Special BPAA Net News . . . FLASH -
Hurricane Katrina!!
(Sept. 8, 2005)
Sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, the official soft
drink of bowling
RELIEF EFFORTS FOR VICTIMS OF THE HURRICANE
KATRINA DISASTER AND AFTERMATH ARE CONSTANTLY
EVOLVING THROUGHOUT THE BOWLING INDUSTRY. BPAA
and USBC have combined a coordinated effort to
spread the word and to utilize the BPAA
Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit charity
organization, as a central collection agency
for funds collected. 100% of the funds
received by the Foundation will be forwarded
to the American Red Cross for this relief
effort with the first check to the American
Red Cross being MADE ON OCTOBER 3RD. Any
monies donated after October 1 will be bundled
and presented to the Red Cross on a date yet
to be determined. Donations to the BPAA
Foundation are tax deductible to the extent of
the law.
PLEASE NOTE THAT BY GOING THROUGH BPAA'S
FOUNDATION, YOUR DONATIONS ARE ENSURED THAT
THEY WILL GO TO THE HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF
FUND AT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. IF YOU CHOOSE
TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE RED CROSS OR ANOTHER
CHARITY ORGANIZATION, YOU MAY NOT HAVE THAT
ASSURANCE. CHECKS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE BPAA
FOUNDATION AND MADE OUT EITHER TO THE
FOUNDATION OR THE RED CROSS.
To date, industry members are responding, with
a few of the notes below:
BPAA's Staff will be contributing to this
relief effort and BPAA has agreed to match,
dollar for dollar, donations from BPAA staff
members.
Washington State BPA, under the leadership of
its executive director, Greg Olsen, asked that
centers set aside a time in September provide
lane fees to the relief effort, appropriately
titled Operation Relief Lanes. For strategies
on this fundraiser contact Greg at
800.736.BOWL, visit
www.relieflanes.org,
www.wsbpa.org , or e-mail him at
gregoryolsen@att.net.
Michigan BPA, under the leadership of its
executive director, Scott Bennett and as a
result of the initiative of member Gregg
Larabel, is offering rubber Katrina Relief
wrist bands to centers for .32 each, sold in
lots of 100. The idea is to ask customers for
a minimum of $5 contribution. To order contact
Scott at 248-559-5207.
Ron Rutherford owner of
Paddock Bowl in
Pacheco, CA. will donate all the proceeds in
his center this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
to the Katrina relief. In addition to the bowl
he will also donate the proceeds from his bar
and cafe.
USBC, which has this effort posted on
www.bowl.com is working closely with
BPAA and
made an excellent suggestion that USBC & BPAA
deliver carpeted lane beds to refugees in the
Astrodome and Dallas Reunion Arena. Delivery
is being attempted.
BPAA President Jeff Boje' informed the
BPAA office that his staff and bowlers immediately
raised $1,000 for the relief effort.
Qubica-AMF Worldwide President Pat Ciniello
has informed BPAA that it is raising funds
from its staff and that 50% of the proceeds
from the sale of their gift cards to bowlers
will go to the fund.
David Zuck of
Zuckey Bowl in Manhattan, KS is
reporting that they are raffling off a bowling
ball every league night and $1 of every league
bowlers' lineage will be added to the relief
fund. Then on Sept. 10th and 11th, $1 of every
open bowler's lineage and $1 of every shoe
rental will also be added to the fund being
sent to BPAA's Foundation.
Eastern Shore Lanes, Pocomoke, MD, is hosting
an "Operation Katrina Relief" all day
Saturday, September 10.
Paul Kreins, at Park Central Bowl in Port
Arthur, TX, reports what they are doing to aid
the Katrina victims:
- In coordination with the local American Red
Cross, the center has distributed coupons that
entitle displaced families to two hours of
bowling and shoes, in addition to a 50%
discount in the restaurant. (Red Cross
officials tell us that the evacuees housed in
arenas and convention centers are in desperate
need of recreation and entertainment.)
Park Central Bowl is donating all of their
daily USBC Youth 50/50 raffle money to the
relief effort for the entire month of
September.
They are raffling a bowling ball. Park Central
Bowl also unofficially sponsored a family in
need that had run out of money and was about
to be evicted from their hotel room. They
generously paid for their room for one week
and gave them several hundred dollars worth of
food. In addition, Park Central Bowl and the
Palms at Pleasure Island will host a Golf &
Bowl tournament to benefit the Hurricane
Katrina victims on Sunday, October 23, 2005.
Finally, they will host a Bowl-a-thon
September 24-25.
Alaskalanes, Kenai, AK, will donate all lane fees on Saturday, September 10, between 2 and 10 p.m., to the relief effort.
Ken Liedes, owner of Alaskalanes Family Bowling Center and Alaska BPA President, also said bowling shoes rentals would be free during the fund raiser. League bowlers as well as non-league members are invited to participate. Ken has called upon the other ten member proprietors
in Alaska to join in the campaign.
