The Annual Meeting brings together USBC delegates and members from across the country to discuss the business and future of USBC. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to celebrate USBC’s member achievements and the charitable giving of the bowling community during the past year.

Traditionally held on the last days of the USBC Convention, the 2012 Annual meeting will be held at the Arlington Convention Center, adjacent to the Sheraton – Arlington, on Thursday, April 26th and Friday, April 27th

The election of board members will take place during the Annual Meeting at the Arlington Convention Center.

In accordance with Article IV, Section B of the USBC Bylaws, nominations from the floor for a USBC Board position must be received by the Nominating Committee Chairman 30 days prior to the start of the Annual Meeting. This date is March 28, 2012..

The official form for Nomination from the Floor must be completed and provided by the deadline. The form must include a consent signature from the person being nominated.

Nomination From The Floor Form

MEET THE CANDIDATES: If a candidate running from the floor wishes to take part in the Meet the Candidates Workshop, they must notify the Nominating Committee Chairman in writing also by March 28, 2012.

Meet the Candidates Workshop: The Meet the Candidates session will be held Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 10 a.m. to Noon during the Workshops.

Announcement of Board candidates

Board candidate bios will be posted by March 1.

1. Nominating Chairman will outline the election process, present the slate, announce the names and read the biographies of the nominations from the floor. The Chair's reading of the biographies for the nominations from the floor will serve as the official motion to add the names to the ballot. (See Nomination from the Floor requirements below).
2. USBC President oversees the balloting process, calls for the vote and announces the winners or the need for additional ballots.
3. Voting:
   • Voting at the USBC Annual Meeting is by delegates. All votes of the voting members at the Annual Meeting shall be cast by electronic ballot which shall be the sole method for determining votes at the Annual Meeting unless the President, in his/her sole discretion, determines the circumstances reasonably require a different method of voting.
   • Only registered delegates wearing their official badge and lanyard will be eligible to vote.
   • Delegates must be seated in order to vote.
   • The top four candidates receiving a majority of the vote by the delegates will serve three-year terms beginning Aug. 1. If a majority vote is not reached on the first ballot, the candidate having the lowest total vote shall be dropped from the list. Balloting continues until each position is filled by a majority vote.
   
   Please note: USBC Board members are required to participate in the Registered Volunteer Program (RVP) prior to serving on the Board. (See Bowl.com for information on RVP).

• Check back with BOWL.COM for updates in the coming days.

Darlene Baker, who became USBC president Aug.1, 2010, has been associated with the sport of bowling for more than 40 years. Her involvement at the national, state and local levels has established her as a leader among her peers. She has served on the USBC Board of Directors since the organization's inception and spent time as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Baker is chair of the Bowlers to Veterans Link Board of Directors. She has been on the Illinois USBC Women's Bowling Association board since 1993, and is vice president of the Illinois State USBC Youth board, where she has served since 1994.

Why are you qualified to continue to serve on the USBC Board of Directors?

With more than 20 years of experience in non-profit agencies in my professional career and 30 years of association service at the local, state and national levels, all of which I am still actively involved, I bring something a little different than others to the board for USBC. I have proven my abilities of leadership, strategic thinking, business knowledge and building relationships within the industry, all of which are important to help move the organization forward.

Marci Williams, USBC Board secretary, was Great Plains USBC Association president from 2005-10. The association was named 2005 Bowling Proprietors' Association of America Association of the Year and was the first governing body of a sport inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame (2010).

A bowler for more than 35 years, Williams had a record qualifying round at the 2007 USBC Senior Queens. She was part of a team that won several Brunswick World Team Challenge women's events in the 1990s. She was named 2006-07 Great Plains USBC Senior Bowler of the Year.

Williams worked for Learjet, Inc. for 34 years, including 20 as a corporate tax analyst.

Why are you qualified to continue to serve on the USBC Board of Directors?

I am qualified to continue serving because I have kept my promises of open communication and promotion of fiscal soundness. I remain committed to an appropriate awards program and to fighting for the annual meeting being held at one of the national tournament sites. I am a bowler with local association experience who believes my grass roots knowledge, combined with my corporate tax experience and dedication, can help propel USBC successfully into the future.

Jo Dimond currently is the Central Ohio USBC Association manager, a position she has held since 2005. She also serves as Conference Coordinator for high school bowling in central Ohio, and as Local Inspection Coordinator is responsible for all lane certifications and lane dressing inspections for the association.

Dimond served as a director for the Women's International Bowling Congress (2002-05) and as executive director of the Great Columbus Bowling Association (2001-05). She served on the USBC Restructuring Task Force (2008-09), has been on the Nominating Committees for WIBC and USBC, and was an original member of the Membership Development team for Bowling Headquarters in the early 1990s.

Why are you qualified to serve on the USBC Board of Directors?

Having served in various capacities at the local, state, and national levels, I have learned there is no "easy button" to meet all the needs of our membership. I have the vision and common sense to work with staff and other board members to address those needs and I am convinced that any successful effort must begin in our local associations. USBC members can trust that I will listen to them.

Karen Jost served as a director on the Tacoma (Wash.) Women's Bowling Association (1995-2005), and the Washington State WBA and USBC boards (2004-08). She chaired the Transition Board for South Sound USBC and subsequently served as first vice president and president. After relocating to the east coast, she was appointed to the Nation's Capital Area Association in December 2010.

She was appointed to the USBC Nominating Committee in 2007, serving three seasons including committee chair her final year. In 2001, she was on the National Structure Ad hoc Committee that worked to develop the framework of USBC.

Jost currently works as Associate Director for American Physical Therapy Association.

Why are you qualified to serve on the USBC Board of Directors?

