Dear USBF Members We are updating our records for all members

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Dear USBF Members
We are updating our records for all members and moving to more communication by email including
the newsletter. To receive your newsletter by email saving us time and money please fill out the
information below. Then fold this paper into thirds with the Secretary’s mailing address on the
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Kathi Tesarz
Membership Secretary
1271 San Moritz Dr
San Jose, CA 95132
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April 2010
Bocce Has Grown World Wide!
By Benji Tosi
Over the last year the CMSB and Federation
Internationale de Boules (FIB) showed great
growth with 4 new countries joining the
organization. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon, and
Haiti are the newest countries to play Volo and
bring the total count of 56.
Raffa has 35 countries in its federation the, CBI,
and has also added the countries of France
and Australia in the recent past. So between
countries competing in Volo, Raffa, or both
modalities, a total of 64 countries are playing
social bocce! That’s pretty good!
Volo
Raffa
It also appears that boules sports are taking
greater steps toward organizing. The CMSB, which
is the ruling body on bocce and all boule sports,
will be conducting a first ever tournament in
Macon, France in July 2011. It will include all four
types of boules; Volo, Raffa, Petanque, and Lawn
Bowling, and is hopefully the first of many such
tournaments which are stepping-stones toward
the Olympic games.
Petanque
Lawn Bowling
President’s Letter
Fellow USBF members!
Well a lot of things have happened since my last letter.
The Italia-America Club of St. Louis successfully hosted
the North American Championships; the USBF sent
a delegation to the World Singles Championships
in Rome, Italy and Campo di Bocce of Livermore
has made a bid to host the 2012 World Team
Championship. Your Board recently held our annual
winter meeting and has formed several committees
to improve the functionality and performance of our
Federation not only for the moment but also looking
into the future. There are many objectives such as
an entire new and modern set of by laws, rules and
regulations for International Delegations, marketing
issues and others too numerous to mention. 2010 was
not a good year for the USA and it definitely affected
the USBF as well. Membership has dropped both in the
number of Clubs and also the number of members.
We were able to entice several new Clubs but not a
sufficient number to compensate for the non renewals.
One of the major difficult decisions concerned this
very newsletter. The Board has decided that we simply
can no longer afford to print hard copy newsletters
for every Club and member. It was simply too costly
especially considering we lost membership. We will
continue publishing the newsletter and placing it on
the website where it can easily be downloaded. The
members that do not have email will still be receiving
copies by mail but they will not be the glossy hard
copies everyone has been familiar with.
I must admit, one of my biggest disappointments,
has been the USBF Visa Card. We only had a handful
of applications and I simply can not believe the lack
of support this fund raising tool has received. It is a
beautiful card, has all the benefits that other bank
cards have and yet there has not been enough support
to consider this a successful campaign. We have until
the end of 2011 to prove ourselves to the card issuer
but unless we get enough active card users, they will
discontinue the program at the end of this year. Please
ask your Sector Directors or check out the on line
information for more details and the great benefit the
USBF derives from card usage.
The National Championships for Volo, Open and P/R/V
are almost upon us and I know Campo di Bocce has
a lot of surprises in store for us. Please make every
attempt possible to attend this year and support this
important event. We will be qualifying a Volo Team
to participate in the Volo Worlds in Feltre, Italy later
this year. Also, the winning P/R/V Team will be able
to represent us right back in Livermore for the 2012
Worlds. I want to thank everyone for their support and
let us all work hard this year to enroll new members
and especially get Clubs to renew.
Ciao for now!
Danny Passaglia
USBF President
A Special thank you to Playaboule for sponsoring the USBF-USA
Teams uniforms last year!
1001 SW Klickitat Way Suite 102
Seattle, WA 98134
888-225-2865
www.playaboule.com
Official supplier of bocce equipment for United States Bocce Federation.
The West Coast Challenge
By Larry Cereghino
For the past two years, the Great Northwest has been
enjoying a unique Bocce Tournament. We call it, “The
Oregon vs Washington Challenge”. Some of the best
players from Oregon and Washington converge on the
six courts at Club Paesano in a Ryder Cup style Tournament to determine the winner of the Challenge Cup.
Players participate in singles, doubles and four person
team events, garnering one point for each win. The
past two years has seen the Washington team sneak
out with one and three point wins.
This tournament has always been played the day
before the “Aldo Rossi Cup Tournament” held at Club
Paesano. This year an extra day will be added to the
event to include the State of California.
