April 12, 2000
Jim Goodwin
2850 Red Valley Run
Rockwall, TX 75087-8317
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
Your recent editorial about the ABC and WIBC dues increase requires me to respond. I am a staunch supporter of the need for differing opinions in bowling to assure the best possible direction for our sport. As a course of normal ABC operations, I solicit such input. However, I have to strongly take exception to your article as it is based on incorrect assumptions, is insulting and libelous.
The initial comparison of the Clinton-Lewinsky affair to the leadership of ABC and WIBC is inappropriate, degrading and not worthy of any bowling publication. The statements contained in your article accusing the American Bowling Congress of being a "corrupt organization" are patently false and libelous. In addition, the "factual" information contained in your article, as you can see from the correct information supplied, is incorrect at best and, based upon your status as a bowling writer, inexcusable and wrong.
ABC demands that you print a retraction of the false statements contained in your article in a position in your publication of equal prominence to that in which the statements were made. In addition, the ABC demands that you print a correction of the inaccurate information contained in your article together with the true facts and apologize to the ABC for the false and misleading statements that you have made. In the event you fail to print a retraction and apologize to the ABC for the false and libelous statements made in your article, you leave ABC with no alternative other than to commence an action against you and your publication pursuant to the provisions of sec. 73.001 of the Texas Statutes.
Now to the issues you attempted to raise in your editorial.
First your facts about the dues increase are a blatant misstatement. The original proposal called for a $2.00 ABC increase and an additional $2.00 if membership falls below 1.732 million. This translates into approximately $3.8 million in income. The local portion of dues is available if adopted by local delegates, mirrors these amounts, and remains at the local level to support programs. Even with the WIBC increase this is a far cry from the 20 million you stated will be sent to Bowling Headquarters in Greendale.
You articulate as to why you don't trust the current leaders with the money. The arguments are your opinion and, as I stated earlier in my letter, you are welcome to voice them. I will not debate the points other than correct a few misrepresentations in the items.
You are correct that the membership decline continues for the two plus seasons I have been at the head of ABC. Both Jack Mordini and I are executing a clear and concise Strategic Plan to address the issue and results show the rate of decrease is slowing this season.
Now let's look at your suggested cuts.
The salaries and fringe benefits you list represent the ABC employees and the salaries of temporary employees under contract for the ABC Tournament. The total number of full-time employees for ABC is nine people. The hundreds of employees at the Tournament are a function of the number of teams and duration of the event and fluctuate accordingly. The current ABC financial policy is to pay our headquarters' employees 5% below the going market rate in Milwaukee. Considering unemployment is under 3% in Milwaukee such a policy is risky at best. However, our employees work at ABC because they love bowling, not for the financial rewards.
Your suggestion to cut travel by 50%, while well intentioned, misses the point. The vast majority of this amount is for Board and Committee travels to do the work of the Congress. If you now intend to transfer their responsibilities to someone else you first must change the ABC constitution and assign these responsibilities to a different entity, such as adding salaried staff, therefore reducing the need for Committee meetings and the related travel. Who would you suggest have the authority to suspend bowlers other than the Legal Committee, establish budgets and conduct audits other than the Finance and Budget Committee? Additionally we have 14 Field Consultants who travel 20 days a month to visit the local associations to assist in serving the members. There are many other examples, but I believe the point is made.
Your final suggestion clearly exposes how little you know and understand our organization. You suggest we cut prizes and awards by 50% and save $4.6 million. The vast majority of the funds in this category is the prize fund for the ABC and WIBC Tournaments. Therefore, what you are suggesting is that we collect the ABC Tournament prize portion of the entry fee and return only 50% of it. This is a blatant violation of ABC rules and also the trust placed in the ABC Tournament by over 50,000 bowlers.
Finally, the whirlwind tour you referred to that Jack and I took involved driving at 6:00 am from Fishkill, N.Y. to Syracuse, N.Y. to save ABC members $250 in airline fees and other cost saving travel, while giving up seven consecutive weekends to meet with our associations. However, most importantly, it allowed for two-way communication about important issue [sic].
As I read your editorial, I tried to determine the reason for your analogies, accusations and misinformation. As I stated to our delegates this year, bowling has enough people pointing out what's wrong and who's to blame. What we need are people willing to offer solutions to roll up their sleeves to get the job done. I would like to think you were serious about helping the sport, I would overlook your libelous comments, but it appears to me your motivation is to get attention. Your opinions could not stand on their own merits and required sensationalism to get noticed. Unfortunately the BWAA, in an attempt to address your editorial, gave you exactly what you wanted—attention.
If you were serious with your concerns you would have contacted me. This and other matters could have been cleared up prior to the publishing of your editorial. We certainly would not want to confuse you with facts since it appears your only motivation is to create controversy and increase readership.
You should be ashamed for this blatant attempt to obfuscate the truth and drive a wedge between ABC and its members, all for your own personal gain.
Sincerely,
/s/ Roger A. Dalkin
Executive Director
Response of Jim Goodwin to Roger Dalkin
Return to Jim Goodwin's interview with Roger Dalkin (Part One)