Northpinellas: ABC, others try to get the ball rolling on SMO

Not much has been heard about the Single Membership Organization (SMO) plan proposed by the ABC, WIBC and YABA, but that doesn't mean the idea is dormant.

The ABC, WIBC, YABA, USA Bowling and Bowling Inc. are separate organizations that govern a particular segment of the nation's sanctioned bowlers. Except for the latter two, they have been around for ages, operating with more or less efficiency to serve their memberships.

The SMO concept has floated around for years, with conversations abounding about the pros and cons -- from grass-roots bowlers to big-wigs running the organizations.

But it was all talk. Now, the movement has taken more concrete steps.

A feasibility study was started last January by committees from the organizations, and input was received from delegates and members at the ABC and WIBC conventions this summer. That input and the committee study have been funneled into a Structure Ad Hoc Committee that recently met in Milwaukee.

Co-chairman of the ad hoc group, Mitch Mitchell, said, "Our organizations need a structure that will hold leaders at the national level accountable to the membership. To meet this need, the current structure must change."

Many factors forced the governing bodies to face the new reality, with member dissatisfaction and defection the major driving force.

Only the YABA saw a membership increase this year, the first since 1991-92. ABCWIBC membership remains static or continues to fall. Budget concerns have forced drastic cuts in many programs, limiting service to members.

A tentative SMO structure has been defined.

ABC, WIBC, YABA, USA Bowling and Bowling Inc. would be dissolved and consolidated into a single organization. A national board of 23 members would be formed, initially elected by the former groups.

There would be six each from the ABC and WIBC, two from the YABA, two from the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), two at-large members and five athletes. Within four years, the board would be elected by the entire membership.

The existing executive staff would be eliminated and replaced by a single executive staff.

State and local associations would be restructured into zones and regions, their administrative duties handled by a paid staff.

Zones would be comprised of multiple regions, their number and borders determined by overall membership, density and geography. A region could be a single state or multiple states, and individual states would not be split between two or more regions.

Awards and recognition would remain essentially the same. Local and state tournaments would be encouraged, although some tournaments would be consolidated to assure larger participation.

Volunteers, as usual, hold the key to the SMO. Current clerical and administrative duties would be relegated to regional office personnel, freeing volunteers to focus on programs and services they enjoy that have a direct impact on members.

Many questions must be answered. Some of them are: "How much will it cost?" "How can a person 300 miles away service our members?" And "What will my dues be under SMO?"

No target date for implementation has been set.

PREP LEAGUE: Tryouts for the Pinellas County High School League began Wednesday and will continue through Sept. 5.

The league's 28th season will start Sept. 6 at Seminole Lanes.

Interested players should contact their coaches, centers or league administrator Matt Stevenson at Seminole Lanes, 392-2271. A six-game tryout will determine team members and entering averages.

The registration fee is $70 per bowler, which covers sanction costs, a team shirt, trophies and a season-ending awards banquet.

This year, each school will be allowed one boys and one girls varsity squad and a junior varsity team of boys, girls or mixed. JV players can move to the varsity during the 13-week season.

Home-schooled bowlers are invited.

HUETT WINS: Seminole's Ed Huett defeated St. Petersburg's Drew Beierlein 269-216 to win the Florida Bowlers Club tournament at Sunshine Bowl.

Huett was the top qualifier with an 892 series.

Rick Ickes topped Keith Glasgow 278-213 in the first stepladder match. Ickes then stopped Tim Dunbar 193-174 before falling to Beierlein 259-246 in a semifinal.

The club will return to Sunshine Bowl on Sept. 7.

AROUND THE LANES: Fred Martini fired a 300-759 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes, and Pat Lauro managed a 290-730. ... Chris Jennings nailed a 300-677 at AMF Clearwater Lanes. ... YABA coach Cliff Weston is inviting youngsters to sign up for the season at Southland Lanes on Sept. 8. For information, call 545-0943. ... The Florida Men's and Women's Senior Stars league has scheduled meetings for Monday (mixed), Aug. 31 (men) and Sept. 7 (women) at 9:30 a.m. at Seminole Lanes. The season starts Sept. 7. ... Southland Lanes is offering a scratch doubles league. It will have a meeting Sept. 5 at 9 p.m. Southland's football fever league is scheduled to roll at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, and a handicap match-play event is on tap for Sept. 10.

-- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com.

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