🎳 Lace Up, Show Up, Throw Down: AAF Inland Empire's End-of-Year Bowling Social

By John McCarthy | AAF Inland Empire Chapter President

And the first round is on me. Seriously.

Some chapters close out their year with a business meeting and a handshake. We're closing ours with three bowling lanes, a stack of appetizers, and the kind of shoes no one would wear voluntarily — but everyone secretly loves.

Wednesday, June 24. Punch Bowl Social. Rancho Cucamonga. The Inland Empire's advertising and marketing community trades heels and loafers for red, blue, and neon-green rental kicks — and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Punch Bowl Social, Rancho Cucamonga. The neon is on. The lanes are reserved. All we need is you.

🎳 The Setup

This isn't a tournament. There are no trophies. No judges. No scoring rubric. (We already did that — and it was spectacular.)

This is three lanes, two hours, and 25 people max — which means everyone gets a turn to roll a strike or spectacularly gutter it in front of their peers. Either way, we're going to cheer.

What's included:

• Three bowling lanes with couches and tables — because even bowlers need somewhere to sit and talk shop between frames

• A Dip Platter — Hummus and Guacamole Trio, because we're cultured

• Appetizers — enough so nobody goes home hungry or has an excuse to leave early

• The company of the Inland Empire's most creative professionals — no lane rental required for that one

Three lanes. Couches. Cold drinks on deck. This is how you close out a year worth celebrating.

Cost: $30 per person. That's less than your last DoorDash order. And this one comes with bowling shoes.

🥂 The First Round Is on Me

Here's the deal.

This has been my year as President of AAF Inland Empire, and what a year it's been. Look at what we did together:

1. Kicked things off at Barcuso Speakeasy in Upland, where the community met the new board over cocktails in a setting that felt more Prohibition-era cool than corporate mixer.

2. Brought in Michael Barnett from Six-Sided Service at Back to the Grind, and he showed us how exceptional customer service can drive 17% revenue growth — over coffee, no less.

3. Teamed up with PRSA Inland Empire for Mingle Bells at the Bear Springs Hotel, proving that a holiday networking event can actually feel like a good time.

4. Sat down with Manny Sandoval and Denise Berver of Inland Empire Community News to learn what it really takes to connect with the IE's diverse communities.

5. Watched Ontario International Airport's marketing team break down their award-winning Open Mic social series and gave everyone in the room a playbook for humanizing a brand.

6. Took over a decommissioned airport terminal for the ADDY Awards — 200+ attendees, boarding passes, a red carpet, and a night the IE creative community won't forget.

7. Closed the programming year with Andrew Wilkin's brand strategy webinar, a 90-minute masterclass on building brands from the inside out.

That's not a chapter going through the motions. That's a chapter that showed up — and you showed up with us.

So the first round of drinks? That's on me. Call it a presidential thank-you. Call it a farewell toast. Call it whatever you want — just make sure you're there to raise a glass.

As I transition from President to Immediate Past President, I want to say this plainly: thank you. Thank you for a phenomenal year of creative adventures in marketing and advertising. Thank you for filling the seats, sharing the ideas, and making this chapter something the Inland Empire can be proud of.

Now come bowl with me before I get sentimental.

🧑‍💼 Interested in Getting Involved? Ask Me Over a Gutter Ball.

One more thing — and this one matters.

At this event, we'll be introducing the incoming Executive Committee for the 2026–2027 term. New faces. New energy. Same commitment to building the best local AAF chapter in the country.

And if you've ever thought about getting more involved, this is your moment. We're looking for members who want to serve on the AAF Board in a committee role for the coming term. You don't need a title or a decade of experience — you just need to care about this community and be willing to show up.

Serving on the board is one of the best ways to develop real leadership skills and build a professional network that goes far beyond LinkedIn connections. You'll work alongside smart, driven people who are passionate about advertising, marketing, and the creative economy in the Inland Empire.

Curious? Grab a lane. Grab a drink. Grab me. I'll be the one in the loudest bowling shoes.

📋 The Details

What: AAF Inland Empire End-of-Year Social — Bowling Edition When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM Where: Punch Bowl Social | 12635 N Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

Cost: $30 per person (bowling, food, and good company included)

Capacity: 25 max — because we want everyone rolling, not watching

🎳 Don't Sit This One Out

This year started with big ambitions and ended with bigger results. Let's close it out the right way — with strikes, spares, snacks, and the kind of night that reminds you why you got into this industry in the first place.

Bring your friends. Bring your coworkers. Bring anyone who's ever been curious about AAF Inland Empire. This event is open to members and the general public alike. Whether you've been with us all year or you're walking in for the first time, you belong here.

See you at the lanes.

— John McCarthy President, AAF Inland Empire Chapter 2025–2026 Term For membership information, visit inlandempireaaf.com/membership. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.