Several players from California have been making the
trip to participate in the Rossi Tournament the past
few years and really liked watching the “Challenge”
Continued on page 3
Page 2
The West Coast Challenge Meet Your Newest Director
By Larry Cereghino
on the day before. After last years tournament, the
captains for Oregon and Washington spoke with a
representative from California and decided it would
be a great event to make this Tournament, “The West
Coast Challenge”.
Each State will bring twenty players. The State that
wins both their matches will be declared the winner
and be able to keep the trophy for the year. If all the
teams go one and one, the State that held the trophy
the year before will retain it. The rules for this event will
be a combination of USBF and Northwest rules.
Matches will start Friday afternoon July 8th and end
Saturday evening July 9th. Following the Tournament,
players will receive tickets to a Country Western Bash
located at Rossi Farms, not far from Club Paesano.
Players are also encouraged to play in The Aldo Rossi
Tournament held the following day, July 10th and compete for $1000.00 in prize money.
For more information about this Tournament or any
Northwest Tournament contact:
Larry Cereghino
[email protected]
503-201-4585
Sector Reports
Guy De Santis
Eastern Sector President
I had the great pleasure of meeting Raymond Cher,
President of the Australian Bocce Federation and his
very lovely and bocce knowledgeable wife Lina. While
visiting New York they contacted me and we met on
an Friday night at our Mount Vernon Bocce Club. We
spent a few hours discussing our mutual love for the
sport. We introduced them to our open rules bocce
by involving them in an amicable game with some of
our members. The open rules were a new concept to
them but they were open minded an willing to learn
our style of play. Peter Rabito had a lengthy discussion
with Raymond and Lina regarding the future of our
sport in the two respective nations.
I have played competitive sports my entire life. I’ve
always enjoyed sports and the thrill of good clean
competition. I was introduced to the sport of bocce
by my brother-in-law, Guy. We both played hockey
together for years. Guy and I have vacationed a lot
together over the years. We married two sisters, and
our families have spent one week together in upstate
New York every year for the past 13 years. He would
always bring his bocce set. We would play on a grass
field. I really started to show more interest in the game
in the past three years or so. He would bug me all the
time to come down to the club and play, but I would
rarely go. Needless to say I wish I had listened to him
when he asked the first time. I have been playing for
the last two years on a consistent basis. I wish I could
play more during the week, but with work and raising
a seven year old girl, my time is scarce. I do get to play
at least once a week in various leagues that are set up
through out the year. I was lucky enough to have the
chance to go to St. Louis for the U.S. Nationals in 2010.
We had a great time. I met some wonderful people and
made some new friends. After competing is this tournament, I appreciate the game more than I ever did. It
was amazing watching some of the best players from
the U.S. play. I learned so much about the game in that
one week than I did over the past year. Seeing how
the game is played at such a high level, has given me
the desire to improve my game and become the best
I can be. Most of all it is the time we spend with good
friends, and in my case family, that makes this game
enjoyable. I’m looking forward to be an ambassador of
the sport as I commence my first term as a USBF board
member.
Chris Giordano, Eastern Sector Representative
I would like to start by thanking the Midwest sector
for electing me to the USBF board I have served on the
board a few years back and it is great to be back on to
try to move the game of Bocce to new heights.
My Bocce background is I learned to play at the age of
7yrs old, started playing in local tournament at 12 yrs
old, and played in my 1st national tournament at the
age of 16. I have also won the United States Nationals,
represented the United States in 3 World Championships (1Volo and 2 Punto Raffa Volo). I have also volunteered my time for in running charity bocce events. I
have been playing this wonderful game of bocce for 31
years.
Lio Giannotti, Midwestern Sector Representative
continued on page 4
Page 3
Meet Your Newest Director
Continued from Page 3
I am 31 years old. I am a graduate of Syracuse University
and I’m self-employed, owning a residential painting
company with my brother.
More Bocce in San Francisco
By Benji Tosi
In November two bocce courts were completed in San
Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza, across from the historic
Ferry Building.
I am a new board member representing the Eastern
Sector of the United States Bocce Federation.
I have been actively involved with bocce for the past 6
years in roles from founding leagues, tournaments, and
court construction.
I was introduced to game at an early age as my father
had played in Italy and also played briefly 20 years ago
here in Upstate NY. My involvement at a serious level
began 6 years ago. We started on the grass and quickly
progressed to stone dust surfaced courts within a year.
We built 3 outdoor courts locally in the Syracuse area that
year and started to travel to tournaments in Upstate NY.
