Empire State USBC Bowling Association
John Nevada, Longtime Director,
Passes Away at Age 82
The Empire State USBC BA would like to acknowledge the contributions to bowling of John R. Nevada, a New York State (1991), American Bowling Congress and Rochester USBC (1990) Hall of Famer, who passed away on Tuesday (August 31, 2010) at the age of 82.
John, a director of the Rochester USBC BA for five decades, was a past president of the the local association and a longtime director at the national level. He was well-known and respected by bowlers throughout the state and across the nation.
He is survived by his children, Nancy Nevada-Roberts, Thomas P. (Jeanne), Mark (Deb); grandchildren, Daniel Nevada, Christie (Christopher) David, Ashley Nevada, Sarah Roberts (Peter Meyers), Jason Nevada; sister, Jeannine Freisner; brother-in-law, Herman Kohnken; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Elaine Nevada.
John was a retiree of Eastman Kodak Co., and a member of Knights of Columbus #3892 Greece Council.
Friends may call today (Sept. 3) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the DiPonzio Funeral Home, Inc., 219 Spencerport Road, Gates. On Saturday morning, September 4, friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Name of Jesus Church (St. Martin's Way) Entombment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be directed to Holy Name of Jesus Church, St. Martin's Way, Rochester, NY 14616 in his memory.
For a local perspective Click Here
Open Letter to Bowlers
From USBC President
Sept. 1, 2010
Dear Association leader,
The summer is quickly coming to a close and the new league season is right around the corner. We know you are as excited about the upcoming 2010-11 season as we are at USBC. We want to take a moment and thank you for your support and all the work you do for the sport of bowling.
For the upcoming season, we need your help to convince more leagues to certify with USBC. Research indicates about a quarter of all leagues do not certify with USBC. We need your help at the grass roots level to approach these leagues and bring them into the USBC family.
Many bowlers are unaware of all USBC has to offer and the more information we give to bowlers, the better they can understand why they should become a member.
Bowlers need to understand that USBC governs the game so they can have fair rules and equipment standards and they can simply focus on having FUN playing the sport they love.
A USBC membership means great awards and special deals that only the power of a two-million member organization can offer. USBC members have access to:
• The new USBC Platinum Visa credit card. Qualifying USBC members who sign up will receive a $10 rebate for national dues once their membership is processed.
• Every bowler wants to be recognized for special achievements and USBC has great awards for bowlers.
• USBC bowlers have access to a Member Rewards program that will save them on products they already use. By certifying your league, bowlers can save on everything from cell phones to hotels, to rental cars and car insurance.
• USBC members receive a certified average, making them eligible for USBC Championships events and for tournaments in your local area as well.
• USBC leagues receive bonding coverage to protect the league’s prize fund
Plus, you can tell them about the many great programs USBC has to offer including coaching, youth, high school, collegiate, Sport Bowling and the Registered Volunteer Program. USBC also offers great tournaments such as the Open and Women’s Championships, and youth events such as the Junior Gold Championships and Youth Open that offer more than $200,000 annually in scholarships.
We hope you’ll take on this challenge and try to increase the number of USBC certified leagues in your association. We appreciate the dedication and support you bring to USBC and hope you have a great new season.
Sincerely,
Darlene Baker
USBC President
Tournament Lineup Starts
With Seniors Event in October
By Mike Pettinella -- Empire State USBC BA Association Mgr.
AUGUST 23, 2010 -- Joe Fook and Richard Achillo. These two Long Islanders have the distinction of being the first doubles team to enter this year's NYS Seniors Championships, scheduled for Oct. 16-17, 23-24 at Roseland Bowl in Canandaigua.
 So, it's not too early to download your entry form and mail it (along with a check or money order for the entry fees) to me to compete in the 32nd edition of the tournament for bowlers age 55 and up.
The entry forms for the NYS Masters Tournament and the 87th NYS Open Championships also are available for downloading on this website. Also, go to the Tournaments section for valuable hotel information for the NYS Open Championships next spring at Fishkill Bowl.
Here’s our tournament lineup:
-- NYS Seniors Championships, Oct. 16-17, 23-24, 2010, Roseland Bowl, Canandaigua. Click Here for an entry form.
-- NYS Masters Tournament, March 26-27, Boulevard Bowl, Schenectady. Click Here for an entry form.
-- NYS Open Championships, April 9-10, 16-17, 30, May 1, 14-15, Fishkill Bowl, Fishkill (near Poughkeepsie). Click Here for an entry form.
Make your plans to participate in these exciting tournaments!
