TO: OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, PAST PRESIDENTS, COMMITTEEMEN, LEAGUE SECRETARIES, BOWLING LEADERS, AND TEAM CAPTAINS
My Brother Knights and Ladies:
At the Annual Board of Directors meeting in June, the Board elected the following officers for the 2008-2009 year. Edmund J. Brossman, Houston, Texas was elected Association President, Duane Mc Clanahan, Dupo, Illinois, as First Vice President, and Joseph Man, Plains, Pennsylvania, as Second Vice President. Secretary/Treasurer Robert M. Lynch was re-elected for a four year term. Lynch re-appointed Assistant Secretary John Enser, Elma, New York in the Eastern Division, and re-appointed Paul Ruth, Indianapolis, Indiana as the Central Division Assistant Secretary. Due to the resignation of Director William A. Baker, District Committeeman Brian Tobin, Newark, Delaware was appointed to fill the remaining term of office for Baker. Directors Chester Kopiczak, Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Gerald V. Webster, Selbyville, Delaware assumed the position of Past President, having previously served as Association President. Recommended to be named as Directors for open positions were John P. Druiett, Woodside, New York, David L. Douglas, Laurel Maryland, and Richard Klotz, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Re-elected to the Board for a three year term were John W. Kunkle, Brimfield, Illinois, Duane McClanahan, Dupo, Illinois, Joseph F. Man, Plains, Pennsylvania, and William Schultz, Huntsville, Alabama.
The Board of Directors elected and installed the following into the Association’s Hall of Fame. Vincent A. Bisciotti, Whitestone, New York, John Brickner, Tiffin, Ohio, and William Millen, North Aurora, Illinois were inducted into the Living Category. Lady Carole Boudny, Houston, Texas and LeRoy Schnurbusch, Huntsville, Alabama was inducted into the Deceased Category. Information on the Hall of Fame is listed on an attached page along with those Knights having received recognition into the Hall of Fame.
The Board of Directors discussed ways to get tournament information out to bowlers who are not aware of our tournaments. Discussion centered on what assistance the USBC might be able to give us with names of league officers from Knights of Columbus leagues sanctioned through that body. It is felt that they could supply us with information which we could use in a mailing. Discussion also was held on seeking information from current bowlers regarding a change to a four-bowler format for the team events. It was agreed to hand out a survey to all bowlers at the 2009 Tournaments. We would also seek email addresses to allow us to better use the internet and our website for notification to all bowlers. The website is currently under restructure and will be available as soon as possible. The website address is www.intlkofcbowling.org and will contain tournament information and results in the near future.
The Board also approved to set up the program starting a Scholarship Program for children or grandchildren of Knights of Columbus bowlers who are currently in Junior High or High School. The student would complete an application form and write an essay on “What Catholic Education means to me”. This program will start in 2010 with a single $500.00 award. The funding will come from any profits the Association realizes from conducting side pots, brackets, etc. It is also conditioned upon the Association remaining profitable in this area to fund the program. The Scholarship Program will be named in honor of our recently deceased Secretary Emeritus Milford J. Trojan for his many years with the Association. Application will be made available after the 2009 tournaments.
The 2009 Central Division Tournament will be held beginning March 28 thru April 26, 2009 (no bowling on Easter weekend April 12, 2009) in Peoria, Illinois, and in Syracuse, New York from March 28 thru April 26, 2008 (no bowling on Easter weekend April 12, 2009). For information and entry blanks, please search the website, www.intlkofcbowling.org or write to the Assistant Secretary in your Division.
The entry blanks for the Eastern and Central Division are again combined on one form and may be used for either tournament. With a decreasing number of bowlers and leagues being sanctioned with the USBC, it is requested that last year's league standing sheet be provided to the Assistant Secretary for "Average Verification" at your scheduled bowling time.
If you have already made your reservations for an 84th Annual Knights of Columbus International Bowling Tournament, please contact the Assistant Secretary of your Division to confirm/re-confirm your reservations. Please give a first and second choice of dates. Those within 150-mile radius of Peoria and Syracuse areas may be denied the last weekend by reason of fairness to those who must travel long distances. By giving a second choice, the Assistant Secretary is given the opportunity to assign you an alternate date if your first choice was filled before your entry was received.
The Board of Directors has awarded tournaments to the following cities and dates:
2009 - CENTRAL - PEORIA, IL; EASTERN - SYRACUSE, NY
2010 - CENTRAL - WINDSOR, ONT; EASTERN - COLLEGE PARK, MD
Please review the changes made to participants for 2009 Tournaments and later and form your teams under these new policies. It is hoped that this will allow you to continue to support our tournaments with non-K of C bowlers who might bowl in your leagues, and possibly encourage them to join the Knights of Columbus. Your continued support and participation of this Bowling Association is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely and fraternally yours,
ROBERT M. LYNCH, PSD, FM
International Sec/Treas