In the following year we created a league and I was
also asked to organize a charity tournament for the
developmentally disabled. This event has raised over
$50,000 in 5 years through participants and local
sponsors. I fostered an agreement to bring the event and
a league to a vacant piece of land at my old high school
where we constructed 6 permanent courts..
Seeing the way our climate affects our ability, we have
purchased a 5000 square foot building that will be
transformed into a private bocce club, that will be named
the Lock 1 Club. The club will feature (2) 62’ x 12’ indoor
courts that will have a stone dust surface. The club will
also feature a bar area. It will be used to host leagues
during the week for men, women, kids, and seniors. We
will also host tournaments throughout the winter. The
club location also has the potential for outdoor courts
which will be approached in the near future. The club is
slated to open in early 2011 and will be a USBF member
club.
My motivation with the sport goes far past just the
enjoyment of playing the game. In the coming years, I
would like to see the game hit the media nationally just
as bowling, poker, and billiards have been able to make it
to that level. After speaking to people like Guy De Santis
and Peter Rabito, I understand the need to promote
one set of rules and more importantly one game and
governing body if this sport is to progress to this point. In
order to get national corporate sponsorship and national
media exposure this is the primary agenda.
Gabriel Quattrocchi, Eastern Sector V.P. USBF
Contruction Site
The 27.5-meter by 4-meter (90 feet by 13 feet) courts
are the results of a group effort spearheaded by project
organizer and new USBF member Chris Gruwell. The
funds were raised from a local donor, and a local Labor
Union donated all the labor and equipment. After
lengthy planning and public discussion for the Board
of Supervisors, the City accepted the gift. The ground
breaking ceremony brought out news crews, hundreds of
people, and included newly elected California lieutenant
Governor Gavin Newsome digging first.
Finished Courts San Francisco Justin Herman Plaza
Prior to construction, Volo Champ Benji Tosi and former
USBF President John Ross met and consulted with the
Architect Peter Zepponi and the Webcor building team,
to ensure that the proper dimensions and materials were
used.
The courts are likely the most visibly public courts in the
nation and can even be spotted from the Bay Bridge. To
accommodate the different forms of boules, the courts
can be marked for either official type of bocce: Volo or
Raffia. They are made of a six inch layer of compacted
gray granite finds, and NOT California Gold granite, and
have a few centimeters of sand and oyster our dressing.
Continued on page 8
Page 4
Watching Your Child Compete
By Dario and Natalina Bernardi
Last fall, we had the tremendous privilege of going to
Rome to watch our son, Joey, compete in the World
Bocce Championship. Joey had qualified for this event
by winning the under
21 U.S. Nationals the
summer before. The
event being held in
Rome was unbelievable
as most of our family still
lives in Italy. We decided
to make this a vacation
and my mother was
able to go as well. The
only disappointment
was that our daughter,
Navina, was unable to
come due to her school
commitments.
Joey with Luca Viscusa
announced, you cannot help but to have a tear in
your eye as you see the Americans marching proudly
amongst all of the competitors. Let the games begin !!
As we watched one match after the other, I must say it
is absolutely gut-wrenching watching your child play.
You are with him in every ball and we were all trying
to will every shot to be perfect, but as we all know, it is
such an easier game when you are sitting in the stands
!! My mother has always been a nervous wreck for as
long as I could remember, and she has not changed.
She wanted her grandson to do so well !
Joey had split his first couple of matches and then
came the encounter with Mr. Viscusa. We arrived at the
After much anticipation,
we finally made it to Rome and we all could not wait
to get to the brand spanking new facility and check it
out. Upon arriving, it was a very nice place and like all
of the other competitors, Joey could not wait to get on
a court and roll a few balls. He seemed a bit nervous,
which was totally understandable, but I could see in his
face that he just wanted to play.
The blind draw was done and we anxiously awaited to
Roman soldier carries USA Flag
arena and Joey had looked up to the stands and saw
they were packed with Italian folks who came to root
the champion on. I spoke a lot with my son leading up
to that match and I kept telling him to focus and just
do the best that you can. I must say in all honesty, I
don’t know if we will ever experience anything like that
again.
Understandably nervous, Joey fell behind early as the
crowd roared with every shot that their player made.
The score got to be 8-0 and our hearts went out to our
son. To be honest, I really wanted him to just score 1
point at that point because no one likes to lose 15-0.
“A Break in the Game”
see who Joey would be competing against. The one
glaring name in his group was Mr. Luca Viscusa, the
Italian National Champion. All in all, like we say all of
the time in any other tournament that we play in, play
one game at a time, one point at a time and one ball at
a time.