Electronic Device Helps Roth Achieve Another Milestone: He Goes Bowling
FULTON, NY, August 19, 2010 -- “It’s like a miracle,” Denise Roth said after watching husband Mark Roth, a Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer and one of the greatest bowlers in history, walk unaided on the approach and throw a 12-pound bowling ball for the first time in more than 14 months.
 Since Roth, 59, suffered a massive stroke in late May 2009 that left the left side of his body paralyzed, he has refused to give up the fight to regain his life. His first public appearance following his stroke was at the GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship in late March in West Babylon, N.Y., motivated him to continue his rehabilitation. He followed that appearance with a trip to Columbus, Ohio, in April where he spent a week with his former PBA Senior Tour competitors.
Last week, with the assistance of a recently-developed device called a “WalkAide” that provides electronic stimulation to eliminate a common stroke condition called “drop foot,” the 34-time PBA Tour champion made another milestone leap forward. With the WalkAide, he was able to lift his left foot almost normally and walk “without tripping over his toes,” Denise Roth said. And with the ability to stand and walk on his own, Roth decided to test the device on a bowling lane in Fulton, N.Y., where he quickly worked his way up from a 6-pound ball to a 12-pounder, Denise said.
“Mark had use of the device for a seven-day trial and it was amazing,” Denise said. “He could walk faster and farther than any time since his stroke. He actually bowled with confidence. He was getting around 100 percent better, which helped him get some badly-needed exercise.
“He had to turn the WalkAide back in after the trial period, so now we have to wait to see what the insurance company says (about getting it back),” she added. “It’s a wonderful device. It actually took some of his hip pain away, too.”
Rochester’s Clover Lanes to Host
National Senior Games Event
ROCHESTER, August 9, 2010 – Clover Lanes, 2750 Monroe Ave., will be hosting the National Senior Games Championships bowling tournament, an event endorsed by the United States  Bowling Congress, from Sept. 29-Oct. 3.
The four-person team tourney will feature competition in four age classifications – 50-and-over, 60-and-over, 70-and-over and 80-and-over. Teams can be comprised of all men, all women or two men and two women.
Teams will bowl three games per day for three days with the top eight teams advancing to the roll-off. After nine games of qualifying, teams 1st through 8th in each division will bowl a three game roll-off to determine Gold, Silver and Bronze finish. Handicap is based on 90 percent of the difference in the bowler’s average and 225.
Registration fee is $50 per person (online at www.nsga.com ) or $65 (by mail).
Bowling is one of five sports in the National Senior Games in Rochester, the others being golf, pickleball, curling and ice hockey.
‘Changes at the Top’
Board Elects Wilkinson as President,
Hires Pettinella as Association Manager
LIVERPOOL -- Aug. 1, 2010 – The Empire State USBC Bowling Association, at its board meeting in conjunction with the NYS Bowling Council Family Workshop weekend, made several leadership changes heading into what could be its final year as a separate entity.
Frank Wilkinson, 23, of Staten Island was unanimously elected president of the ESUSBCBA. Wilkinson is owner of Rab’s Country Lanes and recently was elected as one of the youth committee representatives on the USBC national board of directors.
Prior to his appointment to the president’s role, Wilkinson served the ESUSBCBA as first vice president.
He replaces Mike Pettinella of Batavia, who was hired by the board as the association manager for the 2010-11 year, which began on August. 1.
Pettinella was elected as the group’s president at an organizational meeting in May 2009. The Empire State USBC BA was formed to replace the former New York State USBC BA, which was disbanded due to criminal malfeasance.
Pettinella replaces Paul Kupelian of Constantia, who resigned to pursue bowling association responsibilities at the local level.
Roger Buckman of Farmington was elected to the first vice president post vacated by Wilkinson. Buckman, former president of the Rochester USBC BA, was a jurisdictional director for the ESUSBCBA.
“I would like to thank the board for electing me as president for the remaining season of the Empire State USBC, and also want to congratulate Mike and Roger,” said Wilkinson, referring to the fact that the process to merge ESUSBCBA with the women and youth organizations is under way.
“I also wish to commend Paul Kupelian for his efforts this past year, and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Pettinella expressed his gratitude to the board for their hard work in restoring the association’s credibility with the state’s certified league bowlers, and said he looks forward to providing exceptional customer service.
“We anticipate great turnouts for our tournaments – all the entry forms will be posted on the web site soon – and we want our local associations to know that we’re here to support them,” he said.
The board also announced the resignation of jurisdictional director Peter Resvanis of Long Island. The remainder of the board remained intact. Officer and director information can be found by clicking on the Officers tab on the home page.
|
