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Copy of Response letter from Tournament Committee (10-08)

TIDBITS on BUILDING WEBSITES for the USBC Delegates in Kansas City, MO

PBA News: Rhino Page wins first PBA title!
Credit: www.pba.com

NORWICH, Conn. - 3/9/2008
Rhino Page figured after four missed opportunities, he had probably blown his chance of winning a title in his rookie season.

Instead, Page used the motivation of his worst week of the season last week to drive him to a 244-220 win over Jack Jurek in Sunday’s Go RVing Classic to cement what is the greatest rookie season in PBA history.

Page had already broken or tied six PBA records coming into Sunday, including making five championship rounds, all of which came after he had to qualify for the event through the Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round. He had come up empty in his four previous championship rounds, however, finishing second twice, third once and fifth.

The 24-year-old missed the cut in the TQR of last week’s Don Johnson Buckeye State Classic, just the third time all season he didn’t advance to the Round of 64. He spent the following days practicing with his old coach who helped him with his physical game but also got him back on track mentally.

The practice paid off as Page defeated fellow left-hander Mike Scroggins, 245-235, in the semifinals to advance to his third title match of the season.

In the title match against Jurek, Page looked like he would cruise to the title after striking with his first five shots in the match. But a pocket 7-10 split and open in the sixth frame let Jurek back in the match. But the Tour veteran, who was looking for his first win since 1995, could not take advantage, suffering four consecutive nine-spares.

Jurek could have put pressure on Page in the 10th by striking out, but after a strike with his first shot he left the 3-4-6-7 meaning Page only needed a mark to win. The rookie finished it off in style by striking for the win.

“It feels so good. I didn’t expect by any means to make this many shows this season,” Page (Topeka, Kan.) said. “After my fourth show I thought, ‘Man, you missed out.’ Fortunately, I got to work on my game last week and after the week I had last week, that really motivated me. I know I’m not that kind of bowler and I was determined to never let that happen again.”

Page used some key strategy against Scroggins to get through to the title match, denying the five-time titlist a chance at his third win of the season.

“I came in with a really good game plan,” Page said. “I knew Scroggins could strike a lot from where he was playing so I tried to throw a dull ball and burn the lanes up and change where he was playing. Luckily it helped me also get the room I needed to shoot some big scores.”

Should he win the PBA Rookie of the Year award – which is a lock at this point – Page would become just the sixth Rookie of the Year to win a title in the 43 years the award has been handed out. He also moved into seventh in the PBA Player of the Year point standings with two events remaining.

Page’s win in the semifinal also came down to the final frame. Scroggins took the lead for the first time in the match with a strike in the seventh and after that point the two traded strikes and leads until the 10th frame. Page struck with his final six shots including all three in the 10th to force Scroggins to double. After a strike with his first shot, Scroggins got just eight pins to give Page the win.

Jurek advanced to the championship round with a 236-223 win over Mike Edwards. In a match-up between bowlers each looking for their first title since the early 1990s, Jurek took control with a four-bagger in frames four through seven and never looked back. After an eight-spare in the ninth, Edwards struck out in the 10th to force Jurek to mark and the Lackawanna, N.Y., native struck with his first ball for the victory.

Page, who had already wrapped up an exemption via the PBA World Point Rankings, earned $25,000 for his win. Jurek earned $13,000 for second while Edwards (Tulsa, Okla.) and Scroggins (Amarillo, Texas) took home $6,000 each for third and fourth, respectively.

Denny’s PBA Tour
2008 Go RVing Classic
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Pos.	Name, hometown	Total/Games	Money
1.	Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan.	489 (2 games)	$25,000
2.	Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y.	456 (2 games)	$13,000
3.	Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla.	223 (1 game)	$6,000
4.	Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas	235 (1 game)	$6,000

SCORES – In the first match, Page def. Scroggins, 245-235;
in the second match, Jurek def. Edwards, 236-223; and in the final, Page def. Jurek, 244-220.

