CedriC Ceballos - Arizona Luxury Homes

DEAR NBRPA MEMBER,
Arnie D. Fielkow, NBRPA
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Summary
They say time
flies when
you’re having
fun. I am
already seven months
into my job serving you
as Ceo of the National
Basketball Retired players
association and it feels
as if we’re moving a mile
a minute. Since my fulltime
arrival in october,
we have looked hard at what was working and we have
tried to make those programs and services even better.
We have eliminated what was not working and we are
constantly introducing new programs and services to
add value to NBRpa members.
We now offer free programs in the areas of health,
finance, career/life skills, education and legal to
help equip our members with tools for success. our
newly re-launched web site, legendsofBasketball.
com, is a world-class portal for news, information and
interactivity. We also continue to innovate with sociallyaware
events for members and the general public.
During the recent NBa all-Star Weekend in
orlando, the NBRpa partnered with Wells Fargo
to celebrate Black History Month. as part of a daylong
celebration on Feb. 26, former New York Knicks
star Dr. Dick Barnett and our own legends Band—a
soulful music act comprised of former NBa and
WNBa players–delivered a rousing assembly program
to a group of local school children to celebrate africanamerican
heritage and the opportunities that lie ahead.
later that evening, the NBRpa and Wells
Fargo hosted a public reception and historic panel
discussion on the african-american impact on the
game of basketball and sports, in general. For two
hours NBRpa members Kareem abdul-Jabbar, Julius
erving, Spencer Haywood, earl lloyd and Dolph
Schayes—joined by Sharon Robinson (daughter of
Major league Baseball’s first african-american player,
Jackie Robinson), sports/social activist Dr. Richard
a. lapchick, author Mark Johnson (son of former
Harlem Globetrotter, andy Johnson) and emcee
Marc H. Morial, president & Ceo of the National
Urban league—were united in frank and captivating
discussion about the historic relevance of race in sports.
Several hundred people attended the Hardwood
pioneers Reflect panel at the Walt Disney Swan Resort
in orlando and thousands more accessed the historic
discussion live online at legendsofBasketball.com.
Without the support of our partner, Wells Fargo, the
NBRpa would not have been able to produce such an
historic and culturally-relevant menu of programming
in celebration of Black History Month. These are the
types of impactful partnerships we are working hard to
create and execute at the NBRpa.
From an event standpoint, our organizational
focus now turns to the 2012 legends World Sports
Conference in New orleans on august 17, 18 and 19.
as the former president for the New orleans City
Council and executive Vice president of the New
orleans Saints, the Crescent City is obviously a place I
hold dear to my heart and I can promise our members
and partners a truly unique world-class event.
are you ready to hit the French Quarter for a
weekend of philanthropy, fraternization, food and fun?
our annual retreat to share ideas, to network and learn
from one another will be held at the historic Royal
Sonesta Hotel in New orleans. located on Bourbon
Street in the heart of the French Quarter, the Royal
Sonesta offers quick access to everything New orleans
has to offer. and we are putting together a one-of-akind,
all-inclusive itinerary that combines business with
entertainment for NBRpa members in good standing.
NBRpa membership dues cover a two-night hotel
stay as well as a host of entertainment, dining and
learning opportunities. The agenda won’t be limited to
just the Royal Sonesta—we’ve booked activities to take
place on the Mississippi River as part of a steamboat
cruise for conference attendees. If you know former
teammates or friends from your playing days who aren’t
7