ASSOCIATION MERGER TIMEFRAME,
DUES INCREASE PROPOSALS REJECTED
BY USBC ANNUAL MEETING DELEGATES

Delegates to the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Annual Meeting at the Reno Events Center rejected proposals recently that would have required associations to merge by Aug. 1, 2011 and membership dues to be a maximum of $15 on Aug. 1, 2010.

The proposals were by far the most discussed among 24 considered by the 1,165 delegates from across the country in a 2 hours, 18 minute session that helped conclude the two-day annual meeting. The association merger proposal was debated for 25 minutes with 59 percent approving while it took 45 minutes to discuss the dues increase proposal with 61 percent approving it. Both proposals required a two-thirds majority for passage.

Overall, delegates approved 13 amendments and rejected 10 with one ruled out of order. One amendment that was approved will allow bumper bowling to be certified by the United States Bowling Congress. Other approved amendments included five that give leagues more flexibility in their operations.

Among the other proposals rejected was one that would have created an executive committee of the USBC Board of Directors to handle emergency situations where it wasn't feasible to get the entire board together.

See below for complete listing of all the amendments.

Two incumbents, two newcomers elected to USBC Board of Directors
Current USBC directors Tamoria Adams, Charlotte, N.C., and Libbi Fletcher, Warren, Mich., joined newcomers Bob Klatt, Prior Lake, Minn., and Jay Nephew, Dallas, in being elected to the USBC Board of Directors by the Annual Meeting delegates.

Adams, Fletcher and Klatt were elected on the first ballot while Nephew was chosen on a third ballot. Adams had 488 votes, Michael Carroll, Huntington, W.Va., 287, Perry Daniels, Carrollton, Texas, 378, Fletcher 693, Klatt 668, Nephew 413, Deanna Rose, Fairport, N.Y., 291 and Bob Taylor, Fort Myers, Fla., 260 on the first ballot. Nephew had 407, Daniels 250, Rose 140 and Carroll 113 on the second ballot and Nephew 495, Daniels 264 and Rose 131 on the third.

Bojeґ, Baker re-elected USBC president, vice president
Jeff Bojeґ, Tampa, Fla., and Darlene Baker, Mahomet, Ill., were re-elected as USBC president and vice-president Saturday shortly after the conclusion of the USBC Annual Meeting.

Bojeґ will begin his third and final term as USBC president while Baker will serve for the second straight year beginning Aug. 1.

Top association contributors to BVL honored.
One presentation left off Friday's notes was the top association contributors to the Bowlers to Veterans Link.

The top state contributor was Virginia with $35,055.07. The leading local contributor was the Nation's Capital Area USBC with more than $19,000.

RESULTS OF 2009 USBC ANNUAL MEETING LEGISLATIVE SESSION

League Rules

Amendment No. LR 1 (Adopted)
Rule 100j. Modified Format
Rule 302a. Definition
Moves modified format to General Playing Rules and eliminates duplication of rules. Also allows bumper
bowling to be certified by USBC.

Amendment No. LR 2 (Adopted)
Rule 105. Absentee and Vacancy Scores
Gives the league the flexibility for vacancy scores just as they are for absentee scores.

Amendment No. LR 3 (Adopted)
Rule 107c. Substitutes and/or Replacement, Item 10
Gives the leagues the ability to determine eligibility for its awards.

Amendment No. LR 4 (Adapted)
Rule 109a. Legal Lineup
Allows leagues the flexibility to decide the minimum number for a legal lineup in its league.

Amendment No. LR 5 (Adapted)
Rule 113a. Definition
Allow leagues to declare co-champions if it adopts a rule.

Amendment No. LR 6 (Adopted)
Rule 113b. Procedures
Allows leagues the opportunity to decide what type of tie breaker best suits its needs.

USBC National Bylaws

Amendment No. B 1 (Rejected)
Article II, Purposes
Section B. Chartering State and Local Bowling Associations
Requires non-merged state and local associations to be merged by Aug. 1, 2011.

Amendment No. B 2 (Adopted)
Article II, Purposes
Section B. Chartering State and Local Bowling Associations
Removes the requirement to re-charter an association every five years, effective immediately.

Amendment No. B 3 (Adopted)
Article II, Purposes
Section B. Chartering State and Local Bowling
Associations, Item 3
Removes the performance standards requirement, effective immediately.

Amendment No. B 4 (Ruled out of order as Articles 7 and 8 say such amendments may not be proposed due to USOC rules)
Article II, Purposes
Section D. Compliance, Item 3(e)
Provides equal opportunity to participate in bowling regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Amendment No. B 5 (Rejected)
Article III, Membership and Dues
Section B. Dues
Changes maximum USBC adult membership dues from $10 to $15 as of Aug. 1, 2010. Amended by the board to change dues from $10 to $13 effective Aug. 1, 2010 and from $13 to $15 on Aug. 1, 2011.

Detroit proposes amendment to the amendment of USBC adult membership dues to maximum of $12 on Aug. 1, 2010, maximum of $14 effective Aug. 1, 2011 and a maximum of $15 effective Aug. 1, 2012 (Rejected, returns to amendment by the board.

Delegate makes motion to amend the amendment for national adult dues not to exceed $15 effective Aug. 1, 2010 (Rejected)

Amendment No. B 6 (Rejected)
Article III, Membership and Dues
Section B. Dues
Changes maximum state adult membership dues from $1 to $3, effective immediately.

Amendment No. B 7 Article III, Membership and Dues (Rejected)
Section B. Dues
Changes maximum state adult membership dues from $1 to $2.

Amendment No. B 8 (Rejected)
Article VII, Committees
New Section B. Executive Committee
Adds an Executive Committee who has the authority to act on behalf of the Board.

Merged State Association Bylaws

Amendment No. B 9 (Adopted)
Article II, Nonprofit Corporation and Charter
New Section C. Association Dissolution
Adds a dissolution statement to the bylaws as required by many state laws.

Amendment No. B 10 (Adopted)
Article V, Board of Directors - Management
Section A. Board Composition, Authority and Duties, Items 6-8
Removes the requirement that associations must provide education, training, recognition and evaluations and directs associations to implement USBC programs as requested.

Amendment No. B 11 (Adopted)
Article VI, Officers
Section B. Election and Section C. Term
Allows option to elect officers by the Board or by delegates/members.

Amendment No. B 12 (Adopted)
Article VII, Meetings
Section B. Board Meeting
Allows the Board to meet, at a minimum, as often as required by state law.

Amendment No. B 13 (Adopted)
Article VIII, Committees
Section A. Standing Committees, Item 1
Removes the requirement that the nominating committee is a standing committee; it will be optional.

Merged Local Association Bylaws

Amendment No. B 14 (Rejected)
Article V, Board of Directors - Management
Section B. Eligibility, New Item 3
Distributes Board representatives equally from bowling centers within the association's jurisdiction.

Amendment No. B 15 (Rejected)
Article V, Board of Directors-Management
Section D. Term
Limits directors to a lifetime maximum of nine years on the Board.

Amendment No. B 16 (Rejected)
Article VII, Meetings
Section A. Annual Meeting, Item 5
Requires written notice of annual meeting of members/Youth Representatives be given 15 days in advance.

Amendment No. B 17 (Rejected)
Article VII, Meetings
Section B. Board Meeting, Item 1
Requires written notice of board member's meeting be given 15 days in advance.

Amendment No. B 18 (Rejected)
Article IX, Adult Delegates, Youth Delegate and Alternates
Section A. USBC Annual Meeting
Allows up to 25 percent of delegates and alternates to be elected by the Board.