EDITORIAL PAGE - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
US Bowling Congress May Leave Greendale
February 3, 2008There's been talk recently on the Greendale Forum and area blogs about the possibilty of the US Bowling Congress moving it's headquarters from Greendale, Wisconsin to Arlington, Texas.
Today's Milwaukee JournalSentinel has a longer story confirming the USBC's possible move. In that article, there were some comments from both sides that were very interesting... From the City Hopes to be spared article:
"Is it a done deal? No," says Jeff Boje', a Florida-based bowling center owner who is the president of the USBC.
Boje' says Milwaukee-area officials did not act quickly to ease the USBC's concerns over what he says is the high cost of doing business in Wisconsin.
"There were some discussions early on," he says. "Greendale expressed great interest in the USBC staying in Greendale, but they were able to offer little, if anything."
Why should Greendale offer anything at all? What would Greendale get out of it? The USBC doesn't seem to be a tourist draw; they employ about 200 people, but how many actually work in the USBC offices or even live in this state? Their own president works and lives in Florida. What is the incentive to keep this non-profit company here?
Given Milwaukee's long history of being the unofficial capital of American Bowling, business leaders are more concerned about Milwaukee's loss than Greendale's. They've even offered State Fair Park to the USBC, so whether it's Texas or somewhere else, Greendale loses.
Personally, I'd like things to stay the way they are - without Greendale having to give out financial incentives to the USBC just to stay here. However, if they leave, the USBC building sits on 10 prime acres on 76th street, which I think would be perfect for a hotel/office complex which would be much more beneficial to Greendale residents, visitors and area job seekers.
Plus it already has a bowling alley in it.
-Ron Faiola, Publisher/Editor of Greendale Life
2/27/08
Sports Illustrated collumnist Frank Deford says, "Keep bowling where God meant it to be."
2/6/08 Reply by Charlene L., Franklin:
I agree with the idea of a very nice hotel (not another "no-tell motel") in the land currently occupied by USBC. When we have friends or relatives visit and we do not have a guest room in our condo, there is no place close by that is upscale, clean, reliable quality. They usually end up in Brookfield.
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Greendale's 70th Anniversary 1938 - 2008
January 17, 2008Greendale turns 70 years old this year and I was wondering what types of celebrations will be planned. Certainly 70 isn't like 100, but we still need to have a party.
Back in August of 2007, I presented an idea to the Greendale Historical Society for a 70th Anniversary Concert and fund raiser for their former Police Station renovation. The GHS needs to raise $2,000,000 by September 1, 2008 and my idea, if done properly would have generated anywhere from $100,000 - $300,000 for the Historical Society, not to mention the huge amount of press it would have attracted, both for the Village and for the Historical Society.
I met several times with some of the members of the Historical Society to go over my plans. I did many hours of research, assembled a budget and a list of potential sponsors and spent almost $500 of my own money. My idea was to hold an event that was on a much larger scale than Village Days. It would have been the only way for the GHS to make a lot of money. It wouldn't be the whole two million dollars, but it would have been a lot more than they have collected as of now.
Unfortunately, after offically presenting my plans to the GHS at one of their meetings, I haven't heard back from them at all. I don't have any hard feelings - I think they just weren't ready for such a big project. Yet raising a couple million in one year is a big project in itself, so they need to have something big planned.
Maybe they will explain that "something big" tonight during their "Free Soup" event. The event is to let people know more about their projects, new board members and their ideas for Greendale's 70th Anniversary Celebration.
In any case, we need to have some sort of party marking the 70th anniversary of this historic Village. I propose a gathering sometime between May and July - maybe the 4th of July, but before Village Days.
We should honor "original" residents, invite dignitaries from other Greenbelt Communities, have some displays of artifacts, invite a descendant of FDR to be a guest of honor, sell some souvenirs and throw a real old fashioned wing ding with cold beer and potato salad.
I think we should raise money for a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt since she visited Greendale and was part of the process that brought Greendale to life. The finished statue could be our goal for the 75th anniversary party.
What do you say?
- Ron Faiola, Publisher/Editor of Greendale Life
2/6/08 Reply by Charlene L., Franklin:
Our family lived in Greendale (now in Franklin) during the 70s and 80s and I believe a celebration is needed to promote the uniqueness of this special place and a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt is indeed a great idea! She was behind many of FDRs projects. If $85,000 can be raised for the"Fonz" I certainly think money can be raised to commemorate her visit and her initiatives.
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