2011 USBC National Convention = June 28 – July 1, 2011

Gaylord Texan Hotel – Grapevine, Texas

On Tuesday we toured the International Bowling Campus in Arlington.  After that a barbeque was held for all in attendance.

Numerous workshops/seminars were available (Wednesday and Thursday, June 29 – 30) on the following topics (ones we attended are underlined):

Association Business/Taxes                           Youth Development/USA Bowling

Diversity Programs                                         League Secretary Certification

WinLABS Beginner’s Workshop                       Rules

High School and Collegiate Programs               BOWL.com

Specifications and Certifications Update         Youth Processing

The Youth Committee                                    Running Successful Board Meetings

Championship Tournaments                          Leadership Succession Planning

Effective Tools of Communication                   A Future in USBC Coaching

Meet the Candidates                                      Regional Roundup

Growing the Membership/The Market Research

Bowlers Ed – Achieve Success by Getting Bowling into Your Schools

WinLABS Advanced Workshop – Producing and Using Reports

Those wishing to see details on these seminars may contact us.

Thursday afternoon we visited the Bowl Expo Trade Show that was being held during this week at the Gaylord Texan Hotel also.  Numerous booths/vendors were set up for those wishing to visit.

Thursday night the US Women’s Open Finals was held at the Cowboys Stadium.  Here are the results: 

                        1^st Match:  Linda Barnes defeated Shannon O’Keefe (268 – 166)

                        2^nd Match:  Linda Barnes defeated Liz Johnson (259 – 225)

                        3^rd Match:  Leanne Hulsenberg defeated Linda Barnes (247 – 246)

                        4^th Match:  Leanne Hulsenberg defeated Kelly Kulick for the title (218 – 183)

The annual meeting started on Friday morning.  As always the memorial service was very meaningful.  The credentials report was as follows:

Award recipients were as follows:

            Hall of Fame:

                        Del Ballard Jr. – Superior Performance

                        Carol Gianotti – Superior Performance

                        Roseann Kuhn – Meritorious Service

                        Jeff Richgels – Outstanding USBC Performance

                        Cheryl Robinson – Veterans

                        Wayne Webb – Superior Performance

            Recognition Awards:

                        Ellen Goss – Helen Baker Outstanding Association Service Award

                        James Doty – Proprietor of the Year Award

                        David Patrick – Joyce Deitch Unity Award

            Youth Award Winners:

                        Steve Lawson – Kerm Helmer Horizon Award

                        Marty Jones – David Dahms Coach of the Year Award

                        Cera Dailey – Youth Female Ambassador of the Year

                        Lance Ragland – Youth Male Ambassador of the Year

            Stars of Tomorrow:

                        Nichole Mosesso – Alberta E. Crowe Award

                        Brent Bowers – Chuck Hall Award

At the Meet the Candidates session, all candidates who were running for a director position on the board were asked specific questions.  The results were as follows:

Legislation:  There were three (3) proposed amendments that the delegation voted on – here are the results:

            Rule 100h.  Senior

                        Lowers age for senior leagues to 50.

                                    Votes were:     Adopt = 28%

                                                            Reject = 72%

                        AMENDMENT DEFEATED

            Article II, Purposes

                        Chartering State and Local Bowling Associations

                        Requires non-merged state and local associations to be merged by 8/1/12

                                    An amendment to the amendment was submitted to change the date from

8/1/12 to 8/1/13 – Votes for this were:            Adopt = 76%

                                                                        Reject = 24%

                        AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT APPROVED

                        Results for the new amendment were as follows:

                                    Adopt = 54%

                                    Reject = 46%

                        AMENDMENT DEFEATED

            Article IV, Board of Directors, Section B.  Election, Item 2

                        Changing requirement for credentials to be filed with USBC from 24 hours to 30 days.

            Votes were:     Adopt = 72%

                                    Reject = 28%

AMENDMENT APPROVED

Other highlights from the meeting:

Membership:  There is a 6.6% decline in membership.  The goal for the 2013-2014 season is no decline.

Tournaments upcoming:

            Open Tournament:     2012 – Baton Rouge

                                                2013 – Reno

                                                2014 – Reno

             Women’s Tournament:           2012 – Reno

                                                            2013 – Reno

                                                            2014 – Reno

Starting August 1^st you can go to MyBowlingVacation.com to reserve your vacation.

After the annual meeting the USBC Board of Directors met and elected the following:

            President – Jim Sturm

            Vice President – Tom Bluth

The meeting next year is to be held the end of April in Arlington, Texas.

Thanks to you, the NC Delegates, for selecting us to have the opportunity to attend this meeting.  We were not only able to attend the meeting, but we were also able to go to workshops/seminars where we received helpful information to use on the local and state level.

We visited the bowling campus and Hall of Fame Center and attended the USBC Texas BBQ.

We were able to attend the televised USBC Women’s Open Championship which was televised but we were both exhausted and decided to watch on TV.  This was held at the Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium and many of the NC local association delegates attended.  They enjoyed seeing the stadium, Cowboy Cheerleaders, and the big screen monitor.  If you looked very closely in the crowd behind the bowlers competing about 3 rows back you would have seen Howard and Linda Baum along with Nancy and Gary Schenk and their sons.  Oh, we forgot to mention we did have at least one Cowboy Fan from NC with us (Tonya Harris DOP President)!

Yvette Davis and Bonnie Daniel

NCS USBCA State Delegates to the USBC 2011 National Convention Meeting & Workshop