Page 2 - BPAA 2018 Annual Report

2018

ANNUAL REPORT

Chartered on June 7, 1932, the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) is a trade association owned and operated on
behalf of bowling proprietors for the benefit of bowling proprietors. This report highlights the activities of the BPAA during the Web Services
2018 calendar year. An audited financial statement for 2018 will be available after July 1, 2018, and may be obtained either by CUSTOMER CONNECT 780 websites hosted
request or at www.BPAA.com. 928 website updates
Program Participation 4,021 email users
394 users logged in

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 5,616,504 total people 1,222,450 emails sent
334,562 new people added
3,274,045 emails received
145,070 new people okay to email added Customer Care – Technical Support
1,645,139 total people okay to email 2,613 technical support cases created
In my first year as your BPAA President, I truly feel we have set the bar even 8,153 new cell numbers okay to text added 3,797 technical support calls taken
higher for elevating our sport, entertainment value and relevance to participants in your 99,272 total cell numbers okay to text

local area, the U.S. and worldwide.
Recently we had a very distinguished and experienced group of BPAA bowling Marketing Plans
proprietors gather in Denver, Colorado at the new and scenic Gaylord Rockies Resort & 1,284 marketing plans created
Convention Center for a BPAA strategic planning meeting. We, along with a couple key 8,689 total marketing plans
managing directors, not only reviewed the BPAA’s vision, mission and values but also set a
course of strategies for to guide bowling into the next decade. This new strategic plan will

be presented to the BPAA board of directors for approval. Throughout 2018, BPAA’s Government Affairs (GA) Committee was actively engaged to address
We are all very excited about where the bowling industry is going and how the many federal and state policy issues impacting proprietors. This included their continued
proprietors will achieve even more success in the future as they engage in BPAA programs. partnership with the government relations firm Michael Best Strategies (MBS) to provide BPAA
Pepsi rebates have been sent to members and record rebate numbers were and the Government Affairs Committee with a team of experts to advise and advocate for
proprietors’ interests.
received, increasing our total participating Pepsi members/users by 9%.

Membership growth in the BPAA was up significantly for the fifth straight year
Working with MBS, the GA Committee met in January and discussed the issue of “bowling
and we also added another state to our list of BPAA-managed state associations. alleys” being characterized as “special purpose properties” by the Small Business Administration
Education was utilized n record numbers by proprietors with over 7400 on-line (SBA). This classification requires a 5-10% increase in down payment on SBA loans compared to properties not characterized as
training classes being taken. The BPAA Management Schools hosted a total of 300 “special purpose.” Due to BPAA’s efforts and discussions with senior staff of the SBA since May, the agency has determined it will
participants and 600 bowling center managers and staff participated in the highly provide bowling proprietors with an exception process, allowing an appraiser to determine whether a bowling center is a general
successful one-day boot camps—another record for the year. What is so impressive about purpose property rather than a special purpose property. In 2019, the GA Committee is working with SBA on implementation of the
BPAA education models are that other entertainment industries are taking notice and waiver and educating proprietors on the process.
emulating these models for their education and our member benefit programs.
The GA Committee also engaged the Department of Labor (DOL) regarding the agency’s tip-pooling guidance that is challenging for
Youth bowling including recruitment, exposure and participation are near and
proprietors. DOL was supposed to release a proposed rule on tip-pooling in October 2018. However, the agency is now planning to
dear to my heart. I believe we cannot grow or continue our businesses, no matter what Randy Thompson release the rule sometime in 2019. The GA Committee and MBS will continue to engage senior staff at DOL in order to find a solution.
business model we choose, without exposing our youth to the great sport of bowling and President
our amazing entertainment centers. Youth marketing and development of new youth BPAA Other key developments include:
programs should be a priority for all proprietors and BPAA.com/Youth has a lot of  MBS created a guidance memorandum on key provisions impacting proprietors on tax reform.
information for a variety of youth programs, refreshers on youth bowling, parties and  Regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA), providing states with the
events for your center. Call me personally if you would like assistance with youth authority to legislate sports betting, the GA committee has been tracking state gaming legislation across the country.
programs or have a new idea. My phone number is (515) 491-1266.  Concerning Department of Justice (DOJ) music licensing consent decrees with ASCAP and BMI, the GA Committee has engaged
“Bowling” gained great exposure in 2018 with NASCAR races, the Professional Congress about the determination of the decrees. They will continued to be engaged in 2019 as DOJ plans to make decisions
Women’s Bowling Tour and the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade. Over 50 million people regarding termination of the decrees, which would affect proprietors nationally.
watch the parade on Thanksgiving Day to kick off the holiday and winter seasons—bowling  MBS has also provided strategic guidance for state bowling proprietors’ associations such as Wisconsin and Michigan, and will
time! continue supporting state associations in 2019.
It has been a complete pleasure being your BPAA President this year. I have In addition to advocacy, the GA Committee provided biweekly federal and state policy updates, quarterly reports and a monthly news
enjoyed meeting and speaking with so many of you and I look forward to even greater column in BCM magazine to BPAA’s membership.
events and accomplishments in 2019. Pleaser contact your BPAA Staff or myself if you
Lastly, the GA Committee, through the BPAA Political Action Committee (PAC), took action to secure contributions to key candidates in
have any needs now or in the future.
essential races across the country in the 2018 midterm elections. To learn more about the BPAA Government Affairs Committee and
the BPAA PAC, please visit www.bpaa.com/bpaa/government-affairs