Midwest Blind Bowling Association
President: Fred Nickl –
111 South Dwyer
Arlington Heights, IL 60656
nick1frederick@sbcglobal.net
Thomas Lester – Secretary
19146 Ardmore
Detroit MI 48235,
(313) 864-0448
tlester52@talkamerica.net
Membership fee = $5.00
Tournament Director: Louise Lawitzke
1805 Davis
Wyandotte MI 48192-3517
(734) 285-6118
law54@wwnet.net

Eastern Blind Bowling Association
Mike Patterson – Secretary
6603 Leeds Street
Philadelphia PA 19151
(215) 879-5608
Membership fee = $3.00

Southeastern Blind Bowling Association
Secretary: Judy Jeter
1031 Howell Drive
Vinton VA 24179,
(540) 556-3489
jjo831@cox.net
Membership fee = $6.00
Tournament Director: Sandy McDaniel
1317 Fairway Ave.
Ormond Beach, Fl. 32174
smcdano1@7-11.com

Upstate New York Association
John Shaffer – Secretary,
46 Macamley St.
Buffalo NY 14220,
(716) 822-7195
wildhenry@msn.com
Membership fee = $2.00
Tournament Director: Jim Hancharik
249 S. Pearl St.
Canandaigua NY 14424
585-394-3412

Erie Independent
Secretary: Richard Come
1184 Horstman Ct.
Erie, PA 16504
rcome@verizon.net
Tournament Director:
Penny Ohmer,
4142 Davison Ave
Erie PA 16510
814-825-1216
pennyo@VBR-Erie.org
Lake Erie Upper NY Blind Bowling Association
Secretary – Nancy Lockett
1926 Linwood Ave
Erie PA 16510

NEW SEASON OF BOWLING STRAIGHT AHEAD!

Here we are, back for another season of bowling. Where did summer go? Today I’m sitting in a beautiful Minnesota state park for the last camping trip of the season, then next week it’s back to bowling. Hope that your summer was a memorable one.

For our family, the start of summer is always marked by the national tournament; this past summer was no exception. Wilbert Turner and his host committee did a great job of hosting the tournament, they are to be commended. The bowling alley and hotel were wonderful hosts also. Even the guide dogs had their own special bowl of doggy treats at the hotel. It was a good time for all. If you did not attend the tournament in Cleveland, mark your calendars now. The blind bowlers in Greensboro, NC are hard at work trying to give us as good a tournament in 2010 as we had in Cleveland. I know for a fact too that the tournament committee in Minneapolis for the 2011 tournament is already hard at work, so there’s a lot to look forward to.

At the convention in Cleveland, we elected new officers for the organization. Congratulations to Keith Edgerton, President; Art Tyson, First Vice President; and Fred Nickl, Second Vice President. Rozella Campbell continues in her role as Secretary/Treasurer, and Judy Mandelkow continues on as Tournament Director. The complete list of officers and committee information will be in this issue of The Blind Bowler.

This past summer, we were saddened by the passing of Ed Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh TopCats. Ed is one of the past presidents of the American Blind Bowling Association (ABBA), and a good friend. There is a tribute to Ed in this issue that mentions all of his hard work for blind bowlers. ABBA was important to Ed, and Ed was important to ABBA. Congratulations go out to A.J. Inglesby and Melody Heath, both of Gate City Blind Bowlers, Greensboro. They were married this past August. We wish them many happy years together. So, welcome back, and enjoy this issue of The Blind Bowler

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to the start of a new and exciting bowling season! Much has happened within the American Blind Bowling Association and as President, I am eager to share the good news about what is happening and will be happening during the 2009-2010 season.

As you should have heard, ABBA has worked hard to increase its revenues and decrease its expenses. The increase in sanction fees was a difficult decision, but one that was necessary to keep ABBA a viable entity. Additional fundraising and the addition of a Corporate Fundraising Subcommittee should allow ABBA to better serve its membership. We are now in a better position to expand our organization with an outreach to those areas of the country without blind bowling representation.

I would like to thank Wilbert Turner and James Benton for organizing and providing the tickets for the Lucky 300 Stimulus raffle. This is a great opportunity for bowling and ABBA! Although each ticket is $100, this also allows groups of people to have an opportunity to win a large amount of money for their participation. Let’s all spread the word and help get all of these tickets sold!

As the new bowling season continues, it will be important for everyone to get involved by sharing their ideas on directions in which they would like to see ABBA serve. Our organization is only as good as its membership and, to that end, we would like to see more participation from each member league. The mid-year meeting in Greensboro will be important for forging these directions. I encourage all leagues to send representatives to participate. To help grow our membership, I would also like to challenge each and every person to try to bring in at least one new bowler into the organization. If anyone should learn of or know of a location that would benefit from a blind bowling league, please do not hesitate to let myself, any of the officers, or other committee members know. We are here to grow and support the healthy activity of bowling amongst other blind communities.

