Bowlers Journal International - January 2008 - (Page 110) INTELLIGENCER Valley Lanes in the Youngstown, Ohio, area. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, owner Shane Nesbitt said he hoped the center would attract more than just the avid bowler, and that all the entertainment options were in place to do just that. The local media picked up on the message, noting that the revamping of Mahoning Valley Lanes just may be the beginning of the revitalization of the town’s west side. When was the last time you heard a claim like that arising out of a newly reopened bowling center? > BUSINESS CALENDAR < Jan. 10-11 — Powerhouse Ball Layout/Lane Play Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. Jan. 14-18 — Powerhouse Pro Shop Training Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. Jan. 15-25 — Brunswick GS Pinsetter Training, Muskegon, Mich.; schools@brunvowl.com. Jan. 20-24 — BPAA Bowling Summit and NAIR Annual Convention, Myrtle Beach Resort at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; bpaa.com. Jan. 28-Feb. 1 — Brunswick Vector Scorer Training, Muskegon, Mich.; schools@brunbowl.com. Feb. 7-10 — Jayhawk Pro Shop Training Class, Lawrence, Kan.; russw@jayhawkbowling.com. Feb. 18-22 — Powerhouse Pro Shop Training Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. Feb. 26-28 — Foundations Entertainment University, Dallas, Texas; 732-254-3773. March 2-8 — BPAA Management School, Arlington, Texas; bpaa.com. March 6-7 — Powerhouse Ball Layout/Lane Play Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. March 13-16 — Bowling Event Rimini Trade Show, Rimini, Italy; bowlingeventrimini.it. March 17-21 — Powerhouse Pro Shop Training Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. March 29-30 — Illinois State BPA Board of Directors Meeting, The Chateau, Bloomington, Ill.; bowlillinois.com. April 3-6 — Jayhawk Pro Shop Training Class, Lawrence, Kan.; russw@jayhawkbowling.com. April 14-18 — Powerhouse Pro Shop Training Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. April 14-18 — Brunswick Vector Scorer Training, Muskegon, Mich.; schools@brunbowl.com. April 21-May 1 — Brunswick GS Pinsetter Training, Muskegon, Mich.; schools@brunbowl.com. May 4-5 — Illinois State BPA Board of Directors Meeting, Holiday Inn, Rockford, Ill.; bowlillinois.com. May 5-9 — Brunswick Frameworx Scorer Training, Muskegon, Mich.; schools@brunbowl.com. May 6-8 — Foundations Entertainment University, Kansas City, Mo.; 732-254-3773. May 6-11 — Jayhawk Pro Shop Training Class, Lawrence, Kan.; russw@jayhawkbowling.com. May 10-13 — BBIA Convention, Hilton Golf & Spa Resort, Cancun, Mexico; billiardandbowling.org. May 12-16 — Powerhouse Pro Shop Training Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. May 22-23 — Powerhouse Ball Layout/Lane Play Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. June 1-7 — BPAA Management School, Denver; bpaa.com. June 2-6 — Brunswick Vector Scorer Training, Muskegon, Mich.; schools@brunbowl.com. June 9-13 — Powerhouse Pro Shop Training Program, Columbia, Tenn.; proshoptraining.com. June 9-19 — Brunswick GS Pinsetter Training, Muskegon, Mich.; schools@brunbowl.com. June 22-27 — BPAA International Bowl Expo, Rosen Shingle Creek and Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.; bowlexpo.com. conundrum, although Michael Mazek, editor of Bowling Center Management, comes down squarely on the side of those who say that all these games keep bowling on the minds of Americans. USBC OPEN FINALIST The storied USBC Open Championships recently was listed among the six finalists for Sports Travel's Amateur Sporting Event of the Year, the fifth annum in which the magazine has handed out the awards. The 2007 USBC Open Championships at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., featured 16,235 teams and more than 85,000 total competitors, making it the thirdlargest Open Championships in history. It was one of 400 sporting events across 10 categories nominated by Sports Travel readers. In the end, the 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships was named the Amateur and Best Overall Sports Event of the Year. LEILANI SIGN SAVED After Washington's Leilani Lanes bowling center was torn down recently, its giant bowling pin sign — all 2,000 pounds of it — was days away from getting a new home in that eternal bowling alley in the sky. Then collector Jim McAuliffe stepped forward. McAuliffe, who owns a Snohomish County rock yard, recognized the sign as a Seattle icon of a center that had been described as "beloved" by its many patrons. When the center was razed to make way for apartments, McAuliffe swooped in to add the sign to his eclectic collection that has made his yard something of a tourist attraction. He says he will restore the rusted, cracked sign before mounting and lighting it up so it can join his other prizes: antique cars, tractors, steam engines, two giant urns from Seattle's old Music Hall Theater, a 1935 biplane, and loads of other signs. "It's a piece of Seattle history that should be displayed," he said. THE SUMMIT AWAITS Undecided about going to the Jan. 20-24 Bowling Summit at Myrtle Beach, S.C., this year? BPAA provided a list of six great reasons to go: 1. Advanced educational sessions; 2. Tabletop exhibits showcasing bowling products and services; 3. Roundtable discussions on various business-building topics; 4. Town Hall Forum, providing a chance for one-on-one dialogue with BPAA leadership; 5. Networking with peers; 6. All Play golf outing. Time's a'wastin'. Check it out at BPAA.com. SMALL BALL PARADISE A visit to the 2007 IAAPA Attractions Expo revealed that bowling gamers have plenty of options these days. Namco's Rock 'N Bowl-O-Rama to Incredible Technologies' Silver Strike Bowling, et al, nicely complement other games like Brunswick's Virtual Bowling, QubicaAMF's Highway 66 and U.S. Bowling's Rollerball, which were all on display at the annual IAAPA show. On the other hand, it raises a question: Do all these bowling games satisfy a customer's bowling fix enough to prevent a visit to the local bowling center? An interesting MANDATING PAID LEAVE As part of a national effort, a labor group is attempting to pass legislation in West Virginia that would require employers with 25+ employees to offer seven paid sick days per year to full-time employees and a proportional amount to part-time employees. As BPAA Net News put it, the real issue isn't sick leave, but employer-funded mandates. 110 bowlers journal international NAIR PIONEER PASSES Lyle Middleton, who was instrumental in organizing NAIR in 1972, passed away in early December. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s. Before Brunswick bought Perry-Austen International, Middleton was the owner of that company, and also was CEO of Atlas Products. According to George Bradner, who worked for Middleton at P-A, “He was able to JANUARY 2008 http://proshoptraining.com http://proshoptraining.com http://bpaa.com http://proshoptraining.com http://bpaa.com http://proshoptraining.com http://bowlingeventrimini.it http://proshoptraining.com http://bowlillinois.com http://proshoptraining.com http://bowlillinois.com http://billiardandbowling.org http://proshoptraining.com http://proshoptraining.com http://bpaa.com http://proshoptraining.com http://bowlexpo.com http://bpaa.com
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