The Metro Detroit USBC Association (MDUSBC) hit the ground running on Sunday, Jan. 15 with overwhelming approval of the bylaws to create the new local organization and election of officers, board members and youth committee.

The meeting was held at the Shriner’s Auditorium and Conference Center in Southfield and was attended by 187 members and guests.

The bylaws included the official name of Metro Detroit USBC Association; local adult dues of $8 and local youth dues of $3.25; board size of 17 including a president, one vice-president, 10 adult board members and five members to be elected by the Youth Committee; terms for officers and board members of two years; and term limits for officers and board members as the highlights. The bylaws were approved on a 159-6 vote.

Libbi Fletcher of Warren was elected president on the first ballot garnering 92 of the 165 votes cast. Fletcher has served on the Detroit Women’s Bowling Association (DWBA) for 21 years including the last three as first vice-president, served on the Women’s International Bowling Congress board of directors for four years, was the MDUSBC Transition Board chairperson and was named 2005 Woman of the Year by the DWBA.

Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon was elected vice-president on the third ballot when he received 109 of the 164 votes cast. Owczarski was the president of the Greater Detroit Bowling Association (GDBA) in the 2004-05 season, served on the GDBA board for 12 years, chaired several committees, was a member of the MDUSBC Transition Board and was named GDBA Director of the Year in 1998.

Elected to two-year terms as adult board members were Roy Biggs of Canton, John Davis Jr. of Detroit, Debra Dickerson of Detroit, Patricia Klix of Canton and Anita Maiorana of Macomb. David Bowman of Chesterfield, Gerald DeRuiter of St. Clair Shores, Scott McLeod of Roseville, Dorothy Thompson of Shelby Township and Anthony Zainea of Lake Orion were elected to one-year terms.

The Youth Committee includes Matthew Black of Madison Heights, Robert Black of Taylor, Ann Block of Taylor, Edward DeGraaf of Madison Heights, Laura Dembek of Clinton Township, Aileen Hnidy of Madison Heights, Thomas Schmansky of Westland, Randy Smith of Royal Oak and Randy Tambourine of Warren. The Youth Committee will elect five members to serve on the MDUSBC board on Thursday, Jan. 19.

The Metro Detroit USBC Association will become effective May 1, 2006 as a result of the merger of the Detroit Women’s Bowling Association, Greater Detroit Bowling Association, Greater Detroit USBC Youth Association and the Pontiac Women’s Bowling Association and will serve over 85,000 adult and youth bowlers who bowl in over 90 bowling centers in the Metropolitan Detroit market.

- 30 -