The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) officially started on Jan. 1. On Dec. 30, the ABC and WIBC flags were lowered at bowling headquarters at Greendale, Wisc. and were replaced by the new USBC flag in ceremonies handled by former ABC executive director Roger Dalkin and former WIBC executive director Roseanne Kuhn.
"This is an exciting time in bowling history, but it also is with some sadness that we say goodbye to these grand organizations that have meant a great deal to all of us," said Dalkin, the new USBC CEO in a press release.
The press release further stated one of USBC's major goals is to become the central brand for bowling in the United States. It plans to do this by positioning the organization to grow the sport, encourage more people to participate, and increase the power of the brand.
USBC also seeks to establish and maintain National Governing Body status with the United State Olympic Committee and hopes to receive USOC approval of its NGB application early in 2005.
USBC will stand for values that include: credibility, dedication, excellence, heritage, inclusiveness, integrity, philanthropy, and sportsmanship.
USBC's brand promise is: ensuring the integrity and protecting the future of America's biggest sport for competitive and recreational bowlers.
USBC's mission statement is: The United States Bowling Congress, the national governing body, provides programs and services, protects the integrity of the sport, and enhances the bowling experience.
This is the same type of "flowery" language, ideas, and goals we have heard in the past with the individual membership organizations with no specifics as to how to achieve them nor in the future with this new organization.
I have said before in previous columns, that the rank-and-file bowlers will not see any change nor interruption in their programs and services for the remainder of this season as it will continue to be conducted as an ABC and WIBC season.
However, the success of the new USBC should be measured on how well local and state officials continue to provide the necessary services so that bowlers will not see any negatives to continue their future USBC membership.
Already on Saturday (the first official day of USBC), this columnist received a call from a bowling proprietor who was having a problem with service from his local association (that used to be under my jurisdiction as an ABC director) and asked me what I could do for him?
I told him that I no longer had any authority nor jurisdiction as an ABC director to help him out, but I did give him some advice as to how he should proceed. He asked me when did I lose my job as an ABC director? I told him today.
He then asked me who was the new New York representative he could call concerning problems? I told him there was none and that if he needed help in the future, he should call the 800 number for bowling headquarters and ask them who he should contact or who could help him out if he needed help.
Many local and state association officials (who regularly post messages on bowl.com about the USBC in threads under the heading bowling talk) have stated they are not going to merge right away, but are going to wait and see how associations that do merge immediately make out first. Their reasons are because once you merge, then you cannot un-merge and go back to the separate ABC, WIBC, and YABA associations they have now if they don't like it.
The coming year should prove to be very interesting as we proceed under the age of USBC.
The press release further stated one of USBC's major goals is to become the central brand for bowling in the United States. It plans to do this by positioning the organization to grow the sport, encourage more people to participate, and increase the power of the brand.
USBC also seeks to establish and maintain National Governing Body status with the United State Olympic Committee and hopes to receive USOC approval of its NGB application early in 2005.
USBC will stand for values that include: credibility, dedication, excellence, heritage, inclusiveness, integrity, philanthropy, and sportsmanship.
USBC's brand promise is: ensuring the integrity and protecting the future of America's biggest sport for competitive and recreational bowlers.
USBC's mission statement is: The United States Bowling Congress, the national governing body, provides programs and services, protects the integrity of the sport, and enhances the bowling experience.
This is the same type of "flowery" language, ideas, and goals we have heard in the past with the individual membership organizations with no specifics as to how to achieve them nor in the future with this new organization.
I have said before in previous columns, that the rank-and-file bowlers will not see any change nor interruption in their programs and services for the remainder of this season as it will continue to be conducted as an ABC and WIBC season.
However, the success of the new USBC should be measured on how well local and state officials continue to provide the necessary services so that bowlers will not see any negatives to continue their future USBC membership.
Already on Saturday (the first official day of USBC), this columnist received a call from a bowling proprietor who was having a problem with service from his local association (that used to be under my jurisdiction as an ABC director) and asked me what I could do for him?
I told him that I no longer had any authority nor jurisdiction as an ABC director to help him out, but I did give him some advice as to how he should proceed. He asked me when did I lose my job as an ABC director? I told him today.
He then asked me who was the new New York representative he could call concerning problems? I told him there was none and that if he needed help in the future, he should call the 800 number for bowling headquarters and ask them who he should contact or who could help him out if he needed help.
Many local and state association officials (who regularly post messages on bowl.com about the USBC in threads under the heading bowling talk) have stated they are not going to merge right away, but are going to wait and see how associations that do merge immediately make out first. Their reasons are because once you merge, then you cannot un-merge and go back to the separate ABC, WIBC, and YABA associations they have now if they don't like it.
The coming year should prove to be very interesting as we proceed under the age of USBC.
