BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: xrayjay on October 25, 2016, 04:09:37 PM
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I was looking for a list of coaches in my area, just being curious to who they are.
Then I found this....
http://bowl.com/TheCore/Info/
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I guess I am missing the point here. Is this an opportunity to get stuff with a "The Core" logo on it? No where is there a price yet they want your billing information.
I went through the billing information to see what comes next and on the last page you get to the price.
$129.99
Excuse my while I delete my information.........
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Is this like being a BR Gold Member??
I bet the USB drive isn't even USB 3.0.
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Is this like being a BR Gold Member??
I bet the USB drive isn't even USB 3.0.
I read the posts above yours and logged in to make a similar comment (is this the USBC version of Gold Member) but by the time I had logged in, you had just posted.
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You get a:
A Padfolio journal - cause you don't know how to use your smart phone.
8GB thumb drive - great for college students, or for harry palmer for those chic pics
Bag tag - everyone wants a "the core" logo, feel important!
Bowling towel - great for sweaty palms after uploading those chic pics
A collectible coin featuring a bowling great - only one "bowling great", the same picture of one guy?
The 2016-2017 USBC rule book - no comment
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We should just agree to a yearly increase in the USBC membership fees so they don't have to get all creative like this to raise money. :)
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Yet another example of how out of touch the USBC is with their members...and reality for that matter
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Chad Murphy posted about it on Facebook. I think it was...a little self-delusional and maybe circular in it's reasoning? I'm pretty tired so that might not be exactly what I mean.
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They should list this on eBay :o
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I guess I am missing the point here. Is this an opportunity to get stuff with a "The Core" logo on it? No where is there a price yet they want your billing information.
I went through the billing information to see what comes next and on the last page you get to the price.
$129.99
Excuse my while I delete my information.........
So for one low yearly price of $129.99 you get $20 of crap?
Well that's one way to make money
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The problem with this promotion is I can get all of this stuff for less. To justify the cost you need to give something not available anywhere else.
One good thing is this:
Offerings:
- Two tickets to the final day of match play and to the televised finals
- “Behind the scenes†access pass for a view of the set and tour of the host bowling center
- Interact with the players for photo opportunities and autograph
Social Engagement
- Receive surprise gifts, messages, and recognition from top athletes and bowling personalities via social media
- Recap and share the event access experiences via USBC social and video channels; reward the community with recognition
- Use testimonials as a “15-minutes of fame†on social channels—will also serve to promote the product.
But in my opinion, these are items USBC should be providing all members, not just the select few who are part of The Core group.
The first thing USBC needs to identify is what do the members want outside of the current benefits provided. Once you can identify those things, then they can decide how to charge for them. I doubt bowlers are clamoring for a $5 USB flash drive or a towel.
I am all for having a "gold level" membership tier where those members have privileges. Here is a small list of what I would like:
- Discounted tickets to bowling tournaments
- Access to trade shows like Bowl Expo
- Access to all video content that was previously charged for
- ITRC coaching discounts
These are things I can't go to Amazon and get for pennies on the dollar compared to this price.
USBC is in a situation where they feel they have to profit from everything. And I get it, they aren't making a lot of money and they are in a situation where they cannot freely charge more for their services due to the local associations denying dues increases. And that is where the issue lies.
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The USBC will end up losing money on this because I am sure they had to pre-order a certain number of each giveaway. There aren't very many people going to just give $129.99 to the USBC because they are such a great organization. The USBC is out of touch with the average league bowler. I do want to support the USBC by paying my $20 membership dues, but I'm not this stupid. I was intrigued until I saw the price.
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not bad seen better seen worse
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For what boils down to $2.50 per week over the course of a year, it isn't a horrible deal. Getting the 5yr perpetual plaque is not a bad deal at all and the best part, especially if you are in to tracking your annual accomplishments. Sure you would need to continue each year to get the plaque plates, but you also get the other swag each year. If you don't want to renew, you could always go to a trophy shop and get updated plaque plates for the plaque yourself.
Between the plaque, the flash drive, the Padfolio, and the other swag you are probably looking at $75 in merchandise.
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The problem with this promotion is I can get all of this stuff for less. To justify the cost you need to give something not available anywhere else.
One good thing is this:
Offerings:
- Two tickets to the final day of match play and to the televised finals
- “Behind the scenes†access pass for a view of the set and tour of the host bowling center
- Interact with the players for photo opportunities and autograph
Social Engagement
- Receive surprise gifts, messages, and recognition from top athletes and bowling personalities via social media
- Recap and share the event access experiences via USBC social and video channels; reward the community with recognition
- Use testimonials as a “15-minutes of fame†on social channels—will also serve to promote the product.
But in my opinion, these are items USBC should be providing all members, not just the select few who are part of The Core group.
The first thing USBC needs to identify is what do the members want outside of the current benefits provided. Once you can identify those things, then they can decide how to charge for them. I doubt bowlers are clamoring for a $5 USB flash drive or a towel.
I am all for having a "gold level" membership tier where those members have privileges. Here is a small list of what I would like:
- Discounted tickets to bowling tournaments
- Access to trade shows like Bowl Expo
- Access to all video content that was previously charged for
- ITRC coaching discounts
These are things I can't go to Amazon and get for pennies on the dollar compared to this price.
USBC is in a situation where they feel they have to profit from everything. And I get it, they aren't making a lot of money and they are in a situation where they cannot freely charge more for their services due to the local associations denying dues increases. And that is where the issue lies.
News flash, membership has been declining for 25 years so if they want more money, maybe they should worry a little more about member acquisition/retention and a little less about professional tours, tournaments, and The Core.
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News flash, membership has been declining for 25 years so if they want more money, maybe they should worry a little more about member acquisition/retention and a little less about professional tours, tournaments, and The Core.
Blah, blah, blah..... I get it, you are upset about the way USBC recruits.
But this thread is pertaining to this particular membership level. What are your opinions of "The Core"?
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I think you should be angry that someone spent time and money to create/market this stupid program. #notasuperfan
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I think you should be angry that someone spent time and money to create/market this stupid program. #notasuperfan
Overall, I think you're over the top with your vendetta against the USBC, but I have to admit this Core promotion boarders on 'shake your head' stupidity. Still, bowlers aren't known to be the sharpest tools in the shed. Maybe the USBC did the math and determined this could be profitable. Time will tell.
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(https://cdn.meme.am/instances/58140140.jpg)
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From how I read it, it's OPTIONAL.
Don't like it, don't buy it. It's a really simple concept.
Kind of like me with those stupid-a$$ Burger King Chicken Fries. What the hell are those? But instead of complaining, I just don't buy them.
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From how I read it, it's OPTIONAL.
Don't like it, don't buy it. It's a really simple concept.
Kind of like me with those stupid-a$$ Burger King Chicken Fries. What the hell are those? But instead of complaining, I just don't buy them.
The difference here is you did buy it...your membership dollars put this program together. Basically charging you for stuff paid for by your membership dollars is a pretty good scam.
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The difference here is you did buy it...your membership dollars put this program together. Basically charging you for stuff paid for by your membership dollars is a pretty good scam.
Exactly.
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Sorry, but the yearly fees aren't paying for much. Just don't buy it if it's such a big deal. Or continue to bitch about it, which ever suits you.
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So I guess you like seeing your membership dollars put into programs like The Core. Keep supporting the people ruining bowling...it's noble work you're doing.
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Bowling seems just fine to me. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
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Kind of like me with those stupid-a$$ Burger King Chicken Fries. What the hell are those? But instead of complaining, I just don't buy them.
They're delicious, that's what they are.
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Bowling seems just fine to me. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
i think the pros bowling for less money than the 1970's and all the bowling proprietors that have closed their doors over the last three decades might have a different opinion. But who knows, maybe you're right lol.
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Sorry, but the yearly fees aren't paying for much. Just don't buy it if it's such a big deal. Or continue to bitch about it, which ever suits you.
Bingo......
For my pittance yearly fee, I get access to a searchable national average database. On top of that, my league prize funds are protected. These two items by themselves are more than worth the price of admission. Add to that multiple USBC run tournaments that I take advantage of, and you have one heck of a bargain.
There really isn't much to complain about.
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You're right about one thing, bowlers aren't very smart.
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Bowling seems just fine to me. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
i think the pros bowling for less money than the 1970's and all the bowling proprietors that have closed their doors over the last three decades might have a different opinion. But who knows, maybe you're right lol.
USBC is responsible for professional bowling and individual bowling alleys? Please, at least make a reasonable argument when you whine.
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Bowling seems just fine to me. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
i think the pros bowling for less money than the 1970's and all the bowling proprietors that have closed their doors over the last three decades might have a different opinion. But who knows, maybe you're right lol.
USBC is responsible for professional bowling and individual bowling alleys? Please, at least make a reasonable argument when you whine.
The bowling industry and the sport we're strong when membership was strong. Where are the programs targeted at acquiring and retaining members? The Core is just another example of how out of touch they are with membership. They count on people like you to saying it's only a couple of bucks...we had 6 million members not that long ago and we are around 1 million now so what will it cost when there are 200k members? It's simple math and we are on a linear decline for decades, so yeah I think they are accountable.
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
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i think the horrible house balls play a factor in low USBC membership during youth. Bowlers never use a well designed ,cored ball from a good company
you friend,
2hv
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
As for the sport side of bowling, fewer members equals fewer viewers resulting in fewer sponsors. The massive decline in membership is a macro trend affecting the entire industry, simple cause and effect. Unlike you, I think the USBC and BPAA, which are basically the same entity run by dinosaurs that have watched the decline happen and done nothing to stem the tide. The USBC is supposed to be a membership organization and a small percentage of that group gives a rats @ss about the PWBA, USBC Tournaments, and Team USA yet that's all they promote. Purely from a business perspective, they make most of their revenue from membership dues so instead of crying about needing a raise due to the decline in dues revenue, maybe they should focused on rebuilding membership. As membership continues to decline, tournament revenue declines so you'll constantly be giving them a dues increase just to "maintain current levels of service" and that will eventually become too expensive for virtually anyone to justify.
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
Don't waste your time here, Milo. Morpheus has 329 posts on this site, and 320 of them are dedicated to telling you how awful USBC is. According to him, USBC has never, can never, and will never do anything right. Like many, he doesn't do anything to fix the problems, but he's really, really good at telling you whose fault they are. Long story short, there isn't much use getting into it with this guy. His mind is made up, and nothing you say is going to change it.
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morpheus, you voted with your wallet this season and didn't buy a sanction card if I remember right?
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
Don't waste your time here, Milo. Morpheus has 329 posts on this site, and 320 of them are dedicated to telling you how awful USBC is. According to him, USBC has never, can never, and will never do anything right. Like many, he doesn't do anything to fix the problems, but he's really, really good at telling you whose fault they are. Long story short, there isn't much use getting into it with this guy. His mind is made up, and nothing you say is going to change it.
Welcome Gene, feel free to speak in terms of facts rather than emotion and opinion. As unsanctioned leagues grow and USBC membership declines as it has every year for decades, it certainly couldn't hurt to focus on building membership because a future for the sport certainly hasn't made a difference.
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
Don't waste your time here, Milo. Morpheus has 329 posts on this site, and 320 of them are dedicated to telling you how awful USBC is. According to him, USBC has never, can never, and will never do anything right. Like many, he doesn't do anything to fix the problems, but he's really, really good at telling you whose fault they are. Long story short, there isn't much use getting into it with this guy. His mind is made up, and nothing you say is going to change it.
Welcome Gene, feel free to speak in terms of facts rather than emotion and opinion. As unsanctioned leagues grow and USBC membership declines as it has every year for decades, it certainly couldn't hurt to focus on building membership because a future for the sport certainly hasn't made a difference.
Then please tell us the solution...or is your solution to just bitch and moan about it?
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is there written statistics that unsanctioned leagues are growing every year?
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is there written statistics that unsanctioned leagues are growing every year?
In my little world, I have yet to be involved with any league where the thought of not being sanctioned has been voiced. The only leagues I know of in my little world that are unsanctioned are leagues where you get something (ball, trip, etc.) and senior leagues. Other than that, all league bowlers here are willing to pay the sanction fee and bowl in sanctioned leagues.
I have never been one to say the USBC is perfect, but at the same time, there are some who will poo-poo everything they do no matter what.
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
Don't waste your time here, Milo. Morpheus has 329 posts on this site, and 320 of them are dedicated to telling you how awful USBC is. According to him, USBC has never, can never, and will never do anything right. Like many, he doesn't do anything to fix the problems, but he's really, really good at telling you whose fault they are. Long story short, there isn't much use getting into it with this guy. His mind is made up, and nothing you say is going to change it.
Welcome Gene, feel free to speak in terms of facts rather than emotion and opinion. As unsanctioned leagues grow and USBC membership declines as it has every year for decades, it certainly couldn't hurt to focus on building membership because a future for the sport certainly hasn't made a difference.
Then please tell us the solution...or is your solution to just bitch and moan about it?
I just did...the USBC should focus on growing membership instead of investing in programs that distract from solving the root cause issue. They should be creating and coordinating programs designed to educate our local associations to be more effective at recruiting and retaining members. Teach them how to use social media and run events like clinics and tournaments that keep members of all age/ability engaged. You said bowling seems just fine, I'm not willing to accept straight line declines for decades and neither should you.
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
Don't waste your time here, Milo. Morpheus has 329 posts on this site, and 320 of them are dedicated to telling you how awful USBC is. According to him, USBC has never, can never, and will never do anything right. Like many, he doesn't do anything to fix the problems, but he's really, really good at telling you whose fault they are. Long story short, there isn't much use getting into it with this guy. His mind is made up, and nothing you say is going to change it.
Welcome Gene, feel free to speak in terms of facts rather than emotion and opinion. As unsanctioned leagues grow and USBC membership declines as it has every year for decades, it certainly couldn't hurt to focus on building membership because a future for the sport certainly hasn't made a difference.
Then please tell us the solution...or is your solution to just bitch and moan about it?
I just did...the USBC should focus on growing membership instead of investing in programs that distract from solving the root cause issue. They should be creating and coordinating programs designed to educate our local associations to be more effective at recruiting and retaining members. Teach them how to use social media and run events like clinics and tournaments that keep members of all age/ability engaged. You said bowling seems just fine, I'm not willing to accept straight line declines for decades and neither should you.
So when are you going to run for a position on the national board? Are you active in your local association? How about the local youth program?
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The same board that is hand picked by the executive director of the USBC. He doesn't surround himself with people that will challenge his ideas, he wants yes men. Which is how you get to where we are today...The Core.
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The same board that is hand picked by the executive director of the USBC. He doesn't surround himself with people that will challenge his ideas, he wants yes men. Which is how you get to where we are today...The Core.
Ah, so you aren't willing to put the effort into getting anything done yourself. Got it.
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So are you also upset with the decline in railroad travel?
How about switchboard operators?
The reasons for the decline in organized bowling has been researched extensively. However, bowling as an activity is very strong. It's not USBC'S fault that some owners are poor business people. The PBA had a chance to fix their own house, but didn't put in the effort to get the job done. If they want more prize money, then they need to figure out how to promote the sport.
In case you didn't know, the PBA and USBC are not the same thing.
Don't waste your time here, Milo. Morpheus has 329 posts on this site, and 320 of them are dedicated to telling you how awful USBC is. According to him, USBC has never, can never, and will never do anything right. Like many, he doesn't do anything to fix the problems, but he's really, really good at telling you whose fault they are. Long story short, there isn't much use getting into it with this guy. His mind is made up, and nothing you say is going to change it.
Welcome Gene, feel free to speak in terms of facts rather than emotion and opinion. As unsanctioned leagues grow and USBC membership declines as it has every year for decades, it certainly couldn't hurt to focus on building membership because a future for the sport certainly hasn't made a difference.
You and I have gone around and around on these topics before, so there doesn't seem to be much point in doing it all again. I'll just say that I'll give you credit for finally articulating a specific approach to growing membership. In the past, I think you've thrown that phrase around, but I had never actually seen you state exactly how that is to be accomplished.
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The same board that is hand picked by the executive director of the USBC. He doesn't surround himself with people that will challenge his ideas, he wants yes men. Which is how you get to where we are today...The Core.
Ah, so you aren't willing to put the effort into getting anything done yourself. Got it.
I know with certainty that my name on an application for the board would be dismissed without a thought.
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The same board that is hand picked by the executive director of the USBC. He doesn't surround himself with people that will challenge his ideas, he wants yes men. Which is how you get to where we are today...The Core.