The National Tournament & Convention will also be held in Greensboro this year. The bowlers from Greensboro have been working diligently to provide an outstanding tournament and to welcome everyone to North Carolina. I look forward to seeing everyone there! Good luck and have a great bowling season.

From The Desk of the Secretary Treasurer, Rozella Campbell Sept. 2009

Bowlers! We made it through the 2008-2009 season and have been given the privilege to begin the 2009-2010 season. Let us try and stay out of the gutters and achieve that long awaited “200”, “250” or “300” game, some of our members have proven it can be done, if they can do it, so can we.

Average Books were mailed/emailed in July. Informational packets were mailed and (emailed upon request),to: Officers, Life Members, League Secretaries and Committee Chairs. At the first meeting of your League the following should/have taken place:

• A) Informed of ABBA sanction fee increase ($15)


• B) Non/sanctioned members can receive the Blind Bowler by email, just by signing up.


• C) Challenged Athletes Foundation gives grants to cover expenses when participating in sports.


• D) Two Policy changes – Expenses for Committee Members attending the Mid Year capped at $150, Officers, $225.


• E) 2010 Tournament will be held in Minn. F) Your league constitution/or by-laws and rules have been /will be read. If your secretary has not shared the information with you, please ask, they are quite busy at this time of the season.

Following are some needed corrections or additions: Average Book Corrections by page Gold Medal Winners Add under High Single Game: Jason Miller SM 300, TopCats Blind Bowlers, Pittsburg PA
Rita Szymanski PF 221 Chicago Braille Center Chicago, IL
(Page 7) Chicago AA Blind Bowlers, Chicago IL. Remarks column.
Byster, Sue – (Chicago Braille Center), Padilla, Maris – (Chicago Alba), Szymanski, Rita,
(Chicago Braille Center), Williams, Darnell – Wos, Larry – Zwolinski, Rich – (Chicago ALBA)
(Page 8) Chicago Alba Blind Bowlers – Chicago IL, list under Remarks:
Padilla, Maria, Williams, Darnell, Wos, Larry, Zwolinski, Rich – (Chicago AA)
Chicago Braille Center Blind Bowlers – Chicago IL - under Remarks please list:
Byster, Sue – (Chicago AA), correction, Symanski, Rita – (Chicago AA not South)
(Page 9) Chicago Braille Center,
Tucker, Renee, 39 Games, 87 Average
(Page 17) Motor City Blind Bowlers
Leslie Hawkins, 63 Games, 146 Average
Carol Hawkins, 78 Games, 118 Average
(Page 18) Remainder of Motor City Bowlers:
SF – Sharp, Jewel 66 Games, 121 Average
TF – Staple, Ada, 63 Games, 86 Average
PF – Steele, Matilda, 72 Games, 86 Average
PM – Yancy, Mike, 87 Games, 125 Average
(Page 19) Kalamazoo Blind Bowlers, Kalamazoo MI
Correct listing; all other information is correctly listed.
Bailey, Pat
Bailey, Sue
Bailey, Tracey
Branch, Mike
Dubnicka, Mike
Flinn, Robert
Johnson, Sarah
Thamon, Ken
Moon, Jenny
Moon, Marty
Moxley, Michelle
Richert, Gerald
Sinkler, Terry
Strou, Brain
(Page 23) Blind & Sighted WNY – Buffalo NY
SF Bellezza, Karle 81 - 116
SM Brown, Patrick 72 - 128
SF Grabowski, Theresa 60 - 149
PF Monks, Peggy 53 - 107
SF Mule, Melissa 69 - 119
SM Royer, Jeff 60 - 121
(Page 24) Buffalo League Sightless, Buffalo NY
Cianciosi, Richard - average (51) not (120)
Cianciosi, Sharon average (120) not (51)
(Page 30) Onslow Bears Blind Bowling – Jacksonville NC –
Insert Games Average
TF Davis, Christine 54 - 64
SF Huber, Susan 45 - 68
SF Jones, Jeanne 54 - 119
PM Lannon, Bob 42 - 84
PM Shipard, Rodney 51 - 74
PM Woodard, Monte 48 - 95
(Page 32) Capital City Blind Bowlers
SF Abrams, Adrienne 17 - 117 (not have 21 games)
SF Abrams, Betty Jean 78 - 107
TM Abrams, Bob 84 - 65
PM Allen, Scott 36 - 109
PM Barnhart, Andy 84 - 87
PF Gamble, Cindy 48 - 99
PM Gamble Sr., Mike 87 - 93
PF Gillen, Tina 93 - 105
PM Knott, Paul 39 - 132
PM LeMaster, Kurt 30 - 172
PM McGowen, Thomas 96 - 157
PF Miller, Der 69 - 100
PM Miller, Matt 81- 90
PF Mollett, Sandy 96 - 127
PF Mortier, Joan 75 - 102
SM Newman, Joseph 72 - 159
SM Oesterie, Maynard 93 138
TF Piepho, MaryLyn 36- 74
TF Ruf, Kim 56 - 40
SF Ryan, Joyce 96 - 146
PF Sams, Donna 87 - 116
TF Staley, Betty 24 - 32
PM Staley, Howard 75- 109
PF Ulicney, Theresa 86 - 118
SM Workman, John 93 - 170
SF Workman, Penny 96 - 132
(Page 55) April
Upstate New York Invitational Tournament (UNBBA/UNBBAT)
(Page 56) ABBA National Tournament and Convention
(May 26 – May 31, 2010)

