League of Women Bowlers

 ABOUT US

Founding League President's Info:

  CC Ford is an avid bowler.  She invites all women to come out and meet the challenges presented by this cohesive group of female bowlers!  Her ball seems to be bigger than she is, yet she provides serious competition to all challengers.

During July 2006 in the Chicago International Gay Games VII bowling competition, she was honored with a Bronze Medal! Pictures of the Gay Games can be viewed on her photo show circle website (listed midway down this page).

She loves the sport and is pleased to see others enjoying it. This "in the company of women" atmosphere is a great 'meet and greet' Sunday afternoon alternative!

CC serves as Social Director for the league now.  She maintains the social calender for the ladies.  She is featured in the August 2007 US Bowler Magazine (in their League Secretaries section)  for her outstanding work as the league Secretary for the Awards Banquet presented in June 2007.   Again, CC was featured in an article, in which the league is mentioned in the September 3rd issue of the Metro Weekly Magazine titled "Bowling for Friendship"...'Local athlete finds life after tragedy'.  View these honorable articles on this site at our 'News Articles' page.

 She was retired (at 56 years old) from teaching 33 years of Physical Education in S.E. with the DC Public School system.  She has now returned to teaching PE with the PG County Public School System. 

The league is still her primary focus ... providing women with alternative social fun.

Preview our league events and social fun at cc ford's photo show website www.photoshow.com/members/ccford

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CC at the International Gay Games VII in Chicago July   2006  

Metro Weekly article featured a bit on CC ... read it on our "News Articles" page                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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1st Season League President

Denise "Niecy" Robertson, graciously accepted the position of League President our first year...she is now serving her second term as League Treasurer.  She is a strong bowler starting out with a 190 average!  Her assistance and leadership is an assest to the league.  With eager enthusiasm she has inspired the members in many ways.  She leads by example! We are thankful that she has 'stepped up to the plate' to help make this newly formed league succeed.  Her diligent committment to the sport of bowling is welcomed and appreciated.  

Working together...Niecy and CC jointly formed a leadership for the league that has been admirable and complimentary to meeting the goals that we strive to reach.

Together they have taken this newly formed league to a respectable competitive status level in which all women can benefit from participating in the sport of bowling.

Current President:

Denise "Dee" Chiedo

Dee has been very committed to the league and it's values since our first season...she looks forward to

"leading by example" also...we are honored to have her serve a second term as our 2008-2009 President! 

Current Vice President: Colleen "Pooh" Crowley

Current Secretary: Julia Johnson

 Current Treasurer: Neicey Robertson

Current Sgt-At-Arms: Millie Grayson and Tyree Ellison

Current Social Director: CC Ford

Our mission is to provide women with a friendly atmosphere.   So they can socialize, communicate and network ; while enjoying the sport of competitive bowling; in the company of women. 

We are a CARA league (Capital Area Rainbowlers Association), we are one of eleven gay leagues in the organization.

Our organizers are women who bowled together in an all women's league years ago and wanted to enjoy that atmosphere again.

Our league meets every Sunday at 5:30p.m. in Riverdale, Maryland at the Rianldi's Riverdale Bowling Lanes .

Our weekly bowling fee for members is $17.00. To be a league member, a one time sanction fee of $19.00 is required.   

Members 2008-2009 USBC sanction card qualifies them to any USBC competition (tournaments and/or leagues). 

You must become a sanctioned member and have (or establish) an average to bowl.

Substitute bowlers are welcomed.  Substitutes must also become a USBC sanctioned member for the 2008-2009 bowling season.

Our  league adheres to the rules and regulations set forth by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

Our female members are dedicated to the sport of bowling and challenging their skill levels through the weekly competitions.

We look forward to seeing you at the lanes...

Preview our League's Photoshows at http://www.photoshow.com/members/ccford  

Also view the honorable article on our banquet on our 'News Articles' page of this web site from the

nationwide US Bowler magazine's August 2007 issue under the League Secretary's section.

Our league was formed in September of 2006 and began our first week of bowling with 20 women.

We were formed by women who desire to have 'female-friendly competitive challenges' in the sport of bowling; while in a relaxed 'comfort zone'. 

