Hey guys/gals,
I was appointed the association manager last year, so I'm still fairly new to this. I just found out that our center may be closing permanently (the owner has shut it down, but there is another center owner that is currently looking at opening it back up).
What are our Association's options at this point? We don't have another center in the area that doesn't already have an association in place. Can we suspend our association or must I process a closing of our association. What are the USBC proper procedure for this? You'll have to excuse my ignorance in this, as this was thrust upon me last year and I wasn't given much direction.
Thanks to all
I would suggest you contact USBC - Association Relations - and ask the questions of them. They will give you the correct way to handle the situation.
sfurst, Limited by information provided, my advice would be to look into merging with the association closest to you. Look into placement of leagues you now have at that center if it is possible. Perhaps there could be weeks or even months lag between the center staying closed and the new owner taking over so you should be looking into short term league placement that allows for leagues to move back to your center if it reopens. How far away is the closest local to you?
If that is the case you should notify your leagues of the lag time between the closing and opening, along with opportunities to bowl in another center for that time period if it is close enough and they want to do it.
If you know the person interested in keeping the center open you should meet with him/her and see what you might be able to do to help get it done. If there are extensive, pretty expensive needs, like pin spotters/scorers, air conditioning, roof. etal on their last legs you might consider asking your bowlers if they will accept a price increase in bowling to help cover those costs.
If the number of league bowlers is not very good you might suggest working with the prospective owner to help build the business.
Don Gates
I thought that was what usbc wanted to do all along merge all of the one center assn's. How close is the other center?
Don,
Thanks for the input. The closest Association to us would be a tie between two, both of which are very busy houses and about 30 miles away a piece. Although we don't have many members, or leagues currently, I don't know that either house could fit us in.
I will be sending something out to our bowlers as soon as I have assessed the situation a little more. It was just last month I talked to the proprietor and she had told me she was keeping the house open indefinetely. Since I only found out about her change of heart this morning, I'm scrambling to figure out my options.
As far as meeting the 'interested' party, I've already made plans to head to up his way later this week, to do exactly what you suggessted: See if there is anything I can do to help.
If he wanted, he could just pick up the lease and run the alley the way it is, even though it needs major updating. His other option would be to shut down the league until next summer and renovate the place. If he chooses that option, I need to find out, from an association, standpoint, to weather the change.
D.M.: I thought that was what usbc wanted to do all along merge all of the one center assn's. How close is the other center?
D.M,
I believe you're right, and we did so, when we merged the women's and the men's associations that we had in the house. The problem is that the center itself is closing down. So, now we have an association (Newport USBC) that has not center because the only center in Newport is shut down. The other centers are in other cities/counties.
quite a predicament I'm in
sfurst,
Don has given you good advice. I would also talk to the 2 associations near you to consider merging with them. That way even if the center closes for now and opens later you may not have to disband your association if that would be required. I would definetely call USBC's association relations and discuss this with them before you make any decisions one way or the other.
sfurst: D.M.: I thought that was what usbc wanted to do all along merge all of the one center assn's. How close is the other center? D.M, I believe you're right, and we did so, when we merged the women's and the men's associations that we had in the house. The problem is that the center itself is closing down. So, now we have an association (Newport USBC) that has not center because the only center in Newport is shut down. The other centers are in other cities/counties. quite a predicament I'm in
sfurst, 30 miles is probably too far for most of the your bowlers to travel so you pretty much have to try and keep your present center open. If there is plenty of room to improve the present number of bowlers in your center and a population base that might consider bowling if approached in the right way your talking to the present and possible future owner about helping to do just that could help.
As mentioned if there are some major improvements or replacements needed you might suggest the present or prospective new owner price out the costs of doing what is needed, which would likely be financed, see what kind of price increase would be needed to cover those costs and sound out your bowlers to see if they would accept paying more than they are now.
Pr
Doctor Doom: sfurst: D.M.: I thought that was what usbc wanted to do all along merge all of the one center assn's. How close is the other center? D.M, I believe you're right, and we did so, when we merged the women's and the men's associations that we had in the house. The problem is that the center itself is closing down. So, now we have an association (Newport USBC) that has not center because the only center in Newport is shut down. The other centers are in other cities/counties. quite a predicament I'm in And that would be Newport where?????
That would be the proud state or Arkansas... :)
sfurst: Pr Doctor Doom: sfurst: D.M.: I thought that was what usbc wanted to do all along merge all of the one center assn's. How close is the other center? D.M, I believe you're right, and we did so, when we merged the women's and the men's associations that we had in the house. The problem is that the center itself is closing down. So, now we have an association (Newport USBC) that has not center because the only center in Newport is shut down. The other centers are in other cities/counties. quite a predicament I'm in And that would be Newport where????? That would be the proud state or Arkansas... :)
Dear sfurst:
Is Batesville the nearest town with bowling, now that your center is closed?
[By the way, my wife was born in Newport].
Doctor Doom: sfurst: Pr Doctor Doom: sfurst: D.M.: I thought that was what usbc wanted to do all along merge all of the one center assn's. How close is the other center? D.M, I believe you're right, and we did so, when we merged the women's and the men's associations that we had in the house. The problem is that the center itself is closing down. So, now we have an association (Newport USBC) that has not center because the only center in Newport is shut down. The other centers are in other cities/counties. quite a predicament I'm in And that would be Newport where????? That would be the proud state or Arkansas... :) I can see were you may have a problem. You are a few miles from any larger city or town. What happened to your plans to try and make a deal with the owner and keep the place going
Well, she wanted to double her current lease amount per month, and didn't want to even match what I was willing to put into renovating the house. In other words, she wasn't interested in keeping it open.
MightyFish: Dear sfurst: Is Batesville the nearest town with bowling, now that your center is closed? [By the way, my wife was born in Newport].
Mightyfish,
Batesville and Walnut Ridge or Searcy are probably very close to the same distance, and all of them are smaller houses (12 or less lanes) and have leagues pretty much every night right now as it is.
Also, I replied to your email. It's always nice to hear of someone out there from our little spot on the map :)
Just curious, did you talk to anyone in association relations? If so what did they suggest?
