By: Donald Beach
Alan is the Region 10 director, Region 10 may be the Central Plains, but there is nothing plain about Alan. I contacted Alan through email requesting he participate in answering some questions so that I could introduce him to not only the bowlers in his region who may not have met him, but to all our IGBO members. When Alan responded to my request was when I found out there was nothing plain about him. He not only agreed to participate but he responded to my questions with both amazing enthusiasm and speed. When I asked how long he had been bowling, he shared how he started when he was 6 years old in Sturgis, South Dakota. He went on to tell how most other sports wouldn’t let kids start until age 10, but bowling was something he could “jump into early” and, he has been doing it ever since. Alan went on to tell of one of his earliest and most special memories was of getting his first bowling ball. It happened to be a blue Galaxy from K-Mart, which made me chuckle to myself, as I had too had a blue Galaxy. He shared how excited he was to finally have his own ball and how that moment really sticks with him because it made bowling feel like “his” sport. He remembers once having learned how to keep score, he would walk to the bowling center after school and keep score for the adult afternoon leagues. He still pictures himself sitting there with a pencil and carefully writing on the clear paper that was projected on the screen. He shared how he started bowling in an IGBO league the year after graduating from college in 2005 and of his first IGBO Annual Tournament in Oklahoma City in 2009. He expressed how it was a great experience, and it “really solidified my connection to the IGBO community” and he has been “hooked ever since!”
I then posed the question, “What made you choose to run for IGBO Director and what is it you feel you brought to the position?” Alan explained how he had been bowling in IGBO for over twenty year and with each year his interest in the organization has grown. He started by joining the membership committee. Through that committee he got a deeper look at how IGBO operated and inspired him with a desire to contribute even more. Alan shared the two things that brought him to rise to the challenging position of Regional Director. He spoke highly of his talk with his fairy godmother, Todd Denmark, and what a huge asset he has been since they brought MAKIT back in 2018. He spoke about how Todd was someone he could bounce ideas off of as well as go to for guidance. Combine seeing how Todd served as the Upper Mississippi Valley Region as Director along with Alan’s own passion for being open and approachable, and you’ve got the two ingredients (guidance and an open approachable mindset) that led Alan to run. His passion for open approachability and hard work has allowed him to bring visibility to his region through building relationships, keeping people updated and creating easier ways for information to flow not only from the organization its members, but just as important, from the members to the organization.
Alan’s passion for openness could be heard when he answered my two-fold question of what are some of his duties as Regional Director and what is one of his favorites that he enjoys more than others. He started right off talking about how he sees his role as being a communicator above all else. He spoke of some of his key duties like sharing updates from IGBO, reminding leagues and tournaments about renewals, recognizing and approving high scores as well as participating in tournaments across the region. He paused a moment, then with a certain emphatic urgency told how his favorite is keeping members in the loop. He spoke with a certainty that whether it be deadlines, recognition, or opportunities, he truly enjoys making sure people know what is going on. Drawing from his own experience, he spoke about how the more information the members have, the more encouraged they are to take part in IGBO. In his own words, “That’s exactly how I became more engaged myself, and I hope that by being transparent, I can encourage others to do the same.”
Regional Director can be a bit of a busy position between making sure information gets out, approving high scores, sharing updates, attending meetings even when only virtual and participating in tournaments. This all takes time and dedication, so I asked what Alan found to be the most time consuming about the job and how he keeps it from overwhelming him. Alan replied, “I honestly don’t find any one part of the job to be especially time consuming.” He told how it’s really about being available and making sure people feel heard. To do this, he spoke of how he tries to manage a question or concern that arises right away instead of letting it sit, thus nothing piles up and it never feels overwhelming. Alan enjoys being connected to people in that way because in his words “it keeps me engaged and helps build trust with the members.”
I took a little break in asking Alan about his IGBO position to see if he would share a bit more of the person Alan and not just the director Alan. I asked him to tell me something that most IGBO bowlers would not know about him, and he did not disappoint. I was awed when he shared that he was a member of the 2004 Intercollegiate National Championship team at the University of Kansas. Alan said with earned pride, “Winning that national title is still my proudest moment in bowling.” He went on to describe how college bowling was a full-year commitment, with tryouts starting in September and the championship in April and how he loved being part of a team that worked so hard together. Alan shared how the encouragement from his teammates made the experience so much more meaningful and that bowling under the lights with spectators, like is seen on a PBA telecast, was both intimidating and exhilarating. With a huge smile, Alan went on, “It is something I’ll never forget. That experience really showed me the importance of teamwork, encouragement, and supporting one another, things that still guide me today in how I bowl, how I lead and how I contribute to IGBO.”
