By Dale Niemela
USBC proprietor relations manager
Well, I made it through my first Wisconsin winter! It wasn’t bad at all, but everyone tells me I was lucky because this winter was very mild. One thing that happens when it is cold outside – you learn to stay inside and get a lot of work accomplished. Probably the biggest project for me was getting the Bowling Camps program off and running, and so far it has done extremely well. More than 1,000 bowling centers have shown an interest in the program and we are matching them up with Parks and Recreation agencies. They have all been sent a how-to manual (with sample fliers, cost worksheets, press releases, etc.) for developing partnerships.
Because of this initial success we are now going to expand this model to see if it will work with other groups such as the YMCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and others. We are currently testing it with bowling centers and YMCA branches in Wisconsin.
 It is a pleasure and exciting for me to be able to announce the hiring of Bob Learn, Jr. as the Proprietor Relations Specialist focusing on Ohio and Michigan. Bob will be in the field meeting with proprietors and USBC associations and trying to discover more ways in which we can work together to advance the sport. Bob and I are offering to do seminars and clinics on lane conditions, league meetings, learning to bowl and learning how to teach bowling for association people, center employees and customers. We feel the more education we can offer the better it is for the industry and for proprietors.
USBC and BPAA are working well together to create new programs and promotions. Three national contests are being sponsored by both organizations to help launch a spectacular celebration - National Bowling Week, Aug. 26 through Sept. 1. This week will also feature bowling clinics, equipment checks, a youth bowling blast-off and more.
National Bowling Art and National Bowling Photography Contests feature divisions for youth, amateur adults and professional artists. The subject matter of all entries must be bowling-related and will be accepted June 1 through Aug. 1.
The National Bowling Essay Contest encourages writers to share their best bowling moment or describe how bowling has positively impacted their lives. All youth 17 years or younger may enter and there also will be a separate division for adults who are USBC members. Teachers will be encouraged to incorporate the essay contest in their lesson plans this spring. Entries will be accepted May 1 through July 1.
Download Rules and Entry Forms:
National contest winners will be recognized during National Bowling Week. Adult winners will receive cash prizes; youth winners will receive scholarship awards. Winning art, photos and essays will be featured in USBC and BPAA publications.
Summer is on its way and many people in the bowling community cringe at this time of year. Sure, business might go down but opportunity goes up. A successful summer can make the whole year a huge plus. It is time for creativity. Kids are looking for things to do and centers have lanes available. For example, day care facilities are always looking for something to occupy the time of their children.
Hopefully Bob and I can pass some of the ideas we encounter on to centers so everyone’s summer will be a success.
|
