Fellow Proprietors:
A changing of the leadership in Washington D.C. has resulted in a change to the agenda as well. As you are likely aware, there is a serious push to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
An increase in the minimum wage of that magnitude would be difficult for our industry. It would also be detrimental for the entry level job holders whose positions would be reduced or eliminated as we adjust our budgets. In addition, our senior league bowlers on fixed income would be hit particularly hard as we will have to aggressively increase prices to cover our increased labor costs.
We would encourage you to reach out to your federal delegation of elected officials and communicate to them the reality of the unintended consequences of increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Attached is a template for a letter if you would like to use it. However you choose to engage your elected officials, we encourage you to do so. Let us know if we can be of help to your participation in the political process on this most important matter.
Roger NyquistChairmanGovernment Affairs Committee
BPAA Members, I hope this finds you well. As you know, candidates across the country are lining up their campaign strategies and strengthening their fundraising efforts ahead of this year’s mid-term elections in November. It is more important than ever that we, as bowling proprietors, have a voice and show our support for those elected officials and candidates that advocate for our interests. As a member of BPAA, you can make the most impact by supporting the BPAA Political Action Committee (PAC). I ask you to contribute to the BPAA PAC so together we can support those elected leaders and candidates for office that understand the interests of bowling proprietors and the mission of BPAA. Since now is the most important time to start ramping up our efforts, the BPAA Government Affairs Committee has created a brand new BPAA PAC webpage. This new webpage will help guide you through the contribution process, ensure that your contribution is in compliance, and answer some important questions you may have about the BPAA PAC. To contribute, please follow the link to the webpage here: http://bpaa.com/bpaa/government-affairs/bowling-pac Thank you, Roger Nyquist Chairman BPAA Government Affairs Committee If you have any questions about the webpage or other details about BPAA PAC, please contact Laurie Clower at laurie@bpaa.com.
The Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) is the leading voice for over 3,500 bowling centers across the nation. We represent and work to empower bowling proprietors as they work to innovate their business, serve their consumers, and lead in their communities.
BPAA, led by its Government Affairs Committee, represents the bowling industry’s interests at the federal and state level. At the federal level, we are engaged on issues of tax, labor, alcohol, health care, and small business. At the state level, we work with our state associations and are engaged on issues of tax, labor, alcohol, food and beverage, and gaming.
Members of the BPAA Government Affairs Team traveled to Washington D.C. in early October 2017 to meet with Members of Congress and senior level staff to discuss tax reform and how it affects BPAA and the bowling industry. From left to right: Bob Stubler (IL), Roger Nyquist (OR), Gary Forman (CA), Reggie Frederick (WA), Steve Wiemer (MO), and BPAA Executive Director Frank DeSocio (KS).
Members of the BPAA Government Affairs Team meet with a senior level tax policy staffer in Washington D.C.
BPAA Executive Director Frank DeSocio (far left), along with the rest of the BPAA delegation, listens to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) at an event in Washington D.C.
Reggie Frederick, owner of Chalet Bowl in Tacoma, WA, met with his U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA-6) while in Washington, D.C. Rep. Kilmer visits Chalet Bowl with his family.