Mary Lynly President

President’s Perspective

With all of the campaigning for president going on I was fascinated by how much effort was being put into motivating voters. Just think of what we could do for our sport if we had teams of people working all over the U.S. convincing people that your product was the best and held great promise? All are touting “change” and what they would do to solve what they perceive to be the problems plaguing our nation. When debates and round table discussions are held, participants ask questions that often put the candidates in a tough spot. So what do they do? They use the same “mantra” in answering the questions – “we need change!”

Does this sound familiar? Put us in the same situation and an almost ten year push to change the way bowling operates. Brain wash staff and send them to educational seminars that convince them that we are just like any other non-profit organization and then cut them loose to motivate the grass roots. Get rid of those who do not get with the program. Go around the congress holding workshops and seminars to convince the throngs that we cannot continue to operate the way we have been – we need to Grow the Sport. When questions were posed about various things that could not be answered to anyone’s satisfaction the answer was, “It’ll work out.”

Consultants and focus groups worked out new methods of operation to be used and it was presented to the leadership with deadlines for changes. When too many rebuffed an idea, the idea was altered and even altered again – even though we were told this would not be done. The first attempt for “change” was rejected but, as my husband used to say, “The sale begins when the customer says no.” It was back to the drawing board and more workshops and seminars, and more pressure to change. The template was being crafted for a re-organization that would certainly be our savior. Get rid of the old guard; make everyone merge – in fact maybe even several states together in one big happy group with a central processing area for all! Narrow down the choice and have the Nominating Committee control those who would get on the board and this board to elect who would lead. Honored persons would still be honored persons but past leaders would not be involved unless they “got with the program.”

There was chaos – but we’re told this, too, shall pass. Communication became a thing of the past – if you don’t use the Internet for everything – too bad. Frustration from the leadership now considers a mandate for all to merge. The truth is – growing the sport is now all anyone talks about and the elite bowler along with high school, college and Pros are the only focus. So, what’s happening to the grass roots? You know - the ones that just “send money?” It’s really not a concern. If all of the organizations just went away the bowlers would be in the centers anyway and the centers can just charge the league bowlers a fee and support the leadership. Ah, the proprietor cooperating with the leadership organization and not having to fool with local and state leadership problems.

I once read an article that was called “Reorganizing the Reorganization.” It told of why the great Reorganization of businesses failed. They forgot the people.

This is one thing the candidates for president are not forgetting, they are just trying to figure out who is most important to motivate so they can get into a position to effect change.

Sound familiar?

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Ms. Lynly,

Thank you to the California Bowling Writers for your generous donation of calling cards. The families of 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines are extremely grateful for your contribution. Currently 3/11 has three artillery batteries deployed to Iraq and the South Pacific. We were able to send calling cards to all the batteries. Anita from ASYMCA should be sending you pictures of some of the wives putting together boxes to send to the batteries. The boxes contained your calling cards and video messages that the families recorded for their Marines. Now the Marines are anxiously awaiting their packages!

Thank you again for your generous donation and continued support of 3/11 and all the Marines stationed aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms!

Kind Regards,
Maigen Rowe
3/11 Key Volunteer Coordinator

Current News
Troops to benefit from Bowling Writers Charity (08-7-08)
Evans to Lead BWAA – Romeo and Wyckoff Aboard (06-30-08)
BPAA’s Bowl Expo Continues the Vision (06-30-08)

• Recognize journalistic excellence
• Reward outstanding effort in bringing media attention to the sport of bowling
• Educate members and non-members to develop and strengthen writing skills to enhance bowling promotion
• Include and encourage electronic media in communications
• Promote and foster bowling photography

July 2008 The InfoLink will encourage and accept stories of 200-500 words, relating to bowling. Articles should be focused on individual accomplishments, special events, community involvement, prose, etc. Because we are focusing on special articles by our writers, reporting of scores or association related events will not be accepted. Send your story to: InfoLink Newsletter Editor: Jackie Wyckoff PO Box 50213 Palo Alto, CA 94303 Phone: 408-866-6598 Prior Issues: April 2008 January 2008 October-November 2007 July 2007 April-May 2007 January 2007 November 2006 August 2006 May 2006 January 2006 September 2005 June 2005

Board Photo
CBW Annual Meeting


l to r: Tina Martin, Jackie Wyckoff, Marian Mann, Past President
Eloise Cottrell, Past President Agnes Duffy, Phyl Knoll,
Mary Lynly, Donna Dillard, Robert Brown, Kathy Watson,
and Barbara Metzinger. Not in picture: Bette Addington and Joan Romeo.

Event Calendar State USBC Open Championships May 17-August 10, 2008 State USBC Youth Championships June 28-August 10, 2008 State Queens Tournament August 16-17, 2008 Senior Women's Championships August 21-24, 2008 Masters Tournament September 5-7, 2008 Youth State Scratch Championships October 4-5, 2008 Prince & Princess Tournament October 17-19, 2008 Coming in 2009: World Ten-Pin Youth Tournament in July – Orlando, FL – Tournament of Americas Worlds Women’s Tournament – Las Vegas, NV – (follows the open tournament) late July