2009-10 USBC Priority issues

Sport Development

Goal 1 : Increase USBC youth membership in certified leagues/programs.

Metric: Three members per lane bed by the end of 2011-12 season.

This involves developing and promoting Bowlopolis

Goal 2: Increase the number of USBC members participating in bowling as a sport.

Metric: 90 percent increase in 'sport' members to 50,000 by 2010-11

30 percent increase in number of high schools offering interscholastic bowling

This includes the continued development of the PBA Experience Showdown, PBA Experience Leagues, working with high school programs and collegiate programs.

Visibility of the Sport

Goal 3: Increase the number of people who consider bowling a sport.

Metric: Televising major events.

This includes getting many premier events on television, the U.S. Women's Open, the Women's Series Showdown and promoting USBC and its programs during all telecasts.

The Strategic Plan is reviewed regularly by the committee and corrective action is taken if deemed necessary. This plan is fluid and is constantly being reviewed, revised and revalidated.

Strategic Planning Committee

Last year's electronic voting was well received. This year we will vote on an amendment (B-1) to incorporate that process as part of our voting procedures as the electronic voting is not mentioned in Robert's Rules of Order. If adopted, it will be implemented immediately for the legislative session and the elections.

Once a proposed amendment is announced by the Chair, there is no need for a second. Any delegate/member wishing to speak to or against an amendment will be recognized by the Chair and will have two minutes. Each speaker is allowed a two-minute rebuttal. Amendments are coded:

Changes to the General Playing Rules, Tournament Rules and League Rules require a majority vote; Bylaws require a two-thirds vote.

Legal and Legislative Committee

Working diligently with staff, we have initiated some changes for the coming season. An awards program is now in place for our members in Bumper Bowling. Twelve (12) games will be used as recognized averages for tournaments, awards, and leagues in order to provide consistency for tournament directors and our youth directors. With the continued growth of high school bowling across the country, USBC Youth will now offer a membership product to the high school athletes.

Our efforts along with those of the local and state volunteers will continue to provide our young bowlers with additional opportunities in the sport of bowling. Providing a positive experience for our youth bowlers of today is critical to the long-term success of the United States Bowling Congress. Please join us in developing a healthy and competitive atmosphere for our young athletes.

USBC Youth Committee

All members of the board are responsible for the management of the organization, not just the financial issues. Our merging national organizations had homogenous boards - we came from local and/or state association leaderships. The USBC Board differs in that we have athlete representation, youth representation and members who have not served on local or state boards. All of us are league bowlers and members of a local and state association. All of us are passionate about this sport and are committed to the success of USBC and its associations. Those serving on the Board know of the skills that are needed at the national level and are aware of those who will not be seeking re-election. The written evaluation process, completed by the chairs of the committees the incumbent has served, provides the Nominating Committee another tool in assessing the skills and performance.

Providing a slate of one candidate per position is the Nominating Committee's route of giving the voting body their opinion, after review of the credentials, evaluations and in the face-to-face interview, those candidates that best fit the eligibility and needs of the Board. It does not prevent anyone from seeking a "from the floor" nomination. The voting body, each of us having one vote, will continue to elect the candidates to the Board.

The no campaigning policy was approved in order to equalize the environment for those who are on the slate and those who are coming from the floor, and declare by the set deadline. The deadline was to be included in the Meet the Candidate session at the convention. This deadline does not invalidate the 24-hour from-the-floor eligibility in the bylaws, only the inclusion in the Meet the Candidate session. There the delegates will have the opportunity to sit with the candidates and ask them questions. The no campaigning policy includes, but is not limited to, use of the forum on BOWL.com, written materials and others campaigning for them. This policy is in place from the time of submission of the candidate form through the election. It does not prevent a candidate from introducing himself/herself and asking for a delegate to consider his/her candidacy.

Beginning next season there will be two USBC Board members sent as representatives to the BPAA Board. USBC has two BPAA members who serve on its Board. At this time the committee has approved its recommendation on the process of appointment of these two representatives, but it has not gone to the Board for approval. This is scheduled to be done prior to the Annual Meeting.

Board members and non-Board committee members are reimbursed for expenses. We do not receive a salary. The committee reviewed the current policy, removed certain reimbursements and the Board approved the revision. Reimbursement still covers our travel, lodging, rental cars - when deemed necessary by staff, one Board dinner per season and $40 per day for other expenses. Needed foreign travel expenses; i.e.: visas, are reimbursable, but not the cost of a passport.

