The single membership organization (SMO) proposal is scheduled for its second vote in two years by the delegates at the American Bowling Congress (ABC) Convention in Reno in March and at the Womens International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Annual Meeting in Wichita in May.
It failed to gain a majority at the ABC Convention last year (630-628) let alone the two-thirds majority vote needed for approval while the WIBC delegates failed to achieve a two-thirds majority on two separate ballots held over two days of deliberation.
Last year, the ABC and WIBC held "whistle-stops" all over the country a couple of months prior to the conventions trying to drum up support on a take-it-or-leave-it basis for the new organization to be called the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
This year, national leaders made some revisions to the original, believed to be major stumbling blocks.
They also promised everything to everybody in order to secure their convention votes and no "whistle-stops" are scheduled.
Several of last year's strong opponents who voiced their opinions "ad nauseum" on the bowling talk discussion group on bowl.com concerning the USBC have now changed their stance and are not burning up the internet with their comments.
Also, the ABC and WIBC are (for lack of a better word or phrase) hedging their bets in case the USBC proposal fails again.
The ABC and WIBC both have other proposed amendments for their delegates to consider which would restructure their current organizations to be in a position to petition the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to be the national governing body (NGB) for the sport of bowling.
The ABC has an amendment that would basically restructure the ABC national board of directors in the same manner as the current USBC proposal would do for that new organization in case the USBC proposal fails.
The WIBC has even gone as far as submitting an amendment to allow men to join the WIBC (an idea thought to be "unthinkable and over their dead bodies" as some had stated previously).
This would put each organization in a position to try and become the dominant and single membership organization for bowling and compete for the same bowlers that are current ABC and WIBC members.
What type of message is this sending to delegates who have to vote on this crucial issue?
How can the national leaders of both the ABC and WIBC recommend passage of the USBC proposal saying that this is what is best for bowling's future, but at the same time, submit amendments to do the same thing on their own should the USBC proposal fail.
This is a mixed message at best. This could split the vote even further between delegates who favor the USBC proposal because if they are luke warm about supporting the USBC, they now can vote against it and approve the other amendments so their current organization can push to be the SMO on their own.
The national leaders of both ABC and WIBC are adamant in stating they are firmly advocating passage of the USBC proposal and are only submitting these other amendments to be ready if the USBC proposal fails again.
They say these are just contingency plans.
Who are they trying to kid? How can you advocate passage of the USBC proposal and then "wink at you" by saying you can still vote for these other amendments if you want your current organization to try and go it alone.
People are generally opposed to change and if given this option, why would you vote for an unknown when you know you can go with what you have?
If this scenario plays out, then this is tantamount to a "declaration of war" competing for the same bowlers which both national leaders of each organization claim is not their intention. It doesn't pass the "smell test."
If a war for survival starts next year, then this reminds me of the Roman historian Tacitus who described the Roman conquest of Britain when he said that, "they have made a desert and called it peace."
The decision by the ABC and WIBC national leaders not to conduct various "whistle-stops" this year to explain these mixed messages and sell their positions to the officials who will have to vote on these monumental issues facing bowling is arrogant at best and just adds to the perception that our national leaders are deceiving us again.
Do our national leaders have a "hidden agenda" which they are not telling us? They say no, but not only doesn't this pass the smell test but it doesn't pass the duck test either.
We can only hope the ABC and WIBC convention delegates have the wisdom to see through all the smoke and do what is best for the sport we all love.
A wise leader once asked his wise men to invent a phrase that would be true for all situations and all occasions.
The wise men gave their leader the phrase, "and this too shall pass away."
Lets hope that we have wise men and women at the ABC and WIBC conventions.
Ashby first lefthanded women's champion
It seems there was an historic fact that was overlooked at the final ceremonies when Sandy Ashby won her first Women's Citizen Masters title last Sunday at the Polish Falcon Lanes.
Unless I am mistaken, Ashby is the first left-hander to become the women's champion.
There are a couple of past champions (when the tournament used a handicap format) that I'm not sure about.
But if I am wrong, then I'm sure somebody will point it out to me soon.
It took 22 years before the men had a left-hander capture the championship (Tom Charles in 1984) and now the women have their first left-handed champion after 30 years.
Congratulations to Sandy on this added distinction that goes along with her victory and great bowling this year.
Williams wins
ABC Masters
After finishing second last year, Walter Ray Williams, Jr. bounced back to win the A.B.C. Masters by defeating Chris Barnes in the final match 268-239 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
Williams won $100,000 for winning and Barnes won $50,000 for second.
Williams reached the finals by defeating former A.B.C. Masters champion Mika Koivuniemi of Finland in the semi-finals 237-213.
Koivuniemi, who finished third, had defeated D.J. Archer (fourth) 224-149 and Patrick Allen (fifth) 214-173 in the two earlier matches.
Auburn 700 Club
member/female guest
tournament
It will be held at Rainbow Lanes in Weedsport on Fri. Feb. 13 at 9:30 p.m.
The cost is $30 per doubles team ($15 per bowler).
An Auburn 700 Club male bowler will bowl with a female bowler and both bowlers must be sanctioned with the ABC/WIBC for the 2003-2004 season.
The Auburn 700 Club bowler must be a club member for the current season by paying his annual dues of $10 prior to bowling.
This will be a doubles tournament with two divisions and is limited to the first 30 doubles teams which sign-up by calling Rainbow Lanes at 834-6028.