Rhino, who used to live in San Diego, CA bowled many of the youth tournaments in California earning lots of scholarships. One event that he won was the 1999 California Pepsi Championships, taking him to the National Pepsi Championships finals in Salt Lake City, UT. Parker Bohn III was a guest speaker at that event. Who knew that Rhino would be meeting Parker on the lanes years from then bowling for a title.

April 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Vint
USBC Communications
(800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3230
bill.vint@bowl.com
On the Web: bowl.com

METRO DETROIT, CALIFORNIA, INDIANA WOMEN WIN TOP PRIZES IN US BOWLER ASSOCIATION MEDIA AWARDS COMPETITION

GREENDALE, Wis. – The Metro Detroit USBC Association, California State USBC Association and Indiana State USBC Women’s Bowling Association are first prize winners in the inaugural US Bowler Association Media Awards competition.

Metro Detroit, USBC’s largest local association, won for best overall communications program. California’s “calusbc.com” topped the best Web site competition. The Indiana women’s association was first in the best newsletter contest with its three-times-yearly “In Indiana” publication. Each first-place association earned a $500 cash prize.

In the overall excellence category, the Ohio State USBC WBA was second and City of Firsts USBC Association serving the Kokomo, Ind., community was third. In addition to having qualify Web sites, each of the overall communications winners have a variety of other programs they use to communicate to their members. Metro Detroit’s Web address is “mdusbc.com,” Ohio WBA’s is “ohiowba.com,” and City of Firsts’ is “cityofirstsbowling.com.”

In Web sites – the most popular category with 46 entries – the Greater Cincinnati WBA (cincybowl.com) was second while the Rapid City (S.D.) USBC (rcbowl.com) and Washington State USBC (wsusbc.net) tied for third place.

In newsletters, the Louisiana State USBC WBA was runner-up with its quarterly publication “Louisiana Lagniappe” and the South Sound USBC in Tacoma, Wash., was third with its “Kegler’s Korner,” which is distributed six times a year.

Each runner-up association earned $300 while third-place finishers received checks for $200 each.

The media awards competition, sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress’ official membership publication, is designed to encourage USBC’s grassroots local and state associations to develop high quality communications programs.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than 2.6 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience. Bowl with US

USBC Board votes its intention to move headquarters to Texas
Credit: www.bowl.com

3/11/2008
By Jerry Schneider, USBC Communications

The United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors has given approval to announce its intention to relocate the organization's headquarters to Arlington, Texas, where it will reside with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America.

The decision, made during a meeting Sunday in Atlanta, came after presentations were made by officials from Arlington and Milwaukee, the homes of the BPAA and USBC, respectively.

"This is a great day for bowling. Relocating to Arlington would allow for the creation of an international bowling campus. We can set the foundation for tremendous growth and opportunities for decades to come," said USBC President Jeff Bojé. "Both cities made excellent presentations and either would have been good locations for USBC. The Board decided Arlington would be the best location should the USBC receive approval of investment from the Texas Enterprise Fund."

Contingent upon TEF approval, USBC Headquarters is expected to move to Arlington later this year. In addition to office space for about 200 overall employees, the new complex will include a 12-to-16-lane combined equipment testing and international training center to form a $14 million international bowling campus. BPAA has pledged to pay for half of the complex while utilizing less than one-fifth of the space.

The property is located at 621 Six Flags Drive, across the street from Six Flags Over Texas in the heart of Arlington's entertainment and sports district. It is about three blocks east of Rangers' Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers baseball team, and about six blocks east of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium set to open in 2009. The creation of an international bowling campus at such a high profile location will provide the opportunity to showcase bowling to the world that doesn't exist at the present location.

"Integration of operations can be achieved without the loss of identity or control of the individual organizations," said BPAA President Joe Schumacker. "By working in tandem with USBC, we can fulfill our individual missions, as well as protect and grow all levels of competitive bowling.

"The concept of integrating the operation of the BPAA and the USBC makes sense. Bowling has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. It is imperative the organizations embrace change so they can continue to professionally support their individual constituencies."

