One of the most famous women athletes in the country, Chastain immediately felt right at home with the bowlers for whom she signed autographs in the morning, spoke to during the Convention's first business session in the afternoon, and later in a seminar on youth.

"This is like a family reunion for me because bowling always was a big family thing for us," she said. "I was in a bowling center while in daycare and later graduated to leagues."

Being in a youth league helped teach Chastain the value of being on a team which proved quite important when she eventually concentrated more on soccer.

"Contribute your best qualities, your knowledge and your experience to help the team get better," was something she said she learned.

Chastain's speech highlighted the first of four days of business slated for the 2007 USBC Convention. Attendees also took advantage of the first of more than 30 educational workshops targeted to four key USBC initiatives -- credibility of the game, the delivery network, growing the sport and youth development. They also visited the exhibit area where USBC programs, industry organizations and other companies were on display. And, they attended coaching clinics at nearby Hermitage Lanes when not enjoying Chastain reminisce about her soccer career and its parallels to bowling.

"Soccer and bowling are similar in that you need that short moment of concentration," Chastain said. "Good players do it some times. Great players do it all the time."

Chastain, who has continued to bowl through the years including events such as the ESPN's Bowling Night Series in 2005, closed her speech with six components of going from good to great -- competition, challenge, creativity, concentration, community and celebration. After she concluded her speech, she received a special soccer-style bowling ball as a memento of her presentation.

USBC President Michael Carroll and Vice President Sylvia Broyles then went through the crowd, asking several attendees their reasons for attending. They then led several greeting exercises designed for people to meet those sitting around them with the goal of being able to later use these people as resources.

Next was the Bowlers to Veterans Link presentation which highlighted the many ways bowlers have helped current and past military people. Among those honored were USBC associations and people in the following categories:

*Largest Contribution by a State -- California, $209,317.14
*Largest Contribution by a Local Association -- San Fernando Valley WBA/Los Angeles BA, $39,002.
*Largest State Contribution to BVL National -- Virginia, $46,708.25.
*Largest Local Association Contribution to BVL National -- Nation's Capital Area USBC, $13,000.
*Most Successful Volunteer, "Bowlers Salute America" Troops -- Jo Wisby.

The day concluded with awards presentations honoring the following people:
*Helen Baker Outstanding Association Volunteer of the Year Award -- Sheri Cook, Farmington, N.M.
*Joyce Deitch Trailblazer Award -- Dan Ottman, Detroit (posthumously)
*Kerm Helmer Horizon Award -- Jeffrey Frye, Hackettstown, N.J.
*David Dahms Coach of the Year -- Teresa Wolcott, Sauquoit, N.Y.
*Youth Program Volunteer of the Year -- David Koppa, Santa Barbara, Calif.

The USBC Convention continues Thursday with the remainder of the workshops, another chance for attendees to visit the exhibit area and a lane inspection workshop also at Hermitage Lanes.