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TWBW President’s Report Annual Meeting, June 10, 2005 Good morning TWBW members and guests. First of all, I goofed and I apologize. When we initially published the information that tickets for this breakfast would cost $6 for TWBW members, I was operating under the assumption that since the meal would cost $12, ticket purchasers would pay half and TWBA, which helps underwrite the cost of the breakfast, would pay the other half. In fact, TWBA covered any amount over a $5 charge. As a result, some of you paid $5 and others $6. While we encourage those of you who paid $6 to donate the dollar to our organization or apply it future dues or some such, you are entitled to a $1 refund. The best of intentions don’t always get us everything we want. Our Texas Women Bowling Writers board had plans for this meeting somewhat different from what will actually happen today. TWBW past president Jan Bacon was awarded life membership in National Women Bowling Writers in Tulsa this year but was unable to be there, so we hoped to present her NWBW plaque to her at our meeting this morning, but she can’t be here either. We look forward to her attendance at future TWBW meetings, though. We planned to have Jan, as NWBW past president, to present Texas’ own Don Wright with the multiple writing awards he won at the same NWBW meeting that he, too, missed despite his best intentions. This weekend he’s going to Baton Rouge for ABC so we don’t get to distribute those awards either. Jan and Don are missing who IS here today: this roomful of representatives from countries all over the world. Welcome, ambassadors, to our 2005 TWBW meeting! When you came in this morning we hope you completed a survey. If we missed you, please raise your hand so you can fill one out now. We definitely want your input. You can tell from the survey questions that we’re working on planning our organization’s future. Those of us here in costume, as well as the rest of us in this room, are representing different countries today, many of which we may have known nothing about until reading an information sheet this morning. The fact is that although our countries may be quite different to the casual observer, on closer inspection they have things in common. It’s up to us, as representatives to an international body, to learn what the common interests and needs are and help build the co-operation that enables us to all get enough to survive, and hopefully thrive. We’re in a situation in which there is enough of everything to go around, but someone will go without unless we can see that it is in everyone’s best interest that we all have what we require. It’s important to remember, as we negotiate, that new things are best introduced with a description of what’s in it for the listener; that, as Roberts Rules dictates, new ideas are presented in the affirmative. In representing our countries at this international convention let’s make sure we always look for what needs to happen to assure the achievement of long term goals instead of lapsing into the mode of “just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” Again, welcome, international ambassadors, to Texas Women Bowling Writers, where “United We Stand.” |
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United We StandDressed in the garb of the countries they represented in United Bowling World, the board of directors of Texas Women Bowling Writers paraded into the TWBW annual meeting to “It’s a Small World After All.” TWBW immediate past president Syleta Halbert introduced the “ambassadors” as they entered. Ann Powell called the group to order in her first meeting as TWBW president, and Life Member Mary Burns offered the invocation. Again this year Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Ross reported fewer members than in years past, but had good news about out current financial situation and thanked TWBA, 600 and 500 Clubs, and individual supporters of our Ways and Means projects for invaluable support. Three dollars will buy you our newest fundraiser, a TWBW letter opener/ruler that you can get from any TWBW director. One of the more noteworthy acts of the board since last year was the nomination of Syleta Halbert as TWBW Life Member. She was elected by the membership and presented her plaque during the meeting. Due to all the pending changes in United Bowling World, there was no new TWBW legislation proposed, but meeting attendees did complete a survey. Results revealed a majority of members’ desire to admit men to full organization membership and change TWBW’s name to something like Texas Bowling Writers, and receive the newsletter electronically. As USBC and its components continue stabilizing, TWBW’s legislative committee will review more options for bylaws changes. Also along those lines, TWBW 1st Vice President Ellen Goss reported National Women Bowling Writers’ (NWBW) decision to grant men full membership and pursue greater co-operation with Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA), a largely male organization. Like BWAA and NWBW, Southern Bowling Writers Association (SBWA) is interested in working more closely with us, and we encourage Texas bowling promoters to look into SBWA membership. SBWA forms are on the TWBW weblink. Writing contests chair Liz Latham introduced this year’s winners. In the newsletter category Amarillo’s Tenpin Tidbits won. Editor Shirley Williams submitted issues from October 2003 and January 2004. Association Highlights winner is Dallas’ Carol Marstaller, who also won in that category last year. Her winning article is from