August Mailing Packet; Corrections By Sections 2009-2010 Officers & Assistants Page 10; Delete, Ollie Lester, Replace with: Sue Edgerton, 3319 W. Parkridge Drive, Peoria, IL 61604-2011 Page 14; (Erie Independent, Secretary– Richard, not Roger Come) Page 15; Lake Erie Upper NY Blind Bowling Association (Delete title, Lake Erie is under UNBBA Association)

Policy Statements Page 29 - Change $225 to $150.

By-Laws Page 51-52 (insert the remaining Life Members) *Edward Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh PA *Wayne Keeney, Los Angeles CA Anthony Pezzimenti, Buffalo NY Cathy Fleming, Roanoke VA Kathleen Brockman, Milwaukee WI Travis Johnson, Paragould AR Jim Fleming, Roanoke VA Wilbert Turner, Cleveland OH Arthur Tyson, Richmond VA Mike Staab, Pittsburgh PA Linda Keeney, Los Angeles CA James Benton, Raleigh NC

INFORMATION FOR THE MID-YEAR BOARD MEETING

Dates: November 19-22, 2009

Greensboro-High Point Marriott
One Marriott Drive
Greensboro, NC 27409
1-800-228-9290 or 336-852-6450
Fax: 1-366-665-6526

Room rate - $79 @ 12.75% tax Rooms will be held until October 29, 2009 Meeting rooms will be labeled in Braille Complimentary airport Shuttle to and from PTI airport 24 hours per day Group rate will be offered 2 days prior and after our event, based upon availability.

Mid-Year Meeting Schedule Friday, November 20, 2009 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Tournament Committee Sharon Benton, Chair - Piedmont Ballroom 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Area Association Meeting Rich Patterson, Chair - Piedmont Ballroom

Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Finance Committee Meeting Art Tyson, Chair - Piedmont Ballroom 8:45 a.m. – 9:45a.m. Public Relations Committee Meeting Wilbert Turner, Chair - Salons A-C 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Legislative Committee Meeting Fred Nickl, Chair – Piedmont Ballroom 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Rules Interpretation and Enforcement Committee (RIEC) Meeting Wally Burmeister, Chair - Salons A-C 12:30 p.m. Midwest Luncheon (By Invitation Only) 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Mid-Year Board Meeting Keith Edgerton, President – Piedmont Ballroom

Good news, when you come out of the Piedmont Ballroom, Salons A-C is directly across the hall. Questions, Additions, Deletions please contact: Secretary Treasurer – Rozella Campbell @ 248-853-0209/abbasec.trea@yahoo.com or President - Keith Edgerton @ 919-621-1707/Keithedg2@yahoo.com

--submitted by Rozella Campbell, Secretary-Treasurer

PUBLIC RELATIONS NEWS!

Hello Fellow Bowlers, This is the year we start to grow in number again. I am looking forward to us having a great bowling season. First I wish to thank each of you that made it to Cleveland for our last tournament. It was a success because of you. I also say to those who had a desire to be with us, but were unable to be there, we missed you and we will look for you in Greensboro.

Should any of you have some ideas on how we can get more visually impaired folks bowling - how we can contact folk that once use to be bowlers. I’m talking about our friends in Dallas, Atlanta, Spokane, Portland, and Arkansas and all of the other places where ABBA once had representation, please contact us and them to encourage them to return. We miss and we need them. Also if you have something that you feel is appropriate for the public relations to address, contact one of us. We are representing you.

Now, an update on our fundraiser. To date we have received $2300 from tickets that already been paid for in Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. If your state is not listed, there is still time, we have still have more tickets available for sale. If we can sell all tickets by the midyear meeting, we can make 5 people and the ABBA happy for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you need tickets, call Wilbert Turner at 216-561-6864 or email me at Wo.turner5@sbcglobal.net.

