Headpin News Let's Go Bowling!
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by Erik Gialdella, BCAW President |
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The BCAW has just wrapped up an amazing tournament season highlighted by the USBC Pepsi Tournament, Adult-Youth Tournament, All Star Team Challenge, Storm Scholarship Doubles, Middle School Bowling Club State Championships, and the High School Bowling Club State Championships. Thank you to all the staff at BCAW and the host centers, along with the tremendous volunteers, coaches, and athletes that made these events spectacular! Watching the bowling talent from the youth of our state just shows how much passion and care proprietors, parents, coaches, and the athletes have for our wonderful sport of bowling. I can’t wait to see what next years season of tournaments bring!
As the seasons shift, and the temperature has really warmed up, it’s time for our outdoor volleyball and cornhole leagues to start. It is also a season of maintenance. Take some time to do a thorough check over of the outside and inside of your establishment and make a checklist of items that may need attention. Create a plan of action to address the areas that most in need of repair or attention. If you’re like me you probably dread doing some outdoor maintenance on some of these wonderful Wisconsin spring days, I know I sure do! However, the payoff of keeping up on our buildings will be well worth it down the road. While we may grow immune to seeing some of the issues, our guests and community members notice that stuff and generally get excited and talk about the improvements that are made.
As always with this time of year, I like to remind everyone of our BCAW Scholarship Golf Fundraiser on June 13th at the Glacier Wood Golf Club & The Iron Grille in Iola. This is a new venue this year and will be hosted by past BCAW President Steve Cieslewicz with a shotgun start at 11am. Unfortunately (but also on a positive note), the event is sold out already, but you can still donate to the event and support the more than $30,000 in scholarships we donate annually to the youth bowlers of this great state. Contact our new Executive Director, Neil Stremmel at neil.stremmel@bowlwi.com if you would like to get involved and/or contribute.
Finally, I would like to send a huge thank you and happy retirement to Yvonne Bennett. This will be Yvonne’s last week in the office at BCAW before officially retiring from the association. It has been a pleasure to work with Yvonne over the course of my 4 years of presidency. Thank you, Yvonne, for your professionalism and expertise as an Executive Director and your tremendous character as a person. You will be greatly missed and I congratulate you on your retirement.
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Nominations Sought
2022 BCAW Award of Excellence
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The BCAW Award of Excellence honors bowling center owners, proprietors, managers and others who have contributed to bowling in Wisconsin in a significant way over time.
Nominations are invited from the bowling community March 1 - May 31 for the 2022 awards. Winners are selected by a committee, and will be recognized at the BCAW Celebration of Excellence Luncheon held at our BCAW Annual Meeting, Conference & Trade Show on Monday, October 3, 2022 in Wisconsin Dells.
For more information, including past recipients, check out our website. |
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Why should we be involved in Politics?
by Dale Elliott, BCAW Legislative Committee Chair
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I believe since the pandemic started, many of us have figured out that sitting out of the political arena has hurt our industry!
The BCAW Board of Directors sprang into action during that period and once again hired a lobbyist in Madison, his name is Steve Conway. BPAA also held a face-to-face political action meeting in Dallas in February for all states to come to hear how to get us back in the political arena. We have also worked with the Tavern League of Wisconsin on getting active and joined them in Madison on their Leg Day in February. BCAW has a great relationship with their lobbyist, Scott Stinger, and met to plan a collaborative effort!
As many of you know there were some great funds available to help businesses through the pandemic, however it has become very evident that the businesses that were politically active and vocal got a bigger boost in funding! We are working hard to change this and get bowling centers what they deserve!
Federally, we are working on the replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and statewide we are working with the WEDC to fund our ask of $5,000 per lane bed. Will we get it? We certainly won’t if we don’t at least keep pushing. Do not let the boom in the bowling business in 2022 fool you into how hard bowling was affected during the pandemic.
With that said here is what the experts are telling us to do to make sure we are never left behind again!
I don’t suggest that all proprietors should run for political offices, BUT we need all of us to get behind key candidates running for Office! To start there is a new movement in local School Boards, Town Boards, County Boards, and City Government! Then get involved with State House and Senate candidates as well as House and Senate federal candidates! We also need to pay close attention to the upcoming Governor, Lt Governor, and Attorney General races.
I am aware that many of us don’t have time, but there are many ways you can get active! Your centers are community hubs with lots of people/voters, which make candidates very attracted to your center! They host rallies and listening sessions! Fund raisers are usually not very time consuming; the candidates need to know who you are! Writing a small donation check will insure them you are a friend. Then invite them to visit your community center! Also, don’t forget to email or write them when you feel things do not go your way! A quick note will often help you become a sounding board when new legislation comes along that may affect our business.
And of course, BCAW is here to help! Should you need any assistance please let us know.
Finally, VOTE!
Dale Elliott
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WI State Middle School Results |
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The MSBC State Championships were held May 7th in Appleton, WI at Super Bowl. It was another great event highlighted by the championship form of the Mukwonago Blue Boys/Co-ed team as well as the Girls team from Antigo. Full results of Team and Singles can be found on the BCAW website here;
Results from the State Pepsi Championships will be posted shortly on the BCAW site as well. Pepsi and BCAW awarded more than $23,000 in scholarships to this years champions. Congratulations!
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2022 BVL Fundraiser Jersey Now Available |
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BCAW is proud to continue our support of the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) with our popular BVL Jersey program. In collaboration with BCAW supplier member Flashpoint Designs, we introduce this year's colorful and patriotic design.
These fully customizable jerseys sell for $49.99 each, with Flashpoint Designs donating $10 for every shirt purchased, directly to BVL. Sales of their 2021 design resulted in a $1500 donation!
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>BCAW Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Tournament
June 13, 2022 @ Glacier Wood Golf Club & The Iron Grille, Iola
>BPAA Bowl Expo (https://www.bpaa.com/bowlexpo)
June 26-30, 2022 @ Westgate Resort and Casino. Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
>BCAW Annual Meeting, Awards Luncheon, Conference
and Trade Show
October 3, 2022 @ Wintergreen Conference Center & Clarion
Hotel & Suites, Wisconsin Dells
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Ann & Tim Klein (New Owners)
The Hook Lanes & Games, Two Rivers
Lynn Okopinski
Falcon Bowl, Milwaukee
Elks Lodge #46, Milwaukee
Milwaukee Elks Bowling Center
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Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin | Bowlwi.com
21140 W. Capitol Dr., Suite 5, Pewaukee, WI 53072
Phone: 262-783-4292 | Fax: 262-783-4590
Email: Info@bowlwi.com
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