NYS Local Associations

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD CHANGES
FOR 2014-15 SEASON

FEBRUARY 27, 2013 -- USBCis making a change to the special achievement award program designed to give local associations more flexibility to serve bowlers. Effective the 2014-15 season, local associations will be able to choose awards and create a structure that fit their membership. USBC National no longer will set requirements for special achievement awards and will discontinue sending special achievement, year-end league and association championship tournament awards to associations. Special achievement awards are currently bag tags and lapel pins. High score awards such as rings, plaques and trophies for 300 games, 800 series and 11-in-a-row are not affected by this change. Sport Bowling awards also are not affected.

In this new model, associations will be able to create or expand its local awards programs while still receiving support from USBC National. USBC will contract with a top national vendor to provide volume discount pricing on awards for local associations. This allows local associations to take advantage of USBC's purchasing power without being forced into a "one size fits all" model.

As part of this change, the USBC Board of Directors is recommending a bylaw change as part of 2013 legislation to remove the cap on local association dues. This will allow local associations the flexibility to adjust prices to support a more robust awards structure, if that is what local members want.

USBC has conducted several test programs and surveyed associations about award structures. The data shows local associations often know their bowlers best. Many associations currently run outstanding awards programs and would prefer to set their own standards when it comes to earning awards.

USBC leadership understands this change will lead to operational and potentially budgetary adjustments for local associations. The USBC staff is working to make the transition as smooth as possible. We realize there will be questions about the change, so in conjunction with association leaders on the USBC Board, we have answered some anticipated questions. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions.

This change is approved by the USBC Board of Directors and workshops are planned for the 2013 USBC Convention to provide additional details. USBC staff will be reaching out to association leaders in the coming months for input so together we can work toward making this a positive change for our bowlers.

Bowling Summit Speakers Focus
on Teamwork and Cooperation

JANUARY 31, 2013 – The Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America 2013 Bowling Summit in San Antonio, Texas, this week was marked by a spirit of cooperation and teamwork in the comments made by the leaders of bowling’s three major organizations and by keynote speaker Olympic swim champion Rowdy Gaines.

CLICK HERE to read an article about Gaines’ presentation to BPAA members and guests on Tuesday morning.

Senior executives from the BPAA, United States Bowling Congress and Strike Ten Entertainment participated in a panel discussion that focused on their commitment to collaborate and make decisions that are “good for the sport of bowling.” Panelists were Stu Upson (executive director) and Andrew Cain (president) of the USBC, Steve Johnson (executive director) and Cathy DeSocio (president) of the BPAA, and Frank DeSocio (executive director) and Anthony Perrone (president) of Strike Ten Entertainment.

All six of these leaders talked about their individual organizations and boards of directors’ desire to work with the other integers housed at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, and were optimistic that a unified approach will bode well for the future of bowling.

“The brand is bowling, not the USBC or BPAA,” Johnson said. “By putting us all in that building and intertwining the staffs, look what we’re doing for bowling. If bowling does better, everybody wins. We’ve got a long way to go, but we are moving forward … I’m excited about what’s in store for the next four years.”

Frank DeSocio said it’s a matter of “getting everybody in the same room – getting the right people at the table” to make new things happen, specifically mentioning the “8 for 8” bowling programs that have found a measure of success throughout the U.S.

As far as USBC membership is concerned, Cain admitted the current dues structure “is not relevant anymore” due to the decline of traditional league play, and that all three organizations need to “start focusing on bowling and taking care of the proprietors. Then it will be a lot easier to accomplish our objectives.”

Concerning the future of the IBC, Upson predicts that the Arlington operation will become “smaller in terms of the number of people, but will become more efficient as the USBC uses technology to communicate better” with its membership. “I’d like to see more people in the field (reaching out to the local associations).”