According to Dave Williams, North Jersey BPA President, the Nationwide Bowling Centers are donating 50% of all proceeds at every center during a four-hour period on September 24 & 25.
Paul Carter with Classic Lanes in Sulphur Springs (a small town with a very big heart), TX, reports that Classic Lanes bowlers have stepped up, and they hope to raise close to $1,000 in the next couple of weeks.
Jackie Gillette with Bosque Farms Bowl, Bosque Farms, NM, raised about $400 last Saturday and Sunday. This coming Saturday, they are combining their fund raiser with their Star Wars Promotion.
Kathleen Perry, Terrace Lanes, Frederick, MD, is raffling off IPod's and bowling balls to raise money. On their first night they collected $404!
Camellia City 500 Club of Sacramento will send 50% of the proceeds from a raffle held during their bowling tournament September 10 & 11.
Ron Rutherford in Pacheco, CA, is donating proceeds from his center, café, and bar.
Robin Hood Lanes in Edmonds and West Seattle Bowl are donating 50% of their revenue from bowling on September 10.
Nottke's Family Fun Center & Bowling Alley in Battle Creek, MI, is donating $1 from every game bowled on Saturdays in September.
Jerry Hudson, GM at Howell Bowl-E-Drome and 700 Bowl in Michigan, conducted his own "Operation Relief Lanes" on Labor Day.
Washington BPA is setting aside lane fees on September 3 and 10.
BPAA is providing carpeted lanes to evacuee centers in Texas.
BPAA staff is donating money.
Michigan BPA and Illinois BPA are selling rubber wristbands.
Qubica-AMF staff is donating money and the company is donating 50% of the proceeds of the sale of gift cards.
Many other centers are raising funds and
opting to send their donations directly to the
Red Cross or other charitable organizations
working with Katrina relief efforts.
CENTERS LOOKING TO HIRE A DISPLACED BOWLING
CENTER EMPLOYEES from the affected areas.
If you want to participate, email BPAA at
answer@bpaa.com listing all the pertinent
information about your bowling center and the
positions being offered and where responses
should be sent (i.e. address, P. O Box, phone
and/or email address). Once compiled, BPAA
will have a special section on it's website
for these listings.
SINCE THE SEPT. 2ND UPDATE ON BOWLING
CENTERS AFFECTED BY THE DAMAGE, here is an
update to that initial report. An overall list
is being compiled and will be posted on BPAA's
website the week of September12th:
LOUISIANA:
Took Direct-hit Took Border-hit (lighter winds
50+ and rain)
(hurricane force winds 100++for a steady time)
******************* ********************
AMF All Star Lanes (Kenner ) 64 Bowl South of
LA (Houma) 24
Bowling USA (Slidell LA) 32 Circle Bowl (Baton
Rouge) 32
Colonial Lanes (Harahan LA) 24 Creole Bowl
(Houma) 44
Expressway Lanes (Gretna LA) 40 Don Carters
(Baton Rouge) 64
Mid City Lanes (New Orleans) 18
Imperial Lanes (Arabi ) 24 Metro Bowl (Baton
Rouge) 40
River Bend Lanes (LaPlace) 32 Thunder Bowl (Thibadeaux)
12
Tangi Lanes (Hammond) 24 *HighPoint Lanes
(Denham
Tiffany Lanes (Mandeville) 32 Springs) 42
*Magic City Bowl 16 *Keglers Lanes (Morgan
City) 24
*Sugar Orbit Lanes 20
*Denotes (non-member center)
From this list : 326 lanes were hit hard & 282
were hit moderately. That represents about 55%
of all commercial lanes in LA.
MISSISSIPPI:
1) Further investigation of the Gulfport AMF
center has determined that the damage is worse
than originally thought. Reports are that the
center will be closed for quite a while per
Paul Barkley.
2) Dixie Bowl Lanes in Meridian report that
power was out until 9/2. Their sign is down
and a piece of their building blew off.
Repairs are being made and they are able to
remain open for business.
3) Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier is still
standing. This is remarkable since most
buildings in their immediate area are no
longer there. Everyone is ok. They are
concerned that even if they do reopen, there
will be a lack of customers since homes were
the hardest hit
4) Reports are that Ocean Lanes in Ocean
Springs is still standing but with extensive
water and roof damage.
5) Park Ten Lanes owner, Jim English reported
that they had minor damage to their restaurant
area. Their power was restored on Sept 6th.
Most everyone that works at the center lost
their homes. While most of his employees and
their families are okay, unfortunately Jim's
46-year old Bar Manager died from a heart
attack during the storm.
This is an exclusive benefit for BPAA member
bowling centers. Please submit any information
for inclusion to bpaanetnews_flash@bpaa.com .
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. Visit www.bpaa.com for additional BPAA-related
information.
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