New USBC dues structure on the horizon
By Mark Miller
USBC Communications
So that it can maintain current programs and services and be able to
develop new ones to benefit its members and the sport overall, the United
States Bowling Congress will be enacting a new national dues structure for
the 2006-07 season.
National adult dues will move from $8 to $10; once approved, national
youth dues will increase from $8.50 to $9.50. The new adult dues already
have been approved by the USBC Board, while the new youth dues,
recommended by the USBC Youth Committee, will be voted on by the USBC
Board in April.
The youth committee also recommended the maximum allowable local dues go
from $3.25 to $4 and the maximum allowable state dues go from $.25 to
$.50.
The new adult dues structure will go into effect with summer leagues that
start after March 15 and for any members joining USBC and purchasing a
2006-07 membership after that date. If the USBC Board approves the new
youth dues, they will go into effect Aug. 1.
"This decision emphasizes the new direction of needing to use all of our
revenue sources to help develop new programs and grow the sport," said
USBC Chief Executive Officer Roger Dalkin. "While it is important to make
sure USBC members continue benefiting directly from our programs and
services, we also need to balance that with the need to create programs
that help youth, grow the sport, support research and generally do what is
right for bowling."
Increased non-dues revenue has helped provide nearly $10 of service to
each member for what currently is an $8 membership. The new dues structure
will allow USBC to continue to serve members well plus fund such
betterment of the sport programs like coaching, high school, collegiate,
Team USA and equipment testing.
"The old philosophy of our parent organizations (American Bowling
Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling
Alliance and USA Bowling) of charging just what it costs to serve our
members was not a solid value equation," Dalkin said. "If you can't
improve your sport, provide help when necessary or generally support
worthy projects, then your organization has little value to the bigger
picture of bowling. I don't think that is what our members want for USBC."
This will be the first change in adult national dues in six years and the
first in youth national dues in seven years. Local associations have the
option of increasing local dues up to $10 to fund local programs.
The new dues structure also will help USBC address what is expected to be
a $5 million budget deficit in the 2005-06 season. That still is a $3
million savings from the more than $8 million projected deficit that would
have occurred had ABC, WIBC, YABA and USA Bowling remained separate. These
savings were largely obtained through consolidation of the administrative
costs to fund governance of the merging organizations. Reducing the number
of board members and eliminating executive level management positions and
other duplications like the conventions and rules and bylaws books also
were contributing factors.
Some of the savings were utilized for the development of a
marketing/sponsorship area, enhanced public relations efforts and other
new initiatives. The results have been dramatic with major articles in
national publications, big increases in bowl.com visits, the publication
of one of the country's largest circulation sports magazines, US Bowler,
monthly e-mail blasts to both members and volunteers, increased
advertising sales, Web seminars and multiple airings of USBC's public
service announcement. This has resulted in more people than ever being
aware of bowling and of USBC.
Some other initiatives that have started under USBC include:
- Enhancing the bowl.com Web site to make it the place to go
for bowling news
- Creating a new, expanded average-based awards program that
guarantees more members earn awards
- Increasing education of association volunteers
- Increasing Association Relations team help for the
chartering/merging process
- Creating the Proprietor Relations team
- Repackaging USBC's major events to appeal to all bowlers
- Creating a team of spokespeople to spread the word about high
school, collegiate, youth and Sport Bowling
- Developing a registered volunteer program to protect the youth
- Developing a Parks and Recreation and summer camps program
- Developing Sport Bowling to the point that its lane conditions are
the standard for competitive bowling
- Increasing System of Bowling studies as part of game credibility
issues
- Creating the USBC Store, a one-stop source for USBC merchandise
Among the planned programs USBC hopes to institute are:
- Increasing awareness among other youth non-sport organizations
- Gaining a better understanding of the profile of potential youth
members
- Developing a new national youth tournament
- Offering more instructional opportunities for youth
- Partnering with the bowling proprietors to increase youth
participation in youth programs
- Using elite athletes and celebrities to promote USBC
- Developing/implementing programs to prepare youth bowlers for active
participation at the local, state and national levels
All of these programs are in addition to regular USBC services such as:
standardized rules and regulations, internationally-recognized official
averages, awards, lane certification, league supplies, prize fund bonding
protection for leagues and some association tournaments, eligibility to
compete in local, state and national USBC championships and other
USBC-certified tournaments; youth scholarship opportunities; and adult and
youth leadership opportunities. |
