The Cornerstone
The Foundation Newsletter
Volume 12, Issue 12 December 2009
"The crisis is upon us, friends. Our sport is in trouble. Many of you, that love the game as we do, will look at the crisis like a friend who is in trouble and needs our help. We must not shrink from the task before us, we should welcome it. It is 'our' generation that has been called to the challenge. If not now, when? If not us, who?"
The Foundation
“One World, One Game”
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Letter from the Editor
Happy Holidays
It’s once again the time of year to celebrate another year’s passing and the beginning of a fresh new year. I know I say this every year but I really cannot believe how fast time seems to fly by. This year really has gone by in a blur.
As we celebrate the end of another year, let’s take a look at a few newsworthy things that happened in 2009.
Kevin Dornberger retires from USBC: After 20 years of service to the USBC in a multitude of capacities, Dornberger has stepped down. His last day at USBC was November 20 although he will continue his service in the industry as president of the World Tenpin Bowling Association.
Tammy Bommershine wins US Women’s Open: After undergoing back surgery in 1997, Tammy Boomershine completed her long recovery by winning the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. This was her first title since her back surgery. She defeated Carolyn Dorin-Ballard in the title match.
Lynda Barnes retires from Team USA: The most tenured and one of the most successful bowlers in the history of the Team USA program will retire from Team USA at the end of the year. Lynda wishes to focus more on her life and family. Additionally, she is very involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since son Troy was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes last year.
Bill O’Neil wins first tournament: After making several shows last season, Bill O’Neil finally wins his first tournament during the PBA World Series of Bowling; the PBA Chameleon Championship. He defeated Ronnie Russell in the final match.
These are really just a highlight of some of the things that happened over the course of the past year. Hopefully 2010 will be another exciting year for bowling.
From our family to yours; we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your holiday season be filled with happiness and good cheer.
Happy Holidays
NEW PARTNERSHIP ENHANCES WTBA
World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) has announced that is has signed a 15-month agreement with TSE Consulting, which is an international sports consultancy firm, in an effort to increase the attractiveness of the WTBA World Championships for potential host cities.
Working in cooperation with TSE Consulting, the WTBA wants to ensure that the World Championships continue to play a key role in its long-term strategy of becoming an Olympic sport as well as develop a strong connection between the sport and the host city.
The first five months of the agreement will focus on intense research and concept development prior to the launch of the 2013 World Championships bidding process in March 2010.
"The World Championships is the top global event for the sport of bowling," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "First and foremost, it helps us to showcase bowling on an international stage, but it also gives us an opportunity to build relationships with host cities from around the world. When the event is over, we want to be able to leave behind a strong emotional attachment between bowling and the surrounding community. We believe that TSE can help us to achieve that goal."
"We are truly excited to be working with the WTBA," Managing Director of TSE Consulting Lars Haue-Pedersen said. "Bowling demonstrates infinite potential in the field of international sport. Together, we will be able to expose that potential and create opportunities for both the organization and the host city."
The WTBA is the primary governing body of tenpin bowling around the world. Currently, there are over 100 million bowlers, of which, 10 million participate in tournaments, leagues and championships. Three confederations - the PABCON Zone, the Asian Zone and the European Zone - are responsible for the development of the sport within designated geographic boundaries. The World Championships are comprised of elite bowlers from each of these three zones.
Since the first World Championships in 1954, such prominent countries as the United States, England, Netherlands, Germany, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia have hosted the Championships. Las Vegas most recently hosted the World Women's Championships at the world-renowned laceName w:st="on">CashmanlaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType>, featuring 60 specially-constructed lanes, the world's largest mobile video scoreboard, spectator seating and live video streaming. Munich, Germany is currently gearing up to host the 2010 WTBA World Men's Championships.
World Tenpin Bowling Association
The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world.
Kevin Dornberger to Leave USBC
United States Bowling Congress Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger has stepped down from his position and plans to leave USBC next month. His last official day will be Nov. 20.
"I am very proud of what we accomplished in moving the organization to Arlington," Dornberger said. "Now I feel like it is time for me to move on and pursue other career challenges."
Dornberger was named Interim Chief Operating Officer in July 2007 after the retirement of Roger Dalkin and had the "Interim" tag removed in 2008. Prior to his appointment as Interim COO, he had been USBC Vice President for National Governing Body since 2005. He also oversaw the organization’s legal affairs as General Counsel from 2005 to 2007. He has been a leading force in attempting to get bowling more recognition as an international sport.
Before joining the full-time USBC staff, Dornberger had been a member of the American Bowling Congress Board of Directors since 1985 and was elected a vice president in 1995. When the USBC was formed in 2005, he held the title of ABC Executive Vice President. During his 20 years on the Board, he also served as USA Bowling president and administrative director. Active as a youth bowling volunteer for years, he was a youth coach and later became president of the Sioux Falls, S.D., YABA local association in 1989.
