2017 USBC Convention Concludes
5/5/2017LAS VEGAS – Delegates voted on three board positions, watched presentations of national awards, and heard reports from United States Bowling Congress President Frank Wilkinson and USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy as the 2017 USBC Convention and Annual Meeting wrapped up at The Orleans. Four candidates ran for the three open spots on the USBC Board. Incumbents Jo Dimond of Columbus, Ohio, and Karl Kielich of El Paso, Texas, were slated by the USBC Nominating Committee along with Glenda Beckett of Palmetto Bay, Florida, and Adam Mitchell of Reston, Virginia.
Kielich (617 votes), Mitchell (567), and Dimond (562) were elected on the first ballot. Beckett received 490 votes. The three elected each will begin a three-year board term starting Aug. 1, 2017.
Two athlete representatives were re-elected to USBC Board earlier this year. Kelly Kulick was selected for her third term, and Rhino Page to his second term, by Team USA athletes.
The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee will have two new members as John McCarthy III of Louisville, Kentucky, and Taffany Shipp of Pensacola, Florida, were selected to replace outgoing members Mike Hillman and Kim Stanek-Sims. IBC Youth Committee members were determined earlier this year and approved by the boards of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and USBC. Delegates also decided 14 proposed amendments – two for league rules, seven proposals for tournament rules (one was withdrawn) and five bylaws proposals – during the Annual Meeting. Nine of the proposed amendments passed, including a proposal to allow leagues and tournament directors the option to cap a handicap game at 300 and to cap a handicap series at 900.
Other highlights from Convention week were the annual presentations by Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) and Bowl for the Cure®.
BVL provides recreational and therapeutic programs and services to brighten the days of America’s active duty and veteran service men and women. Founded in 1942, it is the sport’s oldest charity and has raised nearly $50 million.
BVL raised $925,500 for the Department of Veterans Affairs thanks to contributions made during the 2015-2016 season. California was the top state association contributor with $108,500, Metro Phoenix led local associations with a $22,000 donation, and Stockton USBC was recognized as Best Small Local Association with an average contribution of $9.28 per member. Go to BowlForVeterans.org to learn more about BVL. Bowl for the Cure®, a year-round fundraising initiative sponsored by USBC in partnership with Susan G. Komen®, presented a $552,708 check to Susan G. Komen®, thanks to local and state association donations, along with merchandisesales and online donations. Go online to BowlfortheCure.com to learn more.
Also during the week, USBC announced changes to lane inspections and a new designation to bridge the gap between Standard and Sport averages.
USBC will implement new requirements for lane inspections for the 2018-2019 season and will adjust specifications for
new installations for the 2019-2020 season based on recent research by the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications team.
USBC also has established a new designation for leagues competing on lane conditions that fall between Standard and Sport conditions.
A new Challenge lane condition designation and conversion chart was determined based on research of leagues, and starting with the 2017-2018 season, league secretaries must choose one, and only one, of three lane condition options – Standard, Challenge or Sport – when submitting its league certification.
Go to BOWL.com to read more about the changes to lane inspections and the new Challenge lane condition designation.
Article was posted with permission from Stars & Strikes, America's Bowling Newsmagazine. www.starsandstrikesbowling.com