--submitted by Wilbert Turner, Public Relations Committee Chair

LUCKY 300 STIMULUS RAFFLE

Hello to all American Blind Bowlers, here is hoping that each of you had an enjoyable summer. I also hope that you are looking forward to another fun filled bowling season.

During our May convention, we voted to host a 300 ticket raffle to help raise money to sustain our organization. With the cost of everything going up, we have the desire to keep our cost of bowling down so that more visually impaired bowlers can continue to bowl. There are only two ways to make that happen. One is to have a national fundraiser, which will allow each league to participate. The other way is that we can increase our membership. You will be hearing from the Public Relations committee in the future regarding the things we wish to try to increase our membership.

About the Lucky 300, this raffle is a win/ win for at least 5 bowlers, or potentially 5 leagues, or a combination of leagues or friends or associates. This raffle is designed to raise $15,000 for the ABBA. $15,000 would greatly help our organization. Let us look at how we can purchase these tickets.

The cost of a ticket is $100.00 and the prizes are as follows: First prize - $5,000, second prize - $4,000, third prize - $3,000, fourth prize - $2,000, fifth prize - $1,000. This means all prizes are large enough for you to divide and share with others!

Your league can buy a ticket and put the money in its treasury, or your league can buy tickets and split the money with the league and its members. Two or more people can purchase a ticket together. Then of course a lot of you know someone that can and will buy a ticket if you ask them, please ask them. Also Lions clubs, Rotary clubs, Knights of Columbus, and other nonprofit clubs will buy a ticket if you ask them. In short, we have 300 tickets and there are 1500 of us. Therefore if each member would commit to $20 towards a ticket, all the tickets would be sold.

You may contact our ABBA secretary, Rozella or me to request tickets.

The drawing is schedule to take place as soon as all the tickets are sold. If we do not sell all of the tickets, we must draw on May 30th, 2010 at our next Convention. Let's make it happen. Thanks in advance for your support.

TOURNAMENT NEWS

The Gate City Blind Bowlers and Gate City Lanes would like to welcome you to Greensboro for this year’s National tournament. We are working very hard to make your time in Greensboro the best it can be. We want to make it a tournament that will be talked about for years to come. To make this happen we already have many things in the works.

First of all we already have the National t-shirts on sale. You will find an order form in this issue and you will not want to miss getting at least one because they are absolutely gorgeous. For the first time in a while there is a variety of color choices for the shirts. The colors are hunter green with gold imprint, burgundy with gold imprint, royal blue with white imprint, purple with white imprint and navy blue with white imprint. All colors are available in sizes small to 2XL but the navy goes up to 4XL. It doesn’t matter what size you need because they are all one price. That’s right all shirts are only $20 per shirt!

Second we have lined up an excellent bowling center for your bowling pleasure. The staff is very personable and will go out of their way to assist you with your bowling needs. The house is a 52 lane center that can be challenging at times. In addition the layout of the center makes it very simple to navigate and find where you need to be. For example, there are two sets of bathrooms one on either end of the center for convenience. The full service snack bar is located near the middle of the center. It serves alcohol and awesome food at a reasonable price. Ralph’s Pro Shop will be open and operating at full service and can handle any of your last minute bowling needs.

You will be staying at the Greensboro Airport Marriot which is located on the property of the Piedmont International Airport and only 8.3 miles from the bowling center. The hotel’s grounds and layout are beautiful and easily accessible to all guests. The room rate is a steal at only $79.00 per night plus tax. The hotel is a non smoking hotel but they do have designated areas outside the building for people to smoke at. These areas are on the hotel property. One is located just beyond the front entrance and the other two are located in the designated guide dog relieving areas.

We don’t want to forget about our doggie friends who will be traveling with us. The hotel has set aside two areas for guide dogs to park. The main one is located on the first floor by the Volleyball court. The second one is located on the second floor just outside of the meeting rooms. Both are easily accessible.

Finally, transportation is in the works to assist those of you who are arriving via bus or train to get to and from the hotel. More details will be forthcoming as they come together. Since the hotel is located on the airport property they offer a free shuttle for those of you who are flying into Greensboro.

We know that in these tough economic times you might be saying you don’t have the money to cover your bowling expenses but you need not be worried. Remember there is an organization that can help called Challenged Athletes. All you need to do is fill out the application and provide the necessary information and send it in by December 1st to qualify for a grant.

So there is no reason not to prepare for one of the best ABBA National tournaments in the history of ABBA. The bowling as always will be fierce competition but we will enjoy visiting with our old and new found friends in a warm and inviting city full of southern hospitality. See you in Greensboro May 2010 and until then good luck and high scoring.