Ah, so you aren't willing to put the effort into getting anything done yourself. Got it.
I know with certainty that my name on an application for the board would be dismissed without a thought.
I get it, you are an "idea" man. You have all the answers, just so long as it doesn't require any effort from you personally.
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Solution 1 - You have to make a move to get more involved in youth bowling. It amazes me today, that just putting a sign outside the bowling center that youth league sign-ups will happen on this day is enough. In this day and age with social media and all the ways we can reach people, bowling is still in the dark ages.
USBC and Local Associations need to get off their asses, get out there and recruit.
Include Proprietors in that too.
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The same board that is hand picked by the executive director of the USBC. He doesn't surround himself with people that will challenge his ideas, he wants yes men. Which is how you get to where we are today...The Core.
Ah, so you aren't willing to put the effort into getting anything done yourself. Got it.
I know with certainty that my name on an application for the board would be dismissed without a thought.
I get it, you are an "idea" man. You have all the answers, just so long as it doesn't require any effort from you personally.
I get it...you think bowling is just fine and the USBC is awesome. Enjoy your membership in The Core.
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why did we go from ABC to USBC?
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why did we go from ABC to USBC?
Probably because they got tired of hearing people bitch about ABC. ;D
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The same board that is hand picked by the executive director of the USBC. He doesn't surround himself with people that will challenge his ideas, he wants yes men. Which is how you get to where we are today...The Core.
Ah, so you aren't willing to put the effort into getting anything done yourself. Got it.
I know with certainty that my name on an application for the board would be dismissed without a thought.
I get it, you are an "idea" man. You have all the answers, just so long as it doesn't require any effort from you personally.
I get it...you think bowling is just fine and the USBC is awesome. Enjoy your membership in The Core.
Thank you, I just may buy a membership. And bowling currently gives me what I expect from the level of effort I put forth.
Not that I think USBC is doing an effective job, but I doubt I could do any better.
Enjoy your membership in the "bitch about it but don't try to help improve it club". Which of course, has free lifetime membership.
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why did we go from ABC to USBC?
Didn't they consolidate a couple organizations or something like that?
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It is obvious things would be better with more members, after all, more members equals more money. But saying "get more members" doesn't equal a plan. You have to be pretty ignorant to think USBC is not trying to increase membership.
There are two different ways for USBC to increase membership. One is to find and recruit new members. How do you do this? Social media is a good idea, but getting people who are not currently interested in bowling to go to your sites or page or whatever is difficult. You have to identify cross-sport or cross-activities where bowling type people will be and find ways to direct them to you. USBC does do some things to drive traffic to them. They host events with other sports agencies (Chris Paul, Jerome Bettis, Mookie Betts) in an attempt to get those demographics interested in bowling amongst other things.
Another way to grow membership is trying to not lose those members who are on the fence. And this is where "The Core" comes into play. Many of the hyper-active bowlers don't feel they get something in return for their money. And perhaps this is what The Core is trying to do. Give those active fans of bowling (the ones who go as visitors to tournaments and follow several Facebook pages for the newest gossip and information) a way to be more involved with bowling. I like the concept, but feel it has missed its mark. Perhaps subsequent years will improve once data is collected.
And lastly, even though USBC and BPAA are extremely closely related (too much so?), getting new bowlers into the center really does fall on the BPAA. They have marketing deals in place that get bowling in front of diverse audiences like television shows and movies. This at times can be difficult since many times writers show bowling in a negative light, but as others have said, bad publicity is better than no publicity. Once in the centers, it should be up to center representatives to recruit the once a year bowler into a league bowler. The centers can be better educated in this area.
I realize many people want bowling to be what it once was. Unfortunately, it will probably never be that. But it can be successful and it will take some differing views than what may have worked in the past. Are we doing everything necessary, obviously not, but if we the bowlers who care the most want it be something positive, it will take more than complaining on this forum to achieve it. Get out there and do what you feel is beneficial. If nothing better comes from it than improving the local scene, then it wasn't for naught.
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why did we go from ABC to USBC?
The USBC came from the merger of the what was at the time separate associations.
The American Bowling Congress (ABC) which was all men.
The Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) which was all women and the Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) and USA Bowling.
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It is obvious things would be better with more members, after all, more members equals more money. But saying "get more members" doesn't equal a plan. You have to be pretty ignorant to think USBC is not trying to increase membership.
There are two different ways for USBC to increase membership. One is to find and recruit new members. How do you do this? Social media is a good idea, but getting people who are not currently interested in bowling to go to your sites or page or whatever is difficult. You have to identify cross-sport or cross-activities where bowling type people will be and find ways to direct them to you. USBC does do some things to drive traffic to them. They host events with other sports agencies (Chris Paul, Jerome Bettis, Mookie Betts) in an attempt to get those demographics interested in bowling amongst other things.
Another way to grow membership is trying to not lose those members who are on the fence. And this is where "The Core" comes into play. Many of the hyper-active bowlers don't feel they get something in return for their money. And perhaps this is what The Core is trying to do. Give those active fans of bowling (the ones who go as visitors to tournaments and follow several Facebook pages for the newest gossip and information) a way to be more involved with bowling. I like the concept, but feel it has missed its mark. Perhaps subsequent years will improve once data is collected.
And lastly, even though USBC and BPAA are extremely closely related (too much so?), getting new bowlers into the center really does fall on the BPAA. They have marketing deals in place that get bowling in front of diverse audiences like television shows and movies. This at times can be difficult since many times writers show bowling in a negative light, but as others have said, bad publicity is better than no publicity. Once in the centers, it should be up to center representatives to recruit the once a year bowler into a league bowler. The centers can be better educated in this area.
I realize many people want bowling to be what it once was. Unfortunately, it will probably never be that. But it can be successful and it will take some differing views than what may have worked in the past. Are we doing everything necessary, obviously not, but if we the bowlers who care the most want it be something positive, it will take more than complaining on this forum to achieve it. Get out there and do what you feel is beneficial. If nothing better comes from it than improving the local scene, then it wasn't for naught.
I think the USBC, and many on these threads, very specifically do not think it's the USBC's job to grow membership to which I strongly disagree. If they are trying, it's hidden really well because I see nothing other than "The Sport Of Bowling", PWBA stories, and tournament updates online and on social media which is of little interest to the average member.
The USBC can either listen to their members, even when the feedback isn't pleasant or you can live in a state of denial and paint any comment that doesn't flatter them as "negative" or "uninformed". Any time someone disagrees with the USBC or Chad Murphy on Facebook, their comments are deleted. Each post is prefaced with any comments deemed negative with be removed leading me to believe they don't value anyone's opinion other than their own.
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It is obvious things would be better with more members, after all, more members equals more money. But saying "get more members" doesn't equal a plan. You have to be pretty ignorant to think USBC is not trying to increase membership.
There are two different ways for USBC to increase membership. One is to find and recruit new members. How do you do this? Social media is a good idea, but getting people who are not currently interested in bowling to go to your sites or page or whatever is difficult. You have to identify cross-sport or cross-activities where bowling type people will be and find ways to direct them to you. USBC does do some things to drive traffic to them. They host events with other sports agencies (Chris Paul, Jerome Bettis, Mookie Betts) in an attempt to get those demographics interested in bowling amongst other things.
Another way to grow membership is trying to not lose those members who are on the fence. And this is where "The Core" comes into play. Many of the hyper-active bowlers don't feel they get something in return for their money. And perhaps this is what The Core is trying to do. Give those active fans of bowling (the ones who go as visitors to tournaments and follow several Facebook pages for the newest gossip and information) a way to be more involved with bowling. I like the concept, but feel it has missed its mark. Perhaps subsequent years will improve once data is collected.
And lastly, even though USBC and BPAA are extremely closely related (too much so?), getting new bowlers into the center really does fall on the BPAA. They have marketing deals in place that get bowling in front of diverse audiences like television shows and movies. This at times can be difficult since many times writers show bowling in a negative light, but as others have said, bad publicity is better than no publicity. Once in the centers, it should be up to center representatives to recruit the once a year bowler into a league bowler. The centers can be better educated in this area.
I realize many people want bowling to be what it once was. Unfortunately, it will probably never be that. But it can be successful and it will take some differing views than what may have worked in the past. Are we doing everything necessary, obviously not, but if we the bowlers who care the most want it be something positive, it will take more than complaining on this forum to achieve it. Get out there and do what you feel is beneficial. If nothing better comes from it than improving the local scene, then it wasn't for naught.
Well said!
I have been on the Local Board for our association and didn't see a reason/need for me to be there as it was little more than a once-a-month-bitch-fest of old-timers complaining about the National governing body.
So I decided to take a different path. I actually recruit new league bowlers myself. I take the time and effort to organize groups of teams for the local, State and National tournaments.
If bowling is to succeed and grow, WE as individuals are the ones who have to make it happen.
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Bowling is never going to be the way it was. That era is gone and bowling will never have the membership it once did.
But one thing for sure, if USBC and proprietors don't start reaching out to the youth, in the future bowling is going to be only associated with loud music and flashing lights.
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I think the USBC, and many on these threads, very specifically do not think it's the USBC's job to grow membership to which I strongly disagree. If they are trying, it's hidden really well because I see nothing other than "The Sport Of Bowling", PWBA stories, and tournament updates online and on social media which is of little interest to the average member.
The USBC can either listen to their members, even when the feedback isn't pleasant or you can live in a state of denial and paint any comment that doesn't flatter them as "negative" or "uninformed". Any time someone disagrees with the USBC or Chad Murphy on Facebook, their comments are deleted. Each post is prefaced with any comments deemed negative with be removed leading me to believe they don't value anyone's opinion other than their own.
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The USBC does seem to be playing the long game for membership growth, but that's exactly what the push for youth bowling, PWBA, and the Olympics are all about. They're trying to raise a new generation of people who respect bowling as a sport that could legitimately be a profession. The very things you keep saying they're focusing on INSTEAD of building membership is their very strategy FOR doing so. What you will not, and should not, see on their page is begging for more people to bowl league.
I would also disagree completely that PWBA stories are of little interest to the average member. I don't know about your area, but I hear people talking about the PWBA all the time since it came back. Not people you might find on here. I mean people who couldn't tell you who Sean Rash is talking about women's professional bowling. They're excited. Any woman with 200+ average starts wondering if they're going to try to bowl the tournament in Sacramento, because they're excited for it. I remember the first year they had to extend the number of entries (maybe twice?) because they were flooded with them. And bowling really needs that kind of buzz.
Lastly, I don't follow a lot of USBC conversations on Facebook since I'm on here already, but I have been following Chad Murphy and the USBC page regarding The Core, and your observations about the way they run their social media do not apply to at least those posts at all. I've actually been impressed with Chad's interaction in the comments section.
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Bowling is never going to be the way it was. That era is gone and bowling will never have the membership it once did.
But one thing for sure, if USBC and proprietors don't start reaching out to the youth, in the future bowling is going to be only associated with loud music and flashing lights.
I anticipate that contact sports are going to lose a substantial amount of popularity in the next 20 years, and I do wonder if it could be possible for bowling to take advantage of that and make a comeback. Maybe not to the same level, but then again who knows?
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Bowling may never be as big it was...but sure ought to be bigger than it is! If the USBC isn't part of the solution to grow bowling then why are they a membership organization?
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Because league bowlers still exist?
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Two points about this.
I have been on the Local Board for our association and didn't see a reason/need for me to be there as it was little more than a once-a-month-bitch-fest of old-timers complaining about the National governing body.
I have seen this with those on the local association board too. Sticking with the concept "Well we have been doing it this way for years, and we are not going to change!"
When you have people like that in charge, it is very difficult to get anything done.
So I decided to take a different path. I actually recruit new league bowlers myself. I take the time and effort to organize groups of teams for the local, State and National tournaments.
If bowling is to succeed and grow, WE as individuals are the ones who have to make it happen.
Last sentence needs adjusted.
We "need to work together" to make it happen.
Working as individuals is one of the reasons local associations are in disarray. Everyone wants to do it their way. Pride and Egos must be put aside and work needs done. Unfortunately this generation of parents and people, just don't want to get involved in anything.
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Two points about this.
I have been on the Local Board for our association and didn't see a reason/need for me to be there as it was little more than a once-a-month-bitch-fest of old-timers complaining about the National governing body.
I have seen this with those on the local association board too. Sticking with the concept "Well we have been doing it this way for years, and we are not going to change!"
When you have people like that in charge, it is very difficult to get anything done.
So I decided to take a different path. I actually recruit new league bowlers myself. I take the time and effort to organize groups of teams for the local, State and National tournaments.
If bowling is to succeed and grow, WE as individuals are the ones who have to make it happen.
Last sentence needs adjusted.
We "need to work together" to make it happen.
Working as individuals is one of the reasons local associations are in disarray. Everyone wants to do it their way. Pride and Egos must be put aside and work needs done. Unfortunately this generation of parents and people, just don't want to get involved in anything.
I think we agree in concept, just not the wording. ;D
We as single bowlers can make a small impact. But if we as a group of individual bowlers do the same thing, then the cumulative effect would be significant.
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Bowling may never be as big it was...but sure ought to be bigger than it is! If the USBC isn't part of the solution to grow bowling then why are they a membership organization?
First, they provide basic services required of the membership. You may poo-poo it, but managing a national historical database and guaranteeing prize funds is important. Very important. And for this, you pay less than you'd toss at brackets for one night.
All you've really offered is that the USBC should grow membership. That's nothing more than a strategy statement. You provide no concrete steps on how to accomplish this. It's not 1960 anymore. The world doesn't exist with nothing but 3 television channels and communication through rotary phones. Unless you've been living in a cave, people have thousands of additional choices on how to spend time, and they do. There is no easy answer and USBC doesn't have a magic wand.
I don't know this is so hard to comprehend.
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One more thing I would like to add. Why does everyone feel USBC and bowling would be better with more bowlers/members? Do more USBC members equal a better organization?
USBC has a set cost each year to perform the bare minimum according to their mission statement. Any additional funds are used to fuel the future goals of the organization. Right now, USBC wants to fuel the future of bowling as a sport. Notice this isn't the future of league bowling or the future of more members. Pushing bowling the sport into the same realm of respect and reverence of other sports requires a different view compared to the past. It requires a different approach.
Perhaps the magic number of members is less than one million, or it could be 10 million. If charging 500,000 members $50/yr gets them to the where they want to be, then that's what it takes. It doesn't mean you can't go bowl. It doesn't mean you can't bowl leagues and tournaments. You don't have to pay the $50. You can continue to live in your non-sanctioned world and enjoy your life.
Also, as stated earlier, today's association boards are not the best representations of the USBC's mission. Part of the reason is people work, have kids and have other interests. Doesn't mean they don't care about bowling, but at the same time they don't want to devote several hours working on the issues. Because of this, the boards are dominated by retirees who are vocal and claim their experience means they know what's best. I do agree they USBC needs to educate their boards and members to present the USBC better. If there is one thing I am extremely critical of it is local association image, and at this time, it is below substandard.
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Bowling may never be as big it was...but sure ought to be bigger than it is! If the USBC isn't part of the solution to grow bowling then why are they a membership organization?
First, they provide basic services required of the membership. You may poo-poo it, but managing a national historical database and guaranteeing prize funds is important. Very important. And for this, you pay less than you'd toss at brackets for one night.
All you've really offered is that the USBC should grow membership. That's nothing more than a strategy statement. You provide no concrete steps on how to accomplish this. It's not 1960 anymore. The world doesn't exist with nothing but 3 television channels and communication through rotary phones. Unless you've been living in a cave, people have thousands of additional choices on how to spend time, and they do. There is no easy answer and USBC doesn't have a magic wand.
I don't know this is so hard to comprehend.
If they want to just be the governing body of the "Sport", I would completely understand their current approach to put so much emphasis on the sport of bowling. I realize it's not 1960, but I don't think the USBC got the memo because you can tell a lot about an organization by their digital strategy...or lack there of when it comes to the USBC. I will say this, it's hard to comprehend how there aren't much better education programs and coordinated marketing programs designed educate/acquire/retain members at the local level, when they invest so much of their resources in things like the PWBA, USBC Tournaments, and my new personal favorite...The Core.
