BCAW Conducts First Virtual Annual Meeting & Conference
In response to public health concerns due to COVID-19, BCAW held its annual meeting and conference via ZOOM today. Initially scheduled to be held in conjunction with the Tavern League of Wisconsin’s fall convention in Wisconsin Dells, the decision was made in September to take the full day of events virtual. This has been a prevailing trend in associations throughout the country since COVID changed the way groups meet, network and participate in educational seminars.
Dan Patterson (L) and Larry Kauppi (R)
The BCAW Annual Meeting is the one official meeting we hold to do the business of the association with our membership. Financial & programming updates were provided, as well as the latest information from BPAA. During the Virtual Happy Hour, BCAW Executive Director Yvonne Bennett reported a new apparel company has been contracted to provide exclusive merchandise for the upcoming WI High School State Bowling Championships as well as the WI Middle School State Bowling Championships. H5G was signed to a three year agreement, bringing their online and marketing expertise to BCAW in support of these two events.
The membership also elected those who serve on our board of directors. In addition to the reelection of Erik Gialdella as BCAW President and Hank Posnanski, Jr. as BCAW Vice President, four directors were elected. Cary Serwe and Chuck Torosian were reelected, while newcomers Larry Kauppi of Larry’s Lucky Strikes and Dan Patterson of Sabre Lanes were also elected to the board. All will serve a two year term. President Gialdella also recognized and thanked Matt Beyer and Mary Conklin for their service as board members. The full list of the BCAW Board of Directors may be found here.
In recent years we have also honored our BCAW Award of Excellence recipients during our awards luncheon held in conjunction with our annual meeting, but that too had to be cancelled this year. Sherry Kielblock (Silver Lanes Lanes in Scandinavia), Dick Zierke (Pla-Mor Lanes, La Crosse) and Krista & Don Hildebrand were the 2020 BCAW Award of Excellence winners. All were recognized during a special BCAW Award of Excellence presentation.
Two hour-long seminars were provided, free of charge, to all BCAW members. The first was Open for Business During COVID-19 Pandemic: What All Employers Need to Know by Ann Barry Hanneman, Attorney, von Briesen & Roper. The second was How to Adapt & Survive to the Ever Changing World by Melissa Guralski, Business Resource Consultant, Sysco Food Services of Baraboo.
We wrapped up our full day with the our Virtual Happy Hour, with more than $3,000 in cash and prizes being raffled off to attendees while playing “Bowling Jeopardy” with our very own Roger “Alex Trebek” Dalkin. BCAW appreciates all of our supplier members and partners who donated and participated in the festivities: Alliance Insurance Centers, American Income Life, BBBI/Kids Bowl Free, Bennett Consulting Group, Bowl-Rite Inc., Classic Products, Flashpoint Designs, H5G, QubicaAMF, Strike Ten Entertainment, The WiFi Company, US Bank and Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps.
Look for information after the first of the year regarding scheduling and location of the 2021 BCAW Annual Meeting, Conference, Awards Luncheon & Trade Show.