGETHER!
God Bless everyone for their continued support