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If they want to just be the governing body of the "Sport", I would completely understand their current approach to put so much emphasis on the sport of bowling. I realize it's not 1960, but I don't think the USBC got the memo because you can tell a lot about an organization by their digital strategy...or lack there of when it comes to the USBC. I will say this, it's hard to comprehend how there aren't much better education programs and coordinated marketing programs designed educate/acquire/retain members at the local level, when they invest so much of their resources in things like the PWBA, USBC Tournaments, and my new personal favorite...The Core.
Talking about "education" and "coordinated marketing" sounds good in the abstract, but why does that mean in reality?
The bottom line is getting new people in the door. How you do that is really a grassroots center focused activity. It's going to differ based on geographic location and what incentives can be offered by respective local houses.
My primary center has has outreach programs to the local schools during the school year and summer camps during the summer. They've established shorter season leagues and incentives to new bowlers which include new shoes and a ball to new people who commit. There is no way this can be USBC driven because you're talking about decisions made by a local bowling business. You can't project responsibilities on the USBC that they have no way of independently implementing.
As Milo alluded to, the answer is to each of us individually to get new people into the game. It's simply not possible to do this at a national level.
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If they want to just be the governing body of the "Sport", I would completely understand their current approach to put so much emphasis on the sport of bowling. I realize it's not 1960, but I don't think the USBC got the memo because you can tell a lot about an organization by their digital strategy...or lack there of when it comes to the USBC. I will say this, it's hard to comprehend how there aren't much better education programs and coordinated marketing programs designed educate/acquire/retain members at the local level, when they invest so much of their resources in things like the PWBA, USBC Tournaments, and my new personal favorite...The Core.
Talking about "education" and "coordinated marketing" sounds good in the abstract, but why does that mean in reality?
The bottom line is getting new people in the door. How you do that is really a grassroots center focused activity. It's going to differ based on geographic location and what incentives can be offered by respective local houses.
My primary center has has outreach programs to the local schools during the school year and summer camps during the summer. They've established shorter season leagues and incentives to new bowlers which include new shoes and a ball to new people who commit. There is no way this can be USBC driven because you're talking about decisions made by a local bowling business. You can't project responsibilities on the USBC that they have no way of independently implementing.
As Milo alluded to, the answer is to each of us individually to get new people into the game. It's simply not possible to do this at a national level.
Not possible...how do you think franchises work?
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Not possible...how do you think franchises work?
Independently owned bowling centers are not franchises in any way. They are private businesses that have their own cost/profit structures, unique customer demographics depending on region, and their own thoughts on what they desire to grow and maintain their business.
No national body can impose their will on a business that goes against how they want to operate. It's a big reason why more stringent lane pattern specifications went down in flames.
Any growth in traditional league participation will by definition have to be organic based on the what individual centers can and are willing to do. Somehow inferring the USBC can do this is simply not being real.
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Follow along...local association (franchise) sells membership and pays $10 to USBC (franchiser). It benefits the franchiser to make franchises more effective at selling so they make more money.
As for the grassroots theory, news flash it is not working so maybe consider a new approach.
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Grassroots doesn't work? The center I referenced (and the other 3 owned by the same guy) are increasing league membership and are also increasing recreational traffic. It's all due to targeted grassroots marketing based on the specific demographics of the respective centers. The kind of outreach that would be impossible at the USBC level. Don't mistake your not witnessing this in action as 'not working'. It does.
If you honestly believe local USBC volunteers are going to function as star sales people, spending large chunks of unpaid time selling league bowling, you've been smoking too much of the wacky-tobacy.
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Grassroots doesn't work? The center I referenced (and the other 3 owned by the same guy) are increasing league membership and are also increasing recreational traffic. It's all due to targeted grassroots marketing based on the specific demographics of the respective centers. The kind of outreach that would be impossible at the USBC level. Don't mistake your not witnessing this in action as 'not working'. It does.
If you honestly believe local USBC volunteers are going to function as star sales people, spending large chunks of unpaid time selling league bowling, you've been smoking too much of the wacky-tobacy.
First of all, sales was an analogy to demonstrate the concept of franchises which you so clearly do not understand. Secondly, the better associations are at educating, acquiring, and retaining members the more money USBC get so teach them to use social media to promote clinics, tournaments, etc. Coordinate social media marketing campaigns at the national level that drive consumers to local clinics and events.
I'm saying we are consistently losing more members than we gain for the last three decades...time to try something else because grass roots completely independent associations are not effective. No matter how many people you reach with grass roots, it will never match a coordinated effort with USBC, BPAA, and local associations.
THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, IT DOES NOT WORK...IF IT DID MEMBERSHIP WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN A FREE FALL FOR DECADES.
Now back to your regularly scheduled madness doing the same thing expecting a different result....
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Now back to your regularly scheduled madness doing the same thing expecting a different result....
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morpheus, you voted with your wallet this season and didn't buy a sanction card if I remember right?
That's correct, I am no longer sanctioned but stay active practicing twice a week and competing in unsanctioned tournaments. While I miss being able to participate with friends and family, based on principle I refuse to support an organization that's clearly incapable or unwilling to get membership growing again after decades of declines.
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morpheus, you voted with your wallet this season and didn't buy a sanction card if I remember right?
That's correct, I am no longer sanctioned but stay active practicing twice a week and competing in unsanctioned tournaments. While I miss being able to participate with friends and family, based on principle I refuse to support an organization that's clearly incapable or unwilling to get membership growing again after decades of declines.
Credit where it's due for walking the walk. So many today like to bitch but not take action. While the USBC certainly isn't perfect I feel I get $20 value in the protection of league money, the record keeping and I also participate in the Open Championships (which the experience alone, to me, is worth the meager $20).
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morpheus, you voted with your wallet this season and didn't buy a sanction card if I remember right?
That's correct, I am no longer sanctioned but stay active practicing twice a week and competing in unsanctioned tournaments. While I miss being able to participate with friends and family, based on principle I refuse to support an organization that's clearly incapable or unwilling to get membership growing again after decades of declines.
I also give credit for sticking to your principles, regardless of how misguided they might be.
Still, giving up bowling with friends and family, and having to forgo meaningful tournaments for the sake of martyrdom seems counterproductive. Especially since nobody at USBC headquarters is losing sleep over your missing membership.
We're not going to agree on what the USBC can realistically do to counteract societal changes that are beyond the impact point of any organization. But if you can ever articulate a practical approach the USBC can take beyond the toothless abstract talking points you've offered, you have a ready audience that will listen. It would be nice if we could even partially turn back the clock.
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Steven....
All I can say is "WOW". Pretty nice bold statement you just gave us. "Especially since nobody at USBC headquarter is losing sleep over your missing membership". I'm sure those individuals whom have lost their employment at USBC over the last 4 years would disagree with you. Unless the USBC has the intent to rehire them back since they have raised membership fees. So that equates to 4.5 million dollars more to spend from the coffers. Less the 200,000 lost members for this year. Looks like the Shark pool is getting a little less fish to eat.
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morpheus, you voted with your wallet this season and didn't buy a sanction card if I remember right?
That's correct, I am no longer sanctioned but stay active practicing twice a week and competing in unsanctioned tournaments. While I miss being able to participate with friends and family, based on principle I refuse to support an organization that's clearly incapable or unwilling to get membership growing again after decades of declines.
I also give credit for sticking to your principles, regardless of how misguided they might be.
Still, giving up bowling with friends and family, and having to forgo meaningful tournaments for the sake of martyrdom seems counterproductive. Especially since nobody at USBC headquarters is losing sleep over your missing membership.
We're not going to agree on what the USBC can realistically do to counteract societal changes that are beyond the impact point of any organization. But if you can ever articulate a practical approach the USBC can take beyond the toothless abstract talking points you've offered, you have a ready audience that will listen. It would be nice if we could even partially turn back the clock.
Unfortunately you're right, nobody at the USBC cares about membership. As I've articulated several times before, the current way the system works is broken, but you and the USBC seem content to just raise dues and let the decline continue. The recent dues increase was to "continue the current level of services" so unless the current grassroots model suddenly starts growing membership, increases will continue on a shrinking pool of members because they can't cut anymore without reduction in services. At this point, the USBC is a charity because without growth in membership, the financial model is only sustainable by increasing dues.
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And just to be clear, if anyone at then national level could articulate a plan to grow membership with accountability at the highest levels, I would be happy to pay far more than the current dues. Instead, the only thing coming out of the USBC is "A Future for the Sport" and resurrecting the PWBA vaguely implying this wiill somehow grow membership...well it's not working and I see no one being held accountable. The only people getting paid in this local association model are the people working at the USBC, and in return for the hard work put in by volunteers they get virtually no training/education or marketing support from the USBC or BPAA but hand over $10 of every sanction. Honestly, the people getting paid in this model should be the ones solving this problem, but regardless whether my plan would work or not, I'm not sure it could do much worse than the plan that's been in place while we've lost millions of members.
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Of course their plan is working. It's been a working model of modern Unions. Just look at how much their numbers have grown. Muscle the money from the people to empower the few. Just look at the past dot com failures of quick get rich failures. Build it and you will be rich. They just had to hope the stock didn't tank before the six month period so they could dump their stock on the fools buying fools gold.The PBA is much like watching quarter horse racing. It's hard to watch them bowl past six frames with out them bitching about the oil disappearing. I'm sure they will petition to only bowl 2 games then re-oil soon. Gotta love sponge bowling. It's The Future for the Sport.
Only a couple more years before membership gets to 500,000 strong. That will be the new slogan. "We are 500,000 Strong". Building upon 30 years of decline. Watch us grow.
Bowling has been a BIG JOKE the past 24 years. And I bought into the revolution when reactive resin came out. Yes I took advantage of it. Because, I was destroying the competition. After having watched so many tournaments be decimated by it's introduction. The OLD TIMERS didn't want to compete any longer. Don't blame them for leaving. The only people left to be heard don't want to fix it. Just like the Teamster Leaders. Because it would mean going back to the stone age.
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I have a question for those who are disappointed with the USBC. What is it specifically you want from USBC? I hear a lot of talk about growing membership and getting more money to USBC, but what is the end result? Do bowlers want to bring back awards? Do bowlers want something else?
I have yet to hear a valid reason to even raise membership. If a bowler is unhappy with USBC, getting more members won't change that. Either you support the path USBC has taken to promote the sport of bowling or you don't. Right now, a lot of what USBC does isn't directly in support of the general membership population. It is for the select few who are good enough reap the benefits of being at the Team USA level.
If that path isn't what you want to promote, then don't be a member. I wouldn't discredit anyone for doing that. But if you like the idea of promoting the competitive side of bowling (men, women and youth), then be a member. I personally like the competitive side of bowling. I don't want it to go away. Can it be better, you bet. But it is better today than it was 10 years ago.
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+1 I hear whining but no solutions
I have a question for those who are disappointed with the USBC. What is it specifically you want from USBC? I hear a lot of talk about growing membership and getting more money to USBC, but what is the end result? Do bowlers want to bring back awards? Do bowlers want something else?
I have yet to hear a valid reason to even raise membership. If a bowler is unhappy with USBC, getting more members won't change that. Either you support the path USBC has taken to promote the sport of bowling or you don't. Right now, a lot of what USBC does isn't directly in support of the general membership population. It is for the select few who are good enough reap the benefits of being at the Team USA level.
If that path isn't what you want to promote, then don't be a member. I wouldn't discredit anyone for doing that. But if you like the idea of promoting the competitive side of bowling (men, women and youth), then be a member. I personally like the competitive side of bowling. I don't want it to go away. Can it be better, you bet. But it is better today than it was 10 years ago.
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Growth in membership raises all boats, so your statement arguing against growth honestly makes no sense. Competitive bowling, both amateur and professional, benefit greatly when membership is strong making it more marketable because the audience is larger. Even if only 1% of membership is interested in the sport of bowling, 1% of 6 million is more than 1% of 1 million meaning more entries and more sponsors.
Manufacturers benefit from membership growth by selling more equipment whether it be to consumers in the form of bowling balls/accessories or proprietors in the form of capital equipment, some of which is invested back into the competitive bowling side of the sport...see above.
As a member, the obvious benefit is more money for programs investing in youth, education, member services, member acquisition/retention, and marketing bowling to the masses.
As for your comment about competitive bowling being better, professionals and amateurs are bowling for less money and fewer tournaments than 10 years ago. We have fewer bowling centers than 10 years ago and the number of competitive bowlers continues to decline along with membership, so I honestly don't know how you can make this statement.
I guess the USBC has convinced everyone that losing members every year for decades is acceptable and there's nothing to be done about it other than raising dues. If the USBC were actually held accountable for results like the rest of the world, they would have been fired long ago for incompetence.
Oh, I almost forgot, I could care less about awards from the USBC, grow the game!
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+1 I hear whining but no solutions
I have a question for those who are disappointed with the USBC. What is it specifically you want from USBC? I hear a lot of talk about growing membership and getting more money to USBC, but what is the end result? Do bowlers want to bring back awards? Do bowlers want something else?
I have yet to hear a valid reason to even raise membership. If a bowler is unhappy with USBC, getting more members won't change that. Either you support the path USBC has taken to promote the sport of bowling or you don't. Right now, a lot of what USBC does isn't directly in support of the general membership population. It is for the select few who are good enough reap the benefits of being at the Team USA level.
If that path isn't what you want to promote, then don't be a member. I wouldn't discredit anyone for doing that. But if you like the idea of promoting the competitive side of bowling (men, women and youth), then be a member. I personally like the competitive side of bowling. I don't want it to go away. Can it be better, you bet. But it is better today than it was 10 years ago.
Then you should go back and read the thread, I've made plenty of suggestions.
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I don't feel we should be judging the USBC by how much the PBA events are worth. Or are you suggesting USBC be involved in the marketing of the PBA? Fewer bowling centers are not a direct result of USBC performance, unless you know something I don't. And USBC isn't responsible for the success of bowling ball manufacturers or equipment manufacturers (BPAA?)
I do agree the local associations should be better suited to meet the current demands of its members. I also feel this falls jointly on the local association and the national. Perhaps the national association doesn't relegate local performance enough.
Most of the items you are wanting/desire are only applicable if there are actually more members. Should USBC get more members for the sake of using whatever additional funds that provides to in turn try and get more members? It seems like an endless cycle of only getting more members.
And if history of conversations here are any indication, the programs and uses those additional funds earned by having more members will be criticized just as it is today.
The mission of USBC and their goals are independent of the number of members:
USBC Mission: The USBC is the National Governing Body for bowling. Our mission is to provide services, resources and standards for the sport.
USBC Vision: To be the leading authority to the sport, servicing the needs of bowling.
USBC Promise: Our promise is to celebrate the past, be mindful of the present and ensure bowling’s future through thoughtful research, planning and delivery. We will protect and nurture the sport with a mutual admiration and respect for all who enjoy bowling.
So again, I ask, why is it a requirement that USBC have more members?
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I don't feel we should be judging the USBC by how much the PBA events are worth. Or are you suggesting USBC be involved in the marketing of the PBA? Fewer bowling centers are not a direct result of USBC performance, unless you know something I don't. And USBC isn't responsible for the success of bowling ball manufacturers or equipment manufacturers (BPAA?)
I do agree the local associations should be better suited to meet the current demands of its members. I also feel this falls jointly on the local association and the national. Perhaps the national association doesn't relegate local performance enough.
Most of the items you are wanting/desire are only applicable if there are actually more members. Should USBC get more members for the sake of using whatever additional funds that provides to in turn try and get more members? It seems like an endless cycle of only getting more members.
And if history of conversations here are any indication, the programs and uses those additional funds earned by having more members will be criticized just as it is today.
The mission of USBC and their goals are independent of the number of members:
USBC Mission: The USBC is the National Governing Body for bowling. Our mission is to provide services, resources and standards for the sport.
USBC Vision: To be the leading authority to the sport, servicing the needs of bowling.
USBC Promise: Our promise is to celebrate the past, be mindful of the present and ensure bowling’s future through thoughtful research, planning and delivery. We will protect and nurture the sport with a mutual admiration and respect for all who enjoy bowling.
So again, I ask, why is it a requirement that USBC have more members?
You brought up tournament bowling saying it's better than 10 years ago, I merely disputed the fact that it is not whether it be professional or amateur because there is an infinitely smaller pool of people and sponsors to draw from.