Finally, opening ceremonies were upon us and the
Italians put on quite a show. It was a really fun night.
Words cannot express how you feel as a parent when
your child is announced wearing the USA colors. There
simply is no bigger honor. There were some 30 or 40
nations represented, all with their flags flying high
Continued on page 6
and music playing, but when the good old USA was
Page 5
Our USA Deligation
Watching Your Child Compete
By Dario and Natalina Bernardi
Continued from page 5
Then Joey hit a beautiful raffa shot and made 2 points.
It was like the weight of the world had been lifted off
of all of us. The next frame, he made another point,
then another and all of a sudden, he was within a
couple of points of the Italian Champion. As our USA
contingent was going crazy, the Italian based fans
were growing more and more nervous with that, ‘who
is this American kid anyway look’. My wife and I could
at this level. We talked at length about what representing
not only your family, but your bocce club and most
importantly, your country means. You compete with
class and dignity and you do the very best that you can.
And always remember the “ USA “ on the front of the
jersey is way more important than the name on the back
of the jersey !!
It was truly a wonderful experience for all of us. Congrats
Son, you did a great job !!
Opening Ceremonies
not stop high fiving and my poor mother was so happy
and proud. Joey fought tooth and nail to the end but
ended up losing and getting to 8 points. This was one
of those very rare occasions when he walked off of the
court, we all felt like we had just WON that match. Our
friends from California, Mr. and Mrs. Passaglia, our USBF
president, our relatives, a few of the other competitors
and of course mom, dad and grandma were cheering
him on like the champion that he was. That one match
surely ran the entire emotion Joey is still very proud of
that to this day.
Joey ended up talking with Luca quite a bit at the
closing ceremony and we have some very nice photos
of the two of them, along with many other great
pictures.
Joey ended up winning 3 matches and losing 3
matches but more importantly was how he competed
Some of the Countries Flags
I had the great pleasure of meeting Raymond Cher, President
of the Australian Bocce Federationand his very lovely and
bocce knowledgeable wife Lina .While visiting New York they
contacted me
and we met on an Friday night at our Mount Vernon Bocce
Club. We spent a few hours discussing our mutual love for the
sport. We introduced them to our open rules bocce by involving them in an amicable game with some of our members.The
open rules were a new concept to them but they were open
minded an willing to learn our style of play. Peter Rabito had
a lengthy discussion with Raymond and Lina regarding the
future of our sport in the two respective nations.
Guy De Santis
Eastern Sector President
Page 6
2011 WESTERN SECTOR BOCCE SCHEDULE
United States Bocce Federation membership required at these tournaments
Day
Date
Location
Tournament
Contact
Phone #
Sat.
April 2nd
Aquatic Park
Volo, 1 player
Benji Tosi
415-238-7995
Sun.
April 3rd
Campo Livermore
Raffa 2 players
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
April 9th
Tacoma Bocce
Tacoma Elks indoor
Tony Riconoscuito 253-564-3310
Sat.
April 9th
IAC Women’s Aux
Open 4 women
Shirley Croce
209-466-0541
Sat.
April 16th
Campo Los Gatos
Roffa 3 players
Bill Schlaefer
408-379-9409
Sun.
April 17th
Campo Livermore
Raffa 1 player
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
April 23rd
IACC South City
Open 3 players
Gene Semenza
650-872-0192
Sat.
April 30th
East Portal Sac
Open 4 players
Bob Martinez
916-717-1947
Sun.
May 1st
Campo Livermore
Raffa 2 players
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
May 7th
Aquatic Park
Volo Combination 1 player
Benji Tosi
415-238-7995
Sun.
May 15th
PIASC San Mateo
Open 4 women
John Bernat
650-341-4505
Sun.
May 15th
PIASC San Mateo
Raffa 3 men
John Bernat
650-341-4505
Sat.
May 21st
Waterloo Stockton
Open 2 men 2 women
David Canclini
209-957-3314
Sat
May 28th
East Portal Sacramento
Raffa 3 players
Bob Martinez
916-717-1947
Sat.
May 28th
Auburn Bocce
Puget Sound Doubles
Sal Cascone
253-939-3502
Sun.
May 29th
Campo Livermore
Raffa 2 players
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
Juneth
Campo Los Gatos
Raffa Men
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
June 4th
IACC South City
Roffa 2 Woment
Ginger Hanley
650-271-6009
Sun.
June 5th
IBS Sutter Creek
4 players
Rick Wagstaff
209-296-6151
Sat.
