The WIBC Board moved forward with a major component of its contingency plan by approving legislation that would open WIBC’s membership to male bowlers; this legislation must be voted on by the WIBC delegates. In addition, the contingency legislation will significantly change the organization's structure and place it in a position whereby it could apply to the United States Olympic Committee for National Governing Body status for the sport of bowling.

“The WIBC Board continues to be fully supportive of USBC, and remain unified and unwavering in their support of a single membership organization,” Sylvia Broyles, WIBC president, said. “Last year, our delegates, members and associations wanted to know what would happen in the event a single membership organization was not approved. Again, this year, we are developing a contingency plan that will prepare the organization in the unfortunate event the revised Plan of Merger is not approved.”

“Make no mistake, WIBC leadership firmly believes the direction to take is to have a ‘single’ membership organization,” Roseann Kuhn, WIBC executive director, said. “I’ll say emphatically, that this contingency legislation is not an alternative to the revised Plan of Merger and we in no way want this legislation construed in such a way for people to believe otherwise. While we fully support a single membership organization, we are also responsible for the health and well being of WIBC if the revised Plan of Merger is rejected like it was last year. And, since others have revealed portions of their contingency plans, there was an obligation on our part to move our plan ahead of schedule and place WIBC in a position to succeed if USBC fails.”

Broyles said, “While this is a historic move for an organization that has been a ‘women’s only’ organization for nearly 88 years, the Board truly considers this contingency legislation just that - a ‘contingency’ - and used ONLY in the event the revised Plan of Merger fails.”

At the 2003 WIBC Annual Meeting in Reno, Nev., speculation on contingency planning became the spotlight after the WIBC Delegates rejected the merger proposal by a narrow margin. In an address to the delegates following the vote, Kuhn advised the delegates to look for future changes to the organization. After outlining a litany of statistics showing the decline of league participation and membership figures, Kuhn said, “These cold, hard numbers will guide the course of action that has been placed before us.”

Kuhn said, “Last year, the delegates wanted to know what we were going to do. This year, we’re telling them in advance of the vote on the revised Plan of Merger. However, the best case scenario is for the delegates to approve the revised merger document as well as the contingency legislation.” She further stated, “It not only is the right thing to do for the future of the sport, but for the future of WIBC. While approval of both gives WIBC a significant chance for survival, the only realistic path that makes sense is a single, unified membership organization.”

From: www.bowl.com

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