The Greensboro host committee is going to have the hotel raffle this year. Each ticket is $5.00 per ticket. We will draw five winning tickets during the tournament. Here is the breakdown of prizes:

• First place - The cost of three nights at the hotel


• Second place- The cost for two nights at the hotel


• Third place - The cost of one night at the hotel


• Fourth place - TBA


• Fifth place - TBA

If interested in buying tickets please tell us your name, league name, phone number and how many tickets you want. Please send your money and information to

If you need to call him his number is 336-275-1377.

Just a thought, if everyone on a four person team pitched in $25.00 each and purchased a stimulus ticket, even if you won fifth place, which would cover the entry fee and most of your hotel room for the national tournament!!

CLEVELAND TOURNAMENT UPDATE

The Chinese Auction during the Cleveland ABBA National Tournament was the most successful to date! The amount of money raised for the ABBA Host tournament fund was $1500.00

Thanks to everyone who made the auction such a great success! I would like to thank those who donated gifts and those who purchased tickets. A special thank you to Sue Edgerton and Linda McClary for their help in keeping the auction running smoothly. Thanks also to Joe and Charlotte Laramie who made the Braille labels.

There was a $5.00 Raffle for the Greater Cleveland host committee that raised $645.00.

I look forward to seeing you all next year at the tournament in Greensboro.

CHALLENGED ATHLETES INFORMATION

Challenged Athletes is an organization that helps athletes with disabilities that are on a fixed income. The application process is open from September 1, 2009 thru December 1, 2009. If you are mailing in an application, it must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2009. Information can be obtained on line by going to their website www.challengedathletes.org
or by calling them at 1-858-866-0959. The grant will be determined and awarded by April, 2010.

--ed.

USABA First Annual Ten Pin Bowling Tournament

The following is information received from United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). ABBA, USBC Sanctioned First National Ten Pin Bowling Tournament will take place during the week of November 16, 2009. You will bowl 3 games. Using last years ending average, handicap will be set at 90% of 220. New bowlers that wish to join in the tournament can do so; however, there will be handicap caps. Sighted bowlers will have a cap of 25 pins, partial sighted bowlers will have a cap of 50 pins, and totally blind bowlers will have a cap of 75 pins. The purpose of the cap on the handicap is to help prevent the possibility of a bowler sand bagging.

There will be no distinction between visual classifications. It will be most pins over average over the 3 games. Your secretary and bowling center manager will sign each printed score sheet to be mailed in. Hand written scores will not be accepted under any circumstances to ensure accuracy of scores.

The entry fee will be $50 per person. If we have 200 participants the total entry fees will total $10,000. Approximately 20% of the entry fees will be held to help sponsor the USA Bowling Team for the International Ten Pin Tournament in 2011. Of course, if we have more or less participants, the pay schedule will be adjusted. Entry fees are due on or before November 14, 2009 and there will be no exceptions, so please plan accordingly. The top ten places will receive trophies. There will be three trophies awarded for high scratch games and three trophies for high scratch series based on visual classifications for both men and women.

Additional forms and registration packets can be located and downloaded at www.usaba.org. Please contact Gerald Rickert at bowling@usaba.org. Further information can be found at www.usaba.org.

Pay schedule: First place will be $1000,
Second place will be $900,
Third place will be$800,
Forth place will be $700,
Fifth place will be $600,
Sixth place $500,
Seventh place will be $400,
Eighth place will be $300,
Ninth place will be 200,
Tenth place will be 100,
Eleventh to Twentieth place $100

If you have further questions you can contact either USABA, Keith Edgerton or Nancy Giddings.

NEWS FROM THE MIDWEST

Midwest Blind Bowler members don’t forget our prize week. The annual Prize Week is bowled November 1 -7, 2009 during normal league times. Members bowling in leagues that have sanctioned by Oct. 15th of the current season are eligible, averages to be used are those printed in the ABBA average book for the previous season 208-2009. The prizes range from $40.00 to $10.00 and an additional $10.00 will be paid for a qualifying ABBA award. Therefore it is important that league secretaries send in the entire series and not just the total. The league secretary must also send the award to ABBA. Prize Week is based on pins above average. Prizes will be paid in all divisions A thru E as follows, 75 pins above for a man, 65 pins above average for a woman in A thru C divisions, 70 pins above for d and e males division and 60 for D and E woman. Scores must be submitted within 10 days after bowling session is over. They may be called in to the secretary treasurer at 313-864-0448 or mailed to

Thomas Lester
19146 Ardmore,
Detroit MI 48235.

Remember these scores are on a series not just one game.

Congratulations to the winners of the High 3 Game Series. The list will be printed in the October Newsletter.

