WPBA Explains Dismissal
In a follow-up to a Feb. 8 press release from Trifecta Management, Women’s Professional Billiard Association President Jan McWorter released an additional unsigned statement commenting on the dismissal of Board Member Dr. Diana Sorrentino. The statement cited “numerous major findings by the Board of impropriety in communications with WPBA sponsors and business partners, the pool industry, the billiards press, and numerous others with whom the WPBA interacts,” and “Dr. Sorrentino’s frequent violation of WPBA protocols for communication, and unwillingness to reform even after reprimand by the President of the organization,” as the substantial reasons for Dr. Sorrentino’s dismissal. The statement further stated, “the evidence of Dr. Sorrentino’s impropriety is, almost entirely, hard documentary evidence.”
Sorrentino had no comment on the dismissal, nor the controversy surrounding it.
In response to speculation within the billiards community that Sorrentino’s dismissal was a result of statements made on the Billiards Digest Cue Chalk Board discussion forum, the statement distributed by McWorter emphasized that “the WPBA does not object, in principle, to Dr. Sorrentino’s use of the Billiards Digest online forum,” and “the WPBA recognizes that the online forum participants are among the most enthusiastic and most knowledgeable members of the pool community, and we understand and appreciate that they tend to give pool a good name.”
The WPBA will not release any of the documentary evidence, according to the statement, out of respect for Sorrentino.
Sorrentino Voted Out
Feb. 8 press release from Trifecta Entertainment, the Women’s Professional Billiard Association announced that the Board of Directors had unanimously voted to dismiss newly elected board member Dr. Diana Sorrentino. Sorrentino, a New York business consultant, was dismissed with cause, according to the release. WPBA officials declined further comment on the dismissal, pending formal correspondence with Dr. Sorrentino. In the weeks leading up to the ouster, WPBA board members scrutinized Internet discussion forums where Sorrentino was an active participant.
WPBA bylaws provide for removal of members “with or without cause at any time, by the vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of directors present and voting at that meeting called for that purpose.” At press time it was not known how many board members voted on the issue.
“This has been an unpleasant process for the entire board but we are committed to furthering the goals and objectives of the WPBA,” said Jan McWorter, WPBA president, in the press release. “We would like to thank Dr. Sorrentino for her service and wish her well in her future endeavors.” McWorter added that the Board is in discussion about how to fill the open position, which they hope to do immediately. “In the past we’ve gone to the next-highest vote getter [in the most recent election],” said WPBA vice-president Kelly Oyama.