As I said last week change is the only constant with USBC. In a "News Story" posted on bowl.com on January 25, 2008, USBC has made the decision to once again change it’s awards program for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons.

Beginning August 1, 2008, which will begin the 2008-2009 league season the following awards will be ONCE IN A LIFETIME and not once a season: 300 game, 800 series, 900 series and 11 in-a-row. There will be no recognition for duplicate accomplishments in a league season. Once you have accomplished these goals the powers to be at USBC do not feel that you need to be rewarded again and again. Once is enough!!

Beginning with the 2009-2010 season the emblem and pin awards will be all EMBLEMS and they also will be ONCE IN A LIFETIME and not once in a league season.

USBC does not feel that there is any thrill in earning another emblem for something that the bowler has already accomplished. "The era of emblems, coasters, and trinkets is ending, but a new era of possibilities is on the horizon. We are just beginning to tap into the possible new ways we can recognize our members VIA THE INTERNET."

The complete story can be found at bowl.com -

Question to ponder - what are you paying the $10 certification fee to USBC for? A plastic card with your name and an association number on it and the privilege to participate in the National Tournament for which you have to pay an entry fee? I feel that membership may drop again as the amateur bowler who bowls week in and week out in a league looks forward to receiving recognition when they reach the goals that USBC has set for them and to reach them once in a bowling season is an accomplishment for many.

Be prepared for a national dues increase in the very near future as membership drops they will need to increase the due structure in order to continue to provide services to you, the bowlers that still certify, but to make up for what USBC considers lost revenue, they will turn to those bowlers still hanging in there. USBC feels that the now provide services to you the local bowler at a cost of $10.20 and they are only charging you $10 so that they are losing 20¢ per bowler as it is - - -

The changes in the awards program apply to the Youth bowlers as well.

A complete list of the changes from 2007-2008 through 2009-2010 can be found by clicking on the link contained in the "News Story" and then clicking on the link "see the list" you can see how the program will change over the next 2 seasons. USBC is dropping some awards all together and changing the structure of some of the ones that they are keeping. Makes for interesting reading.

Reminder that the Florida State Championship Tournament deadline is February 29, 2008.

Florida Women’s State Tournament deadline is February 15, 2008.

Women’s City Tournament Entry forms are out. Deadline is February 10, 2008.

CHANGE IN DATE FOR Six Game Sweeper - MOVED TO MARCH 16 - SO IT WOULD NOT CONFLICT WITH THE CITY TOURNAMENT. LOCATION - AMF Ocala. $40 single entry; $70 combo entry. Handicap is 90% of 210. Early entries to be turned in to AMF Ocala; walk in entries up to 30 minutes prior to squad times. For more information contact JJ Jones the tournament director at 732-7355.

Go to the PBA Motel 6 web site to vote for the location you would like to see the tournament come to. Orlando is in the running. Voting counts. Check it out.

City Tournament Entry Forms for the Open Tournament are available. Deadline is February 5, 2008. REMINDER: IF YOUR JANUARY 1, 2008, AVERAGE IN ANY LEAGUE IS TEN PINS HIGHER THAN YOUR YEARBOOK AVERAGE YOU MUST USE THE JANUARY 1, 2008, AVERAGE. DON’T GET DISQUALIFIED FOR USING AN INCORRECT AVERAGE. (Some people read this blurb and was shocked that it did not include the "10 pins higher." Just checking to see how many people really, really read the article. Nice job to those that called or wrote me with their inquiry.

High Scores for last week:

What will tomorrow bring for the sport of bowling?