 League co-founder and avid bowler, Kim Holley,(pictured above in the army pants ) came up with the idea to once again be a part of a women's league.  Kim did all the running around and negotiating with bowling centers to get this league started. She set up the original web site that got us off to a running start.   It enabled interested bowlers guidelines for registration procedures, as well as offering valuable information and updates.  The original e-mail address she set up also gave bowlers a chance to contact us efficiently.  Kim then asked CC to join in her quest of putting together this  league of women bowlers.  We missed the fun we had 10 years ago, when we bowled together in a similar league,  and wanted that fun to once again exist for us,  as well as  many others.  We made calls and contacts; which resulted in women dusting off their bowling balls and shoes to form what is today our League of Women Bowlers!!!   

We have all skill levels too...with women rolling  averages ranging from below 100 to over 190!!!   Come on out and meet the challenges!!!  Or just come out and support us.  Please encourage others to come out as well.   Be a bowler, a sub or a cheerleader! 

Our fun prize league offers 50/50 raffles every week; as well as the weekly competition for that top team/individual prize list awards.  We also have many benefits as members of the gay bowling association for this area....CARA (Capital Area Rainbowlers Association).  We also participate in tournaments that are just as much fun ...sponsored by CARA and the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) whose organization we are joining this 2008-2009 season.

We looked forward, with great enthusiasm, to our First Annual Bowling Awards Banquet, that was held at the end of the season in June.  We had a blast of a good time...check the photo show web site. The Pioneer Members (women that began and stuck with the league through the first season) were awarded with personalized lavender bowling pins...no one will ever get a 'lavender' pin again...that's soley the privileged honor of the Pioneer Women who began this league) , personalized Award Certificates with their picture and/or team picture, engraved trophies for achievement recognitions, USBC Achievement pins and patches, gifts and gift certificates donated by local businesses and organizations, and a feeling of camaraderie like never before.  It warmed me so to witness their enthusiam and appreciation...anytime bowlers want their awards and certificates before their prize money...you've gotta feel good about the season and it's members!!!

Our league was also honored with an article; in the August 2007 issue of the nationally circulated USBC bowling magazine, US Bowler!!!!  The featured article appears in the League Secretaries section (preview the full article on this web site on our 'News Articles' page).  Their idea is to share with other league secretaries how to encourage members by being creative and using special/unique prizes as incentives...and we did just that!

These prizes and awards were made possible by the businesses and organizations who kindly donated to our leagues efforts with their goods and services...we are so grateful...they are listed on our 'Supporters' page...please support them as they have so graciously supported us.  We thank them very much. 

Don't miss out on this special and unique league of women bowlers...join us this season!!!     

 We meet 5 miles from the DC line at the Rinaldi's Riverdale Bowling Lanes in Riverdale, Maryland.  It's located on Kenilworth Avenue just off of the Rt 410 (East-West Hwy intersection).  The bowling alley is on the left hand side of the street coming from DC and from the Kenilworth Avenue exit off the 495 Beltway it's on the right.

TESTIMONIALS

One member said, she  "...hasn't bowled in years"  and that she is "so thankful to have a friendly female only atmoshpere to meet and greet new friends as well as old friends, while enjoying a sport she's always loved".

Another member said she too,  "...had not bowled in years and feels relieved to bowl in the company of women who assist with bowling tips rather than criticize".  She feels welcomed and says her self-esteem needed the boost the league provides. Her game has  improved!!!

Several members express their welcome of the exercise the sport of bowling has gotten them back into.  What a challenge!!!

Many of our high average competitors are enthusiastic as they welcome the challenges of equally skilled female bowlers.

"Bowlers don't have to lack anything", one member says,

" because you can rent shoes and find a comfortable ball right in the bowling alley."   ..." This will do",  she explained, " until I  get my very own equipment".  Right now, nothing can stop her from participating! 

Lots of our visitors / cheerleaders are having a ball cheering on their favorite bowlers and/or teams.

Many old friends are becoming reaquainted after not seeing each other for a long time.  Many new friendships are forming also.

Good fun for all !!!  Join us on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. ... where everybody cheers...!!!