Policies are living documents that are amended, deleted or implemented based on the governance needs of the organization. Acceptable business practices are constantly changing, the government constantly enacts rules and regulations that impact what a corporation must or must not do and for USBC, our leadership - at all levels - provides input. Policies are objective not subjective and should be reviewed on a regular basis.

National Policy Committee

According to USBC bylaws, members wishing to run for election from the floor must notify the Nominating Committee at least 24 hours prior to the start of the Annual Meeting. Floor nomination forms are available on BOWL.com, and must be fully completed for committee review. This year's floor nomination deadline is 2 p.m. Thursday, April 29, 2010. Candidates who applied to run from the floor prior to March 1 will be included in the Meet the Candidates session.

The committee takes its responsibility to present a slate of candidates that will best meet the needs of USBC seriously. Prior to review of applications, the committee identifies the skill sets that are critical for the board now and into the future. The committee reviews the applications and designs interview questions with these skill sets in mind. The top candidates undergo a structured interview designed to identify which candidates have the best fit of skills for the board at this time.

The committee will staff a booth on Wednesday and Thursday at the convention. Please stop by to learn more about the entire selection process and pick up an application if you are interested in applying for the Board of Directors or for the Youth Committee next year.

I want to thank the members of the Nominating Committee for rising to the challenge of selecting four candidates from a strong field this year. It is an honor to have served with each of them.

USBC Nominating Committee

Committee background

The Equipment Specifications and Certification Committee is responsible for reviewing and making final decisions regarding new items of equipment on which USBC approval is requested. The committee also is responsible for setting policies and procedures regarding equipment and specifications, and for granting, withholding, suspending, withdrawing or otherwise regulating bowling center certificates.

The members of Equipment Specifications and Certification Committee are appointed by the USBC President with approval of the Board of Directors. The current committee is composed of seven board members and two non-board member advisors. Included in the nine committee members are four athletes and two proprietors.

Equipment Specifications and Certification Committee

Leaving the "Bowling Reaches Out" section, visitors will have a special place to learn all about the sport while honoring one of its true pioneers.

The Jack Reichert Learning Center will be where school children, high school and college students and historians of any age will quietly be able to discover the chronicles of bowling through a variety of printed and visual research tools. There are books, videos and computer desks available for schools to teach the history of the sport. There are places for people to sit and do research like at a library with a work table, two computer stations and a LCD projector for schools to do PowerPoints or video.

Be sure to plan to visit us soon!!!

Staff Organization - Since our last report at the 2009 USBC Convention, we have hired two employees, namely Bill Supper as Executive Director and Amy Polley as Museum Curator. Supper's lifetime bowling resume is second to none and he has brought vitality and experience to the Museum project that was needed. He is responsible for the handling of marketing, fundraising, financial management, overseeing daily operations as well as coordination of the other administrative functions with the various appropriate staffs in place at the Campus already. Amy brings to the Hall significant leadership experience in sports museum administration. She holds a master's degree in Museum Science and comes to us from a nine-year tenure with the Texas Rangers Baseball Museum. Her tasks will be the management of the artifacts collections, programs and exhibits.

SALUTE TO BOWLING - The major fundraiser for the IBMH/F was held on June 24, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel during Bowl Expo. Featured again was a live and silent auction, hors d'oeuvres and plenty of mixing and mingling. Our thanks to the generosity of many bowling officials, leaders, proprietors and friends of the bowling industry for another rousing successful event. This year exciting plans are underway for Salute To Bowling XXI to be held in conjunction with Bowl Expo at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.

HALL WEB SITE - Please visit our newly refurbished Web site: bowlingmuseum.com sponsored by Qubica Worldwide for major news and activities at the Hall with special coverage on the Grand Opening.

BRICK CAMPAIGN/BUY A BRICK TODAY! TAX DEDUCTIBLE - Don't miss the unique and rare opportunity to have your own personal name or association name permanently showcased at the entrance to our brand new International Bowling Campus and Training Center in Arlington, Texas. Brick Details:

4 x 8 Foundation Section (14 characters per line, up to 3 lines) $175

4 x 8 Select (14 characters per line, up to 3 lines) $500

8 x 8 Elite (14 characters per line, up to 6 lines) $1,000

8 x 16 Premium (28 characters per line, up to 6 lines) $2,500

24 x 24 Legacy (42 characters per line, up to 21 lines) $5,000

By purchasing bricks for this campaign you could also remember or honor a loved one or show your support for those serving in the military. Insure your spot in history. Order online now: www.bowlingmuseum.com.

Our IBMH/F Board of Trustees extend our sincere gratitude to all of you for your support of this outstanding new museum. We are truly appreciative of your continued commitment to the various fundraising programs. As our growth and projects enter a new era, we invite your continuing partnership to preserve and publicize the rich and intriguing legacy of our great sport.