The new joint venture is expected to help grow the sport by USBC and BPAA by being more able to work together on joint programs such as youth bowling and coaching. Youth bowling and coaching have been major points of emphasis for the organizations.

An additional factor for the Board's decision was ease of travel. As one of the world's largest airports, Dallas/Fort Worth International makes it much easier for those traveling to and from the international bowling campus, especially those traveling internationally.

USBC and BPAA announced in November that their boards of directors had approved a study of how much their operations should be integrated. The goal was to use such efficiencies to help grow the sport of bowling. The organizations' boards of directors gave approval in January to start negotiations with all parties involved to relocate the organization's headquarters to Texas.

PBA News: Rhino Page wins first PBA title!
Credit: www.pba.com

Denny’s PBA Tour
2008 Go RVing Classic
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Pos.	Name, hometown	Total/Games	Money
1.	Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan.	489 (2 games)	$25,000
2.	Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y.	456 (2 games)	$13,000
3.	Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla.	223 (1 game)	$6,000
4.	Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas	235 (1 game)	$6,000

SCORES – In the first match, Page def. Scroggins, 245-235;
in the second match, Jurek def. Edwards, 236-223; and in the final, Page def. Jurek, 244-220.

The end of an era! Sunday, October 14th 2007 was the championship roll off of the 2006-07 season and of what will be known as the end of the Greater Los Angeles Junior All-Stars traveling league! Being witnessed by a very small crowd of interested parents a handful of alumni and the league directors the roll off consisted of only two matches after the forth positioned team, Specialized I.M.S. forfeited the opening match to The Strike Factory. Therefore, we went immediately into the semi-final match between The Strike Factory and second seeded Tri-Star Vending. Although, the Strike Factory was seemingly handicapped due to the absence of their third bowler, Brandon McGinnes, the other team members Louis Micheri and the veteran, Jon Brandon handily defeated the fully equipped Tri-Star Vending team of Dave Yamauchi, Devin Bidwell and Brian Lesberg with two game totals of 647 and 617 for 1264 vs. 566 and 592 for 1158!

The Strike Factory duo advanced to the championship match against top seed Asian Express consisting of Kevin Valmonte and two lefties, Mark French, and Jeff Spiesman. The Strike Factory came out the gate once again strong with a 663 to lead Asian Express by 46 pins with one game remaining. However, the Asian Express team was quick to rebound as anchor bowler Mark French closed out the last 10 strikes for a 280 game leading his team to a 705 game vs. The Strike Factory’s 599 to win the two game total pin event by 60 pins. Therefore, Asian Express has won the final league championship of the Greater Los Angeles Junior All Stars league!

Now let’s review the legacy of this “Greater L.A.” traveling league... This one league has been so very instrumental in the lives of over 1000 former southland junior bowlers. This end comes with great sorrow and tremendous disappointment to myself and many others in that it won’t be there to foster the development for another 1000 future youth bowlers. We do however have so many great memories that I personally could write about daily for months on end. The countless everlasting, lifelong relationships including several marriages, the camaraderie and sportsmanship, the talent and records and just so very many “priceless moments”! No one league, travel or house, in this country has produced more distinguished alumni than this league - more top professionals, top amateurs, Star of Tomorrow recipients, Bowler’s of the Year, and professional titles than any other organization in the world!

In 1967 Dwayne and Ella Tucker resurrected the Greater L.A. Jr. All-Stars from several years of hiatus after being one of the three pinnacle “Greater L.A.” travel leagues in the Southern California area. It was the pre-cursor to the Greater Los Angeles All-Stars traveling league which were the local men stand outs and pros who competed at the highest league level for many years dating back to the 1950's. There was also the Greater Los Angeles Women All-Stars traveling league during that era that catered to the many top females in the southland. The Greater L.A. All-Stars folded around 1978 and the Greater Los Angeles Women All Stars folded a few years later. I empowered myself as the “guardian of the Greater L.A. Jr. All-Stars” with a vigilant effort to not allow this last “Greater L.A.” travel league follow the demise of the others. Well for nearly 30 years I was able to do so, but I have come to the realization that it is now time to bid farewell!!!! Goodbye once and for all to this treasured league that I and many others have loved so very much!