the Spring 2004 Across Texas Lanes. Writer of the Year is Arlington’s Jeanne Hester, whose “A Few More Classics from the 2004 Senior Classic” also appeared in the Spring 2004 ATL. Those of you who currently edit newsletters or write articles, take note: when you submit your work to be judged, you gain the opportunity to learn from the critiques even if you don’t win a plaque. Prospective and novice editors and writers can review prizewinning work to see what works well. Please take advantage of the opportunity to continue improving your work. Also be on the lookout for youth bowlers who write about our sport and inform them about our Rising Star Award. Nominating chair Mary Colvin submitted a slate of 1st Vice President Ellen Goss and Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Ross, incumbents who were reelected by acclamation. Director #2 Donna Hall opted not to seek re-election due to the weight of claims on her time and attention. Dallas’ Carol Marstaller was nominated from the floor for that position and elected by acclamation. Judging chair Betty Chandler announced poster contest winners Hidalgo County, San Antonio, and Pasadena as first, second, and third in the association activities category. San Antonio, Hidalgo County and Beaumont were first through third in the tournament category. Certificate of Appreciation chair Gail Cantu presented this year’s certificate to Billie Ann and Dean Baumert, who accepted it for Billie Ann’s sister and Dean’s aunt Joyce Harton of Austin, who died in January. The tribute to Joyce that was read at the meeting appears elsewhere in this issue. News and Views chair Ann Powell introduced the theme for the coming season, United We Stand. Using Robert Moses’ Radical Equations as a guide, she emphasized the importance of grassroots activism, the need for the grassroots workers to identify their own common goals, the benefit of sharing knowledge instead of hoarding it, and the need to continue involving new people. If that description sounds confusing, you may learn more about the new theme and end your confusion by reading the entire report in the July TWBW Newsletter or on the TWBW weblink. This is my final Across Texas Lanes article as TWBW Publicity chair. Carol Marstaller will assume that responsibility for the September issue and I’m sure we will all enjoy her new viewpoint on TWBW activities. NotesTWBW needs volunteers to serve on the Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, Reception, and Tellers committees. Upcoming TWBW Newsletter issues will contain signup forms for people interested in those or other committees. Copies of our publicity manual, Practically Painless Publicity, are still available for only three dollars. Contact Ann Powell at 2707 Jacques Lane, McKinney 75070, or aep11@yahoo.com for your copy. Santa’s Secret Stash, TWBW’s mailographic tournament, will return for its third year in December. It’s open to both men and women, only costs ten dollars, and uses scores from your regular league play. Entries will be out in the fall. http://www.bowlarama.com is where you can learn all about what’s happening with TWBW. ATL June 2005 |
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TWBW Report Good Morning. As you can see I choose Australia, but can you see me beating drums in the outback to get my news across the country. But they did for a lot of years. This has been an unusual year. As you all know we are now know as members of USBC. Now it is up to us to get the word out to all. As you can see the board represent several different countries. Each country has their own way of passing the word around. This is an important item for each to remember. What works well in your association may not work well in another. But what is important is to keep the bowlers informed with the correct information. Check your facts, don’t play the gossip game. Yes things are changing, some we like and some we don’t, but I would urge all to keep an open mind, as our different dress represents various countries, so do the changes different in thought processes. Keep the lines of communication open and spread the word that bowling is alive and well. I would like to report that the NWBW meeting for 2006 will be held in Orlando in conjunction with the National Convention. The time and place will be announced at a later date. Also as National USBC is a merged Association NWBW is going to open the door for male membership. This will give a wider scope of communication. Thank you President Powell for allowing me this time and thank you TWBW members for allowing me to serve as you Vice President of TWBW. Ellen Goss TWBW Mail-0-Graphic Report
Friday June 10. 2005 I would like to thank each and everyone who entered the Mail-O-Graphic tournament that TWBW held this year. You made it even better this year. We doubled our entries to 85, 22 of them being men. I feel will even do better this next year. Winners Donna Lonon – 783 Lewis Belcher – 756 High Scratch Series Donna Lonon 657 Lewis Belcher 643 We paid out 12 places in the Women’s Division 4 places in the Men’s Division The cost is only $10.00 so plan on entering this coming year. I will be mailing out the entries in October. The tournament will be held the first week in December. Thank you President Powell for allowing me to chair this committee. Ellen Goss, Chairman |