The USBC is a membership organization with a fiduciary responsibility to said members and I don't think the current strategy, or lack there of, is in the best interest of membership. If I take your no growth argument to it's logical conclusion, membership continues to decline and the USBC is forced to raise the cost of membership to stay afloat which in turn accelerates decline. At 1 million members, they're receiving 10 million per year which apparently isn't enough to sustain current levels of service so they have another $5 to increase giving them 15 million per year at 1 million members. If membership were 500,000 the USBC portion of dues would have to be $30 per member achieve the same 15 million in revenue and that doesn't even account for lost tournament revenue which at this point is probably generating more than dues. This isn't hard guys, it's common sense and the math doesn't work...the current model is not sustainable.
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But it is better today than it was 10 years ago.
I'm not sure I would agree with that...if anything, I hear MORE complaints about various issues now than I did in my last season (which was, hmm...roughly a decade or so ago).
I don't know what the answer is, but when they aren't doing much to woo bowlers back in (or grow the new-bowler piece of the puzzle), something isn't working in the HQ offices.
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Unfortunately you're right, nobody at the USBC cares about membership. As I've articulated several times before, the current way the system works is broken, but you and the USBC seem content to just raise dues and let the decline continue. The recent dues increase was to "continue the current level of services" so unless the current grassroots model suddenly starts growing membership, increases will continue on a shrinking pool of members because they can't cut anymore without reduction in services. At this point, the USBC is a charity because without growth in membership, the financial model is only sustainable by increasing dues.
The only organization that can have a practical positive impact on league membership is the BPAA. Why? Because their member business survival is at stake. They need the guaranteed income stream from leagues to pay the bills.
Bowling centers that want to stay profitable make the efforts to reach out their respective communities to market their unique services. That includes schools, churches, summer camps, and special needs organizations. Our local owner has embraced this philosophy and his centers are doing very well. More and more, BPAA members are sharing their success stories to the benefit of all. They're starting to understand that it will happen with them or not at all.
There will always be the cheap lazy centers that don't modernize and reach out to their communities. They will die slow deaths. There is nothing the USBC can do bring new people into those centers, and they wouldn't stay long even if they could.
Local USBC staff are largely older retired people looking for something to do instead of taking too many naps. They're OK (sometimes) at taking care of local administration duties, but to pretend they have the skills or motivation to ever be able to recruit significant new membership is a hallucination. You might be willing to spend more on dues to enable local staff (if that's even possible), but the bread-and-butter mixed league bowler who just wants to have 3 games of fun never will.
Look to the BPAA for your membership salvation. That's the only place it will possibly happen.
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USBC events:
- Junior Gold - 2005 had 1,425 participants / 2016 had 3,292 participants
- Team USA - 2008 had 103 participants / 2016 had 284 participants
- High School Bowling is growing
- Collegiate Bowling is growing and has been NCAA for women since 2004
- Participation in women's events have increased (at least to the point of capacity, most events are capped and have been because of logistics)
I agree the level of participation in the national tournaments is down. A lot of that does fall on USBC for not keeping the interest in the events as bowlers age. A lot of older people participate, but those under 50 have declined probably the most.
But the growth in youth bowling is exactly what USBC has been trying to get. More youth are participating in bowling in a more competitive environment than ever before. There may be fewer members, but you have lost a lot of the league members who parents used youth bowling as a day care.
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The only organization that can have a practical positive impact on league membership is the BPAA. Why? Because their member business survival is at stake. They need the guaranteed income stream from leagues to pay the bills.
Make no mistake, the days of "leagues pay the bills and open play is profit" are on their way out, if they're not past already. This is why centers put increasing emphasis on birthday parties and cosmic bowling, and why new centers are often "family fun centers" instead of just bowling. This is also why Bowlmor has adopted their current business model.
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I have a family member on the Board of Directors of our local USBC association. The board works very hard behind the scenes on issues such as local association achievement awards, planning for (and organizing) the State tournament (which is in our association for 2017), as well as reviewing protests, planning for attending national meetings, and other concerns that are brought before them.
Participation in sanctioned bowling is not directly controllable by the USBC. They cannot wake up one day, set a goal of 10,000 additional members for the month, and make it happen. The drop in league participation is more of a sociological issue more than anything else. Family priorities, job obligations, health issues, general time constraints. All things out of the control of the USBC. If people do not have the time or money to bowl, the USBC cannot fix that. If people have illnesses or physical challenges that prevent them from being able to bowl, the USBC cannot fix that. If people have work obligations that prevent them from being able to make it to a weekly league, the USBC cannot fix that.
There are some people that have always had bowling in their lives, and will continue to make bowling a part of their lives. My family and I have been continual USBC members for the past 22 years. There have been times where we have contemplated walking away. You may get into an extended slump. There may be stretches of weeks where you never feel like you have the "right ball" with you. There may be personality conflicts with other league bowlers that eliminate any joy in being at the lanes. But, ultimately, we always go back because we have been participating for over 2 decades and it gives us something to do as a family and we have numerous friends at the lanes.
The major thing you have to ask yourself is "what is the USBC not doing today that I wish they were doing?" As the governing body of the sport, they are doing what they are supposed to. They are establishing and maintaining the rules of the game. They are setting guidelines for equipment manufacturers to create consistency and to prevent unfair advantages. They maintain an awards system to acknowledge superior achievement by their members. They sponsor and arrange national tournaments. They sponsor and support events at the professional level. They negotiate discounts for their members with other companies for travel, lodging, and other types of services to make getting to the national events a little easier. There are many things they do in the interest of the members. Whether or not people see value in those things is a personal opinion.
Is there truly any value in giving members a patch for every 250 game bowled? Every 700 series? Every 800 series? Every Dutch 200? A plaque for every 11 in a row? A ring for every 298/299/300 game? Realistically, what is someone going to do with 100 250-game patches over the course of their bowling career? What need does a high average bowler have for 30+ 300 rings? Acknowledging these things on a "once in a lifetime" basis with a single free ring is much more meaningful than showering someone with dozens of rings. If people want their dozens of rings after that, they can buy them.
Each year I pay my sanction fee and bowl knowing they are there if I have a question about the rules or league issues. They maintain a record of my average and my accomplishments. I have never looked at them as an organization responsible for adding more members.
If bowling is going to grow, the USBC and the proprietors needs to adjust with the times. League seasons need to be shorter. League sessions need to go faster (3-4 hours for 5 man team bowling is, quite frankly, ridiculous.) Many people simply cannot devote this kind of time to bowling in the 21st century. Younger adults usually can, but as people get older their disposable free time goes away until they retire (and then they have much more time for multiple leagues and the time associated.) There needs to be more careful monitoring of averages to make tournaments and leagues more fair for bowlers of all skill levels. There need to be more opportunities for tournaments both regionally and nationally. There needs to be better training for league officers and proprietors on how to handle rule related infractions. There needs to be better enforcement of the rules they work so hard to establish for their members. Sometimes there is a definite Wild West mentality on some leagues and that shouldn't be the case. Bowling in a USBC sanctioned league should be a 99% similar experience regardless of where you bowl. Consistency is key.
There is no perfect organization. The USBC included. But, they are all we have and we need to work with them to help them achieve their mission.
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Make no mistake, the days of "leagues pay the bills and open play is profit" are on their way out, if they're not past already. This is why centers put increasing emphasis on birthday parties and cosmic bowling, and why new centers are often "family fun centers" instead of just bowling. This is also why Bowlmor has adopted their current business model.
True, to a certain degree. But it will be a long time before most centers can live without leagues.
Birthday parties and cosmic bowling are great for certain time slots on weekends, but that's about it. The "family fun centers" that are having success are in higher income large population areas, but those are in the minority.
The big profits are in mixed handicap leagues where there are 4-5 people on a team throughout most of the house, and alcohol sales keep the cash register singing. The better run centers I bowl in don't seem to have problems keeping 3-4 of those kinds of leagues going strong. Add in a few Senior leagues, Women's leagues, and if the house is lucky, a serious competitive league, and you have icing on the cake. That's dependable income.
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I found a better deal! I call it the Shell Club. Our motto is "your game is nothing without a shell". The annual membership includes:
•A Padfolio journal with binder cover
•16GB thumb drive
•2 Bag tags
•2 Bowling towels
•A collectible coin featuring a picture of your choosing
•The 2016-2017 USBC rule book and every other year's rule book in PDF format on thumb drive
And the best part is that you can get it all for a dazzling price of $99.99!
Who's in? :D
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USBC events:
- Junior Gold - 2005 had 1,425 participants / 2016 had 3,292 participants
- Team USA - 2008 had 103 participants / 2016 had 284 participants
- High School Bowling is growing
- Collegiate Bowling is growing and has been NCAA for women since 2004
- Participation in women's events have increased (at least to the point of capacity, most events are capped and have been because of logistics)
I agree the level of participation in the national tournaments is down. A lot of that does fall on USBC for not keeping the interest in the events as bowlers age. A lot of older people participate, but those under 50 have declined probably the most.
But the growth in youth bowling is exactly what USBC has been trying to get. More youth are participating in bowling in a more competitive environment than ever before. There may be fewer members, but you have lost a lot of the league members who parents used youth bowling as a day care.
Youth membership is not growing...please check your facts.
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I have a family member on the Board of Directors of our local USBC association. The board works very hard behind the scenes on issues such as local association achievement awards, planning for (and organizing) the State tournament (which is in our association for 2017), as well as reviewing protests, planning for attending national meetings, and other concerns that are brought before them.
Participation in sanctioned bowling is not directly controllable by the USBC. They cannot wake up one day, set a goal of 10,000 additional members for the month, and make it happen. The drop in league participation is more of a sociological issue more than anything else. Family priorities, job obligations, health issues, general time constraints. All things out of the control of the USBC. If people do not have the time or money to bowl, the USBC cannot fix that. If people have illnesses or physical challenges that prevent them from being able to bowl, the USBC cannot fix that. If people have work obligations that prevent them from being able to make it to a weekly league, the USBC cannot fix that.
There are some people that have always had bowling in their lives, and will continue to make bowling a part of their lives. My family and I have been continual USBC members for the past 22 years. There have been times where we have contemplated walking away. You may get into an extended slump. There may be stretches of weeks where you never feel like you have the "right ball" with you. There may be personality conflicts with other league bowlers that eliminate any joy in being at the lanes. But, ultimately, we always go back because we have been participating for over 2 decades and it gives us something to do as a family and we have numerous friends at the lanes.
The major thing you have to ask yourself is "what is the USBC not doing today that I wish they were doing?" As the governing body of the sport, they are doing what they are supposed to. They are establishing and maintaining the rules of the game. They are setting guidelines for equipment manufacturers to create consistency and to prevent unfair advantages. They maintain an awards system to acknowledge superior achievement by their members. They sponsor and arrange national tournaments. They sponsor and support events at the professional level. They negotiate discounts for their members with other companies for travel, lodging, and other types of services to make getting to the national events a little easier. There are many things they do in the interest of the members. Whether or not people see value in those things is a personal opinion.
Is there truly any value in giving members a patch for every 250 game bowled? Every 700 series? Every 800 series? Every Dutch 200? A plaque for every 11 in a row? A ring for every 298/299/300 game? Realistically, what is someone going to do with 100 250-game patches over the course of their bowling career? What need does a high average bowler have for 30+ 300 rings? Acknowledging these things on a "once in a lifetime" basis with a single free ring is much more meaningful than showering someone with dozens of rings. If people want their dozens of rings after that, they can buy them.
Each year I pay my sanction fee and bowl knowing they are there if I have a question about the rules or league issues. They maintain a record of my average and my accomplishments. I have never looked at them as an organization responsible for adding more members.
If bowling is going to grow, the USBC and the proprietors needs to adjust with the times. League seasons need to be shorter. League sessions need to go faster (3-4 hours for 5 man team bowling is, quite frankly, ridiculous.) Many people simply cannot devote this kind of time to bowling in the 21st century. Younger adults usually can, but as people get older their disposable free time goes away until they retire (and then they have much more time for multiple leagues and the time associated.) There needs to be more careful monitoring of averages to make tournaments and leagues more fair for bowlers of all skill levels. There need to be more opportunities for tournaments both regionally and nationally. There needs to be better training for league officers and proprietors on how to handle rule related infractions. There needs to be better enforcement of the rules they work so hard to establish for their members. Sometimes there is a definite Wild West mentality on some leagues and that shouldn't be the case. Bowling in a USBC sanctioned league should be a 99% similar experience regardless of where you bowl. Consistency is key.
There is no perfect organization. The USBC included. But, they are all we have and we need to work with them to help them achieve their mission.
This isn't about awards...I don't think anyone has brought that up other than the people backing the USBC's position.
This isn't about whether the USBC controls participation, it's about what they are doing to improve participation. Seems like the governing body has a vested interest in organized participation or there would be no need for the governing body...which is where we are headed.
There is no integrity in the game when you have two PBA major champions bowling the World Youth Championships...and they wonder why bowling isn't in the Olympics.
And finally, the board of directors is completely ineffective looking at the results of the past three decades. In fact, the current model shields those at the highest levels from accountability when we all know who runs the board. If they want the board to have an opinion, it's given to them and if the program doesn't work, they can't hold a volunteer board accountable for the failed direction of the USBC. The model is broken and has been for a very long time while people like you defend the status quo and the game continues to decline.
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USBC events:
- Junior Gold - 2005 had 1,425 participants / 2016 had 3,292 participants
- Team USA - 2008 had 103 participants / 2016 had 284 participants
- High School Bowling is growing
- Collegiate Bowling is growing and has been NCAA for women since 2004
- Participation in women's events have increased (at least to the point of capacity, most events are capped and have been because of logistics)
I agree the level of participation in the national tournaments is down. A lot of that does fall on USBC for not keeping the interest in the events as bowlers age. A lot of older people participate, but those under 50 have declined probably the most.
But the growth in youth bowling is exactly what USBC has been trying to get. More youth are participating in bowling in a more competitive environment than ever before. There may be fewer members, but you have lost a lot of the league members who parents used youth bowling as a day care.
Youth membership is not growing...please check your facts.
I didn't say youth membership is growing. I said youth participation in competitive events - you know, the Sport of Bowling - has grown. And isn't that what USBC is trying to do?
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This isn't about awards...I don't think anyone has brought that up other than the people backing the USBC's position.
This isn't about whether the USBC controls participation, it's about what they are doing to improve participation. Seems like the governing body has a vested interest in organized participation or there would be no need for the governing body...which is where we are headed.
There is no integrity in the game when you have two PBA major champions bowling the World Youth Championships...and they wonder why bowling isn't in the Olympics.
And finally, the board of directors is completely ineffective looking at the results of the past three decades. In fact, the current model shields those at the highest levels from accountability when we all know who runs the board. If they want the board to have an opinion, it's given to them and if the program doesn't work, they can't hold a volunteer board accountable for the failed direction of the USBC. The model is broken and has been for a very long time while people like you defend the status quo and the game continues to decline.
Just to confirm, a PBA major champion isn't allowed to compete in a tournament he/she qualifies for? Is it because he/she is too good? Or are you implying the World Youth Championships should revise their qualifications? This is kinda like saying you shouldn't accept a tax break you qualify for. I can afford to have a child so I shouldn't accept a tax break for day care expenditures.
I guess it is a black eye on the NCAA since Olympic gold medalists are swimming for Stanford. I guess it is immoral the Olympics let PGA major winners compete in the Olympics.
I think most agree the local associations could improve. I think most agree USBC could improve. But I fail to see how the number of USBC members dictates the effectiveness of USBC.
Again:
USBC Mission: The USBC is the National Governing Body for bowling. Our mission is to provide services, resources and standards for the sport.
USBC Vision: To be the leading authority to the sport, servicing the needs of bowling.
USBC Promise: Our promise is to celebrate the past, be mindful of the present and ensure bowling’s future through thoughtful research, planning and delivery. We will protect and nurture the sport with a mutual admiration and respect for all who enjoy bowling.
No where does it state USBC has a mission of increasing membership. And if you feel it is USBC's job to increase membership, then what is the magic number? If it isn't 2 million or 1 million, what should it be?
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How is the USBC viable without membership growth? What's the magic number where dues are so so high you end up paying $100/year to keep them afloat...150,000?
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What USBC seems to be doing is developing a product that entices people to participate in bowling as a sport. They showcase the sport level of bowling by promoting it at all levels (youth and adult) and genders. This shows bowlers of all levels have a place in the sport of bowling. They are providing a product that they hope more people want to be a part of. It obviously isn't attracting everyone and whether or not it is attracting enough, I am not sure. I don't know what their expected membership is or what the number is to be solvent.