Dewann Clark
Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles Junior All-Stars (GLAJAS)

The United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors has approved the modification of Youth Membership Eligibility Rule 400, effective immediately, to expand the awards deemed acceptable under the terms of USBC Youth membership. In addition to previously allowed symbolic awards, USBC Youth members are now eligible to be awarded bowling equipment, gift certificates, apparel and other merchandise prizes with a total value not greater than $500 in any one event, excluding scholarships.

The modifications also allow for USBC Youth members to compete in singles competition where cash and/or bonds are awarded, as well as merchandise prizes exceeding $500 in total in any one event, but must waive rights to these awards by signing and completing the USBC Prize Waiver form prior to their participation in that competition.

Acceptance of awards of cash or bonds of any amount or any merchandise prizes with a total value higher than $500 per event remain prohibited for youth members under USBC's revised Rule 400. Violations of the terms of Rule 400 could result in the loss or suspension of youth membership.

There also remains no limit on the value of scholarships that can be awarded in youth competition. The scholarship funds from USBC certified events and leagues will continue to be required to be deposited with USBC's SMART program. USBC Youth members may be awarded scholarships from singles competition in which cash and/or bonds are awarded.

“The USBC Board determined that the former Rule 400 placed unnecessary restrictions on everyone associated with USBC Youth membership and concluded the best course of action to alleviate this issue was to modify Rule 400 effective immediately,” USBC President Michael Carroll said.

The previous version of Rule 400 intended to protect the current and future interscholastic sports eligibility of USBC Youth members through the most restrictive interpretations and limitations. The USBC Board concluded that placing these restrictions on all USBC Youth members was unnecessary due to the lack of uniform eligibility standards for interscholastic sports nationally.

“The new structure of USBC allows for addressing of significant issues to be handled in an expedited manner,” said USBC Chief Executive Officer Roger Dalkin. “The previous version of Rule 400 placed undue and unintended restrictions on USBC Youth members, league and association coordinators and proprietors. The USBC Board modified Rule 400 to address these restrictions and expand acceptable awards that promote and enhance the participation in youth bowling.”

The USBC Board concluded that compliance with local/state interscholastic eligibility rules and policies is the responsibility of the individual member and his/her legal guardian. However, USBC will continue to educate USBC Youth members and their legal guardians that competing in USBC certified competitions and acceptance of some awards now acceptable under Rule 400 could jeopardize individual member’s interscholastic sports amateur eligibility.

“USBC’s Youth membership program, certified tournaments and leagues, as well as USBC’s dedication to the growth of high school and collegiate bowling, offer youth of all ages many choices to be active in the sport of bowling,” said Mitch Mitchell, chairman of the USBC Youth Committee.

For help with interpretation of the USBC youth eligibility Rule 400, contact USBC's Rules department at (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3155 or visit bowl.com.

Rule 400
A. Except as provided in Item B, a youth may not bowl or substitute in any bowling activity which offers any of the following as prizes:
1. Cash or bonds.
2. Merchandise exceeding $500 in value.

B. Youth may bowl in singles competitions (including side competitions/brackets) offering such prizes, provided, prior to bowling:
1. The competition agrees to award the youth’s prize in the form of a scholarship; or
2. The youth signs a form waiving his/her rights to any prize in violation of this rule.

Buying or selling of earned prizes is prohibited.

Any youth bowler deemed in violation of this rule is subject to disciplinary action including the potential loss of youth membership.

NOTE: There are no limits on scholarship amounts or entry fees (must be paid directly to the tournament director/manager) and reimbursement of actual travel expenses into the next higher level of competition or any tournament or event. (Receipts must be provided upon request.)

The prizes authorized by a state high school athletic association or a collegiate athletic association recognized by USBC and USBC Collegiate are not subject to the limitations of this rule.