"Kevin has been a central figure and key leader in the sport of bowling for many years," USBC Executive Director Stu Upson said. "He has helped build a solid foundation for the organization’s future success. I wish Kevin all the best in his future endeavors."
In addition to his more than four decades of service to the bowling industry, Dornberger is an accomplished competitor as well. He was part of the 2001 ABC Tournament Team All-Events championship team. Along with numerous state and local titles, he has 16 perfect games and four 800 series to his credit. He was inducted into the South Dakota Bowling Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Sioux Falls Hall of Fame in 2000.
Dornberger continues to serve as president of the World Tenpin Bowling Association.
Koff Named Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Winner
By: Terry Bigham; USBC Communications
Andrew Koff's bowling resume includes winning seven gold medals at an international event, a second-place finish at a major national junior tournament, taking the team and all-events titles at a national youth event, and placing fourth in a PBA regional tournament.
And that was just this past summer.
Koff, a senior at laceName w:st="on">GulliverlaceName> laceType w:st="on">Preparatory SchoollaceType> in Miami, has been selected to receive the 2010 Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award by the United States Bowling Congress. The award is presented annually to a male high school senior or college student who competes in the sport of bowling and shows star qualities such as distinguished bowling performances on the state and national levels, academic achievement and extracurricular and community involvement.
"Words cannot express how proud I feel," Koff said. "I also realize that receiving this award bears great responsibility. I hope that I can become as successful in bowling as those who have won this award before me. USBC has definitely impacted the course of my life with the generous scholarship awards that I have been awarded."
Koff took second at the USBC Junior Gold Championships to earn a spot on Junior Team USA for the second consecutive year. At 17, he is the youngest member of the team. As a member of Junior Team USA, he won seven gold medals at the Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas.
He was part of the championship team at the USBC Youth Open, where his teammates included fellow Junior Team USA members Jake Peters and Brent Bowers. He also took the all-events title at the Youth Open; that title earned him a spot in the 2010 Bowling's Clash of Champions.
The Clash is a USBC tournament that brings together champions from USBC national events. It is scheduled for April in El Paso, Texas, and qualifying for the event ranks high on Koff's list of bowling performances.
"I never dreamed this would be possible," Koff said. "My chance at making the Clash came down to the 10th frame of the ninth game at the Youth Open. I had to get past two of the best youth bowlers I know, Jake Peters and Brent Bowers. I think that being able to participate in the Clash is a dream come true."
Koff has shown he has the skills to compete at the highest levels of the sport. He was fourth in the PBA Midwest Region Illinois Valley Open tournament this past summer and was 48th at the USBC Masters in Las Vegas in February. In March 2008, Koff came within one pin of reaching the match-play round at the Denny's U.S. Open.
Back for his final year at laceName w:st="on">GulliverlaceName> laceName w:st="on">PreparatorylaceName> laceType w:st="on">High SchoollaceType>, Koff is carrying a 3.9 grade-point average (4.0 scale). Among his current classes are AP courses in physics, calculus and statistics, and he works a part-time internship at Turbo Vision Design Group, Inc. After graduating, he plans to attend college and major in engineering.
As the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award recipient, Koff will receive a $6,000 scholarship that will be presented at the annual USBC Convention. This year's convention is scheduled for April 28-May 1 in Reno, Nev.
D'Errico Named Alberta E. Crowe Award Winner
By: Terry Bigham; USBC Communications
In her application essay for the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Award, Heather D'Errico wrote about how her brother, Marc, won the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award back in 2003. Upon accepting his award, Marc predicted that one day his little sister would join him as a Star of Tomorrow.
That prediction has come true as Heather D'Errico has been selected to receive the 2010 Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Award. The award is presented annually by the United States Bowling Congress to recognize a female high school senior or college student who competes in the sport of bowling.
"Watching my brother's accomplishments growing up, I have looked up to him and was determined to follow his footsteps," D'Errico said. "Not only am I extremely honored to win such a prestigious award, but I am grateful to make my brother and family proud for believing in me all these years."
A junior at Robert Morris University of Illinois majoring in Applied Health Professional Studies, D'Errico is starting her third season on the bowling team. She took over as team captain last season, and her coach, Dale Lehman, said she has been a huge contributor.
During her sophomore season, she took the individual title at the Boilermaker Classic, one of five top-five finishes, and was named to five all-tournament teams.
"Heather has learned how to lead not only with her bowling game, but also by listening to her teammates and offering advice to help them when needed," Lehman wrote in his recommendation letter.