There are many on this forum that would pay more than the current $10 to the national organization to have the benefits USBC provides. I personally would pay more. How much more, not sure, but I personally would go above $20 for what they are doing now.
I think what you are wanting to see is more programs with the explicit goal of gaining membership. This would be in addition to whatever it is they do today. This would be a direct method of acquiring membership where what they are doing now is more indirect.
Other organizations are doing similar things as "The Core". In the examples I have seen, the price was not equal to the benefit. Here is an excerpt from the USGA:
The USGA Member level is the perfect way to support the game you love. Become a member today and join our community of passionate golfers and fans alike. You'll not only receive exclusive privileges and benefits, but you'll also help preserve the excellence in golf for future generations.
The USGA has seven levels of membership ranging in costs from $10 to $2300. Each level gets added benefits to the level below it. I feel this is the path USBC is going with "The Core" and think it makes sense to some degree. There are a select few who would pay more than the current $10 to support the USBC. However, I personally don't want to spend $120.
After further review, I realize I ramble nonsensically at times. This thread has been one of them. I enjoy bowling. I enjoy competition, almost to a fault. And I also feel USBC is doing some things correctly. Therefore, I want to support USBC because I like what they are doing with the youth programs and with the promotion of women's bowling. I realize it isn't what it used to be. I realize also I don't really get anything in return for my money other than enjoyment in the promotion of the sport, and for that I would pay more.
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Great post. I have often compared the USBC to the USGA. Another important point to me is that the vast majority of golfers are not USGA members. Also I think any reasonable person would come to the conclusion that decline in USBC membership over the years has little if anything to do with the USBC itself.
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Keep a couple things in mind when comparing to the USGA. As long as they have the revenue from the TV rights to the US Open the rest is gravy. Most golfers that keep a handicap pay the USGA in a different way, through the GHIN handicapping service, which I believe is $35 year.
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I found a better deal! I call it the Shell Club. Our motto is "your game is nothing without a shell". The annual membership includes:
•A Padfolio journal with binder cover
•16GB thumb drive
•2 Bag tags
•2 Bowling towels
•A collectible coin featuring a picture of your choosing
•The 2016-2017 USBC rule book and every other year's rule book in PDF format on thumb drive
And the best part is that you can get it all for a dazzling price of $99.99!
Who's in? :D
LOL! You need to add some more.
The core offers the following in addition:
Experiential
Throughout the year, members of the community will have the opportunity to win “USBC Event Experiences†at the professional tournament of their choosing (Queens, Senior Queens, Masters, Senior Masters, PWBA Players Championship, PWBA Tour Championship, U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open).
Offerings:
•Two tickets to the final day of match play and to the televised finals
•“Behind the scenes†access pass for a view of the set and tour of the host bowling center
•Interact with the players for photo opportunities and autograph
•Receive an event merchandise gift pack compliments of USBCBowlingStore.com
* How about you offer free admission for all Shell members to your league night!
* Every Shell member can attend the "behind the scenes" access pass for the league's official kick off meeting.
*Shell members can take a selfie with any league bowler.
*Exclusive gift pack containing left over patches and awards from the ABC.
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So essentially bowlers who average less than 210 or 200 should start a whole NEWBowling association to get away from the USBC. Stop supporting the top 1% of whiny bowlers. Stop supporting the sharks. Stop supporting a dysfunctional USBC and national tournament. Start a new Organization that really benefits the average joe bowler.
I'm all for it.
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Average Joe bowler should have their own Organization. So what if they get the seasonal 225, 250, 275 game patch. They earned it. They may have a 135 average. The ABC began as support for the average Joe bowler. Now as the USBC it basically wants to be a support for all things professional and competitive. Screw the Joe. He'll never amount to be a God in the bowling alley. At least with a new organization if it ever is seen. Should have members voted in and run it x amount of years then step down and out. As it is now with USBC they may step down but are embedded within it.
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So essentially bowlers who average less than 210 or 200 should start a whole NEWBowling association to get away from the USBC. Stop supporting the top 1% of whiny bowlers. Stop supporting the sharks. Stop supporting a dysfunctional USBC and national tournament. Start a new Organization that really benefits the average joe bowler.
I'm all for it.
I am for it also. What are the benefits?
I do think there is a place for an organization for those who don't need what USBC offers. This is where I feel the BPAA can step in and provide some kind of service to leagues to bond prize funds and even provide some kind of award program. Fee is paid on a per game basis (10 cents per game or whatever you come up with) that is paid by the bowling center from the lineage/fees paid nightly. This might give incentive to increase membership.
Leave USBC to deal with the 1% and whatever they are willing to pay to be a member. BPAA can provide a fee to use the established rules by USBC along with equipment certification (if desired).
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Great post. I have often compared the USBC to the USGA. Another important point to me is that the vast majority of golfers are not USGA members. Also I think any reasonable person would come to the conclusion that decline in USBC membership over the years has little if anything to do with the USBC itself.
This is a math problem pointing out the current model probably isn't sustainable much below 500K - 700K members. In the words of the USBC, there is nothing left to cut, so they need a minimum amount of revenue from membership to stay operational. Tounament revenue is already essential to keep them afloat and as membership continues to decline, that means less tournament revenue. Whether you think they should or shouldn't be growing membership, operating the current model is not financially sustainable so something has to change. That in a nutshell is my beef with the USBC...nothing has been done to try to change the existing dysfunctional model. It appears their plan is to just keep asking for more money from a shrinking member pool because, while they depend on dues revenue, it's up to a bunch of volunteers at local associations working in a vacuum to make it better and that model is not working folks.
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That in a nutshell is my beef with the USBC...nothing has been done to try to change the existing dysfunctional model. It appears their plan is to just keep asking for more money from a shrinking member pool because, while they depend on dues revenue, it's up to a bunch of volunteers at local associations working in a vacuum to make it better and that model is not working folks.
Sometimes there isn't an easy answer, or a practical one at all. Youth baseball participation is down drastically throughout the USA. There is real concern about what this will do to interest in professional baseball in the future. Do we blame Little League baseball, or even MLB for not having aggressive national programs for increased participation? Most reasonable people would say no, understanding the avalanche of social shifts and their implications.
It would be easy to point of several other organizations struggling with future survival, but shouldn't be necessary at this point. Bowling will survive, and maybe even experience a resurgence in the coming years. It might not be in the form we'd like to see (much more recreational), but that's life. If you look at this rationally, you'll accept there isn't a boogieman to hang in the town square.
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I'll bet on one thing, I will go on record and say participation will increase, likely substantially. I'm more than willing to say I was wrong if I am.
Nationals in Vegas every other year is a good thing! I'm pretty excited about this year. I'm an 8 hour drive from Syracuse (which in the grand scheme of things isn't that bad) but then it's Vegas again! Much more affordable on airfare and a much (MUCH!) better town than Reno......
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USBC has not been about joe bowler the since the move from Wisconsin. It has been centering its functions around the top bowlers and tournaments. Could the USBC survive off maybe 600,000 bowlers whom are are currently averaging over 200. Sure, by raising the dues. Not a problem there. Just need a pen.
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
Mediocrity? I'm bowling in two back-to-back USBC Senior tournaments in Las Vegas that are worth far more than the price of admission. On top of that, Nationals is icing on the cake. My more than reasonable $22 annual fee makes that happen. Tell me what other organization gives you as much bang for the buck.
I don't know why you have such a disconnect on understanding the reasons for league bowling participation declines. I can reiterate that it's not going to be turned around by a benign national social media campaign, or by training 70+ year old volunteers to sell memberships. It's not going to happen. Ultimately, any increases will be driven at the local level by BPAA houses that want to remain in business.
I'd worry less about the future and more about your bowling enjoyment in the present. Retreating into a shell isn't going to enhance your bowling life
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
Mediocrity? I'm bowling in two back-to-back USBC Senior tournaments in Las Vegas that are worth far more than the price of admission. On top of that, Nationals is icing on the cake. My more than reasonable $22 annual fee makes that happen. Tell me what other organization gives you as much bang for the buck.
I don't know why you have such a disconnect on understanding the reasons for league bowling participation declines. I can reiterate that it's not going to be turned around by a benign national social media campaign, or by training 70+ year old volunteers to sell memberships. It's not going to happen. Ultimately, any increases will be driven at the local level by BPAA houses that want to remain in business.
I'd worry less about the future and more about your bowling enjoyment in the present. Retreating into a shell isn't going to enhance your bowling life
Keep doing the same things that took us from 6 million members to 1 million? I sincerely hope there's a better plan than doing the same things expecting a different result. How do you know if my plan would work, it's never been tried in bowling and is a common practice with franchise models. Again, what are you afraid of, could it be any worse than where your solution has gotten us?
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
Mediocrity? I'm bowling in two back-to-back USBC Senior tournaments in Las Vegas that are worth far more than the price of admission. On top of that, Nationals is icing on the cake. My more than reasonable $22 annual fee makes that happen. Tell me what other organization gives you as much bang for the buck.
I don't know why you have such a disconnect on understanding the reasons for league bowling participation declines. I can reiterate that it's not going to be turned around by a benign national social media campaign, or by training 70+ year old volunteers to sell memberships. It's not going to happen. Ultimately, any increases will be driven at the local level by BPAA houses that want to remain in business.
I'd worry less about the future and more about your bowling enjoyment in the present. Retreating into a shell isn't going to enhance your bowling life
Keep doing the same things that took us from 6 million members to 1 million? I sincerely hope there's a better plan than doing the same things expecting a different result. How do you know if my plan would work, it's never been tried in bowling and is a common practice with franchise models. Again, what are you afraid of, could it be any worse than where your solution has gotten us?
You are confusing the "franchise models" concept. If you were talking about BPAA, then sure, a percentage of their gross sales for a national advertising campaign would make perfect sense. And add in another fee for the local ADI the bowling alley belongs to for local advertising. But I'm SURE that would go over just perfect with the center owners.
However, I as an individual bowler, am in no way a "franchise". What you are suggesting would be akin to McDonald's adding an additional tax on each customer bill.
And if you are curious, yes, I do know franchising quite well. Over a 10 year career at Domino's pizza, I went from a Delivery Driver, Store manager, Area Supervisor, Senior Area Supervisor, Franchise Consultant, New Store Coordinator to Regional Corporate Operations Director. So you could say I have a bit of experience with how a franchise concept works.
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There is a Mcdonalds tax on burgers. named after Michelle Obama. Now you know why burgers have gotten smaller
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
Mediocrity? I'm bowling in two back-to-back USBC Senior tournaments in Las Vegas that are worth far more than the price of admission. On top of that, Nationals is icing on the cake. My more than reasonable $22 annual fee makes that happen. Tell me what other organization gives you as much bang for the buck.
I don't know why you have such a disconnect on understanding the reasons for league bowling participation declines. I can reiterate that it's not going to be turned around by a benign national social media campaign, or by training 70+ year old volunteers to sell memberships. It's not going to happen. Ultimately, any increases will be driven at the local level by BPAA houses that want to remain in business.
I'd worry less about the future and more about your bowling enjoyment in the present. Retreating into a shell isn't going to enhance your bowling life
Keep doing the same things that took us from 6 million members to 1 million? I sincerely hope there's a better plan than doing the same things expecting a different result. How do you know if my plan would work, it's never been tried in bowling and is a common practice with franchise models. Again, what are you afraid of, could it be any worse than where your solution has gotten us?
You are confusing the "franchise models" concept. If you were talking about BPAA, then sure, a percentage of their gross sales for a national advertising campaign would make perfect sense. And add in another fee for the local ADI the bowling alley belongs to for local advertising. But I'm SURE that would go over just perfect with the center owners.
However, I as an individual bowler, am in no way a "franchise". What you are suggesting would be akin to McDonald's adding an additional tax on each customer bill.
And if you are curious, yes, I do know franchising quite well. Over a 10 year career at Domino's pizza, I went from a Delivery Driver, Store manager, Area Supervisor, Senior Area Supervisor, Franchise Consultant, New Store Coordinator to Regional Corporate Operations Director. So you could say I have a bit of experience with how a franchise concept works.
I've already explained this. USBC (franchiser) receives revenue for every local association (franchise) membership. Just as in a franchise model, it benefits the franchiser to educate franchises making them more effective...the better the franchises do, the more money the franchiser receives. Marketing can be coordinated nationally with local franchises, just as I proposed with coordinated efforts between BPAA, USBC, and local associations to promote clinics, tournaments, etc. Membership growth benefits the USBC and the BPAA, so why don't they do a better job with education and marketing/social media coordination with local associations?
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
Mediocrity? I'm bowling in two back-to-back USBC Senior tournaments in Las Vegas that are worth far more than the price of admission. On top of that, Nationals is icing on the cake. My more than reasonable $22 annual fee makes that happen. Tell me what other organization gives you as much bang for the buck.
I don't know why you have such a disconnect on understanding the reasons for league bowling participation declines. I can reiterate that it's not going to be turned around by a benign national social media campaign, or by training 70+ year old volunteers to sell memberships. It's not going to happen. Ultimately, any increases will be driven at the local level by BPAA houses that want to remain in business.
I'd worry less about the future and more about your bowling enjoyment in the present. Retreating into a shell isn't going to enhance your bowling life
Keep doing the same things that took us from 6 million members to 1 million? I sincerely hope there's a better plan than doing the same things expecting a different result. How do you know if my plan would work, it's never been tried in bowling and is a common practice with franchise models. Again, what are you afraid of, could it be any worse than where your solution has gotten us?
You are confusing the "franchise models" concept. If you were talking about BPAA, then sure, a percentage of their gross sales for a national advertising campaign would make perfect sense. And add in another fee for the local ADI the bowling alley belongs to for local advertising. But I'm SURE that would go over just perfect with the center owners.
However, I as an individual bowler, am in no way a "franchise". What you are suggesting would be akin to McDonald's adding an additional tax on each customer bill.
And if you are curious, yes, I do know franchising quite well. Over a 10 year career at Domino's pizza, I went from a Delivery Driver, Store manager, Area Supervisor, Senior Area Supervisor, Franchise Consultant, New Store Coordinator to Regional Corporate Operations Director. So you could say I have a bit of experience with how a franchise concept works.
I've already explained this. USBC (franchiser) receives revenue for every local association (franchise) membership. Just as in a franchise model, it benefits the franchiser to educate franchises making them more effective...the better the franchises do, the more money the franchiser receives. Marketing can be coordinated nationally with local franchises, just as I proposed with coordinated efforts between BPAA, USBC, and local associations to promote clinics, tournaments, etc. Membership growth benefits the USBC and the BPAA, so why don't they do a better job with education and marketing/social media coordination with local associations?
The local associations don't want help from USBC. But don't let reality get in the way of your vendetta against USBC.
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
Mediocrity? I'm bowling in two back-to-back USBC Senior tournaments in Las Vegas that are worth far more than the price of admission. On top of that, Nationals is icing on the cake. My more than reasonable $22 annual fee makes that happen. Tell me what other organization gives you as much bang for the buck.
I don't know why you have such a disconnect on understanding the reasons for league bowling participation declines. I can reiterate that it's not going to be turned around by a benign national social media campaign, or by training 70+ year old volunteers to sell memberships. It's not going to happen. Ultimately, any increases will be driven at the local level by BPAA houses that want to remain in business.
I'd worry less about the future and more about your bowling enjoyment in the present. Retreating into a shell isn't going to enhance your bowling life
Keep doing the same things that took us from 6 million members to 1 million? I sincerely hope there's a better plan than doing the same things expecting a different result. How do you know if my plan would work, it's never been tried in bowling and is a common practice with franchise models. Again, what are you afraid of, could it be any worse than where your solution has gotten us?
You are confusing the "franchise models" concept. If you were talking about BPAA, then sure, a percentage of their gross sales for a national advertising campaign would make perfect sense. And add in another fee for the local ADI the bowling alley belongs to for local advertising. But I'm SURE that would go over just perfect with the center owners.
However, I as an individual bowler, am in no way a "franchise". What you are suggesting would be akin to McDonald's adding an additional tax on each customer bill.
And if you are curious, yes, I do know franchising quite well. Over a 10 year career at Domino's pizza, I went from a Delivery Driver, Store manager, Area Supervisor, Senior Area Supervisor, Franchise Consultant, New Store Coordinator to Regional Corporate Operations Director. So you could say I have a bit of experience with how a franchise concept works.