INTERNATIONAL BOWLING MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME

The Hall of Fame Committee Policy and Procedure Page 7, 4c and 4d are in conflict with each other and need to be clarified.

A motion was made and passed that the Candidates for Superior Performance must receive a majority of the votes cast by the Hall of Fame Committee. Pete will make sure this is legal but suggested that the committee proceed with the voting.

Meritorious Service - The Committee voted Betty Barnes into the USBC Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service.

Veterans Category - The Committee voted John Handegard into the USBC Hall of Fame in the Veterans Category.

Superior Performance - The Committee voted to place the following men on the National Ballot: Del Ballard Jr., Marshall Holman, David Husted, Amieto Monocelli, David Ozio, and Wayne Webb. The Committee voted to place the following women on the National Ballot: Carol Gianotti, Kim Terrell-Kearney and Dede Davidson.

After the National Ballots were retuned the following were elected for Superior Performance after receiving 70 percent f the votes: Marshall Holman and Kim Terrell-Kearney.

The all of Fame induction will take place May 12 in Texas.

The Committee would like to thank President Jeff Boje for his appointment and for his vote of confidence. The second part of this report will be given to the Board by Nick Hoagland.

USBC Hall of Fame Committee

GOOD NEWS - As a result of the history-making event that took place on January 24, 2010 when Kelly Kulick became the first woman to win a PBA Tour Tournament, yours truly made immediate contact with Billie Jean King at the Australian Tennis Open requesting her to generate news to the Women's Sports Foundation media. Not only did she accomplish this but she gave a special quote in news releases as follows:

"Kelly Kulick's win today at the PBA Tours Tournament of Champions is not only historic, it serves as a motivational and inspirational event for girls and women competing at all levels around the world. Kelly had a great week, defeating several of the top-ranked men bowlers in the world, and hopefully she can truly enjoy the moment and appreciate how it is not only a big deal in bowling, but a major moment in her life and potentially the lives of others." - Billie Jean King, Women's Sports Foundation Founder

Further, through the efforts of WSF, Kulick was invited to attend the International Women's Day reception held in the East Room on March 8, 2010 in celebration of Women's History Month. She found herself honored by President and Mrs. Obama as an American pioneer who had carved out a unique place in the nation's history as the first woman to win a major championship in a male dominated professional sport.

ANNUAL SALUTE - On October 13, 2009 the Women's Sports Foundation hosted the 30 ^th Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. It was a powerful evening aimed at honoring the astounding achievements of female athletes and those who have contributed to the landscape of women's sports. The program opened and closed with a spectacular video of many athletes as they competed in their particular sport. Women's bowling was prominent as video footage of Liz Johnson and Kelly Kulick had been provided. Diana Nyad introduced the traditional Parade of Athletes as our bowling stars, Liz Johnson and Kelly Kulick, took part in the impressive march with such notables as Kristy Yamaguchi, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Donna de Varona,

Billie Jean King, Michelle Kwan, Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, and Nancy Lopez.

Notable sportscasters Bob Costas and Mary Carillo lent their characteristic charm to the festivities as co-hosts for the event. The highlight of the evening is always the presentation of WSF awards. In an effort to always keep women bowlers visible and part of mainstream sports, USBC continues to submit nominations for these prestigious awards. Kelly Kulick was the star of the 2008 Pan American Women's Championships and her performance made her our nominee for the 2009 WSF Sportswoman of the Year for team competition and was one of the eight finalists named. Unfortunately, she did not win as Jesse Vetter, a goaltender for the University of Wisconsin hockey team, captured the award. Here are the award winners:

SPORTSWOMEN OF THE YEAR

Courtney Kuperts, Gymnastics Individual Category

Jesse Vetter, Ice Hockey Team Category

BILLIE JEAN CONTRIBUTION AWARD

Gatorade Corporation

WILMA RUDOLPH COURAGE AWARD

Tifarra Stewart, Basketball

SPECIAL HONOREES:

Dick Ebersole, Chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics

Annika Sorenstam, trailblazer for women's sports and golf legend

Pat Summitt, University of Tennessee head women's basketball

coach and NCAA all-time winningest coach

As a result of this inspirational annual event, the WSF was able to raise more than a $1 million to help fund the Foundation's programs. A special thank you was extended to the United States Bowling Congress as a Gold Patron for the dinner. It should be noted USBC's involvement at this event serves the strong purpose of inviting potential investors/sponsors and television decision makers to be our guest at the Salute to consider being part of the relaunch of women's professional bowling.

WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER