Haus says good-bye to Greater Youngstown Bowling Association

After more than 40 years of service, Joe Haus has retired as manager for the Greater Youngstown Bowling Association. The position was formerly referred to as secretary-treasurer.

“I wanted to get out and let someone else take over,” said Haus, who will be 70 years old in June.

In his place, Donna Kincaid has accepted the clerical position, in addition to holding the same post for the Youngstown Youth Bowling Association.

Seemingly, Kincaid breaks the gender barrier by working in the GYBA office.

“The Association wishes Joe good luck in all his future endeavors,” says an e-mail from the GYBA via Ted Bundy.

GYBA officers are Jack Kechler, president; Tony Coradetti Jr., first vice-present; and Russ Turner, second vice-president.

Haus said that the secretary-treasurer title changed to association manager about three years ago.

Initially, Haus was a director of the Youngstown Men’s Bowling Association, then he became assistant secretary and then its treasurer. When secretary Larry Miller passed away in 1999, the two positions merged.

“I took over that part of it, too,” Haus said of absorbing the secretary role.

The YMBA evolved into the YBA to include women, then it became the GYBA to reflect suburban bowling alleys, such as Bell-Wick, McKinley and Arrowhead.

“There were more outside the city than inside,” Haus said.

Because there are no employees, per se, anymore, the association manager’s job is more volunteer.

Duties include the registration of awards and day-to-day paperwork.

Kincaid, who works for Commercial Truck and Trailer, has already assumed the association manager’s work.

Doing double duty for the two associations will keep the 50-year-old Kincaid busy. She was a director for the women’s bowling association for 15 years before devoting her last three years to the youth.

What does Haus think of a woman taking his place?

“She does a nice job,” he said.

Haus leaves with a sense of satisfaction.

“Contributing to the bowling community was a lot of fun over the years and it’s something I’ve really enjoyed,” he said.

Dodge Sweeper

The Ervin Dodge Memorial Sweeper is March 2 at noon at Boardman Lanes.

The event is five games across 10 lanes, open to men and women in handicap and scratch divisions.

Entry fee is $40 per division. Proceeds benefit the Ervin “Magic” Dodge Scholarship, which was established in 1999 at YSU.

CITY TOURNAMENT

The 81st city tournament is in progress this weekend and again Feb. 23 and 24 at Camelot Lanes.

Team event, doubles and singles are being contested.

Entry fee is $18 per person per event and all-events is an additional $2.

Cosmic and more

Mahoning Valley Lanes has cosmic bowling every Friday and Saturday night from 9 p.m. to midnight and all-you-can-bowl every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also, customer appreciation on Wednesday includes $5 pizza and $1 games.

Top women

Tammy Diver’s 784 led Hively’s Doubles at Amron during week 21 of 32.

Melissa Mettee’s 287-774 led Lucky Ladies at Holiday on Jan. 24.

John Bassetti writes about bowling for The Vindicator. Email him at bassetti@vindy.com