Editorial posted on www.bowlinghood.com April 15

A Bowling Hood Editorial - The Presidency of St. Louis USBC

This Saturday, members of the St. Louis USBC will be voting new officers and directors for the association.

There are two candidates in the race for President, incumbent
Jim Mooney and current association Vice President Darlene Elston.

BOWLING HOOD a week ago submitted questions to both candidates
that were compiled from a focus group of 8 St. Louis USBC members
regarding their positions on current issues.

Neither candidate filled out the questionnaire but did make reply statements. The questions submitted can be found following this editorial.

Mooney wrote, "Even though I like the idea of having the membership know the candidates, and their positions on the matters of the association, they are about to elect to a position on the board of their bowling association, I do not feel that it fair for my opinions are posted without consideration for a candidate from the floor the same opportunity.

"It is a good idea for the membership to know the candidates. This may be hard to enact, we could have this type of questions & answers available, in print format at future elections."
Elston replied, "COMMUNICATION is our number one problem.  This is addressed at our meetings and hopefully with the addition of other members this can be addressed and put into action.

"Please be assured that it is not up to the President or any one member to make these changes.  By our by-laws, any changes require BOARD approval."

Mooney's response about letting members know the candidates exposes the communication problem with St. Louis USBC and its members. While we appreciate his position the members should know the candidates, Mooney as the incumbent president did not make it happen for this election, nor was it a priority during his term.

In fact, most St. Louis USBC members do not even know who is running, not even on the association's official website, www.stlusbc.org.

Mooney's explanation why he didn't answer the focus group questionnaire is puzzling. He passed to give opportunity for nominations from the floor. Members expect more from their leaders when they choose to run for an office, even more so when the candidate is asking for another term. Members want them to be proactive during a campaign so that they are informed on what the issues are and future items that need addressing.

Have you ever seen a candidate for office state that they were not publishing their platform in deference to write-in candidates?

Elston addressed communication but did not offer any proposals or solutions. Again, members expect proactive leadership from those already in offices and especially from those aspiring to a higher position.

Jim Mooney and Darlene Elston have served the membership on the executive board and most definitely are qualified to be president. Their intentions for the board and the organization are good.

But based on their records and replies, Bowling Hood supports Darlene Elston to become the next President of the St. Louis USBC.

We clarify that this is a support recommendation and not an endorsement because the analysis is incomplete due to lack of answers to the questions submitted to them by the membership focus group. Elston partially answered the first question, "What are the top 3 priorities that must be addressed by the St. Louis USBC from 2010-2012 and why," but failed to give two more priorities.

Mooney didn't answer any of the questions. Communication from him to members regarding this election, issues and other important matters regarding the association should have resulted in better execution during his leadership.

Bowling Hood agrees with Elston that communication is the number one problem for the association. No group succeeds with little-to-no communication with its members. Groups always have the chance to grow when it communicates effectively. St. Louis USBC membership this year is down seven percent according to Association Manager Dale Bohn. Not all of this can be blamed on the recession. Bowling encountered a recession just after the attack of 9/11, yet industry analyst Wally Hall noted open play growth for at least two years after the incident because of bowing’s affordable pricing and locales close to people's home ensuring more safety.

A good example where communication and proactive leadership succeeds is in Wisconsin. Bowling centers became no smoking venues several years ago because of state law. Yet, according to comprehensive report compiled by Vicki Bowman of the Kansas City Bowling Proprietors Association, their membership drop was much less than other states which enacted similar laws.

Bowling can grow. It will never become extinct. However, the rock bottom benchmark can only be defined when the simplest of tasks by those in positions of authority stabilize current member activity. That's the true challenge of bowling in the St. Louis USBC jurisdiction with upcoming obstacles such as the new no-smoking law to go into effect Jan. 2, 2011 and the continuing soft economy that will continue for a while according to the current St. Louis Region Beige Book Report by the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank.

For full disclosure, I bowled with Jim Mooney and consider him a friend. If this editorial was based on personal knowledge and friendship, he would have received the endorsement or support. But this is about the greater good of the association and the sport of bowling. I can say that Jim should be commended for his solid and consistent promotion of sport bowling. He was doing it years ago before PBA experience leagues became popular. Jim’s work in this area should be a model for other association leaders.
In conclusion, is St. Louis USBC up to the challenges? Only the new board - and you members - can make that decision Saturday at Tropicana Lanes during the St. Louis USBC election beginning at 1 p.m. (Pictures courtesy of St. Louis USBC)

This editorial has been submitted to both candidates and they have been offered opportunity for reply which will immediately be published prior to the election.