I've already explained this. USBC (franchiser) receives revenue for every local association (franchise) membership. Just as in a franchise model, it benefits the franchiser to educate franchises making them more effective...the better the franchises do, the more money the franchiser receives. Marketing can be coordinated nationally with local franchises, just as I proposed with coordinated efforts between BPAA, USBC, and local associations to promote clinics, tournaments, etc. Membership growth benefits the USBC and the BPAA, so why don't they do a better job with education and marketing/social media coordination with local associations?
The local associations don't want help from USBC. But don't let reality get in the way of your vendetta against USBC.
I would love to see the USBC try this even if it was on a on a small scale with a handful off associations. I realize you know everything about all the local associations and it would never work, but I would rather try and fail than do nothing because membership has been declining for decades and I doubt this would make it any worse.
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I would love to see the USBC try this even if it was on a on a small scale with a handful off associations. I realize you know everything about all the local associations and it would never work, but I would rather try and fail than do nothing because membership has been declining for decades and I doubt this would make it any worse.
I've actually been on local association boards and have seen it first hand.
But I ask again, have YOU ever been on a local association board?
Have you EVER done anything to promote bowling?
And no, continuous bitching about the national body doesn't count, no matter how much time and effort you spend doing it.
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So essentially bowlers who average less than 210 or 200 should start a whole NEWBowling association to get away from the USBC. Stop supporting the top 1% of whiny bowlers. Stop supporting the sharks. Stop supporting a dysfunctional USBC and national tournament. Start a new Organization that really benefits the average joe bowler.
I'm all for it.
That's what the American Bowling Consortium was going to do. whatever happened to that?
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I would love to see the USBC try this even if it was on a on a small scale with a handful off associations. I realize you know everything about all the local associations and it would never work, but I would rather try and fail than do nothing because membership has been declining for decades and I doubt this would make it any worse.
I've actually been on local association boards and have seen it first hand.
But I ask again, have YOU ever been on a local association board?
Have you EVER done anything to promote bowling?
And no, continuous bitching about the national body doesn't count, no matter how much time and effort you spend doing it.
You are exactly the problem with the current group of dinosaurs making decisions about bowling's future at the national and local level. You have all the answers but nothing you do has made a difference in the last three decades. You're defending a broken model and seem to be content with failure probably because it benefits you individually in some way. The facts cannot be disputed, bowling has been in a massive decline for decades, far more than any other sport has experienced. You're either part of the solution, or in your case, part of the problem...it's time for new ideas.
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I would love to see the USBC try this even if it was on a on a small scale with a handful off associations. I realize you know everything about all the local associations and it would never work, but I would rather try and fail than do nothing because membership has been declining for decades and I doubt this would make it any worse.
I've actually been on local association boards and have seen it first hand.
But I ask again, have YOU ever been on a local association board?
Have you EVER done anything to promote bowling?
And no, continuous bitching about the national body doesn't count, no matter how much time and effort you spend doing it.
You are exactly the problem with the current group of dinosaurs making decisions about bowling's future at the national and local level. You have all the answers but nothing you do has made a difference in the last three decades. You're defending a broken model and seem to be content with failure probably because it benefits you individually in some way. The facts cannot be disputed, bowling has been in a massive decline for decades, far more than any other sport has experienced. You're either part of the solution, or in your case, part of the problem...it's time for new ideas.
But I have ask multiple times, what have YOU personally done to improve the situation?
I'm not defending anything, I have taken the problem into my own hands and doing what I can by recruiting bowlers, getting people to go to tournaments etc.
Do I think USBC is perfect? Of course not. But just because I don't bitch about them every chance available, doesn't mean I think they are perfect.
Ironic that you call those of us who don't criticize USBC with every breath as dinosaurs
and "part of the problem". When I was on local association boards, I saw a bunch of people with YOUR attitude.
Again, tell us ONE thing that you have personally done to help the situation.
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I coached plenty of kids and professionals when I was active and still have access to plenty of board members at the local and national level, so please stop telling me about how things work. Keep doing what you're doing, it's noble work but will never be enough. I'm merely pointing out the obvious thing that declining membership over decades is trying to tell you...YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!
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I coached plenty of kids and professionals when I was active and still have access to plenty of board members at the local and national level, so please stop telling me about how things work. Keep doing what you're doing, it's noble work but will never be enough. I'm merely pointing out the obvious thing that declining membership over decades is trying to tell you...YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!
And you are doing NOTHING. Except of course bitching about what everyone else does. So keep up the good work.
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I coached plenty of kids and professionals when I was active and still have access to plenty of board members at the local and national level, so please stop telling me about how things work. Keep doing what you're doing, it's noble work but will never be enough. I'm merely pointing out the obvious thing that declining membership over decades is trying to tell you...YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!
And you are doing NOTHING. Except of course bitching about what everyone else does. So keep up the good work.
I'm merely pointing out that the current model has resulted in millions of lost members so why so you think it's working?
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I coached plenty of kids and professionals when I was active and still have access to plenty of board members at the local and national level, so please stop telling me about how things work. Keep doing what you're doing, it's noble work but will never be enough. I'm merely pointing out the obvious thing that declining membership over decades is trying to tell you...YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!
And you are doing NOTHING. Except of course bitching about what everyone else does. So keep up the good work.
I'm merely pointing out that the current model has resulted in millions of lost members so why so you think it's working?
Does bitching and complaining about the national USBC make anything better?
I would argue that it actually hurts bowling.
Or does it just make you feel superior?
And the current model hasn't in and of itself been proven to have lost a single member. Societal change is the reason of the decline in USBC membership and league participation.
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So we should never question the USBC because it's bad for bowling? That's the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard and one of them primary reasons bowling has failed to change with the times. I'm starting to think you've never actually worked in the real world where change is a constant and we always look for better ways of doing things to stay competitive. Dude you seriously should move to a country where freedom of thought is discouraged because you're argument is really disturbing.
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So we should never question the USBC because it's bad for bowling? That's the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard and one of them primary reasons bowling has failed to change with the times. I'm starting to think you've never actually worked in the real world where change is a constant and we always look for better ways of doing things to stay competitive. Dude you seriously should move to a country where freedom of thought is discouraged because you're argument is really disturbing.
If anything you have said was credible it might be different. The decline in bowling memberships is not due to the governing body of the sport. It's been documented, explained, rehashed, rewarmed, discussed, re-discussed, argued, bitched about, etc. for years.
Every single time the national body TRIES anything new, you and your ilk start with the same crap. Just in case you forget, you started out by bitching about something new they were trying called "The Core". We heard the same crap when USBC tried to raise money by selling those training DVD's. And again when they wanted to implement a lane condition inspection program.
It just goes on and on and then you have the nerve to complain they aren't doing anything to prevent the decline in bowling all the while YOU ain't doing squat except pointing fingers and bitching about everything tried.
Grow up, find something else to do besides bowling.
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So we should never question the USBC because it's bad for bowling? That's the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard and one of them primary reasons bowling has failed to change with the times. I'm starting to think you've never actually worked in the real world where change is a constant and we always look for better ways of doing things to stay competitive. Dude you seriously should move to a country where freedom of thought is discouraged because you're argument is really disturbing.
I'm very curious why you have such a strong hatred for the USBC, but you have stopped bowling in sanctioned leagues and tournaments? You've shown by not paying your yearly dues that you're done with them, so you really don't have a right to complain anymore. It's the same thing as people who don't vote, yet complain about all of the politicians. In no way am I bashing you or questioning your intelligence on this, but just really curious as to why you keep talking about the USBC with such hatred when you aren't a member anymore? I personally know when I quit something, I try to block it out of my mind and not discuss it anymore. I know the USBC isn't perfect by any means, but like numerous people here have mentioned, the small price we pay for a yearly membership is worth it to me for the amount of sanctioned tournaments I bowl in, the USBC Open Championship I bowl in, all of the record keeping, and the ability to keep league money safe.
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So we should never question the USBC because it's bad for bowling? That's the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard and one of them primary reasons bowling has failed to change with the times. I'm starting to think you've never actually worked in the real world where change is a constant and we always look for better ways of doing things to stay competitive. Dude you seriously should move to a country where freedom of thought is discouraged because you're argument is really disturbing.
I'm very curious why you have such a strong hatred for the USBC, but you have stopped bowling in sanctioned leagues and tournaments? You've shown by not paying your yearly dues that you're done with them, so you really don't have a right to complain anymore. It's the same thing as people who don't vote, yet complain about all of the politicians. In no way am I bashing you or questioning your intelligence on this, but just really curious as to why you keep talking about the USBC with such hatred when you aren't a member anymore? I personally know when I quit something, I try to block it out of my mind and not discuss it anymore. I know the USBC isn't perfect by any means, but like numerous people here have mentioned, the small price we pay for a yearly membership is worth it to me for the amount of sanctioned tournaments I bowl in, the USBC Open Championship I bowl in, all of the record keeping, and the ability to keep league money safe.
Try to see the bigger picture beyond what's good for you personally and maybe my desire for change will make sense. Only a small percentage of members bowl the Open Championships or care about the PWBA, Team USA, U.S. Open, Masters, Queens, etc yet that's the primary focus with "A Future for the Sport". I simply think it should be about the average member and if you really want to grow membership it seems logical to cater to the masses, not the top 1%. Most of the people on this board are the top 1%, so it's hard for you to look past what benefits you personally.
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You make zero sense with the circles you keep turning. Enjoy your bitterness without me.
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So we should never question the USBC because it's bad for bowling? That's the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard and one of them primary reasons bowling has failed to change with the times. I'm starting to think you've never actually worked in the real world where change is a constant and we always look for better ways of doing things to stay competitive. Dude you seriously should move to a country where freedom of thought is discouraged because you're argument is really disturbing.
If anything you have said was credible it might be different. The decline in bowling memberships is not due to the governing body of the sport. It's been documented, explained, rehashed, rewarmed, discussed, re-discussed, argued, bitched about, etc. for years.
Every single time the national body TRIES anything new, you and your ilk start with the same crap. Just in case you forget, you started out by bitching about something new they were trying called "The Core". We heard the same crap when USBC tried to raise money by selling those training DVD's. And again when they wanted to implement a lane condition inspection program.
It just goes on and on and then you have the nerve to complain they aren't doing anything to prevent the decline in bowling all the while YOU ain't doing squat except pointing fingers and bitching about everything tried.
Grow up, find something else to do besides bowling.
As part of the top 1% of membership, you personally benefit from the USBC's focus and The Core is yet another elitist offering aimed at the top 1%. Just read the description touting exclusive access and personalized engagement with top players in the bowling world all for the low low price of 129.99. The average member could care less...I would have rather someone spend some time trying to recruit or retain some members instead of coming up with that program.
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Instead of praising mediocrity, maybe you should demand more from the governing body of bowling. You guys drone on about social shifts and other sports experiencing declines, yet no other sport has experienced the type of decline bowling has over the last three decades. Our game deserves better than what the USBC is providing.
I'm bowling in two back-to-back USBC Senior tournaments in Las Vegas that are worth far more than the price of admission. On top of that, Nationals is icing on the cake. My more than reasonable $22 annual fee makes that happen. Tell me what other organization gives you as much bang for the buck.
My company league is about to decide if they want to be sanctioned, or save the annual fee and be unsanctioned.
Describe this "bang" and how it benefits the overwhelming majority of bowlers in the league of whom average 170 or less.
As far as your $22 annual fee making "that" happen, with "that" being USBC based tournaments, then why does USBC remove almost 50% of tournament entry fees as expenses?
Nationals: $55 per event, $29 to prize, $26 to expenses.
Sounds like that $22 really isn't making "that" happen.
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The bottom line is that the two tournaments I referenced (Senior Masters and Super Senior Classic) probably wouldn't happen unless they were hosted by the USBC. I see my $22 helping to make that happen. If you look at almost any significant tournament, a high percentage goes to expenses. I'm just happy to have high level stuff to bowl. I'm not going to lose sleep over the expenses piece.
The USBC offers many training opportunities for lower average bowlers to take advantage of. That's in addition to guarantees for league prize funds. If lower average bowlers don't think that's worth a measly $22, then their sense of value might be a little warped, and maybe they should consider being unsanctioned. It's a free country.
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The bottom line is that the two tournaments I referenced (Senior US Open and Super Senior Classic) probably wouldn't happen unless they were hosted by the USBC. I see my $22 helping to make that happen. If you look at almost any significant tournament, a high percentage goes to expenses. I'm just happy to have high level stuff to bowl. I'm not going to lose sleep over the expenses piece.
The USBC offers many training opportunities for lower average bowlers to take advantage of. That's in addition to guarantees for league prize funds. If lower average bowlers don't think that's worth a measly $22, then their sense of value might be a little warped, and maybe they should consider being unsanctioned. It's a free country.
In 2016: Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by 900 Global
The Super Senior Classic is run by USBC.
Have you ever had to jump through the hoops required to receive funds to cover missing league money?
You're ultimately dealing with lawyers who's favorite word is NO.
As for training opportunities, those aren't included in the $22, those are additional costs, and don't require a USBC card to take advantage of.
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I've decided you guys are right...growing membership in our great game is stupid. In fact we need less people which fortunately for us has happened every year for three decades due to socioeconomic changes. In fact, I'm now convinced other sports have suffered similar organized membership declines approaching 80% just like bowling. It does seem odd that other professional sports don't seem to be paying their athletes less than in the 1980's like bowling, but I'm going to just dismiss that since it's not relevant. I'm so glad you guys set me straight with your logical reasoning and powers of deduction, I just purchased my membership in The Core and am heading down to join a league. Well, I was going join a league, but then I realized we don't want to grow membership so I went to an online forum to convince people to join unsanctioned leagues...and we have now come full circle.
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I've decided you guys are right...growing membership in our great game is stupid.
As usual, your response is to take things to the silly extreme, and then use the opportunity to take more shots at the USBC.
Of course we want growth in membership. That's not in question. What is in question are your proposed solutions. Especially at the 'franchisee' level, they show a fundamental lack of understanding of business/marketing. If you'd accept this reality, maybe there could be some reasonable discussion. Unfortunately, I think you'd rather moan and complain.
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I have yet to hear a valid reason to even raise membership.
Just summarizing comments made by others on this thread.
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I've decided you guys are right...growing membership in our great game is stupid.
As usual, your response is to take things to the silly extreme, and then use the opportunity to take more shots at the USBC.
Of course we want growth in membership. That's not in question. What is in question are your proposed solutions. Especially at the 'franchisee' level, they show a fundamental lack of understanding of business/marketing. If you'd accept this reality, maybe there could be some reasonable discussion. Unfortunately, I think you'd rather moan and complain.
I completely understand the concept I proposed, what exactly is it about the franchise concept you disagree with because it's the same thing practiced by many organizations?
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I've decided you guys are right...growing membership in our great game is stupid. In fact we need less people which fortunately for us has happened every year for three decades due to socioeconomic changes. In fact, I'm now convinced other sports have suffered similar organized membership declines approaching 80% just like bowling. It does seem odd that other professional sports don't seem to be paying their athletes less than in the 1980's like bowling, but I'm going to just dismiss that since it's not relevant. I'm so glad you guys set me straight with your logical reasoning and powers of deduction, I just purchased my membership in The Core and am heading down to join a league. Well, I was going join a league, but then I realized we don't want to grow membership so I went to an online forum to convince people to join unsanctioned leagues...and we have now come full circle.
You're welcome, glad we could clear that up for you. Carry on.
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I've decided you guys are right...growing membership in our great game is stupid. In fact we need less people which fortunately for us has happened every year for three decades due to socioeconomic changes. In fact, I'm now convinced other sports have suffered similar organized membership declines approaching 80% just like bowling. It does seem odd that other professional sports don't seem to be paying their athletes less than in the 1980's like bowling, but I'm going to just dismiss that since it's not relevant. I'm so glad you guys set me straight with your logical reasoning and powers of deduction, I just purchased my membership in The Core and am heading down to join a league. Well, I was going join a league, but then I realized we don't want to grow membership so I went to an online forum to convince people to join unsanctioned leagues...and we have now come full circle.
You're welcome, glad we could clear that up for you. Carry on.
It's rather liberating not being constrained by logic or common sense...no matter what anyone says I just tell them they're wrong. It's almost like I'm eight years old again!
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We noticed...
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We noticed...
Thanks, I do a pretty good miloraffery imitation...
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Sorry, but there is no substitute for the real thing.
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Sorry, but there is no substitute for the real thing.
I found a new profile picture for you...
