A Message from the President

“It’s Been a Wonderful Ride” 

The National Bowling Association, Inc.
73rd Annual Convention
Wyndham Indianapolis West
May 21-22, 2012

REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT

Mr. Vice President; Madam Executive Secretary-Treasurer; Directors; Chairpersons; Senate Presidents, Life Members, Delegates, Visitors, Guests and Friends.

My Brothers and Sisters…..Welcome to The National Bowling Association, Inc., and the 73rd Annual Convention. How honored I am to welcome you and address you today. While it’s been over 35 years since our last visit to Indianapolis for a Convention; our presence is felt and their economy will reflect it!   Indianapolis is home to over 820,000 Americans; 27% of which are African-Americans. Indy is the 12th largest city in the U.S. and 2nd (to Chicago) in the Midwest region.

Secondly, one of the largest ethnic and cultural heritage festivals in Indianapolis is their "Summer Celebration", held by the Indiana Black Expo. A ten-day national event that showcases contributions by African-Americans to the U.S.; providing social and cultural networking opportunities to over 300,000 people; demonstrating a down-home gentility and global opportunity, GO INDY. And….lest we not forget a rich African-American legacy. In 1910, cosmetics entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker made Indianapolis her headquarters and built a factory here. She went on to become the country’s first female, self-made millionaire. Finally, I’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the most celebrated sporting event in Indianapolis; the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday May 27, 2012.

We take this time to acknowledge our family Senate of Indianapolis; as our host; and their President, Ms. Stephanie Watts. Please give her and this Senate a roaring applaud for all their hard work and vision in making their dream a reality. I thank you all again.

To Mr. Jim Doty, our Sole proprietor; who has met our needs in hosting our 71st Championship Tournament; I thank you from TNBA. Your help and accommodations on several fronts will make our week a great experience. With that, we salute Mr. Luther Moses, Ms. Angie Jones, and the National Tournament Team for their work and dedication in providing the best in assistance….something our bowlers deserve.

The Souvenir Yearbook is out, and again we are honored to have Mr. Robert McDaniel and Mr. Daniel Jackson on this administrations watch. It is this type of production that requires a great deal of work and feedback between these two men to pull off such a project. We thank you both. To Mrs. Jan McDaniel; and our official bowling publication "The Bowler" ; we eagerly await our next quarterly mailing.           I thank you so very much.

We commend our sponsors! We have again been very fortunate to not only maintain in today’s economy, but we have even thrived. Our apparel, “World Wide Origins”; our bowling equipment “Hammer Bowling”; and our educational bowling magazine “Bowling This Month”; we thank you all. So, I say to Mr. Terry Carter, Mr. Jeff Ussery, and Mrs. Alayne Merenstein; we are so grateful for your business partnerships with TNBA. The New “Rhythm” bowling ball; and TNBA Apparel will all be available during TNBA week.

To our partners at USBC and BPAA; we “thank you” for your continued support. TNBA’s growth and visualization throughout the bowling world is directly proportional to your support. Every year during this administration you’ve stepped up to the plate, and I personally thank you. This year is no different. The Junior Membership Program received a grant for $7500.00 from USBC & BPAA, to assist in the development of a full web-internet program.

We continue to applaud the efforts of Mr. Eric Kearney, for his vision of Education and Diversity for all. I also want to congratulate Mr. Kearney on his recent appointment as Managing Director of Operations & Administration at USBC. We are so proud of your work and consistent dedication.

So, with those important issues addressed, I want to say a few things .....and sit down. I promise not to keep you long. First, to my Cabinet, National Directors, and Chairpersons, I’m extremely honored and proud of the work you’ve all done; not only this year; but throughout this administration. Your growth, diversity, independent thinking and will; to see your missions thru; are a true testament of your love for TNBA. To Mr. Green, I thank you for your aid and input. Mr. Moses, I continue to support and encourage your work. Finally, Ms. Samuel and your staff; how grateful are Vicky and I; for you are always, (and I mean always) there; with accountability, judgment, and sound counsel. Benjamin Franklin said, “He that won’t be counseled can’t be helped”. Thank you Annette!

Finally, as I close; my brothers and sisters; I hear your talk & ideas of how we (TNBA) need to go back to the old ways of thinking and handling business. Well, you know, I’ll be the first to tell you, “Old folks had it right”. But make no mistake, delegates, our brothers back in 1939 didn’t set stone and break barriers for us to sit still and fail within. Oh no! They expect THIS “TNBA” to embrace diversity, and welcome newcomers and businesses that seek to both do well….. and do good. We are NOT afraid of change; we embrace it; the tenaciousness we’ve shared for many generations. While our rich history is our legacy; make no mistake; our diversity will be our future; careful, but eminent.

So, I leave you with this “Address”; knowing that this is my last time before this Convention floor; but smiling…….knowing we’ve grown together, learned together, and built together.

Thank you for the ride!!! 

As always, reminded of Sportsmanship, Fellowship, and Friendship. 

 God Bless you and God Bless TNBA