2025 was a good year for IGBO. Our overall membership increased by 5%, and our member tournament participation also increased by 5%. We ended the year with 125 leagues, 50 tournaments, and more than 900 associate members.
As we increase our membership, there are always two things in the forefront of my mind:
- Are we doing enough for our members?
- Are we communicating enough with them about IGBO?
Personally, I think this is something we will always need to work on to continue to grow. With that in mind, we initiated a few new programs for 2025 as well as enhanced existing ones.
Free Tournament Entry Program
Each member of the Board of IGBO, starting in 2025, was given four free entries to give away to anyone for any member tournament in IGBO. One of the ways we thought this might work is to give members the ability to attend tournaments with their team or friends. If you have never done a tournament, going alone can sometime be awkward, and we want to help you start attending bowling tournaments. We will continue this program into the new year.
Tournament Pin Program
Modeled after our successful League Pin Program, the tournament program awards certain accomplishments. Awards at each tournament for you to win are: Big Split, All Spare Game, 75 POA, and Triplicate Award.
300/800 Award Program
In 2025 we added a bowler’s accessory bag to the award program. And we hope to add another item this year.
Bowlero Contract
One of our biggest achievements this year was to enter into an agreement with Bowlero. This contract with our leagues and tournaments will afford them the ability to have much lower lineage rates, as well as other benefits.
Website
In 2025, we launched a brand new website designed to provide the most relevant and useful information to our members. All of the programs I have mentioned can be found on our website, and we encourage you to explore and provide feedback to us about things you’d like to see, or that we can do better.
Travel and Representation in 2025
In 2025 I traveled to the following tournaments: Mermaid, Sweetheart, Bluegrass Classic, Dogwood, GREAT, Long Island Pride, Las Vegas, Rocket City, Capital Area Pride, Show Me, Jersey Rainbow, Chi-Town Classic, and Motown Invitational.
I love getting out and meeting the different people from around the country who bowl in our leagues. I love listening to them and sharing ideas and information about our leagues and tournaments.
There’s been a lot of conversation over the years about board travel expenses, so I wanted to share a little perspective. My budget actually covers less than half of the tournaments I attend. Since joining the Board in 2005 (with a short two-year break), I’ve bowled in more than 150 tournaments, not even counting leagues. I’m sharing this simply to show the level of commitment and personal investment that goes into supporting our organization.
Renewals and Elections in 2025
Renewals this year went smoothly and we ended almost on time. We seem to be improving every year.
At Annual this year in Las Vegas, NV, we had elections and welcomed the following results:
Re-elected
- Rob Sillimn – President
- Richard Perez – Treasurer
- Bill Huepenbecker – North American Heartland RD
- Steve Ingram – WCPN RD
Elected
- Donnie Fratello – Northeast RD
I look forward to working together.
Seminars and Education
Las Vegas also showcased our Annual Seminars. We had two seminars: one was a Storm Ball clinic, where our bowlers had an opportunity to try out the new line of balls from our sponsor Storm, and the second was a KEGEL Oil clinic, designed to educate bowlers on oil patterns. Both were very successful, and we will be continuing our seminar series in Denver. Kegel has offered to conduct another clinic, and we will be hosting “How to become a 501c3 and if it’s right for your league or tournament.”
USBC Discussions in Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, we also hosted Executive members from USBC. Chad Murphy and Jason Overstreet joined us for a discussion and Q&A on the ban of transgender women bowlers in elite tournaments. These at times were heated discussions. While questions were answered, no one left feeling positive about their position on the topic.
Here is what we know:
- IGBO will allow any member of the bowling community to bowl in our events, regardless of orientation.
- USBC is not going to change their mind. Nothing we say or do will change that.
- USBC feels they must follow Federal Government guidelines on this issue.
- IGBO has been in many conversations about becoming our own governing body. While ultimately it is doable, it is not doable currently. There are many things that must happen for us to begin the process. I need to remind everyone of a few things:
- IGBO is a volunteer organization. USBC is not.
- USBC has paid employees that handle the governing issues. USBC has 100 employees and over a $1 million dollar payroll.
- We need a substantial legal fund to handle any and all complaints or lawsuits that may or may not arise.
- USBC has over 1 million members at $25 a year and IGBO has 9,500 at $3 a year.
- IGBO has reiterated that all member leagues and tournaments must be open and inclusive of all genders and gender identities. Although we disagree with USBC, we have the power to continue to be an inclusive and safe space for our bowlers.
Future Annual Sites
Also in Las Vegas, we voted for the city of Kansas City to host our Annual event in 2027—congratulations on a great bid and fun presentation. We accepted Letters of Intent for 2028 Jacksonville, FL, and 2029 Detroit, MI. Just because these cities have submitted LOIs does not mean no one else can, but I will tell you this: the more time you have to fundraise and prepare for an event of this size, the better. All committees should have fun doing this job, and the more time you have to prepare, the less stressful it will be for your committee.
Committee Work in 2025
Our committees have been working hard this year. Our Bid Process and Support Committee has been working with upcoming cities on their bids as well as working with winning cities in supporting them until their event.
Bylaws has been working on a few submissions that the Board feels are important for the future of IGBO and we will be voting on them in Las Vegas.
Marketing and Sponsorship is constantly working on trying to secure new marketing opportunities.
Membership is always working on new and better ideas for awards and better benefit offerings to our members.
Technology committee is working to make the website as useful as possible and always looking for ways to use technology to improve IGBO and the services we provide our members.
All our committees are dedicated individuals who offer their time to help IGBO. I truly appreciate every one of you for the work you do. Sometimes you are busy and sometimes things are quiet, but I have never forgotten about you.
2026 and Beyond
We have a few enhancements to our programs for 2026, and that announcement will be coming out next month. We also will have a brand-new opportunity for all our bowlers that we are ironing out the details on and hope will be ready to launch in January.
That being said, my tournament schedule for 2026 is so far four through March: Mermaid Invitational, PRIT, GAGME, and BIT. I hope to have another 8–9 tournaments after that for the year.
In 2030 IGBO will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary—what an amazing milestone. The Board will be handling this event as well as an incredible group of volunteers. We have already started to fundraise to celebrate this fantastic achievement. If you would like to be part of this committee, please let me know at president@igbo.org.
One more change the Board voted for was bowling shots (oil patterns). We agreed that starting in 2026 with Denver, all Annual host cities moving forward must choose the shot for their tournament from the Recreational Shot Library on Kegel.com. . I also want everyone to know that Kegel worked to create a shot pattern for our tournament in Las Vegas and it is currently in the library at Kegel for everyone to use, and the one for Denver will be added after Denver in 2026.
If you have suggestions or new ideas about IGBO, PLEASE reach out to me. I love talking to our bowlers about IGBO; you can always reach me at president@igbo.org.
One final note: I want to thank everyone in the IGBO organization. The Board of Directors, who work tirelessly and put up with me. The committee chairs and members, for all the hard work you do on making IGBO better. And most of all, to our members, who make us want to do better, for being part of this family we call IGBO and for making memories that will last a lifetime.
I wish all of you a very Happy and Safe Holiday Season.
Rob Silliman, IGBO President