D'Errico also has been performing well off the lanes. She has been on the Dean's List each quarter at Robert Morris and was named to the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA) Academic All-America team in each of her first two seasons.
This past summer, she earned the American Council on Exercise (ACE) national certification in personal training and works part-time at a fitness club to help pay college expenses.
D'Errico is the 50th recipient of the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Award, which is named in honor of the seven-term president of the Women's International Bowling Congress. The award is presented to a female high school senior or college student who competes in the sport of bowling and shows star qualities such as distinguished bowling performances on the state and national levels, academic achievement, and extracurricular and community involvement.
The award winner receives a $6,000 scholarship that will be presented at the annual USBC Convention. This year's convention is scheduled for April 28-May 1 in Reno, Nev.
U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN SHIFTS TO TEXAS in 2010
ARLINGTON, Texas - With a revised format and live televised finals, the U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event, will return in 2010 with the qualifying and match-play rounds hosted by Cityview Lanes, a 64-lane center in Fort Worth, Texas.
The competition at Cityview Lanes, which will be held May 6-11, kicks off a series of major bowling events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The 2010 USBC Hall of Fame dinner will take place May 11 at the City Club in downtown Fort Worth, while the 2010 USBC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place May 12 on the grounds of the International Bowling Campus in Arlington.
Following the Hall of Fame ceremony, the live televised finals of the U.S. Women's Open will take place at the International Training and laceName w:st="on">ResearchlaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType> in Arlington at 6:30 p.m. CDT on ESPN2.
For the first time since returning in 2007, the U.S. Women's Open will feature round-robin match play. Players will compete in three eight-game blocks from May 7-9 with the top 24 players advancing to match play May 10-11. The four players with the best 48-game totals, including match-play bonus pins, will compete in the live stepladder finals.
"Match play is a traditional part of major bowling tournaments, and this format is more representative of a true U.S. Women's Open test," USBC Vice President of Media Pete Tredwell said. "And having one live TV finals show instead of five taped TV finals shows creates additional excitement while being more cost effective."
Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, topped a field of 170 players, including 59 international competitors, to win the 2009 event, which was held at Strike Zone Bowling Center inside the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nev.
The qualifying and match play portions of the 2010 U.S. Women's Open will shift to Cityview Lanes, the largest center in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
"This will bring a lot of prestige for us," Cityview General Manager Bill Blackerby said. "It's an opportunity for us to show off the new look we have at the center."
In conjunction with the U.S. Women's Open, USBC will conduct its Hall of Fame ceremony outdoors and separate from its annual tournament or convention venue for the first time.
"Our goals in moving the inductions to Arlington are to spotlight the new laceName w:st="on">InternationallaceName> laceName w:st="on">BowlinglaceName> laceType w:st="on">MuseumlaceType> and Hall of Fame and International Bowling Campus while possibly growing the event into something big every year," Tredwell said. "The inspiration for this idea comes from the annual baseball and pro football ceremonies. Those venues allow for large crowds and major media coverage. Plus having it the same day as the U.S. Women's Open brings more focus to both events."
First selections made for 2010 Team USA
A group of 13 of the country's top bowlers will lead Team USA into international competition in 2010 as part of the team's roster was announced Wednesday. A selection committee of United States Bowling Congress and Professional Bowlers Association representatives picked seven men and six women to join Team USA.
Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes, Wes Malott, Tommy Jones, Patrick Allen, Rhino Page and Bill O'Neill were selected for the men's team.
On the women's side, Stefanie Nation, Shannon O'Keefe, Shannon Pluhowsky, Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard were the selections.
"We are very fortunate that we had such a talented pool of players to choose from," said Rod Ross, who takes over as Team USA head coach in 2010 in addition to his role as head coach of the International Training and Research Center. "It is extremely difficult for the committee to make these types of decisions, but I feel we have put together a great nucleus of players who will continue to lead Team USA to success next year and in the future."
Ross said the selection committee elected to go with seven men as the team gears up for the 2010 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Men's Championships next August in Munich, Germany. Barnes, Jones, Allen, Page and Williams were part of the team that led Team USA to four of six gold medals at the 2008 World Men's Championships.
All but one of the players selected were members of Team USA in 2009 with the lone exception being Kulick, who has been on the team five times in the past.
Two women picked the past two years elected not to submit their names for consideration this year. Lynda Barnes, a 12-time Team USA, member recently announced her retirement from the team, while Kim Terrell-Kearney has decided to focus her attention on her role as assistant head coach at the International Training and Research Center.
To be considered for selection to 2010 Team USA, men were required to be exempt players on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, while the women must have been on Team USA at least once since 1999 and/or former Professional Women's Bowling Association/Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour members.
