2010 will be a critical election year, and you can play an important role in what happens at the polls.

As we all struggle to rebuild the nation’s economy, one thing is certain: we need legislators to help promote private sector job growth. But many of the laws that have been passed or considered will negatively affect the bowling industry and our ability to create new opportunities.

• Businesses are still adjusting to the passage of massive healthcare reform legislation. While small business tax credits will help, employers are still trying to come to grips with how the emerging healthcare regulations and new taxes will affect their business –and personal – budgets.

• Anti-alcohol advocates continue to push for the elimination of all social drinking – including having a drink while bowling – by making in car alcohol detectors standard equipment in all cars. Next year, Congress will debate a proposal to expand the use of these devices – a major step towards universal use.

• The food police persist on finding new targets for regulation or taxes, and most of them are found in the products you sell in your center. Sodas and sugary beverages, the salt content in prepared foods, and portion size of servings have all come under new attack in the last few months.

• In an effort to control an unprecedented growth in the federal debt, lawmakers will debate whether to dramatically increase personal and business tax rates -- unless they make the tough decisions to control federal spending.

The outcome of these decisions matters to your operations and will make a difference in how you run your center. BPAA has already built a strong track record of proactively pushing back against the threats facing the bowling industry and attacks on business operations. BPAA members have been effective communicating on legislative issues – whether through BPAA’s grassroots communication efforts, launching public opinion campaigns designed to draw attention to industry’s issues or by contributing to the campaigns of legislators who understand the challenges of running a business.

Contributions of time and money from BPAA members over the years have helped give the bowling industry a strong voice in the public policy process. This year, more than ever, it is important that everyone keep participating so we can continue in our strategic communications to Congress.

A few years ago, we helped make it easier for BPAA member center to make a difference in the public policy process. We launched the Government Action Fund so that members could have more choice in deciding what role to play. Members can contribute in one of two ways:

• Contributions to Bowling’s PAC support the campaigns of like-minded candidates running for the US House of Representatives or the Senate. These personal contributions are distributed to candidates who understand business issues and who will help protect the industry against harmful legislation. This election year, 13 Senate races and 67 House races are considered competitive – giving the industry tremendous power to have an effect on how Congress looks next year.
• Others elect to contribute to issue-oriented campaigns that bring our concerns to the attention of voters as well as lawmakers. These campaigns allow us to shape public policy debates on the issues most important to you. Currently, BPAA’s legislative committee is working to raise funds to launch a campaign to educate legislators and the public about the efforts use in-car alcohol detectors to eliminate responsible social drinking.

2009 was a tough year for many centers, and we understand that margins are tight. But if everyone contributes a little bit, the bowling industry’s impact would be huge. For instance…can you imagine how strong our communications abilities and Bowling’s PAC would be if each member center contributed one penny for every game played in your center? That would be roughly $3,500,000 – even half of that would mean that BPAA could make a definitive impact on the public policy issues that matter to you.

Please make this the year you contribute to BPAA’s Government Action Fund. The political environment in 2010 could either lead to more of the same government overreaching or could help stop the momentum of these anti-industry efforts. Whether you want to help by electing more business-friendly members to Congress or by changing public opinion on issues that matter, your contribution to the Government Action Fund will make a long-term difference in the health of the bowling industry!

We hope you will participate in these efforts!