Other highlights of the Summit included:

-- The introduction of Bowling 2.0, a four-week learn-to-bowl program for adults who are new bowlers or are returning to the game after a long layoff.  Coordinated by pro bowler Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, director of coaching for USBC, the course is an indirect extension of a decade-long trend of declining league membership. Each 90-minute weekly session includes the viewing and discussion of a DVD produced by the IBC followed by on-lane instruction. Kits to market and implement the program are available from the USBC for $49.

-- News that for the first time in 23 years, there may not be a drop-off in USBC youth membership. “IBC Youth, which has resulted as a joint project of the BPAA and USBC, is incredibly successful,” Upson said. “We’re starting to see a leveling off (in membership); we’re definitely not seeing the 10 percent decline that we had in the past.”

-- Word that The Bowling Foundation, an organization designed to support worthwhile causes, has signed a two-year contract with the American Heart Association. What this means is that TBF will be able to communicate the healthy benefits of bowling to the 30,000 schools that have connections with the AHA. In return, TBF will provide 350 bowling kits (bowling lane carpets, balls and pins, with a teaching curriculum) to schools that raise the most money for the AHA.

-- A perceptive talk about new social media platforms and technologies to grow businesses by PepsiCo Digital Marketer John Ross. “The bowling experience isn't just about what happens on the lanes; there is so much more to it. It's about family time, food and fun. Through social media, bowling can now tell its story before, during and after people go to the lanes, creating an experience even when people aren't on premise,” Ross said.

-- By Mike Pettinella, NYS USBC Association Manager

GENESEE REGION USBC HALL OF FAMERS: Professional Bowlers Association standout Bob Learn, left, congratulates Gregg Wolff of Batavia, Tom Allis of Medina and Ron Starkweather of Oakfield upon their induction into the Genesee Region USBC Hall of Fame on May 10 at the local association's annual dinner meeting in Batavia. Learn and USBC Gold Level Coach Stephen Padilla were guest speakers at the banquet. Photo by Mike Pettinella, NYS USBC Association Manager.

Who Wants to Help?

A call for leaders across the state to voluntarily assist the NYS USBC in its effort to promote bowling through fair, competitive tournaments and worthwhile, effective programs and services.

DECEMBER 20, 2011

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES (“REPS”)

The NYS USBC is recruiting one or two people in each of the state’s 10 regions – see Regional Map on the Officers page of this website -- to provide valuable assistance to the state’s bowling operation in the capacities listed below.  These ambassadors not only will enhance the NYS USBC’s level of service, but also will become familiar with the administration of bowling on the state level, potentially paving the way for them to become NYS USBC officers and directors in future years.

          a. Help distribute state tournament entry forms, flyers and other materials generated through the NYS USBC office.
          b. Represent the NYS USBC (when requested) at local association meetings, local Hall of Fame and Awards gatherings and at other events as warranted.
          c. Help communicate NYS USBC directives and “news” – such as new programs, coaching clinics, workshops – and help get the word out about the value of regularly visiting our website – www.bowlny.com.
          d. Help promote NYS youth scholarships and other youth initiatives and activities.
          e. Help identify potential Hall of Fame or Special Award nominees and assist in the nomination process when necessary.
          f. Be our “eyes and ears” at the regional and local level, provide information and insight as we strive to improve communication with and service to our membership.
         g. Assist at NYS Open, Women, Senior and Youth Tournaments as requested by the state’s association manager.

YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES (“REPS”)

Similar in scope and function to the Regional Ambassadors, Youth Ambassadors would primarily focus on the following:

          a. promoting youth bowling;
          b. helping to recruit new youth bowlers;
          c. assisting at youth tournaments;
          d. spreading the word about the NYS USBC scholarship program;
          e. gaining experience necessary to move into leadership roles on the state level.

If you are interested in becoming a Regional or Youth Representative, please contact Mike Pettinella, NYS USBC association manager, at bowlny300@yahoo.com or 585-343-3736.

NEW YORK STATE USBC LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS