Expert: - 9/11/2008

Question
We have just elected a new secretary for our league and have offered as compensation, free bowling for the season.
I think this is wrong as the bowling alley owner loses his money this way, plus the secretary doesn't contribute to the prize fund. Is there a standard way of doing this? Thanks, Jimmie Benson, Greene, Iowa

Answer
Jimmie,
How complicated a job is the secretaries job?

With modern computer scoring systems, much of the traditional average keeping responsibilities are done by a machine.

But the Secretary often spends countless hours contacting bowlers, verifying averages, completing forms for sanctioning, keeping track of rules violations, acting as a referee during disagreements among players and other jobs as necessary.

Traditional compensation involved paying cash per bowler, per week for their services. Whether you pay for the secretary's services (out of the league prize fund) and then the secretary puts it into the envelope, or you provide FREE play, the money's coming from somewhere.

If the cost of league is $10 per week for 34 weeks, $340 a season is the cost to play. But if you pay $.25 per bowler per week for a 40 person league, you pay the secretary $340 for their job.

I trust the bowling center will charge your league for all its players, so whether the secretary pays or the league pays for them, the center will get it's money.