(https://www.ballreviews.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjokideo.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F07%2F417700_362740043799136_1268472845_n.jpg&hash=e7783ff761e3b84b74bb06be4a492e89ec57c2fa)
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Original...
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I have yet to hear a valid reason to even raise membership.
Just summarizing comments made by others on this thread.
This was directed at your assumption the number of members in USBC dictates the success of it. The USBC should be judged at the services it provides its members. If you want to receive those benefits, then you become a member. If not, you don't.
I agree having more members makes costs cheaper. But what do you think the cost to actively acquire one member is? It isn't free. It isn't cheap. Yet you want USBC to devote huge funds to try and acquire more members, and I am sure you would be so supportive of whatever method they choose.
You already have a group of people who look at league bowling in a more negative light than in the past in the proprietors. Bowling centers have been devoting more lanes and more time to recreational bowling and less to leagues bowling. (My first experience was Rock 'n Bowl in the 80s) This will inherently reduce league membership. But that is USBC's fault somehow.
Centers have to make money to be in business. My bowling center makes more money with 1/2 the house full of open play than it does on a full house league. My center won't even allow leagues to take the whole house anymore. So that is what the proprietor will try to achieve. Gone are the days of leagues paying the bills and open play being your profit. It takes a combined effort to stay afloat.
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You already have a group of people who look at league bowling in a more negative light than in the past in the proprietors. Bowling centers have been devoting more lanes and more time to recreational bowling and less to leagues bowling. (My first experience was Rock 'n Bowl in the 80s) This will inherently reduce league membership. But that is USBC's fault somehow.
It is USBC's and Manufacturers fault. Simple Reason. Money. It is much cheaper to purchase sound equipment and lights than to have a high quality lane oil machine. League bowlers want to use their big hook monsters. When the lanes dry up and scores go down, the league bowler complains. Rock n' Bowl is pretty simple, play loud music. Nobody cares about lane conditions.
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You already have a group of people who look at league bowling in a more negative light than in the past in the proprietors. Bowling centers have been devoting more lanes and more time to recreational bowling and less to leagues bowling. (My first experience was Rock 'n Bowl in the 80s) This will inherently reduce league membership. But that is USBC's fault somehow.
It is USBC's and Manufacturers fault. Simple Reason. Money. It is much cheaper to purchase sound equipment and lights than to have a high quality lane oil machine. League bowlers want to use their big hook monsters. When the lanes dry up and scores go down, the league bowler complains. Rock n' Bowl is pretty simple, play loud music. Nobody cares about lane conditions.
The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
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You already have a group of people who look at league bowling in a more negative light than in the past in the proprietors. Bowling centers have been devoting more lanes and more time to recreational bowling and less to leagues bowling. (My first experience was Rock 'n Bowl in the 80s) This will inherently reduce league membership. But that is USBC's fault somehow.
It is USBC's and Manufacturers fault. Simple Reason. Money. It is much cheaper to purchase sound equipment and lights than to have a high quality lane oil machine. League bowlers want to use their big hook monsters. When the lanes dry up and scores go down, the league bowler complains. Rock n' Bowl is pretty simple, play loud music. Nobody cares about lane conditions.
The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
No doubt about it...and it comes with a price tag. If bowlers are willing to pay for it...so be it....but really, no matter how you look at it this sport has become too expensive.
Not stating we go back to the stone age, but you got admit this ball of month garbage is a bit over the top.
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You already have a group of people who look at league bowling in a more negative light than in the past in the proprietors. Bowling centers have been devoting more lanes and more time to recreational bowling and less to leagues bowling. (My first experience was Rock 'n Bowl in the 80s) This will inherently reduce league membership. But that is USBC's fault somehow.
It is USBC's and Manufacturers fault. Simple Reason. Money. It is much cheaper to purchase sound equipment and lights than to have a high quality lane oil machine. League bowlers want to use their big hook monsters. When the lanes dry up and scores go down, the league bowler complains. Rock n' Bowl is pretty simple, play loud music. Nobody cares about lane conditions.
The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
No doubt about it...and it comes with a price tag. If bowlers are willing to pay for it...so be it....but really, no matter how you look at it this sport has become too expensive.
Not stating we go back to the stone age, but you got admit this ball of month garbage is a bit over the top.
I agree with that, but have to admit that I'm part of the problem as well. I throw mostly Motiv and I buy every new ball when it comes out.
My older Motiv stuff works just fine, but something about a "shiny new toy" just makes my wallet leap out of my pocket.
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The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
If that is true, what is the role of the marketing department?
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The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
If that is true, what is the role of the marketing department?
Who's marketing department?
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The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
If that is true, what is the role of the marketing department?
To tell the customers what the customers WANT to hear.
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The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
If that is true, what is the role of the marketing department?
Who's marketing department?
The Ball company.
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The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
If that is true, what is the role of the marketing department?
Who's marketing department?
The Ball company.
Is it a legitimate question or are you just wanting to argue for the sake of arguing?
If it is a legitimate question, then may I suggest Google(https://www.google.com/ (https://www.google.com/)). I'm not offering a Business 101 class today.
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The ball companies are just producing the product their customers demand.
If that is true, what is the role of the marketing department?
Who's marketing department?
The Ball company.
Is it a legitimate question or are you just wanting to argue for the sake of arguing?
If it is a legitimate question, then may I suggest Google(https://www.google.com/ (https://www.google.com/)). I'm not offering a Business 101 class today.
You don't want to answer it, because it conflicts with the first comment of yours that I quoted.
“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.†- Steve Jobs
Thats marketing.
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I found a better deal! I call it the Shell Club. Our motto is "your game is nothing without a shell". The annual membership includes:
•A Padfolio journal with binder cover
•16GB thumb drive
•2 Bag tags
•2 Bowling towels
•A collectible coin featuring a picture of your choosing
•The 2016-2017 USBC rule book and every other year's rule book in PDF format on thumb drive
And the best part is that you can get it all for a dazzling price of $99.99!
Who's in? :D
LOL! You need to add some more.
The core offers the following in addition:
Experiential
Throughout the year, members of the community will have the opportunity to win “USBC Event Experiences” at the professional tournament of their choosing (Queens, Senior Queens, Masters, Senior Masters, PWBA Players Championship, PWBA Tour Championship, U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open).
Offerings:
•Two tickets to the final day of match play and to the televised finals
•“Behind the scenes” access pass for a view of the set and tour of the host bowling center
•Interact with the players for photo opportunities and autograph
•Receive an event merchandise gift pack compliments of USBCBowlingStore.com
* How about you offer free admission for all Shell members to your league night!
* Every Shell member can attend the "behind the scenes" access pass for the league's official kick off meeting.
*Shell members can take a selfie with any league bowler.
*Exclusive gift pack containing left over patches and awards from the ABC.
LOL!
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Necromancer,
I was hoping you would see my reply.
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this post and all the replies shows all of you care :D
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Everyone is missing the obvious...
Morpheus = Mighty Fish's son!
Carry on.....
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Everyone is missing the obvious...
Morpheus = Mighty Fish's son!
Carry on.....
#usbcfanboy
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Everyone is missing the obvious...
Morpheus = Mighty Fish's son!
Carry on.....
#usbcfanboy
I got my new USBC membership card in the mail today. It reminded me of all the opportunities that provides me to participate in great USBC tournaments. It reminds that even for Regional PBA tournaments, I'm required to be a USBC member in good standing, and the card seals the deal.
On the other hand, you have no card. With your self imposed exile, you can bowl nothing but local tournaments that in many cases are little more than glorified pot games. Your "protest" has no more impact than the teenagers marching in the streets due to the recent election. Symbolism without any chance of impact. Congratulations.
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Everyone is missing the obvious...
Morpheus = Mighty Fish's son!
Carry on.....
#usbcfanboy
I got my new USBC membership card in the mail today. It reminded me of all the opportunities that provides me to participate in great USBC tournaments. It reminds that even for Regional PBA tournaments, I'm required to be a USBC member in good standing, and the card seals the deal.
On the other hand, you have no card. With your self imposed exile, you can bowl nothing but local tournaments that in may cases are little more than glorified pot games. Your "protest" has no more impact than the teenagers marching in the streets due to the recent election. Symbolism without any chance of impact. Congratulations.
It's called having principles, but I'm really happy for the 1% of membership that finds value in the program. As for myself and approximately 8 million members that are no longer sanctioned, it does not serve our interests. It's actually kind of comical that you think this has a happy ending, but ignorance is bliss lol.
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Everyone is missing the obvious...
Morpheus = Mighty Fish's son!
Carry on.....
#usbcfanboy
I got my new USBC membership card in the mail today. It reminded me of all the opportunities that provides me to participate in great USBC tournaments. It reminds that even for Regional PBA tournaments, I'm required to be a USBC member in good standing, and the card seals the deal.
On the other hand, you have no card. With your self imposed exile, you can bowl nothing but local tournaments that in may cases are little more than glorified pot games. Your "protest" has no more impact than the teenagers marching in the streets due to the recent election. Symbolism without any chance of impact. Congratulations.
It's called having principles, but I'm really happy for the 1% of membership that finds value in the program. As for myself and approximately 8 million members that are no longer sanctioned, it does not serve our interests. It's actually kind of comical that you think this has a happy ending, but ignorance is bliss lol.
On the contrary -- there is no "happy ending" for the current state of your bowling experience. There is nothing to laugh about. The only ignorance is on your part for not understanding where you sit, and the absolute lack of impact your protest has, or will have.
The only thing you're hurting is yourself. That's the sad part of this whole conversation.
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Everyone is missing the obvious...
Morpheus = Mighty Fish's son!
Carry on.....
#usbcfanboy
I got my new USBC membership card in the mail today. It reminded me of all the opportunities that provides me to participate in great USBC tournaments. It reminds that even for Regional PBA tournaments, I'm required to be a USBC member in good standing, and the card seals the deal.
On the other hand, you have no card. With your self imposed exile, you can bowl nothing but local tournaments that in may cases are little more than glorified pot games. Your "protest" has no more impact than the teenagers marching in the streets due to the recent election. Symbolism without any chance of impact. Congratulations.
It's called having principles, but I'm really happy for the 1% of membership that finds value in the program. As for myself and approximately 8 million members that are no longer sanctioned, it does not serve our interests. It's actually kind of comical that you think this has a happy ending, but ignorance is bliss lol.
On the contrary -- there is no "happy ending" for the current state of your bowling experience. There is nothing to laugh about. The only ignorance is on your part for not understanding where you sit, and the absolute lack of impact your protest has, or will have.
The only thing you're hurting is yourself. That's the sad part of this whole conversation.
I'm one of over 8 million that have departed, does that matter?
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Not sure where the 8 million number comes from....
morpheus made a choice to not sanction. Even though some may view this as having no impact, a reduction of membership should signal something to USBC. If morpheus is the only one, then perhaps they don't worry about it. If it is more, I guess there comes a time where they decide to do something and morpheus's exodus could be the breaking point.
With zero members there is obviously no need for USBC. This thread has had several posts talking about how USBC only benefits the upper 1%, that it somehow doesn't benefit the average bowler. I guess I don't see a difference between what the 1% or the average bowler should expect from their governing body. Members need USBC to provide services, resources and standards for the sport. USBC accomplishes this. So what exactly does the average bowler need that USBC isn't doing already?
As for the promotion of the sport of bowling, there is an effort to do this with the reintroduction of the PWBA. Some may not agree with USBC money initially funding this, but I bet the hope is the PWBA becomes self-sufficient. The PWBA is garnering national attention along the way showing bowling can be a competitive sport for all people.
Even the Today Show highlighted the PWBA:
http://www.today.com/video/strike-go-inside-the-rigorous-world-of-pro-womens-bowling-612225091989 (http://www.today.com/video/strike-go-inside-the-rigorous-world-of-pro-womens-bowling-612225091989)
And USBC has also presented new educational concepts for the local associations. During the mass downsizing, many local positions were eliminated. This seems to have led to a reduction in ability at the local level which was recognized by USBC. Seems the intent is to bring back some of those positions and improve the local image.
From the Green Bay Press Gazette (http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/sports/2016/11/01/association-services-priority-usbc/93111916/ (http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/sports/2016/11/01/association-services-priority-usbc/93111916/)):
A component of yearly USBC membership dues encompass service to bowlers via local and state associations. And these associations rely on direction and assistance from USBC, whose plans for the added revenue generated from the dues increase will be to enhance their service to these associations by adding rules counselors and regional managers.
When membership dollars declined, USBC committed to extensive streamlining and cutbacks in a measure to keep from raising dues. In addition to transferring manuals and printed material online to save printing and mailing costs, employees were also cut, including reducing the number of regional managers whose job it was to serve the local and state associations in their jurisdiction.
Once reinstated, there will be increased flexibility for travel to requesting associations who may be in flux due to board changes, to help new boards run more effective meetings, conduct seminars on national changes, etc. It’ll be a commitment to furthering communication between USBC and associations.
Rules are probably the most important element of sanctioning. It’s easy to take something so seemingly simple as this for granted, but without rules league and tournaments would be more like “pick-up†games with rules made on the fly.
Sanctioning entitles and binds league and tournament bowlers as well as bowling centers and ball manufacturers to a set of written rules governing all aspects of the game. As the sport evolves and equipment advances, rules change keeping the game as fair as possible for everyone. To this end, USBC has plans to establish rules counselors whose job it will be to aid associations and bowlers on a more effective level with proper rule interpretation.
These services will be vitally important in providing more stability to the daily operations of those entrusted to keep bowling moving forward.
So in the end, each member/potential member should look at what USBC represents and what they provide and make the decision if they want to be a part of it. I doubt the average bowler will see a 1:1 return on their USBC investment, but it would be near impossible to achieve that. It has to come down to perceived value in bowling as a sport. Is the investment worthy to prevent the elimination of the sport?
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I'm one of over 8 million that have departed, does that matter?
Like the previous poster, I'm not sure where your 8 million comes from.....
People come and go for hundreds of different reasons. I 'departed' for 10 years during my adult life. Family, career, and heavy involvement in youth sports left no time for bowling. It had nothing to do with the USBC, and there was nothing they could have done to lure me back. I suspect with the massive sociological changes in the 70's forward, my experience was more the norm than the exception.
In terms of your personal departure mattering, it would if you were leaving for practical USBC related deficiencies. Clearly you aren't. You're projecting responsibilities on the USBC that do not nor have ever existed. Responsibilities that are unreasonable and impractical. Hopefully, for your own bowling sake, you'll understand some day.
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I'm one of over 8 million that have departed, does that matter?
Like the previous poster, I'm not sure where your 8 million comes from.....
People come and go for hundreds of different reasons. I 'departed' for 10 years during my adult life. Family, career, and heavy involvement in youth sports left no time for bowling. It had nothing to do with the USBC, and there was nothing they could have done to lure me back. I suspect with the massive sociological changes in the 70's forward, my experience was more the norm than the exception.
In terms of your personal departure mattering, it would if you were leaving for practical USBC related deficiencies. Clearly you aren't. You're projecting responsibilities on the USBC that do not nor have ever existed. Responsibilities that are unreasonable and impractical. Hopefully, for your own bowling sake, you'll understand some day.
Here's a history lesson, we used to have more than 8 million sanctioned members and now we are around 1 million. I'm merely asking the organization that receives funds from each sanction to focus on retaining and acquiring members instead of running a professional tour. Again, people on this site are the 1% of 1 million members that care about the sport of bowling and while you benefit most from the "sport", you provide very little in terms of financial support relative to the rest of membership. Local associations are volunteers so who is in the best position to stop the decline? Pump money into PWBA, membership declines. Pump money into more tournaments, membership declines. Membership declines, ask for a raise to continue "current levels of service"? If they want more money, get in the game and figure out how to help local associations retain and recruit members.
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Here's a history lesson, we used to have more than 8 million sanctioned members and now we are around 1 million. I'm merely asking the organization that receives funds from each sanction to focus on retaining and acquiring members instead of running a professional tour. Again, people on this site are the 1% of 1 million members that care about the sport of bowling and while you benefit most from the "sport", you provide very little in terms of financial support relative to the rest of membership. Local associations are volunteers so who is in the best position to stop the decline? Pump money into PWBA, membership declines. Pump money into more tournaments, membership declines. Membership declines, ask for a raise to continue "current levels of service"? If they want more money, get in the game and figure out how to help local associations retain and recruit members.
