Citrus Belt (CA) USBC

The Citrus Belt USBC is fortunate to have many members and many bowling centers to help their BVL drive be a success. And, BVL is fortunate to have Ed Mote as the BVL campaign chair.

Thanks to Ed’s guidance and hard work, the association not only meets but exceeds all levels of achievement.  Each center has a representative who not only acts as an intermediary between the association and the center, but interacts with each league secretary and president.  These center reps are Ed’s main line of communication with the leagues and it is here that they make the BVL a primary concern. To insure that these center reps are conveying the leadership’s thoughts to the league secretary and president, they have Area Reps to make sure that the message is getting through to each secretary/president and subsequently to each league bowler.  The Executive Board members in charge of the BVL are in constant contact with the Area Reps to again insure that every bowler has an opportunity to aid in the furtherance of the BVL. 

As an example of their dedication to the BVL, Citrus Belt dedicates all of their annual tournament proceeds to the BVL.  One center even has a monthly BVL no tap tournament.  This particular center, almost without exception, leads the association each year with the most donations.  Their goal is 100% participation of every league and they always achieve their goal. 

In the center where Ed bowls, they ask each league to put a $1.00 donation for each member of the league to the BVL in their league rules just like the secretary fee, first and last week’s fees, etc.  Ed explains, “Of course this has to be voted on by the membership but very seldom do we even have any discussion much less any objections.  It makes it much easier on the secretary to just write a check to the association for the BVL.”

To Ed the importance of BVL is paramount, “Our armed forces have our support and we will continue to do our best to see that they receive the treatment they deserve.  We will see that our veterans get the all the help we can possibly give them.”

Thanks, Ed, for seeing that Citrus Belt truly makes an impact for BVL!

Marquette, MI

Planning and persistence pays off. America’s service men and women understand that. They live by those rules. A well-executed strategy and the never-give-up-attitude are paramount. Using that same mantra, Superior Entertainment Center, an 18-lane

May Deana Groop, Megan Foote, Amy Manning, Joey Martin

center in Marquette coordinated and completed a successful BVL drive – far surpassing what other fund raising events had donepreviously. And, thanks to that, our service men and women will benefit from Superior’s success.

Their goal was simple: raise $500 to send a bowling lane kit to a group of soldiers or veterans on the BVL waiting list. However, they knew it would be a challenge as previous fundraisers for other causes usually raised around $200. Consequently, they worked on a three part plan that would get them to their goal.

PART 1: BOWLING BALL AND PRIZE RAFFLE

They set three donation levels (listed below). The center donated several raffle prizes, including NASCAR jackets and MLB jerseys that that are sold in their sports lounge, as well as prizes from their arcade’s ticket redemption center.

Bronze Donor: $1

The contributors name is written on a bowling ball cutout displayed in the center

Silver Donor: $5

The contributors name is written on a bowling pin cutout displayed in the center

Receive 1 entry in the raffle to win the Americana Bowling Ball in the BVL Kit

Receive 1 “Support our Troops” wristband from the BVL Kit

Gold Donor: $10

The contributors name is written on a bowling pin cutout displayed in the center

Receive 2 entries in the raffle to win the Americana Bowling Ball

Receive 1 entry in the raffle to win prizes and apparel

Receive 1 “Support our Troops” wristband

They marketed the fundraiser to their three bowling leagues and the weekly Trivia Night that is held in their sports lounge. They were surprised to receive an enormous amount of support from bowling leagues and trivia customers, with many sharing their stories about being either veterans, spouses of veterans, or children of veterans. After a month of selling the donation levels, they had raised $440. Although this was more than double the money they had raised in the past, it was not enough to send a bowling lane kit to troops, so they launched phase two…

PART 2: SALES COMPETITION

Superior created a sales competition between their three bowling leagues, utilizing bowler’s rewards cards. This concept also provided a separate advantage, as the center was able to track any purchase of open bowling, shoe rentals, food, or drinks made by the league bowlers.

The competition was simple: the bowling team that spends the most money (league lineage excluded) during the month of the fundraiser wins. The prizes included a bowling party for 20 people, free summer passes for everyone on the team, and a free appetizer for the team for the four weeks after the fundraiser. Additionally, 5% of all league bowler sales were donated to the fundraiser. They had hoped for a sales increase of more than 5% as teams competed to win the prizes. However, they realized a whopping 28% increase for the month. Although they attribute about half of this increase to people being more diligent about having their cards swiped every time they spent money (whereas in the past they may have forgotten sometimes), and half of the increase to higher sales volume. They did observe league bowlers visiting for open bowling more often, bringing family and work groups in, and visiting our sports lounge on non-league nights. Overall, Superior estimates they increased sales to league bowlers by 14%, which more than covered the 5% that was donated to the fundraiser.

The sales competition added $135 to the fundraiser, bringing resulting in a total of $575: more than enough to send a bowling lane kit to troops on the waiting list.

When that lane kit arrives overseas to bring some fun to our active duty men and women, it will be from one hard working group to another!

The top five local and state associations supporting BVL in total and on a per member basis were recognized for their outstanding contributions at the recently-concluded USBC Convention in Arlington, Tex.

BVL Board Chair Darlene Baker presented the following contribution awards based on a per member basis to the following states:

1.  Oregon                                         $1.09  

2.  Alaska                                           $1.06 

3.  California                                         99¢

4.  Virginia and Georgia (tie)             86¢

5.  South Dakota                                  70¢

The top five local association contributions to BVL National based on membership also received awards. 

