Change of attitude required to help grow the sport of bowling

Change of attitude required to help grow the sport of bowling USBC delegates urged to join organization to support sport, work closer with proprietors After years of asking people to join the United States Bowling Congress because of the things they will receive, it's time to ask them to belong because they believe in what the organization does for the sport.

Such an attitude adjustment was requested by United States Bowling Congress President Jeff Bojé (right) during Friday's session of the USBC Annual Meeting at the Kansas City Municipal Auditorium.

As Bojé stood in the middle of the legendary arena, on the four lanes used Thursday night for the taping of Bowling's Clash of Champions, he used his own personal story to emphasize his message of dramatic change. He noted the addition of triplets, including daughter Kristen with Downs Syndrome, changed his and his family's life.

"We need to look at the world through a different set of eyes," he said. "We need to change our message. We're not sorry Kristen has Downs Syndrome. We're proud of her and her sisters and brothers as well. We have to have people who are proud of our sport but we have to believe it ourselves. If we can't believe it, we can't expect other people to believe it."

Embracing change was a general theme that resonated throughout the day. Another way mentioned was for national, state or local associations and bowling center owners to cooperate to jointly promote programs crucial to their success.

That tone initially was set by USBC Vice President Darlene Baker (left) in her Strategic Committee report and later by USBC Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger(right)  in his report.

Both noted that nationally, USBC's move later this year to Arlington, Texas, to help create the International Bowling Campus is a big step in that direction.

"Together, in one location, we will be able to achieve our goal of growing the sport and being recognized as a sport," Baker said.

"We desperately need to develop joint programs with proprietors, with your input and proprietor input, that can be implemented and it's a lot easier doing that down the hall than trying to find someone by telephone," Dornberger said.

At the same time, both said local and state associations must find common ground with their proprietors.

"We need to develop programs for use by the proprietors," said Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger. "We also must simplify and reduce local association requirements to allow you to spend more time promoting bowling as a sport.

To achieve that goal, association requirements are being revised so associations can spend more time working with proprietors.

"We will give you guidelines and suggestions," Dornberger said. "There will be fewer forms. The only things we will require will be those things required by state and federal law."

As the USBC/Bowling Centers of Florida program activation representative who works on joint programs, Jim Zebehazy said he has seen first hand how having two hats has been very beneficial.

"Working and building relationships with associations and proprietors has been very helpful," Zebehazy said. "Proprietors are just as interested in seeing bowling succeed. They just come at it a little different than we do. It is a different era where our success is tied together more than ever before. "

Zebehazy said people in today's American culture don't want to compete in 35-week leagues. Rather, they'd prefer to bowl for fun in a party-type setting on weekends. That means associations and proprietors should concentrate their league efforts for mid-week.

Development of the sport and changing the general public's perception that bowling is a sport are USBC's top priority issues. Nationally, USBC's involvement in televised ePBA Women's Series and the Clash of Champions are being done to address these issues because television gets more exposure for bowling than any other avenue.

Locally, associations and proprietors can help by budgeting money to purchase new In-School bowling kits and helping schools start high school bowling programs.

"You are USBC," Bojé said. "You are the governing body of the sport. Together, we'll grow the sport."

The day also featured a number of honors and awards starting with the induction of seven new members of the USBC Hall of Fame. The late Martha Burton was joined by Mike Hennessy and Roger Dalkin (left) in the Meritorious Service area while bowling greats Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (right), Parker Bohn III and Leanne Barrette Hulsenberg were added in the Performance division.

Earlier, Brittni Hamilton of Webster, N.Y. was presented with the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow and Kyle Kahlden the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow awards.

"For me to follow in the footsteps of the other Stars of Tomorrow from Western New York – Millie Ignizio, Liz Johnson, Marc D'Errico and Jonathan Buckert – it is a tremendous honor and I'm proud to follow in this great tradition," Hamilton (left) said.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award and am sorry I could not be in attendance to accept it," Kahlden (right) said in a letter read by USBC Youth Committee Chair Tommy Gann. "Unfortunately I have five finals during the two-day span of Friday and Saturday, but thank you to everyone at the awards presentation for supporting this sport with not only your presence but also your actions."

In the afternoon, five more people were presented with special awards.


The USBC Annual Meeting concludes Saturday with the Memorial Service, Meet for the Cure ceremony, voting on rules and bylaws and election of four board members.