The 2010 53rd Midwest Blind Bowling Association Tournament will be held in St. Louis MO. The dates will be March 12 thru March 14, 2010. The host hotel will be the Airport Marriott at a rate of $74.00 per night plus tax, up to 4 persons in a room. The hotel has an indoor pool and full bar and restaurant. We will be using The Strikes and Spares Lanes which has a bar and food service. These are the same facilities used by the National tournament in 2008. The bid for St. Louis was approved for the 2010 tournament. There will be more information to come, as the 2010 tournament gets closer. Here is the hotel information; St. Louis Airport Marriott, 10700 Pear Tree Lane St.Louis, Mo. 63134. Reservations can be made by calling 800-228-9290 Or (314)-423-9700

--submitted by Tom Lester, MBBA Secretary

LEAGUE PRIZE LIST

United State Bowling Congress (USBC) league rule 102 authorizes the league president to appoint a prize committee, which is to report to the league with proposals for one or more prize lists no later than the fifth week of the bowling season. USBC rule 117 states that the league board of directors or the general membership must approve a prize list. ABBA leagues that are not part of USBC may use this same procedure or may establish its own policy.

All ABBA leagues are bound by USBC rule 17 which allows a league board of directors to dismiss a bowler for unfair tactics including a violation of rule 17, section B paragraph 2 which reads as follows; “Failure to distribute prize money to team members consistent with verbal or written agreement”The major portion of prizes should go for team position standings based on wins or losses or a point system. Other prizes should be for team and individual high games including handicap. Most blind bowling leagues do not award prizes for scratch scores. The prize list in addition to cash prizes may include trophies, medals, merchandise or gift certificates.

ABBA does not normally become involved with conflicts within a league. Certainly, ABBA is not a collection agency for misused funds. Once a league dismisses a member for not paying prizes, then ABBA may consider suspending that person from ABBA membership until the situation is resolved.

ED FITZPATRICK: MY FATHER, MY FRIEND, MY HERO

The ABBA lost one of its pioneers when my father Edward Fitzpatrick passed away on August 9, 2009 from complications due to diabetes. He was 72. The Blind Bowler Editor asked me to write a tribute to him. I hope this does him proud.

My father had two great loves in his life - his family and bowling, more specifically the ABBA. My father began losing his eyesight at the age of 22. This never prevented him from pitching batting practice or quarterbacking a game of football in the street with us kids. My father introduced me to bowling and encouraged me to join my high school league. He taught me how to keep score as well as pin spot. Bowling would become our strongest bond.

He joined the ABBA in 1961. He caught “bowling fever” and was never the same again. He married my mother Judie in May of 1965 and they spent their honeymoon at the ABBA National Tournament in Washington, DC. I did him one better when I married my lovely wife Pam during the 2004 tournament in Las Vegas (I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree).

Our family routine often revolved around bowling tournaments: Erie in October, the Midwest in March and the National in May. He accumulated a lot of bowling trophies while I was growing up. He bowled with the legendary “Over the Hill Gang” and its members Oral Miller, Buddy Keith, Joella Johnson and Bill Spiers. “Brother Fitz” as my father was called also bowled doubles with the “Big O” Oral Miller. My dad would also bowl doubles with Angie Burmeister in many other Midwest and National Tournaments. My dad invited me to join the TopCat Blind Bowlers in 1989. I went to my first National Tournament in Denver that season. I got to bowl with my father and Oral Miller as a member of the “Over the Hill Gang”. This will always be one of my most treasured bowling memories with my father.

I loved going to tournaments with my dad. As a diabetic he was never allowed to drink alcohol. He used to say I drank enough for the both of us. I would always answer him “It’s the Irish way”. Even though he couldn’t drink he would love to sit in the bar with us “party animals” sipping on his diet soda. After we would close down the bar the two of us would find a party in someone’s hotel room. He always loved to meet new people as well as meet up with old friends at the hospitality room and the dance.

My father was involved in many aspects of the ABBA. He was Second and First Vice President as well as a Past President. He was also President of the MBBA and served on numerous ABBA committees. He was also the National Tournament Chairman when the tournament was held in Pittsburgh in 1968, 1978, 1988 and the 50th in 1997.

His greatest ABBA achievement was when he was selected to receive the Abe Cohen Lifetime Achievement Award. I think he was most proud of this accomplishment. It was because of this that we buried the award with him.

My dad went to every National Tournament between 1961 and 2009, except one. In 1996 he was in the hospital for surgery on his feet (diabetes again). When the doctor told him he could not go to the tournament in Winston Salem, North Carolina, it was the only time I can recall seeing my father cry. He gave his life to the ABBA and in turn the ABBA and its members gave him life.

I heard a quote about how a man’s wealth can be judged by how many friends he has. If this is indeed true, my father was a wealthy man. The outpouring of prayers and condolences from leagues and bowlers from the ABBA was truly overwhelming. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your kind thoughts and prayers. It is so comforting to know he touched so many lives and had so many people he could call friend.

I as well as my family and friends are sure going to miss his boisterous laugh, his great sense of humor and even his goofy jokes. I think the ABBA will miss his honest and integrity.