The selections only represent a portion of the final roster of 2010 Team USA players. All USBC members will have a chance to join the team by competing in the 2010 USBC Team USA Trials, scheduled for Dec. 14-18, 2009 at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
The top three men and top three women finishers at the Team USA Trials will earn automatic spots on Team USA, while the National Selection Committee will pick two additional men and two additional women to join the team.
Team USA will represent the United States in several international events throughout 2010, including the World Men's Championships, the Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships and the QubicaAMF World Cup.
December 16, 2009 = #400
The popular Phantom Radio Show will celebrate Show #400 this month. It is a syndicated real audio radio show that’s accessed through the Internet, at: www.foundation300.com or any of over 120 links on various bowling related sites on the Internet. The Show is an Internet based bowling ‘talk show’ that is done via telephone and recorded weekly with Audio Software, called: Real Player. Most computers have Real Player, but if not - you can download it for free, at: www.real.com The Show is the equivalent of a Bowling "Squawk Box" interview, that’s usually pre-recorded (and raw) which basically means that it’s unscripted.
Once accessing the site, look for: Phantom Radio Show. When you get to The Show, you will hear the Phantom's Radio Show Theme Song – “Mission Impossible”. Kegel, a real supporter of "Saving our Sport", gives you a little chuckle about their choice of theme songs as they are a great leader and advocate of the sport of bowling.
The Phantom has had a laundry list of names on The Show that can only be termed as fantastic, or as The Phantom would say, “Phantom-Tastic”. It’s the: “Who's Who of Bowling”; Legends, Pro Bowlers, Industry Leaders, anyone who is anyone at all in the sport has been called out to support The Show. It is an incredible list of past guests - some departed, some old, some are controversial, and some (most – if not all) of the best.
The Phantom is a great interviewer, always able to dig down and get the real personality out of his guests. His sometime loose and always chuckling personality by throwing in good old humor and fervor for the game is contagious. "I'm going to ask you one more thing that listeners want to know", is when The Phantom will usually deliver his version of a kindly low blow - straight to the heart, want-to-know question.
Jim Dressel, Executive Editor of Bowlers Journal International, says: “Phantom Radio is a real pioneer in the field of internet broadcasting with its weekly bowling show. The fact that the show is regularly scheduled makes it a real ground-breaker in the field”. Dressel also comes on the Show at the end of each quarter to help The Phantom review what has happened in the previous few months. Every Show is available 24-hours per day and all of the past shows are archived.
The overall premise of The Show is to be informative, entertaining, pass along knowledge and sometimes even be controversial. The Phantom says, “Overall, the bottom line is to help to promote the sport.”
Once each month there is a Trivia Contest that is sponsored by Storm Bowling, and The Phantom gives away some very nice prizes, including bowling balls, bags, shoes and various other prizes. The questions are easy and they have given away thousands and thousands of dollars worth of prizes. There is also a Phantom Phan Club which is easy for you to join.
Next year (2010) The Show will be entering its 10th year. Besides Storm Bowling, Kegel helps foot the bill, as well as EliteBowling.com and Stars and Strikes – America’s Bowling NewsMagazine. A new show starts each Wednesday – so “Tune-In” and enjoy.
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Membership Report
We have members in all 50 states,
and the District of Columbia
We have members in 49 countries, including the United States:
Argentina Australia Bahrain Belgium Brazil Canada China Columbia Costa Rica Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Guam Guatemala Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Latvia Malaysia Mexico The Netherlands N. Ireland Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand Panama Philippines Puerto Rico Peru Qatar Scotland Singapore Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey U.A.E. Ukraine Venezuela
Corporate Sponsors
The problems that exist in our Sport are “industry-wide” problems that must be addressed by the entire Industry. The Foundation does all that they can to help, but we can NOT do it alone.
The Foundation has well over 1000-Members who have joined-in to assist. Some Members (Founding and Charter) have paid to show their support. Some Members (Associates) have just lent their “voice”. ALL of the members are important.
Even though The Foundation has NOT actively solicited bowling-related companies for help, some realize the importance of our “Mission” and have come forward with donations. We recognize the following companies for their loyalty and support to bowling.
KEGEL
KAT Travel
I.B.P.S.I.A.
EBN Services
Storm Bowling
Classic Products
Bobs’ Business, Inc.
Vincennes University
BowlersParadise.com
Virtualtournaments.com
Wichita State University
David Driscoll & Associates
International Bowling Industry Magazine
Stars and Strikes Bowling Newsmagazine
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The Cornerstone,
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The Foundation
c/o Kegel
6800 US 27 North
Sebring FL 33870
Phone: 863-382-2643
Email: savrsprt@yahoo.com
The Foundation
“One World, One Game”