Aug/Sep 2017 -
7
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
Storm Open Festival of Bowling
Featuring the National Mixed
Tournament
By Jackie Wyckoff
We have all heard the saying “You can’t please all the
people, all the time”, right? Well I am here to debunk that
myth. The biggest little tournament in Reno has some-
thing for everyone. It’s the Storm National Mixed Tourna-
ment and the Festival of Bowling, two tournaments run-
ning concurrently at the National Bowling Stadium. The
2017 event runs for four weekends from October 5
through November 5.
I have been bowling the Storm National Mixed Tourna-
ment since the NBS took it over way back in 2003. They
added the Festival of Bowling events and the Youth Divi-
sion. As most of the regulars know, it really is a “Bowling
Weekend” at the tournament. You could bowl every
squad, every day. Or, pick one, have fun and spend the
rest of the weekend in the casino. With a total of eleven
different events and 36 separate prize funds, there is
something for everyone. If you happen to be as old as
me (or a decade younger at 50+), you can bowl in almost
all of them! And, of course, there is always brackets and
side-pots.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so it’s just a hop
skip and jump for me to travel to the Biggest Little City,
either by car or plane. If you’re almost anywhere in the
west, Southwest has lots of direct flights with the added
perk that (Bowling) Bags Fly Free. Since I live fairly close,
a four-hour drive on a good day, I am a Reno Regular.
I love the National Bowling Stadium, and not just be-
cause it is the Taj Mahal of Tenpins. The attitudes of the
long-time stadium staff make you feel like Norm in an
episode of “Cheers”. From the minute you walk in, it’s Hi!
How are ya? Great to see ya! And Hugs time. From the
big boss, Bob Thomas, to the scorekeepers, like the love-
able Billy, everyone makes you feel important, appreci-
ated and welcomed. Before shoeing up I need to say hi
to my “friends” Russ, Gloria, Ginger, Rich and the rest
(ala the Professor and Maryann).
Getting back to my original point about pleasing all the
people, all the time, what event do you want to bowl?
Team? Doubles? Singles? All Men? All Women?
Scratch? Handicap? Youth/Adult? Senior Events? It is
all there, and more. There is a reason why the event has
hundreds of returning teams. Squads run on time. Lane
conditions are fair. Folks are friendly. Bowl with your
friends or meet new people. Scores are posted shortly at
the completion of each squad and prize checks are
mailed out in a timely manner.
What more could you ask for? Well, mention this article
or my name, Jackie Wyckoff, and be entered into a raffle
for a FREE Storm Bowling ball.
Check out the full details, squad dates & times, lane
patterns, past champions, rules and entry forms at
BVL is 75 Years Old
What’s in your Wallet?
California has proudly lead all states in donations
that support our service men and women. As we turn
75 we reflect on the early beginnings lead by then
president Elva Stevens from Stockton who spear-
headed the effort here in California in the 1940’s
charting a course for the nation.
Founded in 1942, BVL is a national 501 (c) (3) char-
ity which is consistently acknowledged for efficient
and effective programming delivered with extremely
low overhead. BVL has been recognized as one of
“America’s Best Charities,” acknowledged as a “Top
Rated” Nonprofit, earned a Gold Participant Guide-
Star distinction for a commitment to transparency,
and accepted into the Combined Federal Campaign.
Donations received in 2016 sent directly to National
:
Greater Sacramento $8,000.00, Rock N Bowl Lg.
(LaQuinta), $100.00, Mother Lode USBC $941.40
and our California State USBC $103,333.17. Califor-
nia has continuously dominated the top spot for state
donations for many years, and three or four of our
Local Association are in the top ten in the nation each
year. It is preferable that donations be sent to our
state BVL effort The CUSBC BVL Committee desig-
nates the recognized facilities who receive our gifts
each year.
BVL does not charge an administrative fee. In addi-
tion to the needs of VA Healthcare Hospitals, Out-
reach/Vet Centers and Homes like Yountville for re-
tired Vets, BVL supports national programs like Re-
Creation, the BVL/VA Bowling tournament and the 6
National VA events.
It is well known that no one does more than bowlers
in a volunteer “non-paid” capacity for our various en-
deavors – BVL among them. BVL is our passion and
there will
always
be a need for support for our armed
forces who protect America.
Want to donate in memory of someone? You can
send donations directly to the CUSBC BVL Chairman
Eugene McCown, P. O. Box 608, Bellflower, CA
90707 or the CUSBC State Office at 45 Mitchell Blvd.
#7, San Rafael, CA 94903. The donation will be
acknowledged as will the family following the end of
the donation period. Memory donations are posted
below the Local Association donations on the website
at
.
The BVL program has been handled the same way
for many years with only one change per government
IRS regulations. Now we are required by law to send
a check to the National Office, which must be re-
ceived before July 31 for the total BVL dollars we
received during the fiscal year. We also send our
Excel file showing which Local Association raised the
dollars and post the information on our website.
Letters are sent out to the VA Homes, VA Health-
care Hospitals and Vet Centers, asking for their wish
list. The committee meets in early September and
approves the allocations. A list of the allocated
amount and the name for the checks are sent to the
National office. They write the checks, and send
them back for distribution, usually in November.
In some areas, the checks are presented by a state
Board Member, along with representatives from the
Local Association Board and general membership.
If you have any questions, you can call Chairman
Eugene McCown at 562-243-0279 or President Rosie
Parker at 626-334-8745. BVL is Eugene’s and
Rosie’s passion. The program is well organized and
administrated. When the association volunteers come
around to your leagues give what you can to a very
worthwhile charity and keep California on top. Al-
ways Remember “The Best Bowlers come from Cali-
fornia”.
2018 USBC Open Championships In
Syracuse To Begin One Week Earlier
ARLINGTON, Texas -
With teams quickly filling the
schedule for the 2018 United States Bowling Con-
gress Open Championships in Syracuse, New York,
USBC will add another week to the competition, so
more bowlers can experience competing in the na-
tional event.
To meet the extra requests for squad times, the
2018 USBC Open Championships will begin its run at
the Oncenter Convention Center on March 24, a
week earlier than previously scheduled.
"We hoped the captains and competitors would be
excited about traveling east and returning to Syra-
cuse, and we got some confirmation of that early in
the registration process," USBC Executive Director
Chad Murphy said. "We initially shortened the dura-
tion of the event, hoping the days would be full and
action-packed, but we made sure there was flexibility
to add days, if necessary."
The 2018 tournament will last for 107 days, conclud-
ing July 8. The custom-built 48-lane venue also will
play host to the USBC Masters from April 8-15, re-
uniting the two events for the first time since 2011.
The extra week will allow more than 600 additional
five-player teams to enjoy the Open Championships
experience, increasing the overall capacity to more
than 8,300 teams.
The Open Championships last was held in Syracuse
in 1999, and the upcoming return will mark the fifth
time the event has traveled to Salt City. It also was
held there in 1935, 1958 and 1973.
The transformation of the Oncenter Convention
Center will get underway Dec. 11 and include vendor
and office space, scale room and squad room, locker
and concessions areas and seating for hundreds of
friends, family and bowling fans.
The entry deadline for the event now will be March 24
to coincide with the start of competition. It previously
was listed as March 31.
Captains can enter and pay online at BOWL.com/
OpenChamp or call the tournament office at 888-910-
2695.