I am sure he is up in Heaven now, anxious to get the bowling season started. If I know him, he’ll want his hero Earl Anthony as his doubles partner. I sure hope he saves a spot on his team for me when it’s my turn to go. Bowling sure will not be the same for me without him, but I know he would want me to continue on with this wonderful organization. I look forward to seeing you all in the future.

He was my father, my friend, and my hero. I love him, miss him and am proud to be his son. I love you dad.

REMEMBERING A FRIEND

On April 18, 2009, Lamar Mitchell of the Chicago Tappers, who has an average of 169, bowled a perfect game of 300 at Lawn Lanes in Chicago, IL. On the same day he learned that his best friend passed away. Lamar was sad and stated that he wasn’t even going to come bowling that day but something told him to come anyway. He kept to himself and got in a zone and with every strike that he threw; he dedicated it to his best friend, Dirk. Congratulations and great bowling, Lamar.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• November 19-21, 2009, Mid-Year Meetings – Greensboro, NC
• November 16 - 22, 2009 USABA Mail-in Tournament - your bowling alley
• December 10 – 16, ABBA Mail-O-Graphic Tournament - your bowling alley
• March 12-14, 2010, Midwest Tournament – St Louis, MO
• May 26-31, 2010, ABBA National Tournament and Convention

So, except for the tournament results, here we are at the end of The Blind Bowler. If you have any comments, additions or corrections, please send them to Nancy Giddings, blindbowler@gmail.com, or if you do not have a computer, my address and phone number are listed at the beginning of the newsletter. If you have an article that you wish to submit, please follow the same procedure. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to post the ABBA award winners for last year. They will appear in the next issue of The Blind Bowler. Thanks for your understanding. Hope you have some great scores for me to post in an upcoming issue.

62nd NATIONAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS

The following is a list of the top three finishers in each category. If you have further questions about tournament results, please contact Judy Mandelkow, Tournament Director. Her contact information can be found at the beginning of the news letter

Master’s Event
First Place: Carolina Sharpshooters 1966 total pins $358.00
Susie Davis Raleigh
Joyce Spencer Raleigh
Terri McLean Raleigh
James Benton Raleigh
Mike Blount Raleigh

Second Place: Carolina Cowboys 1954 total pins $308.00
Alice Kelly Raleigh
James Oates Raleigh
Diane Johnson Raleigh
Robert Johnson Raleigh
Herbert Everett Raleigh

Third Place: Rough Riders 1901 total pins $258.00
Gregg Scott Pittsburgh
Maggi Ostrowski Pittsburgh
Mike Staab Pittsburgh
Fred Nickl Chicago
Ken Roehl Madison

High Series – Gold Medals
Laura Russell Los Angeles 349
James Benton Raleigh 384
Terri McLean Raleigh 451
Herbert Everett Raleigh 541

Team Event – Handicap
First Place: Indianapolis #5 2623 pins w/handicap $492.00
Joe Higdon Indianapolis
Russell McNeely Indianapolis
Nancy Cole ` Indianapolis
Leslie Mitchell Indianapolis
Second Place: Knock ‘Em Down 2578 Pins w/handicap $452.00
Clarence Diming Chicago Tappers
Nina Phillips Chicago Tappers
William Bryant Chicago Tappers
Patricia Fraley Chicago Tappers
Third Place: Macomb Blind Bowlers 2558 Pins w/handicap $412.00
Michelle McBride Macomb
George Kolon Macomb
Charles Ogier Macomb
Eric Hoffmann Macomb

Scratch Trophy and Gold Medal – Team Event
Pure Dynamite 1821 pins
Denise Santiago Chicago
Rick Jorgenson Chicago
Dino Santiago Chicago
Evell Jones Chicago

Doubles Event – Legally Blind
First Place: Kerrie Worth - Raleigh 1421 pins w/handicap $294.00
Albert Roberson - Raleigh
Second Place: Carl Evans Forsyth 1373 pins w/handicap $274.00
Lonnie Cunningham Forsyth
Third Place: Sue Kolodziej - Sacramento 1355 pins w/handicap $254.00
Ben Kolodziej - Sacramento

Scratch Trophy and Gold Medal – Doubles, legally blind
Carl Evans - Greensboro 986 total pins
Lonnie Cunningham - Greensboro

Rich Jorgensen - Chicago Alba 932 total pins
Evell Jones - Chicago Alba

Double Event – Sighted
First Place: Regina Smith - Philadelphia 1391 w/handicap $216.00
Willie Johnson – Cleveland
Second Place: Dominick McKinley – Flint, 1356 w/handicap $196.00
James Thompson – Flint,
Third Place: Anthony Alexander – Chicago Tappers 1351 w/handicap $176.00
Deon Sims – Chicago Tappers

