Application for Membership Cards - Submit a request, including the following information:

Name
Mailing Address
Email Address
Phone No.
Submit a Check in the amount of $20.00 (Made out to Insurance City Senate)
Let us know if you are a [ ]Bowler or [ ]Non-Bowler

Mail to:

Insurance City Senate
Membership Application
P. O. Box 2648
Hartford, CT  06141-2648

Your information will be entered on the membership certification card and submitted to The National Bowling Association, Inc.'s office for processing.

Should you have questions regarding membership certification, contact Adele B. Williams, Senate Secretary williams.adele@att.net


Current Members - If your contact information (address, email, etc.) changes within the bowling season, don't forget to send me an email with your updated info.

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Did you ever think about which kind of Member you are?

Some members keep their organization strong,
While others join and just belong.
Some dig right in and serve with pride,
While some go along just for the ride.
Some volunteer to do their share,
Others sit back and just don't care.
Schedule a meeting -- some always go,
Then there are those that never show.
Some only know how to criticize and complain,
Everyone knows they are such a pain...
Some do their best, some build, some make,
Some never give, but always take.
Some lag behind and let things go,
And never help their organization to grow.
Some drag, some pull, some don't, some do.

Which kind of member are you?

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TNBA is an organization started by a group of African-American bowlers denied the opportunity to bowl in certain tournaments and bowling centers. To have bowling leagues in the early 20th century, African-Americans relied on churches, the YMCA and community centers. Some establishments event posted signs saying "closed for private party" to allow African-Americans to bowl.

Until 1950, American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress rules restricted membership only to Caucasians. However, this did not deter African-Americans from competing in tenpin bowling.

In August 1939, a group of men and women from Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit and Toledo gathered in Detroit to establish the National Negro Bowling Association. Later renamed The National Bowling Association and nicknamed TNBA, the fledgling organization almost immediately began to change the face of bowling.

Instituting and winning court victories against discrimination in the sport, TNBA paved the way for more African Americans to pursue their love of bowling. As the membership rapidly increased, TNBA soon emerged as the country's largest African American organized sports organization which now boasts more than 40,000 members of all backgrounds, colors and creeds. All are members of the United States Bowling Congress.

TNBA is organized into Senates representing bowlers in 115 U.S. cities and communities. The family-oriented Senates compete locally. The season culminates with the National Convention and TNBA Week, a 10-day event featuring bowling and special festivities.

During TNBA Week, members celebrate several unique traditions including the annual King and Queen Coronation Ball and the Bill Rhodman Memorial Classic Championship Roll-Off.

Page Updated 06/08/11