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MINUTES OF THE JUNE 23, 2007
ANNUAL MEETING
GREENVILLE, SC
President Clayton Bailey called the meeting of the Council of Delegates
of the Southeast Bowling Association, Inc. to order at 9:30 am in the
Haywood Room of the Crowne Plaza in Greenville, SC. Georgia Vice
President Lloyd Britt was asked to deliver the invocation; he noted that
we have lost SC Director J C Hamby, SC Hall of Fame Member Walt Payment,
VA VP Ron Dailey, GA Hall of Fame Member Gaines Bell, AL Hall of Fame
Member Lynn Wiginton’s Mother and GA Director Claude Oros’ wife, Maria,
and possibly others. Lloyd asked for a moment of silence for our fallen
friends and delivered the invocation.
Clayton called on Executive Director Gary Anderson for roll call and
announcements. Gary said we have a number of guests who will be
introduced later by the bidding associations, Augusta and Charleston. He
noted fifty-six directors and delegates registered for the meeting which
constitutes a quorum. Directors, delegates and their guests registered
for lunch total seventy-six. Gary announced that TN Director Hugh
Thompson is at home with his wife, Marilyn celebrating a special
occasion, that Hall of Fame Member Lynn Wiginton cannot attend due to
the death of his Mother, that TN Director Gene Jenkins is bowling in the
U. S. National Olympics, that GA Director Ivey Sarvis is bowling in USBC
Open in Reno, and that TN Hall of Fame Member Chuck Silvey left early to
accompany his daughter, Rella, home after she suffered an illness.
Gary welcomed everyone to his hometown, Greenville SC. He noted he will
travel to Las Vegas tomorrow to represent USBC at Bowl Expo. He
introduced Tom Dale as a member of the USBC election committee. He
reported Greenville reached 601 teams for the tournament which is a good
thing since the last two tournaments have failed to reach 600. He said
the Executive Committee will schedule a longer session in Johnson City
and dedicate the extra time to discuss “Strategies of the Future.”
Financial statements show an operations loss of $3, 600 so far this year
which will be part of the strategic discussion. New big bowling centers
being built around the country will encourage open bowling and birthday
parties, not league bowling. Gary also noted that he has not received
any bids for the 2010 Tournament but he thinks Sun Valley, FL and
possibly Birmingham, AL will submit bids. He said that the Constitution
and Bylaws and its addenda should be available for distribution in
Johnson City.
Gary gave the USBC Committee report. The USBC Convention will be in
Kansas City in 2008 after a successful Convention in Nashville with very
good turnout. KC will be hard pressed to match attendance figures. The
USBC will devote more time to the promotion of the sport, with more
shows on television, with more support of women’s bowling tournaments
during August and September. PBA must stand on its own feet. Gary noted
a problem with the 2011 USBC Open Tournament in Wichita. The city
manager was not willing to sign for an event in 2011 because his budget
for that year was not in place. The tournament will be re-bid; Wichita
may be a candidate. The USBC Women’s Tournament in El Paso will be held
as scheduled; litigation has been settled. The report was approved.
The minutes of the November 25, 2006, Fall Meeting in Albany, GA, were
approved with the following corrections: in the title, “Novenber” should
be “November”; at the bottom of page 2, “Tommy Bogant” should be
“Bozant” and in the last paragraph of page 4, “the 2009 tournament will
return to the southern region” should be “the 2010 tournament.” The NC
delegation also noted that Hall of Fame Member Guy McFarland is alive
and well even though he is marked as deceased in a listing of the SBA
Hall of Fame.
President Clayton said he has genuinely enjoyed his year as President of
the SBA. He has done his job to the best of his ability and has enjoyed
bowling in the SBA tournament and in Tallahassee and in Bainbridge, GA.
He thanked all in attendance for their dedication to and enthusiasm of
the Southeast Bowling Association.
Past President Leon Clark gave the Nominations Committee report: The
slate of officers included Norman Hamiliton-President, Paul Bumgarner -
Pesident-Elect, Larry Meredith-VP SC, Lloyd Britt-VP GA, Terry
Cordell-VP TN, Thomas Dale-VP VA to fill Ron Dailey’s position, Greg
Smith-VP FL, Neil Campbell-VP AL, Billy Tuttle-VP NC to replace Paul
Bumgarner, John Howard-Assistant Executive Director and Clayton
Bailey-Past President. The slate of Directors included: for Alabama –
Ken Atwater, Tommy Bozant and Charles Poe; for North Carolina – Al
Brown, Tom Harris, William Polk, Don Rice and Charles Wilson; for South
Carolina – Jerry Hill, John Langley, Earl Mason, Steve O’Brien and
Luther Wolfe; for Georgia – Virgil Halte, Claude Oros, Ivey Sarvis, Joe
Spain, and Curley Winter; for Tennessee – Yogi Garner, Gene Jenkins,
Charlie McFalls, Jeff Patterson and Hugh Thompson; for Virginia – David
Anderson, Johnny Harris, Don Kendrick, Ford Mason, and Fred Thweatt; and
for Florida – Kevin Carroll, Claudio Cristofori, Ron Ebel, Ellard
Pritchard and Jim Walker. The report was approved.
SC VP Larry Meredith reported the Tournament Structure Committee
proposed rule modifications to be effective for the Chattanooga
tournament: 1. Entry fee will increase by $2 to $20 per person for team,
doubles and singles with all of the increase going into the prize fund.