Elaine Vining – Minneapolis 1173 total pins
Kevin Fitzpatrick – Pittsburgh

Singles Event – Totally Blind with handicap
First Place: Simon McNeal – Cleveland 696 w/handicap $125.00
Second Place: John Mavis – Los Angeles 693 w/handicap $115.00
Third Place: Carol Riddle – Cincinnati 692 w/handicap $105.00

Scratch Trophy and Gold Medal – Singles – Totally Blind
Alverness Scroggins – Flint 361 total pins
Simon McNeal – Cleveland 378 total pins

Singles – Partially blind with handicap
First Place: Eric Hoffmann – Macomb 747 w/ handicap $167.00
Second Place: Charlene Lloyd – Forsyth 719 w/handicap $152.00
Third Place: Michael Wilmoth – Forsyth 719 w/handicap $152.00

Scratch Trophy and Gold Medal – Singles – Partially blind
Robin Roland – Flint 477 total pins
Eric Hoffman – Macomb 648 total pins

Singles – Sighted with handicap
First Place: Martin Moon – Kalamazoo 768 pins w/handicap $132.00
Second Place: Dominck McKinley – Flint 745 pins w/handicap $122.00
Third Place: Trey Gregory – Durham 730 pins w/handicap $112.00

Scratch Trophy and Medal – Sighted bowlers
Karen Arndt – Flint 562 total pins
Jimmy Clemons – Chicago Tappers 640 total pins

All Events with handicap – totally blind
First Place: Simon McNeal – Cleveland 2071 w/handicap $108.00
Second Place: Kendra White – Peacebreakers 2027 w/handicap $ 98.00
Third Place: Gina Shanks – Troublemakers 1980 w/handicap $ 88.00

Scratch Trophy and Medal - All Events, Totally blind
Alverness Scroggins – Flint 1120 total pins
Simon NcNeal – Cleveland 1117 total pins

All Events with handicap – Partially blind
First Place: Kerri Worth – Raleigh 2040 w/handicap $127.00
Second Place: Michael Wilmoth – Forsyth 2031 w/handicap $120.00
Third Place: Eric Hoffmann – Macomb 2015 w/handicap $113.00

Scratch Trophy and Medal – All Events, Partially blind
Robin Roland – Flint 1359 total pins
Evell Jones – Chicago Alba 1913 total pins

All Events with handicap – Sighted
First Place: Dominick McKinley – Flint 2166 w/handicap $114.00
Second Place: Trey Gregory – Durham 2112 w/handicap $104.00
Third Place: Rick Irving – Post 80 2104 w/handicap $ 94.00

Scratch Trophy and medal – All Events, Sighted
Sandy McDaniel - Daytona Beach 1590 total pins
Kevin Fitzpatrick – Pittsburgh 1833 total pins

ABBA Awards
Pins Over Average
AJ Inglesby Greensboro 60 pins over
Al Travers Denver 75 pins over
Charlene Lloyd Troublemakers 60 pins over
Maurice Williams Troublemakers 60 pins over
Mshenda Diming Chicago Tappers 75 pins over
Nancy Lockett Erie 75 pins over

Split Conversions
Albert Roberson Raleigh 7-9 Split
Chuck Graham Carter Family 8-10 Split
James Baxter Harrisburg 7-10 Split
Ken Pleuss Carter Family 7-10 Split
Robert Weiss Carter Family 7-10 Split

Silver Medal
Albert Roberson Raleigh 231
Alverness Scroggins Flint 180
Dave Olson Journey for the Blind 254
Eric Hoffman Macomb 234
Evell Jones Chicago Alba 254
Greg Mulvaney Carter Family 257
Mike Gates Rock County 264
Leslie Hawkins Motor City 226
Tom McGowan Columbus 237

Bronze Medal
Carrie Woodward Chicago Alba 223
Jeanetta Schaefer Indianapolis 188
Karen Arndt Flint 223
Kevin Fitzpatrick Pittsburgh 256
Regina Smith Philadelphia 256
Ron Stanchak Delaware Valley 215
Terrell Jones Gate City 224
Gate City Blind Bowlers, Greensboro NC

2010 Tournament Shirt Pre-Order

This year, Royal Blue, Navy and Purple. available Small to 2XL Extended Sizes up to 4XL are only available in the Navy. Cost per shirt is+ $20.00.

Color	Qty	S	M	L	XL	2XL	ext.	Cost
Forest w/ Gold Imprint
Burgundy w/ Gold Imprint
Royal w/ White Imprint
Purple w/ White Imprint
Navy w/ White Imprint
ORDER TOTAL:								$

Please make check payable to Gate City Blind Bowlers. Shirts will be delivered at the tournament in May. Questions, please contact Lonnie Cunningham at 336-275-1377