Between the Open Championships, the Senior Masters, and the Super Senior Classic, I'm handing over $1,000 in entrance fees to the USBC. If you consider that 'very little financial support' relative to the pittance of $22 that most members contribute, maybe the problem you're experiencing is a fundamental misunderstanding of basic math.
You're not acknowledging the title wave of societal changes that have altered the landscape of league bowling forever. It's clearly not what it was, but it will never completely go away. Enjoy what you have and move on from the bitterness. Your exile is nothing more than an exercise in self harm that will never be rewarded with change. If you're really a bowler, bowl where it counts and enjoy the experience. Life is short.
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Here's a history lesson, we used to have more than 8 million sanctioned members and now we are around 1 million. I'm merely asking the organization that receives funds from each sanction to focus on retaining and acquiring members instead of running a professional tour. Again, people on this site are the 1% of 1 million members that care about the sport of bowling and while you benefit most from the "sport", you provide very little in terms of financial support relative to the rest of membership. Local associations are volunteers so who is in the best position to stop the decline? Pump money into PWBA, membership declines. Pump money into more tournaments, membership declines. Membership declines, ask for a raise to continue "current levels of service"? If they want more money, get in the game and figure out how to help local associations retain and recruit members.
Between the Open Championships, the Senior Masters, and the Super Senior Classic, I'm handing over $1,000 in entrance fees to the USBC. If you consider that 'very little financial support' relative to the pittance of $22 that most members contribute, maybe the problem you're experiencing is a fundamental misunderstanding of basic math.
You're not acknowledging the title wave of societal changes that have altered the landscape of league bowling forever. It's clearly not what it was, but it will never completely go away. Enjoy what you have and move on from the bitterness. Your exile is nothing more than an exercise in self harm that will never be rewarded with change. If you're really a bowler, bowl where it counts and enjoy the experience. Life is short.
Again, I'm glad you get so much value from the program, the vast majority do not. I am but one of thousands that quit every year and have for over three decades. Whether you like it or not, the USBC is a membership organization and they are failing the vast majority of their members by solely focusing on the "sport" of bowling that you personally benefit from...congratulations, it's killing our membership.
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After some research, there is information provided by USBC to the local and state associations with the intent on increasing and retaining membership. The information insinuates (to me) that each association is different and requires individual programs/efforts to achieve membership increases.
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/2010-2011/Forms%20and%20Manuals/Membership/Volunteer%20mbshp%20recruit%20plan%207-14-10.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/2010-2011/Forms%20and%20Manuals/Membership/Volunteer%20mbshp%20recruit%20plan%207-14-10.pdf)
This is good and may or may not meet the demands some have of USBC. To me, it needs to be updated since it was last revised in July 2010. Even if USBC thinks it hasn't changed, they should keep this up-to-date.
So in this sense, I agree with morpheus. USBC should be doing a better job of guiding local and state associations in membership growth and retention. But I also agree with USBC that the local associations are responsible for determining what works in their environment.
USBC has also included educational material for the local association with the "A Future for the Sport" program, even for volunteer recruitment and volunteer skill sets and volunteer action plans (increase volunteer base):
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessRECRUITMENT.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessRECRUITMENT.pdf)
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessSKILLSETS.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessSKILLSETS.pdf)
There are several resources for the local association to take advantage of in order to improve its performance. The keys are there, they just have to put them in the ignition.
With this information, will any complainers take the reins and assist the local associations in this endeavor?
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After some research, there is information provided by USBC to the local and state associations with the intent on increasing and retaining membership. The information insinuates (to me) that each association is different and requires individual programs/efforts to achieve membership increases.
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/2010-2011/Forms%20and%20Manuals/Membership/Volunteer%20mbshp%20recruit%20plan%207-14-10.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/2010-2011/Forms%20and%20Manuals/Membership/Volunteer%20mbshp%20recruit%20plan%207-14-10.pdf)
This is good and may or may not meet the demands some have of USBC. To me, it needs to be updated since it was last revised in July 2010. Even if USBC thinks it hasn't changed, they should keep this up-to-date.
So in this sense, I agree with morpheus. USBC should be doing a better job of guiding local and state associations in membership growth and retention. But I also agree with USBC that the local associations are responsible for determining what works in their environment.
USBC has also included educational material for the local association with the "A Future for the Sport" program, even for volunteer recruitment and volunteer skill sets and volunteer action plans (increase volunteer base):
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessRECRUITMENT.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessRECRUITMENT.pdf)
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessSKILLSETS.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/PlanningForSuccessSKILLSETS.pdf)
There are several resources for the local association to take advantage of in order to improve its performance. The keys are there, they just have to put them in the ignition.
With this information, will any complainers take the reins and assist the local associations in this endeavor?
Are you seriously expecting them to answer this honestly? ???
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Not really. But I couldn't let it go without showing what has been done to improve membership.
I will say it isn't intuitive finding the information. And I doubt everyone will agree on the methods. But to say USBC isn't doing anything isn't true either.
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Not really. But I couldn't let it go without showing what has been done to improve membership.
I will say it isn't intuitive finding the information. And I doubt everyone will agree on the methods. But to say USBC isn't doing anything isn't true either.
I know, it was more of a rhetorical question question. If they didn't have USBC to bitch about, then they would have to find something else.
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Based on decades of membership decline, can we all agree whatever is being done isn't working?
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Based on 30 years of membership decline, can we all agree whatever is being done isn't working?
Based on 40+ years of being a member I can confirm what is being done today is different than what was done 30 years ago.
If you think otherwise then there is no helping you.
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Regardless of whether it's different or not, membership has declined every year for decades so can we all agree whatever is being done isn't working?
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So you have reviewed the "A Future for the Sport" and have deemed it a failure after one year? What part of the program do you disagree with?
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Regardless of whether it's different or not, membership has declined every year for decades so can we all agree whatever is being done isn't working?
So other than just sitting around bitching about it, what's the solution?
USBC hired the NASCAR guy a few years back, people bitched about it.
USBC created a new Coach certification program, people bitched about it.
USBC merged with BPAA, people bitched about it.
USBC have and are trying to help the Men's tour, people bitched about it.
USBC tried to fix some of the issues with lane conditions, people bitched about it.
USBC brought back the Women's tour, people bitch about it.
USBC has tried various methods to improve youth participation, people bitch about it.
USBC tried to raise the yearly dues to increase revenue, people bitch about it.
USBC tried to sell videos to increase revenue and improve bowlers skill, people bitch about it.
USBC is trying to create new levels of membership, people are bitching about it.
It seems to me the part that doesn't work, is SITTING AROUND AND BITCHING ABOUT IT.
So what are YOU doing, other than bitching about it, to improve the situation?
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Regardless of whether it's different or not, membership has declined every year for decades so can we all agree whatever is being done isn't working?
There isn't the answer you want to hear for everything. The economic concept of creative destruction applies to organized bowling as much as much as any other industry.
So who's to say anything is really broken? Bowling is ironically one of the leading national participation activities. The difference is that sanctioned league bowling is being slowly replaced by a new generation enjoying cosmic/glow bowling, party bowling and open bowling. For the most part, these people have no interest in the bowling world you're trying to resurrect.
The USBC will continue to adapt and evolve. In the mean time, everyday league bowlers will continue to receive the comprehensive USBC administrative services and training resources too many take for granted. Competitive bowlers will be given opportunities for tournaments not available anywhere else.
You don't have to like the way things are, but denial is stupid. This shouldn't be difficult...
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Again, the "sport" of bowling appeals to a very narrow segment of membership so how exactly is that going to make a significant impact on recruiting/retaining members? Of the three documents you posted, only one focused on recruiting/retaining members and it's been the same message for decades. The world has changed a bit and the way we reach members might require more than a pdf from the 80's. As I've said before, there should be a more coordinated marketing effort between the USBC, BPAA, and local associations to recruit/retain members. Basically spend more time finding ways to pursue and show value to the average member because the die hard "sport" players will always be there due to their love the game. Members that are heavily invested in the "sport" of bowling will always be a small segment, but it stands to reason the 1% of 2 million is more that 1% of 1 million so why wouldn't there be more focus on growing general membership rather than "A Future for the Sport"? So I ask again, is anything being done actually making a difference if membership declines every year?
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Regardless of whether it's different or not, membership has declined every year for decades so can we all agree whatever is being done isn't working?
There isn't the answer you want to hear for everything. The economic concept of creative destruction applies to organized bowling as much as much as any other industry.
So who's to say anything is really broken? Bowling is ironically one of the leading national participation activities. The difference is that sanctioned league bowling is being slowly replaced by a new generation enjoying cosmic/glow bowling, party bowling and open bowling. For the most part, these people have no interest in the bowling world you're trying to resurrect.
The USBC will continue to adapt and evolve. In the mean time, everyday league bowlers will continue to receive the comprehensive USBC administrative services and training resources too many take for granted. Competitive bowlers will be given opportunities for tournaments not available anywhere else.
You don't have to like the way things are, but denial is stupid. This shouldn't be difficult...
I've consistently spoken in terms of facts, not emotion. Not a single person on this thread can show factual evidence that anything the USBC is, or has done, in the last three decades has grown membership in any way so who exactly is in denial here?
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The main reason league bowling is declining, in my opinion, is the people who bowl in leagues is "graying" or aging and the younger crowd isn't taking up the sport. Even with the youth programs, there is just too much competition from other entertainment sources and lets face facts, bowling isn't the "cool" sport these days.
It probably doesn't help when a large segment of the league population consists of bitter old men who constantly bitch about everything from someone being on their lawn to not having enough handicap parking.
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I've consistently spoken in terms of facts, not emotion. Not a single person on this thread can show factual evidence that anything the USBC is, or has done, in the last three decades has grown membership in any way so who exactly is in denial here?
And in return you cannot point to any one thing USBC has done that hasn't kept the numbers from decreasing further. Just because membership numbers haven't increase YOY doesn't mean the efforts don't have a positive impact. I have shown before in this thread the impact of USBC efforts in youth bowling has INCREASED participation in competitive youth events by almost 3 fold. You can't tell me that isn't progress.
And as long as people are competing (league, tournaments, pot games...) then it is the sport of bowling. Every league bowler participating in formats with wins and losses is participating in the sport of bowling. So it impacts everyone.
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The main reason league bowling is declining, in my opinion, is the people who bowl in leagues is "graying" or aging and the younger crowd isn't taking up the sport. Even with the youth programs, there is just too much competition from other entertainment sources and lets face facts, bowling isn't the "cool" sport these days.
It probably doesn't help when a large segment of the league population consists of bitter old men who constantly bitch about everything from someone being on their lawn to not having enough handicap parking.
And to piggy back on this, today's youth competitive bowler competes on more difficult conditions than THS. Gone are the days of youth leagues being conducted on left overs from Friday nights. But heaven forbid the adult league bowler accept this more difficult and challenging aspect. What do we expect the youth bowler to do when they graduate to adult leagues and all they see are (1) THS bumper bowling, (2) complaining about every little thing USBC does and (3) lack of prize fund distribution because no one wants to pay into a "prize fund" and not get their equal share back regardless of the outcome.
Of course they are going to quit. There is no logical progression. USBC cannot affect the change the sport needs if the bowlers they represent continue to try and keep the sport like it was 30 years ago.
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So with all this increased youth tournament participation, how much has youth membership grown? How much of the general membership does the USBC disenfranchise with their sole focus on "A Future for the Sport"? Take a look at their social media and you see nothing but tournament information that general membership cares nothing about, yet they will be asked to pay even more to the USBC to ensure "current levels of service". So they clearly want local associations to recruit/retain members because they posted a pdf, but they just focus of the "sport" of bowling by increasing participation in tournaments that generate more revenue for the USBC? Please help me understand how you rationalize this and make it sound so awesome?
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So with all this increased youth tournament participation, how much has youth membership grown? How much of the general membership does the USBC disenfranchise with their sole focus on "A Future for the Sport"? Take a look at their social media and you see nothing but tournament information that general membership cares nothing about, yet they will be asked to pay even more to the USBC to ensure "current levels of service". So they clearly want local associations to recruit/retain members because they posted a pdf, but they just focus of the "sport" of bowling by increasing participation in tournaments that generate more revenue for the USBC? Please help me understand how you rationalize this and make it sound so awesome?
Thank you for continuing to prove my point. Have a nice day.
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Thank you for continuing to prove my point. Have a nice day.
I think Jorge may have been right -- there is some undeclared family relationship to our old friend "Mighty Fish". Like MF, there is a factual disconnect that was shown impossible to bridge. Add in a toxic goo of irrational hatred, and you have a circle of posting misery that never ends. I've had enough, at least for today. :)
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So with all this increased youth tournament participation, how much has youth membership grown? How much of the general membership does the USBC disenfranchise with their sole focus on "A Future for the Sport"? Take a look at their social media and you see nothing but tournament information that general membership cares nothing about, yet they will be asked to pay even more to the USBC to ensure "current levels of service". So they clearly want local associations to recruit/retain members because they posted a pdf, but they just focus of the "sport" of bowling by increasing participation in tournaments that generate more revenue for the USBC? Please help me understand how you rationalize this and make it sound so awesome?
Thank you for continuing to prove my point. Have a nice day.
By proving your point, are you referring to your opinions that are in no way supported by facts?
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So with all this increased youth tournament participation, how much has youth membership grown? How much of the general membership does the USBC disenfranchise with their sole focus on "A Future for the Sport"? Take a look at their social media and you see nothing but tournament information that general membership cares nothing about, yet they will be asked to pay even more to the USBC to ensure "current levels of service". So they clearly want local associations to recruit/retain members because they posted a pdf, but they just focus of the "sport" of bowling by increasing participation in tournaments that generate more revenue for the USBC? Please help me understand how you rationalize this and make it sound so awesome?
Thank you for continuing to prove my point. Have a nice day.
By proving your point, are you referring to your opinions that are in no way supported by facts?
It's not my opinion that you and those here like you bitch about the USBC failing to increase membership.
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Facts:
*Membership has declined every year for over two decades
*The USBC wants to grow membership as evidenced in their pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/associations/pdfs/2010-2011/Forms%20and%20Manuals/Membership/Volunteer%20mbshp%20recruit%20plan%207-14-10.pdf) posted by spmcgivern
"Recruitment and retention is an ongoing process that must be actively pursued each season to ensure the growth of the sport. Benefits of bowling and belonging to USBC must be shared with current and potential members."
*The USBC revived the PWBA Tour
*The overwhelming marketing message from the USBC is "A Future for the Sport"
*The USBC launched The Core for "Super Fans of the Sport" giving you "Personalized engagement with the top players in the industry"
So looking at all these initiatives, the only thing in that list that even remotely references retaining/recruiting members is a six page pdf that was last updated six years ago. I'm just putting facts out there, the body of work speaks for itself.
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Facts:
*Membership has declined every year for over two decades
Just curious how this was calculated. If you use the revenue collected and divide by $10 (per member) then you can't say it declined every year since the amount collected has varied. If you want to say USBC has fewer members in 2016 than in 1996, then you are correct.
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Facts:
*Membership has declined every year for over two decades
Just curious how this was calculated. If you use the revenue collected and divide by $10 (per member) then you can't say it declined every year since the amount collected has varied. If you want to say USBC has fewer members in 2016 than in 1996, then you are correct.
I got my information from a reputable source, but anyone in the industry could tell you that it's true. That said, you're a member so maybe USBC will answer that question for you because you darn sure can't find it online which seems odd.
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I got my information from a reputable source, but anyone in the industry could tell you that it's true. That said, you're a member so maybe USBC will answer that question for you because you darn sure can't find it online which seems odd.
The intent of my comment on the decrease was based on revenue alone there have been years where monies collected from membership dues has increased YOY. That is all.
I agree with a lot of what you have to say, I really do. But I also think there is more to it than a simple suggestion of "do something different." USBC uses social media, which is something you want them to do. USBC is assisting the local associations, which is something you want them to do. USBC is working with the BPAA to bridge the gap between proprietors and local associations, something you want them to do.
If you don't like the way's they are doing these things, that is one thing. But to suggest they have been doing the same thing for the past 30 years is ignorant at best.
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I encourage everyone to do their own research, having a discussion grounded in fact is much more interesting and productive. Financials are impossible to deconstruct and the USBC is not very transparent for supposedly being a membership organization. Decline in membership was a primary reason they needed a dues raise.
After all the resources poured into PWBA, The Core, USBC Tournaments, "A Future for the Sport", the best they can do for local associations is a pdf about recruiting/retaining members that was updated six years ago. Come on man...really are you going to defend this?