Pictured Above: New GWM President, Becky Shumway, Left. Gets Shootout Started at Ponderosa Lanes.
Being One Of The Smallest Associations In The State Of Arizona, Is A Good Thing For GWMUSBC.
Its Board Of Directors Take Active Role In Community, In Getting Things Done For Bowling.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association
Pinetop/Lakeside - - - Ever since the Greater White Mountain Bowling Association became a member of the newly formed USBC in 2005, it knew it had two obstacles to overcome right away. One being, that it would not have the membership numbers that say, Phoenix does. And two, it would be one of the smallest, if not the smallest association in the State of Arizona.
But, that has been a connotation that the GWM Association has learned to deal with and accept over the last 11 years. But, at the end of the day, it has been the people who have sat on its board of directors that have made the difference in getting things done for the game of bowling.
That was a point that was noted time and again during the weekend of October 7-9, as it hosted the 2016 Arizona State Jamboree at the Holiday Inn Express in Pinetop/Lakeside. Over 80 board members statewide, attended the two day event that included a seminar given by David Prange, the Western Regional Manager for the USBC. And a bowling tournament at Ponderosa Lanes. 16 teams participated in the shootout that was won by Tucson Metro.
"I became association manager in 2010, and I knew I would have some pretty big shoes to fill," said current GWM Association Manager, Doug Kinghorn, on succeeding Ella Mercer. "Ella knew the ins and outs of bowling, and I have learned a lot about the rules of the game from her. I have been bowling for 44 years, and have been involved with the GWM association for the last 20. The best piece of advice she gave me when I became association manager, 'was keep the bowlers involved'".
Pinetop/Lakeside is about a three-and-a-half hour drive east from Phoenix. Known as a winter wonderland where winter sports take center stage, and as an escape from the valley heat in the summer. It is one of the few places where you would least expect to find a bowling center in the mountains of Arizona.
But, Ponderosa Lanes, a 12 lane bowling center. Has done its part to help preserve the 'future of our sport' one bowler at a time. Besides Ponderosa Lanes. Beeline Bowl in Payson, is another mountain community that offers bowling as a form of recreation.
"We merged right away with the USBC. The Greater White Mountain Women's Bowling Association (WMWBA), and White Mountain Bowling Association (WMBA), were here for 50 years, prior to the merger," explained Doug, on how the new association was formed. "We currently have 300 members in 2016. We used to have over 500 members in 2006-07.
"A lot of the membership was lost when we merged with the USBC in 2005, because a lot of the bowlers were not happy with it. Some were also lost when the no smoking law in public places took effect in Arizona," added Doug. "If I see our old bowlers out in public, I will invite them back, and I will do everything I can do to get them interested in bowling again."
There are 12 board members that are currently directors with the GWMUSBC. Its alumni include Arizona State USBC board members Ella Mercer, and Rose Peterson. Ella and Rose are co-tournament directors of the Arizona State Women's Open. The event is held annually in April.
Ella was a past president of the WMWBA for four years. A director on the WMWBA for three, and a director on the WMBA for three more. And she has also been a director on the GWMUSBC for an additional six years. With over 16 years of experience as a board member, she was always the go to person to help settle an issue if one arose.
"During my term as President of the WMWBA, for example, there were some internal problems, and my board and I confronted those issues. Confronted those issues by standing together, calling a meeting and confronting and solving the problems," recalled Ella, of her days on the women's board. "It was a good example of a united front and honesty.
"The best years for the GWMUSBC were the 2006-07 years. We had over 500 members and everything was very new," added the former association manager. "It was before the recession, and the economy was very good also. The recession hurt the mountain economy, and bowling was dropped in many peoples budgets. This happened all over the nation."
Ella no longer is a board member with the GWMUSBC, and has been focusing more time and energy with the Arizona State USBC board. But, just like All-State, she feels the GWMUSBC is in good hands, and continuing to head in the right direction with newly elected President Becky Shumway.
If you have ever attended a Arizona State Women's Open recently, the GWMUSBC is always well represented by working these events. It is one of Becky's goals not only to make her association more visible at state functions, but in her home community as well.
"As a board, we are always looking to find new bowlers and to keep the bowlers we do have. Our board is very supportive during tournaments, and also in community activities," explained the new president, on moving the board forward. "We participate in an annual walk for a cure, in honor of two of our bowlers who passed away from cancer, and several more of our bowlers who have survived. We also host the 'Dick Macie Memorial Tournament' to benefit the youth in our league. Dick Macie was a great part of our youth program before he passed away."
But, the GWMUSBC'S involvment doesn't stop with its community activities. It as a group, also goes to the surrounding communities with the hopes of picking up a new league bowlers or two.
"As directors, we use our friends and communities to get the word out, and try to recruit new bowlers each season," she added. "We have some bowlers who drive up to an hour-and-a-half to bowl on their league night. We have bowlers from: Holbrook, Snowflake, Taylor, and Heber."
The GWMUSBC also draws league bowlers from other townships such as: Springerville, Eager, St.John's, and Whiteriver.
Becky has been a member of the GWMUSBC board for five years now. She feels there isn't a mountain high enough, that she and her directors can't climb to the top to achieve its goals.
"Moving forward, we have set goals to reach out to our current members to see what changes can be made to help build our membership," she said. "Some of those goals are going into the schools, and promoting our youth bowling program. As well as, promotional offers to help get more people interested in the sport of bowling. We also this year have voted to open our city tournaments to all of the Arizona USBC members to help build tournaments."
Like other associations in the State of Arizona, GWM has monthly board meetings and annual meetings at the end of the year. It moved its annual meeting to a local restaurant last May, and over 100 of its members participated. It also invited its youth members to the annual meeting to help with the attendance.
"The jamboree in 2016 took a lot of planning in securing a hotel and having a banquet," said Doug, of the fifth or sixth jamboree that has been held in the GWM area in the last 21 years. "Getting the jamboree to run smoothly was our biggest concern."
With having a bowling center located in the mountains of Arizona, one would expect that folks up there would not be that educated on the game itself. But, it is the complete opposite. Ponderosa Lanes has had over 30 perfect games rolled in the center since 2010. Lee Lipinski, of Holbrook, currently holds the scoring record in the center with an 834. His 800 was rolled in 2014.
The game of bowling is definitely a family affair in Doug's family. His wife, Brenda, has been the youth director since 2012. 19 kids participated in the program in 2012. The youth program runs for eight weeks at a time during the season. After the fall sports activities are over with, the junior program generally sees a spike in its membership.
Arizona State Bowling News November 7, 2016