2. Optional All Event Fees - both handicap and scratch - will remain at
$5 but $1 of All Event Fee will now go the B.V.L. not Team USA. 3.
Delete “Only certified checks and money orders will be accepted after
April 1, 2008” since reductions in check processing time by banks now
allow collection of “bad checks” before tournament bowling begins. and
4. Change wording of Rule 8 to “There will be NO REFUND, team or
individual, after scheduled dates have been assigned.” This change is
recommended by USBC Rules Department. Chattanooga said it will also have
a system so that each team member confirms his tournament average in
writing. The report was approved.
SC VP Paul Bumgarner reiterated earlier information that the Legislative
Committee expects to have updated copies of the SBA Constitution and
Bylaws and its addenda available at the Johnson City meeting
President Clayton reported for the Executive Committee that the
delegation has just heard the reports presented and reviewed earlier
today by the Executive Committee.
FL Director Ron Ebel reported the status of the Leesburg Tournament. He
noted that the tournament is settled, all expenses have been paid. He
enjoyed serving as tournament director even though it WAS lots of hard
work. He said he may even consider doing it again at some point in the
future. Ron received a round of applause.
SC Director Earl Mason presented statistics of the Greenville
Tournament: 601 teams, 1204 doubles, 2408 singles, 2566 handicap All
Events, 1428 scratch All Events with a prize fund of about $82,954. He
said there have been five 300 games with 3 at doubles/singles center, a
299 game, a 800 series at d/s center and only one disqualification - for
violation of 10pin rule - so far in the tournament. He noted Gary
already has the allocation for Team USA from All Events. He apologized
for a few errors but claimed that he and his staff were only human after
all. He suggested ways to improve tournament is to assure entrants list
their choice of squad time correctly and to send all entries bowling
together in the same envelope. He invited all to come and enjoy local
hospitality later tonight at this same hotel. He was loudly applauded.
TN VP Terry Cordell speaking for the 2008 Chattanooga tournament invited
one and all to visit Chattanooga and the host Chattanooga Choo Choo with
$89++ rates for delegate’s weekend honored for 3 days before or after
the weekend. He said the entry form will be similar to the one
Greenville used. He noted the famous Station House Restaurant will be
open and its Singing Waiters will be performing during the weekend. He
stated his early bird party will be held outside the Choo Choo with
entertainment. He mentioned that the Riverside Festival will be in
progress during meeting weekend and he can obtain discounted ticket
prices if he is contacted in advance. He said golf will be at either
Bear Trace Golf Club or Harrison State Park. The SBA Annual meeting will
be June 6-8, 2008, the second weekend of the tournament. Holiday Bowl in Brainard and TriState Lanes will serve as host bowling centers. Terry’s
continuing advice: “Arrive Early, Stay Long, Enjoy Yourself!!” Terry was
resoundingly applauded.
Gary presented details of the invitation of Johnson City, TN, on behalf
of TN Director Hugh Thomson. Host Hotel will be Doubletree Hotel, 211
Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City, TN 37604 – Phone 423.929.2000.
Reservations must be made before November 2, 2007, and reservation codes
are already in place. Rates are $72 ++. A delegate noted that the 800
number {800.222.8733} should be used since the 423 number will transfer
callers there anyway. Golf is scheduled for Friday and a blind draw
doubles bowling tournament is planned for Saturday. Thanksgiving dinner
will be available at the Doubletree for $16.95 and $14.95 for senior
citizens.
Augusta, GA and Charleston, SC are the two bidding cities for the 2009
SBA Tournament. By luck of the draw, Augusta made its presentation first
with Charleston to follow. GA Director Curley Winter introduced members
of his board of directors who were in attendance. Following a brief
disclaimer that we will not “Play Augusta National,” Curley introduced
Ms Peggy Siegler of the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau and a
colleague from the Augusta Sports Council who together presented an
impressive power point presentation entitled “Play Augusta.”
SC Director Steve O’Brien presented an impassioned plea to host the
tournament in Charleston emphasizing the tradition of family values of
our tournament and that of his local association members. He said his
association was willing to host the 2009 tournament and proved their
capabilities while hosting the 2003 tournament, his association has the
centers willing to host the tournament with lineage at $6.30 T and $6.75
for D/S center and he has a host hotel, the Clarion, willing to welcome
all of us at $97++ per night.
Augusta declined their follow-up opportunity, but Steve rose again to
describe the family atmosphere of the SBA and the Charleston USBC and
urged support of his bid in the voting process. In response to a
question, Curley said lineage in Augusta will be $6.75 and $8.50.
While the ballots were counted, Gary requested support for BVL from all
bowlers in light of the current world situation and the dire need of
veterans all over the world. In response to his plea, a motion to donate
$2,000 to the BVL was made, seconded and passed. By special request,
Lloyd Britt arose and delivered a memorial prayer for the Charleston
firefighters who perished heroically in the line of duty recently. In
other business, GA Director Virgil Halte was selected as the Rex Brown
SBA Director of the Year. He will be presented an award during the
Johnson City meeting.
In a very close ballot, Augusta won the right to host the 2009 SBA
Tournament. Congratulations to Augusta and our thanks to Charleston.
President Clayton adjourned the meeting at 10:55 am.
Respectfully submitted
John N. Howard
Assistant Executive Director |
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