My experiences serving on local and state association boards and on national committees for WIBC and USBC provide me with a broad perspective of the issues that associations face today. These experiences strengthened my leadership skills and helped me to successfully facilitate the merger of four associations in 2005. As an employee for a non-profit association representing more than 78,000 healthcare professionals, I bring additional insight into how non-profit boards, delegates and staff can effectively collaborate.

Karl Kielich currently serves as president of the El Paso USBC and has been on the El Paso USBC/El Paso Bowling Association board for more than 14 years. He was actively involved in the local promotion of the 2010 USBC Women's Championships in El Paso and also is the tournament director for the El Paso Scratch Classic.

A finance manager for AT&T since 2005, Kielich previously worked as an assistant manager at a bowling center. As the program coordinator for the new facility, he created successful leagues and tournaments for the new center in addition to serving as manager of the pro shop.

Why are you qualified to serve on the USBC Board of Directors?

In various capacities, I have been passionately serving bowlers for 20 years and been intimately involved in the creation of many successful programs that increased interest and participation locally. I will offer and collaborate on innovative solutions to attain the goals of increasing our membership, growing awareness of our sport and bringing bowling back to mainstream America. I firmly believe that my passion and my skills are an asset for the USBC.

Karl Kielich currently serves as president of the El Paso USBC and has been on the El Paso USBC/El Paso Bowling Association board for more than 14 years. He was actively involved in the local promotion of the 2010 USBC Women's Championships in El Paso and also is the tournament director for the El Paso Scratch Classic.

A finance manager for AT&T since 2005, Kielich previously worked as an assistant manager at a bowling center. As the program coordinator for the new facility, he created successful leagues and tournaments for the new center in addition to serving as manager of the pro shop.

Why are you qualified to serve on the USBC Board of Directors?

In various capacities, I have been passionately serving bowlers for 20 years and been intimately involved in the creation of many successful programs that increased interest and participation locally. I will offer and collaborate on innovative solutions to attain the goals of increasing our membership, growing awareness of our sport and bringing bowling back to mainstream America. I firmly believe that my passion and my skills are an asset for the USBC.

Applications for the 2012-13 year are no longer being accepted.

Purpose: The Strategic Planning Committee is comprised of representatives from the Board of Directors, Youth Committee and Athletes, all of whom have input to develop, maintain and revise the current and future direction of the organization. The committee has strategic discussions at meetings that also are attended by the executives of the United States Bowling Congress, who have the responsibility to execute the initiatives within the plan.

Committee Members

Purpose: To ensure the appropriate financial structure is in place to support the overall organization needs and strategic direction of the USBC and its subsidiaries.

Committee Members

Purpose: To ensure due process to our members and athletes while maintaining and protecting the integrity of the sport. The committee reviews proposed amendments and, after review by council, makes a recommendation to the USBC Board of Directors. The committee approves the processes and procedures that are utilized by staff, and reviews appeals of administrative decisions filed by members.

Committee Members

Purpose: The USBC Youth Committee promotes, monitors and enhances the activities of USBC Youth programs. Providing opportunities for our young bowlers is a priority that we take very seriously as we continue to create new and exciting programs. The USBC Youth Committee recommends youth rules changes and dues structure to the USBC Board of Directors. Three representatives and a Youth Ambassador from the Youth Committee sit on the USBC board.

Committee Members

Purpose: The National Policy Manual Committee maintains Board-approved polices and, when needed, makes recommendations to the Board for changes and/or additions. It is a subcommittee of the Legal and Legislative Committee.

Committee Members

Purpose: The Nominating Committee's responsibilities include recommending candidates for the Board of Directors (elected by the USBC delegation) and for the USBC Youth Committee (elected by the Board of Directors).

Committee Members

Purpose: Based on USBC strategic planning, this committee shall set direction to maintain and protect the integrity and credibility of the sport of bowling.

Committee Members

OVERVIEW OF HALL - Formerly located in St. Louis, Missouri, the IBMH/F brings to life the 5,000-year history of our international pastime. The collection of historical artifacts and interactive presentations is the perfect outing for a family, school groups, clubs and bowling teams. A brand new kiosk-based Hall of Fame section of the museum is a dynamic venue that honors the legends of the game, past and present. In addition to outlining the history of bowling, the completely 21st century IBMH/F is focused on the contemporary era of the sport, specifically its youth programs, international competitions and the professional tours. Custom bowling industry merchandise and branded memorabilia is available at Spare Partz, a unique concept in museum stores. A movie theater, digital imaging and state-of-the-art speaker system, uniquely-crafted displays that tell the story of bowling: nostalgia evoking newsstand, restaurant facades, ceiling-to-floor projection images, games, hands on displays and more.

Nominating Committee Report

Youth Committee Report

Equipment Specifications and Certification Committee Report

Finance Committee Report

Legal and Legislative Committee Report

Strategic Planning Committee Report

Purpose: USBC representatives, along with BPAA representatives, serve on the Board of Directors of the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL), guiding the sport's own charity. BVL was founded in 1942 by a group of league bowlers to support the troops overseas, and veterans recuperating at VA Hospitals and State Homes.

Mission: BVL provides recreational programs and services to active duty military as well as veterans receiving care at our nation's VA Hospitals, Vet Centers, and State Homes. BVL funding picks up where government monies leave off - bringing the 'extras' that boost morale and brighten days of America's heroes.

Contact the BVL office or visit the Web site to learn more:
The Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL)
11350 Random Hills Road Suite #800
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-934-6039

www.BowlforVeterans.org

The Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) is the trusted voice of women's sports and physical activity because our work is anchored on fact-based research and 34 years of experience in the design and execution of award-winning education and public policy programs. Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, WSF is a national charitable educational organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through physical activity.

Advisory Board Member