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Annual MeetingFriday, June 10, 2005Austin, TexasSECRETARY’S REPORTTO THE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, LIFE MEMBERS, MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF THE TEXAS WOMEN BOWLING WRITERS, JUNE 10, 2005, AUSTIN, TEXAS. Konnichiha, em hotep, Bonjour, Guten Tag, Ciao, Hola, Buenos días y beinvenidos, Good morning and welcome from the United Bowling Nation. A special welcome to my husband who has joined us this morning. Since I travel so much this is one of the rare opportunities he gets to see me. I’d like to introduce you my husband Donnie, the man who wears the pants in our family. Of course I tell him which pair to put on. I also am very proud to have my oldest grandson here today, Dylan. Dylan maybe this experience will show you a little bit about what your grandma does all the time. Hopefully you will forget this real soon. Mawmaw doesn’t always dress like this. During July 1942, seven months after the United States entered World War II; magazines nationwide featured the American flag on their covers. Adopting the slogan United We stand, some five hundred publications waved the stars and stripes to promote national unity. Today, in light of the recent USBC merger, the slogan “United We Stand” seems appropriate. The real bond between the merging organizations is the values we share: credibility, dedication, excellence, heritage, inclusiveness, integrity, philanthropy and sportsmanship. These values have faced many challenges and barriers to help create the USBC. In today's world, more than ever before, it is vital that we preserve unity and cohesion. We know that success in the day-to-day battle amongst the critics demands unwavering determination and firm cohesion on the part of all. One thing that stands out throughout this past year is that USBC has been much more united than we are divided. Even though the divided part seems to create all the news, it is the united part that moves us forward. Over the centuries, diverse peoples have come together to form a complex cultural mix. Bowling is no stranger to these influences that have become the framework for our sport. Today we add a new kind of culture: the culture of men and the culture of women. Many jokes, problems, and conversations revolve around communication differences between men and women. Women are often teased for gabbing, nagging and chattering on about nothing. Men are often accused of not listening, not paying attention, or dominating the conversation when conversing with a woman. These problems occur because each gender routinely misinterprets the other. But in their first meeting it is obvious that they have sharpened their listening and speaking skills because here are some of the Supplemental Rules for bowling that this new culture has recommended:
I like these new rules. I think this new culture is going to work out just fine. Seriously, as Stephen Covey says, “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities. Therefore our sport will become strong and powerful. Because our membership has been experiencing a steady drop, hopefully USBC will provide growth to our membership of 123 and participation in our awards program will grow. Don’t forget to participate in our Mail-O-Graphic tournament. Thank your for providing us your input in our survey for how you would like to see us grow. One last thought, you know you are a bowler when your girlfriend tells you a particular man is ''out of your league'' and you think he just bowls on a different night! Respectively Submitted, Cheryl A. Ross |
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2005 Publicity Report Getting Our Bowling News to Non-Bowlers In our local associations we are normally armpit deep in tournaments, meetings, fundraisers, and other activities, all of which need publicity, but not necessarily the same kind of publicity. We’re constantly working to make organized bowling more visible to the “outside world” instead of always preaching to the choir. How can we get our story out to the people we want to inform? Here’s a tip. A few months ago in the Dallas Morning News a staffer wrote a feature article in the Sports Section about two senior bowlers who rolled 300 games on the same afternoon in their league. After reading that article I emailed Monique Walker, the reporter, congratulating her on her work, asking how she had learned about the high shooters, and requesting her suggestions to bowling promoters for pitching stories to the media. It turned out that she had been assigned the story after the league had brought it to someone else’s attention, but she still went out of her way to respond in detail to the email. Things she suggested for successfully pitching stories included keeping an eye out for bowling-related articles you enjoy and contacting those writers when you have something you feel deserves attention. Other media contact prospects might be people writing about community or quirky events because sometimes your story may be better suited for that type coverage than for sports. Monique also advised persistence. She said, “sometimes a [good] story may not get in… but if it is the right time of year or the right situation or the right story it will find its way into the paper.” She went on to explain that getting information into a major paper like the Dallas Morning News can be difficult, but not impossible for those who persist. She ended by saying that you should try more people if your first choice won’t return calls or emails until you reach someone who is willing to help. The media can be our friend, particularly when we give “warm fuzzies” and are sources of newsworthy information that otherwise would be unknown to media people. Let’s make sure that our bowling news is included with everything else |
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