News

Welcome to the 2024 bowling season!  It’s my privilege to serve as President of NEBA for one more year, and I hope this note kicks things off with some interesting info for you.  Let’s start by looking back at 2023, then review what happened at the 2023 annual meeting, and then look ahead to 2024. 

2023 Recap

2023 was a banner year for NEBA.  We had two less events yet only 100 less overall entries compared to 2022.  We welcomed Justin Alves as our new Tournament Director and Danny Kaye as the new NEBA manager with both settling into their roles nicely as the year progressed.  We held three Zoom board meetings and an in person annual meeting at Norwich in December. 

2023 saw a number of notable bowling achievements: 
 

• Colby Hagemoser won his first BOY, as well as his first two titles back-to-back.
• Chris Forry almost won BOY, but did win his first Senior BOY comfortably, as well as qualifying for the HOF
• Chris Monroy once again captured the high average title and qualified for the HOF
• Smooth stroking Michael Reale became our oldest Rookie of the Year
• John Kirker held on for Super Senior of the year
• Amanda Broege dominated the Woman of the Year category
• Sean Buck won Youth of the Year
• Alex Aguiar won our 1000^th event – the Rip Callahan Memorial Open, besting the 341 entry field.
• Last but by no means least, Bill Webb won his 20^th and 21^st titles while capturing the Paul Forry Memorial Cup

2023 Events and Champions

Here’s a rundown of all the events and champions for 2023:

2023 Annual Meeting

At the annual meeting a number of important resolutions were voted on:

1. The regular tournament entry fee was increased to $110.  This was to head off increases in lineage and to “future proof” us for the next couple of years.
2. We made a revision to the traditional “Senior” tournaments in that women are invited to bowl with seniors and super seniors at senior events.  The new events will be called “Special Cut” events. 
3. There was a motion to return to two lane courtesy, but it was defeated so we will stay with one lane courtesy for qualifying only.  Two lane courtesy still applies for the finals. 
4. There were no by-law changes made at the 2023 annual meeting.  There is an extensive rewrite of the bylaws underway, with thanks to Ed Roberts and Chris Monroy for spearheading that effort.  Their proposed changes as well as other proposed by-law changes will be made available well in advance of the 2024 annual meeting where they will be discussed and voted upon. 
5. Jon Van Hees will head up a newly formed Center Committee with the task of getting higher engagement from centers we visit.  Jon will report on the activities of the committee at the March board meeting.

Shortly after the annual meeting we solicited for board members and nominations for the vacant Second VP position.  Jay Johnson was nominated and voted in as Second VP.  Next year, First VP Jon Van Hees will take over as President, Second VP Jay Johnson moves to the first VP, and we will accept nominations and vote for a new Second VP at the annual meeting.

NEBA’s Board of Directors plays a key role in running NEBA.  In addition to all former NEBA presidents and current officers, the NEBA BOD also has as members:

Brian Boghosian

Matt Brockett*

Tim Gagne

Brian Gaskill*

Andrew Hall

Ed Roberts

Amy Viale

AJ Villa

* NEW MEMBERS FOR 2024

Thanks to our Sponsors!

Let’s take a minute to celebrate our 2023 and 2024 NEBA sponsors!  They contribute money that covers expenses and beefs up prize funds and supply equipment that we give away at events and on the livestream. Special thanks to Chris Forry for the $10,000 Paul Forry Memorial  Cup sponsorship, and for agreeing to sponsor again in 2024! Please see here for a complete list of NEBA sponsors.

Looking Ahead to 2024

2024 has an exciting schedule, and it can be found here!  We will once again have 24 events, the same as 2023, except that we will wrap up the year with the CCCI in Chicopee, so this nets us one less event for 2025.  We are featuring a return to Rutland Bowlerama this year and a return of the Paul Forry Memorial Cup.

We kick things off this coming Sunday, January 7, with the Cambridge Credit Counseling Invitational at Bowlero Auburn (you must have bowled 5 events in 2023; sign up here), and later this month we will be at AMF Circle Lanes for the Many Styles of Bowling Open Singles event (sign up here).  

We will have three Zoom Board Meetings for 2024: Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Tuesday, October 1, 2024.  We will also have the in-person Annual Meeting, Saturday, December 7, 2024 – location TBD.

Have a Great 2024!

Here’s hoping you and yours have a great 2024, and all your bowling dreams come true!

See you on the lanes,

Bruce