August 23, 2008

Dear ABT Member,
Effective Sept 14th at AMF Airport Lanes we are going to implement some ideas that we believe should have a positive effect on our club moving forward. Many of these ideas are already being used successfully in other ABT branches around the country. Our Classic division will now be handicapped at 80% of 225 for all future events. That means our Classic bowlers will now have the same handicap in separate division events as they do in combo events. The higher handicap will also mean higher cut scores for the Classic division when separate division events are run. Since Classic bowlers will be getting additional 20 pins per game their cut scores should rise by approximately 60 pins (20 pins per game). This change will have no bearing on our Masters division since it is already being handicapped at 80% of 225. Since all bowlers will now be handicapped the same we will run combined sidepots and brackets even when running separate events. Oftentimes in past events we have been unable to run sidepots or brackets for either Classic or Masters because squads were too small. That should no longer be the case. With the pots combined we will now be able to offer the 295 Pot at all singles events. The 295 Pot will be set at $300.00 with the remaining money kept in reserve so that we can re-fund the pot when it is hit rather than having to start over from zero.

It has been suggested to us that bowlers would like to see more people advancing to the semifinals each week. To make that happen instead of guaranteeing 1 out of 6 from each squad with a minimum of 2 from the first squad we will now guarantee that a minimum of 1 out of 4 from the first squad will advance while 1 out of 6 will advance from the second squad. This should help to increase the size of our first squad while definitely increasing the number of cashers each week. It should also help to attract new bowlers who currently do not bowl ABT because they want a higher cashing ratio. To offset the extra cashers being paid without diluting the rest of the prize fund we will now pay a flat $25.00 for prepaid game and series. The $2.00 on site fee will now be added to the general prize fund.

On a disappointing note I am sorry to report that after 21 years of running sanctioned events we will not be certifying this season with the USBC. They have implemented an on line certification application that makes certifying for clubs like ours a logistical nightmare. Our national director has petitioned the USBC to make some changes to simplify the procedure but so far that request has fallen on deaf ears. Until we can get the problems worked out we will have no choice but to operate our tournaments as non-sanctioned events. We will, however, continue to follow USBC rules. Since we will not be certified we will offer our own honor score award. Any bowler who rolls a 300 game or an 800 series will receive a specially designed ABT Jacket.

Ever since we founded the ABT Western New York Branch we have been pushing the two-division concept trying to run as many separate division events as possible. That, in my opinion, has resulted in many weekends with mediocre prize funds that are not conducive to attracting new members. We have only 62 current Classic division members. Of those 62 only 29 have averages below 190. Current membership levels are not large enough to run predominantly separate division events. That does not mean that we are abandoning the idea altogether, but I do feel that it is time for a different approach. As you can see by the enclosed schedule we are going to run more combined events than separate. It is my firm belief that the combined events coupled with the changes that I outlined earlier in this letter will lead to stronger prize funds that will attract more bowlers and help our club grow. When our membership numbers reach sufficient levels we can revisit the idea of running a larger number of separate division events. In the meantime please join us as we continue to grow the best tournament club in Western New York!

Sincerely Yours,