August 2016 -
7
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
USBC Merger and Dues – I Was Thinking…….
By Mary Lynly
While dues are not really a big thing, bowling has enjoyed low dues for a long time with people paying big bucks in some leagues
and a bargain in others and in comparison, dues are paid once each season and are not all that much but the
value
of our mem-
bership is important. Unfortunately, we are living in a world of entitlements, low employment and wages for many and the bill at the
supermarket goes up all the time. I once worked for the head Industrial Engineer for Sylvania Electric in Mountain View and he
had worked in South America. He told me that one thing he learned there is no matter how poor people are they will have cars,
booze and recreation. People can live with paying more for things but when the value is not there people no longer participate. No
organization is worth its salt without membership but when the value erodes and nearly disappears, it adds salt to the wound.
After reading about the required merger of associations by 2018 numerous things crossed my mind: I think we are facing the following challenges:
What would happen to the association names and logos (many we helped create) we have so long associated with?
What about processing – will there be one or two “processing centers” to service what were once associations? Will it be convenient? Can computers create
solid friendships and give leaders someone (live) to talk to.
How will leadership work? Obviously, with the tremendous drop in membership since USBC became our “
National Governing Body”
, will there be the incentive
to lead, to participate –
for the love of it?
What about the communication we once had from National to State to Local? This was the glue that held us together and today it is Social Media or nothing.
For all intents and purposes, the USBC/BPAA focus is on Elite, Pro and Youth bowling. Retention has always been the goal, but since the adults are the ones
who make it possible for youth to bowl, travel and participate in tournaments and other endeavors will they be only the cash cows?
What happened to “purpose, incentive and independence of any kind?” People have to have a
reason
to be a part of anything. Are we dissolving into nothing
but a tournament club? Will this be the proprietor run organization people once feared?
What about those associations who were steadfast in their desire to remain independent and involved in their own associations hosting award dinners, local tour-
naments, charitable and other events indigenous to their group?
Will there be a voice from local and state bowling writer groups or will the desire for National to have “only their own” prevail and quash anything they consider
competition or a voice other than their own.
Slowly but surely our leadership has stifled any desire to work on behalf of the parent organization and President Wilkinson has said he is not concerned about
membership…then what? The current leadership are all proprietors….thus, the proprietor bottom line mentality.
It is hard to see all of the people who have given as much as 50 years of their time and treasure to supporting and promoting bowling become the undesired
group, and in the eyes of current national leadership, “best gone.”
As I now go through my multitude of items and information saved that have what I consider historical value, it saddens me to know that current leaders consider
years of information of no value – even though I realize the importance of
moving on.
Is this what they call throwing out the baby with the bathwater?
Has our leadership learned anything about what endears people to an enterprise/organization/ association or will they blame the “times” forever? True, times
have changed and property values has chased bowling centers away but hard times also bring innovation. Yes, some are building new types of bowling arenas
but unfortunately the structure is gone. Secretaries used to handle league stats and money and now the bowling center does it leaving the named secretary with
little or no attachment or hands on of her league. Rules are loosie goosy, people cheat, and it seems to be OK because no one knows the rules anyway. Few
have a rule book. If you want a change in the league sheet – forget it, can’t do it. Also, now the personnel in bowling centers change so often you can’t even
establish a relationship and they certainly can’t do it with you. When I worked in a center I knew
every
bowler….by name!
When a new bowler comes into a league it is painful to watch them struggle – anyone offer to help? Maybe an unknowing league member but that seems to be
it. They won’t be back.
I reflect on how the well-oiled machine events run by WIBC and ABC used to be. Attending events run by BPAA/USBC is evidence of the absence of anyone
who has real hands on knowhow and it is bumble after bumble. There seems to be no feel for professionalism. This might get better but the people who have
learned something will probably be “replaced.”
There are many smart, sharp people who run local events – I wonder what the incentive for them will be? I wonder if our leaders think they can learn anything
from them.
I have no problem with dues raise, but in response to the question asked – there was a time that associations offered value for the membership dues. Now it
seems to be – give me money or you get less, or nothing.
What I think is worse is having the experience of putting a lot of effort into helping to make a professional tournament in our area special for the participants,
instead of welcoming our help we were treated like we were raining on their parade. To say the least –
never again.
Amid the merger mania common sense appears to be a thing of the past and current benefits are often marketing schemes and provide nothing to be learned. I
repeat what I learned from an article that talked of the “Merger Mania” a few years ago and how it failed businesses. When they went back to the drawing board
to see what happened, they discovered they had
forgotten the people.