June 11th
Woodland Park
Seattle Grand
Greg Singleton
206-933-8178
Sat.
June 11th
Campo Livermore
Raffa 3 players
Heather Veon
925-249-9800
Sat.
June 18th
IACC South City
4 players Western Sector
Champ
David Conclini
209-957-3314
Sat.
June 25th
Auburn Bocce
Washington State Champ
Sal Cascone
253-939-3502
June 25th
-July 2nd
Campo Livermore & Los
Gatos
USBF National Championship Ben Musolf
Raffa-Open-Volo
408-587-0074
Fri
July 8th
Paesano Club Oregon
OR vs CA
Larry Cereghino
503-201-4585
Sat.
July 9th
Paesaono Club Oregon
CA vs OR & WA vs CA
Vern Cooper
916-550-2526
Sun.
July 10th
Paesano Club Oregon
Open 4 players
Aldo Rossi Cup
Larry Cereghino
503-201-4585
Sat.
July 16th
Marin San Rafel
Open 2 players
Diane Pelligrini
415-485-5583
Sat.
July 23rd
IAC Stocton
Raffa 1 man, 1 women
Bob Kennedy
209-570-7500
Sun.
July 31st
Campo Livermore
Raffa 1 player
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
August 6th
Marin San Rafael
Open 2 women
Diane Pelligrini
415-485-5583
Sat.
August 6th
Woodland Park
Woodland Park Classic
Bob Sheffels
206-547-7401
Sat.
August 13th
IACC South City
Open 4 women
Rose Viscuso
650-349-7732
Sat
August 13th
Tacoma Bocce
Fircrest Italia Tournament
Tony Riconosiuto
253-564-3310
Sat.
August 20th
Campo Los Gatos
4 players
Bill Schlaefer
408-379-9409
Sun.
August 21st
Club Paesano
Festa Italia Tournament
Bill Marinelli
360-600-8855
Sat.
August 27th
East Portal Sacramento
Open 4 players
Bob Martinez
916-717-1947
Page 7
2011 WESTERN SECTOR BOCCE SCHEDULE
United States Bocce Federation membership required at these tournaments
Continued from page 6
Day
Date
Location
Tournament
Contact
Phone #
Sat.
Aug 27th
Tacoma Bocce
Wright Park Invitational
Frank Tomanelli
253-381-5271
Sat.
Sept 17th
IAC Stockton
2 players
Albert Leonardi
209-951-6787
Sun.
Sept 18th
PIASC San Mateo
4 players
John Bernat
650-341-4045
Sat.
Sept 24th
IACC South City
Raffa 3 players
Gene Semenza
650-872-0192
Sat.
Sept 24th
Woodland Park
Seattle Italiafest
Pat Henry
206-935-7857
Sun.
Sept 25th
Woodland Park
Seattle Italiafest
Pat Henry
206-935-7857
Sat.
Oct. 1st
IACC South City
Volo 2 players
Ale Bettucchi
650-697-7202
Sat.
Oct 8th
IBS Sutter Creek
Open 2 men, 2 women
Rick Wagstaff
209-296-6151
Sun.
Oct 9th
Campo Los Gatos
Roffa 2 players
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
Oct 15th
Marin San Rafael
Open 4 players
Diane Pelligrini
415-485-5583
Sat.
Oct 29th
Campo Los Gatos
Roffa 2 players
Ben Musolf
408-857-0074
Sat.
Nov 5th
Waterloo Stockton
Open 4 players
David Canclini
209-957-3314
Sat.
Nov 19th
Campo Livermore
Western Sector
Vern Cooper
916-550-2526
Sat.
Dec. 3rd
IAC Stockton
Open 2 men, 2 women
Ron Jacobs
209-957-1223
More Bocce in San Francisco
By Benji Tosi
Continued from page 4
They are open to the public and wheelchair accessible.
Since nearly the moment they were finished, the courts
have been bustling with activity and interest from
newcomers! It just goes to show that if you can build two
90-foot courts in downtown San Francisco, you can do it
just about anywhere.
Peter Di Turi behind the mike with his play by play on livestream
US Champ Benji Tosi speaks at groundbreaking ceremony
next to CA Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsome
Other notable courts in San Francisco include; Aquatic
ark, Joe DiMaggio Playground, Crocker Amazon Park, and
Orange Park of South San Francisco.
Page 8
.
United States Bocce Federation
Kathi Tesarz Membership Secretary
1271 San Moritz Dr
San Jose, CA 95132