1.  West Valley (OR) USBC             $15.05

2. Gold Country (CA) USBC              $9.12

3. Columbus (GA) USBC WBA          $8.28

4.  Fort Collins (CO) USBC                $6.60

5.  Oroville (CA) USBC                       $6.48

The following states were recognized as their total contributions to BVL topped the state donations list:

1.  California                                     $116,952.42

2.  Virginia                                           $45,901.64 

3.  Texas                                              $27,915.80

4.  Oregon                                           $25,127.31 

5.  Minnesota                                     $21,950.13

For the third year in a row Minneapolis USBC topped the list of most successful local associations.  The complete top five list is as follows:

1.  Minneapolis                                               $20,000.00

2.  Citrus Belt (CA) USBC                               $16,456.00

3.  Nation’s Capital Area (DC) USBC           $14,274.11

4.  Orange County (CA) USBC                       $10,000.00

5. West Valley (OR) USBC                               $8,503.47

State Award Winners. (Sitting) L to R - Judy Edwards (VA), Rosie Parker (CA), Sallie Faeganes (VA). (Standing) L to R - Darlene Baker (BVL), Robert Warrick (OR), Kay Smith (TX), Butch Kessler (MN), Tony Manna (BVL)

 

Local Award Winners. (Sitting) L to R - Jane Andrews (Nation's Capital Area), Gary Forman and Cheryl Huntington (Citrus Belt). (Standing) L to R - Darlene Baker (BVL), Steve Kiss (West Valley), Ken Koch and Butch Kessler (Minneapolis), Ed Mote (Orange County), Tony Manna (BVL)

Coordinated by BVL through the recreation therapy departments, the tournament is a time honored tradition in the VA system.  Launched in 1947 on the White House lanes, the sport and the tournament have seen many changes over the years — automated scoring, internet submissions and the addition of a video game bowling division.  However, the tournament still holds true to its original mission — to provide an opportunity for physical exercise and team bonding and camaraderie development.

“The BVL tournament provides us an opportunity to get our veterans engaged, and keep them motivated,” remarked Bay Pines VA Medical Center Recreation Therapist Jessica D’Alessio.  “Bowling is a great leisure skill that they can learn here and then take home to enjoy with their family and friends.”

Bay Pines entered a number of different teams in the 2011 event, in the Outpatient and Seniors Divisions as well as the new video game Bowling Divisions.

The seniors’ team, which came in first in their division, brought together a special group of vets, “All of the bowlers on our team are Vietnam Veterans – Marines, Navy, Army, and Air Force.  Some of us served on the ground with combat troops, others flew helicopters – supporting the mission.   We are all proud to have served our country,” notes Bruce S. a retired Army Lt. Col., who put in two tours in Vietnam, in 1965 with the 1st Air Cavalry, and again in 1968 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.  “The tournament gave us an opportunity to compete, have fun, and bond in a positive environment.”

Although the posted tournament dates are March of each spring, for the patients at Bay Pines, the BVL tournament is much more than a four-week event.  D’Alessio explains that at their facility, the BVL tournament is really a months-long, multi-faceted experience.

2011 Tournament Winners from the Bay Pines (FL) VAMC

They begin by setting up a weekly veterans planning group to discuss their ideas, interests and potential involvement in the BVL tournament.  The veterans also oversee a myriad of related activities.  They created their own team name and logo (they chose “Bay Pines Mockingbirds”); identified a list of categories for planned internal awards (working with a veteran who had an interest in creative writing, they developed catchy phrases for certificates, i.e. “Poetry in motion” for best bowling form);  developed a unique trophy for top participants (hand painted bowling pin made from ceramic molds); promoted the event through newsletters and flyers; coordinated practice play at an area bowling center in advance of the tournament dates; and obtained donated gift certificates from the center to use as raffle prizes during the banquet to encourage future bowling outings.

“I liked it, it was fun and it was something to do to keep me outta trouble!” joked Wii Seniors team member Frank J. a 94-year old WW2 and Korean War Retired Army Veteran.  “I always liked bowling. The wife and I used to belong to a team and we went twice a week.  This program keeps my mind busy and keeps me young! I come three days a week and I hope they never get rid of it.”

Frank’s teammate Robert H, a US Navy Veteran who fought at Iwo Jima, adds, “The best thing is to be up there bowling and get a strike, a double and then a turkey.  It feels good to play with the other members of the team!”

Bay Pines will have an opportunity to defend their titles again this spring.  The results will be released in April.

This CD has been created especially for associations to use as a BVL fundraising tool.  For a limited time, they are available on consignment in packages of 50, with only a $15.00 fee for shipping and handling.  During the six month consignment period, associations can seek donations for the CDs at a level of their own choosing.  At the conclusion of the six month period, or earlier, the association will be responsible for covering the ‘per unit’ cost of the CD to BVL ($10.00/CD).  However, many associations are setting their donation level at $12.99, $14.99 or more, creating additional fund raising possibilities.

Consignment orders can be placed by sending a check made payable to BVL for the $15.00 shipping and handling fee.  The BVL mailing address is 11350 Random Hills Road, Suite #800, Fairfax, VA  22030. 

There is a limited supply of CDs, so order today. This is a fast and fun opportunity to boost your BVL campaign and spread the message of “Re-Creation’s” musical magic.