Over the last four years a lot of things have changed in my life. I’m married now, adopted a daughter, my wife gave birth to a son, I’ve survived a layoff from a job I held for over seven years, was rehired by the new owners, left the job to persue other opportunities, opened a game store, and changed drastically from what I was to what I’ve become. As more changes took place in my life and my priorities evolved, the time and energy to pursue those things that I had great passion for has dwindled. Many of those things were greatly reduced or completely cut out of my life, while others I’d have to tackle without the passion and energy that I once had for them. There are things which were once special that have become ritual now, being done out of obligation rather than out of love and passion.

It’s not fair to anyone involved. It’s not fair to great people at Upper Deck Entertainment, my family, the players, and the volunteers which I’ve been charged to watch over with the same passion I showed when initially brought to Upper Deck Entertainment’s Premier Events staff. It’s time for a change in focus for all involved and that change happens now.

From this point forward, Timothy Shields and his phenomenal staff at Cascade Games LLC will be taking over the duties as Premier Tournament Organizer for the state of Utah. He’ll use his considerable skill, knowledge, passion, and instincts to reinvigorate the Upper Deck communities which he’ll be running events for. Having judged for him in the past and talked with him at length over the last eight years, I think the Utah players couldn’t have found a better person to step into this role and take things to a completely different level than I was able to.

Cascade Games will need help though, and I call for those who are interested in taking a active role in the health of these communities to work hand in hand with Cascade Games to promote, grow, and build a greater community for everyone who shares a love and passion for the games that they are charged for running in our community.

As for me, I’ve volunteered to continue to help out with the World of Warcraft TCG community here, as I still feel a strong bond with those players. My hope is that by taking a reduced role in the execution of these larger events, it will help rekindle the fire that I felt when I first started volunteering to judge events nearly ten years and two thousand-five hundred tournaments ago. I move forward with a renewed focus on the growth and care of the players who play in the events at the Black Rose Game Center, and catering with a more personal touch to the wants and needs of those people who I am closest with and see most often.

And maybe I’ll play some Guitar Hero too, but that’ll wait until after today’s work is done, and last as long as Malachi thinks the broken guitar is doing everything on screen.

En gassha,
Christopher Scanlon
Former Premier Events Organizer for Upper Deck Entertainment (Utah)