Donahue, The Citizen's bowling columnist, is an ABC Director and secretary-treasurer of the NYS and Auburn Bowling Associations. You can reach him at spdbowling@aol.com
Last year, the ABC and WIBC held "whistle-stops" all over the country a couple of months prior to the conventions trying to drum up support on a take-it-or-leave-it basis for the new organization to be called the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
This year, national leaders made some revisions to the original, believed to be major stumbling blocks.
They also promised everything to everybody in order to secure their convention votes and no "whistle-stops" are scheduled.
Several of last year's strong opponents who voiced their opinions "ad nauseum" on the bowling talk discussion group on bowl.com concerning the USBC have now changed their stance and are not burning up the internet with their comments.
Also, the ABC and WIBC are (for lack of a better word or phrase) hedging their bets in case the USBC proposal fails again.
The ABC and WIBC both have other proposed amendments for their delegates to consider which would restructure their current organizations to be in a position to petition the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to be the national governing body (NGB) for the sport of bowling.
The ABC has an amendment that would basically restructure the ABC national board of directors in the same manner as the current USBC proposal would do for that new organization in case the USBC proposal fails.
The WIBC has even gone as far as submitting an amendment to allow men to join the WIBC (an idea thought to be "unthinkable and over their dead bodies" as some had stated previously).
This would put each organization in a position to try and become the dominant and single membership organization for bowling and compete for the same bowlers that are current ABC and WIBC members.
What type of message is this sending to delegates who have to vote on this crucial issue?
How can the national leaders of both the ABC and WIBC recommend passage of the USBC proposal saying that this is what is best for bowling's future, but at the same time, submit amendments to do the same thing on their own should the USBC proposal fail.
This is a mixed message at best. This could split the vote even further between delegates who favor the USBC proposal because if they are luke warm about supporting the USBC, they now can vote against it and approve the other amendments so their current organization can push to be the SMO on their own.
The national leaders of both ABC and WIBC are adamant in stating they are firmly advocating passage of the USBC proposal and are only submitting these other amendments to be ready if the USBC proposal fails again.
They say these are just contingency plans.
Who are they trying to kid? How can you advocate passage of the USBC proposal and then "wink at you" by saying you can still vote for these other amendments if you want your current organization to try and go it alone.
People are generally opposed to change and if given this option, why would you vote for an unknown when you know you can go with what you have?
If this scenario plays out, then this is tantamount to a "declaration of war" competing for the same bowlers which both national leaders of each organization claim is not their intention. It doesn't pass the "smell test."
If a war for survival starts next year, then this reminds me of the Roman historian Tacitus who described the Roman conquest of Britain when he said that, "they have made a desert and called it peace."
The decision by the ABC and WIBC national leaders not to conduct various "whistle-stops" this year to explain these mixed messages and sell their positions to the officials who will have to vote on these monumental issues facing bowling is arrogant at best and just adds to the perception that our national leaders are deceiving us again.
Do our national leaders have a "hidden agenda" which they are not telling us? They say no, but not only doesn't this pass the smell test but it doesn't pass the duck test either.
We can only hope the ABC and WIBC convention delegates have the wisdom to see through all the smoke and do what is best for the sport we all love.
A wise leader once asked his wise men to invent a phrase that would be true for all situations and all occasions.
The wise men gave their leader the phrase, "and this too shall pass away."
Lets hope that we have wise men and women at the ABC and WIBC conventions.
Ashby first lefthanded women's champion
It seems there was an historic fact that was overlooked at the final ceremonies when Sandy Ashby won her first Women's Citizen Masters title last Sunday at the Polish Falcon Lanes.
Unless I am mistaken, Ashby is the first left-hander to become the women's champion.
There are a couple of past champions (when the tournament used a handicap format) that I'm not sure about.
But if I am wrong, then I'm sure somebody will point it out to me soon.
It took 22 years before the men had a left-hander capture the championship (Tom Charles in 1984) and now the women have their first left-handed champion after 30 years.
Congratulations to Sandy on this added distinction that goes along with her victory and great bowling this year.
Williams wins
ABC Masters
After finishing second last year, Walter Ray Williams, Jr. bounced back to win the A.B.C. Masters by defeating Chris Barnes in the final match 268-239 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
Williams won $100,000 for winning and Barnes won $50,000 for second.
Williams reached the finals by defeating former A.B.C. Masters champion Mika Koivuniemi of Finland in the semi-finals 237-213.
Koivuniemi, who finished third, had defeated D.J. Archer (fourth) 224-149 and Patrick Allen (fifth) 214-173 in the two earlier matches.
Auburn 700 Club
member/female guest
tournament
It will be held at Rainbow Lanes in Weedsport on Fri. Feb. 13 at 9:30 p.m.
The cost is $30 per doubles team ($15 per bowler).
An Auburn 700 Club male bowler will bowl with a female bowler and both bowlers must be sanctioned with the ABC/WIBC for the 2003-2004 season.
The Auburn 700 Club bowler must be a club member for the current season by paying his annual dues of $10 prior to bowling.
This will be a doubles tournament with two divisions and is limited to the first 30 doubles teams which sign-up by calling Rainbow Lanes at 834-6028.
Donahue, The Citizen's bowling columnist, is an ABC Director and secretary-treasurer of the NYS and Auburn Bowling Associations. You can reach him at spdbowling@aol.com
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