I had an idea about how to attract more bowlers to organized bowling. The USBC needs a fun category. Bowlers would buy a "fun" USBC card for, say, $5. When they went open bowling with friends they would be able to input,( swipe,read barcode, type in id number, etc ) so the lane computer would keep track of their scores AND send those scores in to the USBC on a regular schedule. Now these open bowlers can go online and see their fun averages and their friends fun averages. The alley could have fun tournaments (no prize money, just trophys and coupons for free bowling). The point of this would be to get bowlers halfway between open bowlers and league bowlers. I'm sure alot of the fun bowlers would like the more organized "fun" bowling enough to actually go looking for leagues to join. Hey, just a thought.
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Moon
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So many questions, so little time but I''m having fun.

All the alleys I bowl at are all computerized already. The bowler data would have to be uploaded to the USBC. There would have to be a program to do it all automatically or it could be uploaded like some of the league secretaries do now. The whole point is to get bowlers more involved than just regular open bowling which in the end seems like it would benefit the alleys.
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Moon
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So many questions, so little time but I'm having fun.

My idea wasn't a fun league. The idea was to track their open bowling scores and for them to acquire a "fun" average that they could use in "fun" tournaments or other promotions. Just to get their feet wet in loosely organized bowling. There are a multitude of things the USBC could do with something like this. Coupons for free bowling, ball giveaways, etc. The USBC has no way to track open bowlers. They don't know who to target with any type of promotional or instructional material. If only 10% of open bowlers opted for the fun card that's still a pretty big number and I think the number would be larger if it was promoted the right way.
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Moon
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So many questions, so little time but I'm having fun.

The problem with "ideas" like this and such others to attract more bowlers, is that there will always have to be someone on the USBC end to do the work.  No one wants to work for free.  Salaries must be paid.  Strategic analysis and program initiatives must be funded by those doing the research and writing the programs necessary to do such.  And $5 per person just may not be enough to fund such an operation.  The USBC is not a non-profit organization.  They are a for profit.  Just like any other business, if you spend more than you can bring in you will not be in business for much longer.  Yes it's only an idea, but people have to realize that for every idea, there is someone behind it that must be paid to carry out the work.  If that can't happen due to budget constraints and a falling economy then all of the ideas in the world remain just that.  Ideas.
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-DJ Marshall
...The Twelve In a Row Pro Shop.  AMF Bowie Lanes -- Bowie, MD