In keeping with getting to know Alan the person and not the director, I asked him to share some things outside of IGBO he enjoyed. Alan, a single man, is a big music fan, He states “EDM is usually my go-to, but I really enjoy most genres.” Some of his favorite artists are Galantis, ARTY, and Dom Dolla. He also shared he loves going to musicals and movies and that Moulin Rouge is “hands-down my favorite all-time musical and movie.” He went on to tell of his pastime collecting Funko Pop toys, sharing how he has built up quite a collection over the years, especially of Spider-Man and Captain America. I also learned another reason he fits into IGBO when he spoke of how he spends free time volunteering with Cornerstones of Care. He has the giving back part of IGBO in his spirit. He shared how this is a nonprofit that partners with children and families to build safe and healthy communities. I was humbled as he expressed “I’ve mentored two kids in the program and have volunteered at several of their events. Giving back through that work has been really rewarding.”
Keeping in the spirit of volunteering, I asked Alan what IGBO members in his region can do to help him as director. The biggest way he sees that his members can be helpful is by staying engaged. Getting renewals in on time, letting him know if something changes, and not being afraid to reach out with questions are all things that go a long way according to Alan. He really values when people share feedback or ideas as it gives him a better sense of what his members want and need. Alan concluded his answer with, “At the end of the day, we’re all in this together, and the more we keep the conversation going, the easier it is for me to do my part.”
I asked Alan what it has been like as a director to work with the IGBO board and different committees he’s been involved with and why it was important that the bowlers he represents are getting what they feel is their best representation and know their questions and concerns are being heard and discussed by the board. Alan started his reply by telling how working with the IGBO board has been a “really fun and valuable experience”. He went on to say how he has enjoyed collaborating with the executives on different initiatives that help promote and grow the organization. Alan spoke how for him it is important to always stay informed so he can bring anything that might impact his region to the board for review when needed. Alan in his own words stated, “I also make it a point to share feedback as I get it, because I want the bowlers I represent to feel like their questions and concerns are not only being heard but actually being discussed.” Alan went on to say, “At the end of the day, it’s about making sure people feel like they have strong representation and that their voices matter in the decisions being made.”
As a Regional Director, duties require not only action and activities with the IGBO board but also with his region’s membership, and I asked him what some of the highlights he’s experienced since being a director as well as one thing he enjoys as director when attending a tournament or meeting. Alan replied, “One of the biggest highlights for me as a director has been getting to know more people and building relationships across the region.” He went on to explain how he really enjoyed helping bring more visibility through communication and making sure members are up to date. Alan also stated going to different tournaments has been a highlight not only to bowl but to support bowlers, answer questions and recognize achievements. He highlighted “One thing I really enjoy when I attend a tournament or meeting is getting to connect with people face to face. It’s great to put names with faces, hear what’s on people’s minds, and just share in the excitement of the event. I like being able to answer questions in person and celebrate the achievements of our members. Those moments remind me why I enjoy serving as a director, because it’s all about people and the community we’ve built together.
Speaking of the community, I asked Alan how the support has been from the general membership as well as what would he say to the IGBO membership as a director. Always with the kindest words, Alan replied, “The support from the membership has really meant a lot. I’ve had people reach out with questions, feedback, or even just to say thank you, and that kind of connection is what makes the role rewarding. It’s helped me stay motivated and reminded me why being open and approachable is so important. What I’d like to say to the membership is thank you for trusting me in this role. I’ve tried to approach it with consistency and honesty, and I hope people feel like their voices are being heard. I also want to encourage everyone to stay involved, keep asking questions, and share their ideas, because the more engaged our members are, the stronger IGBO becomes.
In closing, I asked Alan what the IGBO membership can still look forward to from him. With a positivity in his reply, he answered, “I hope members can look forward to more growth and connection within IGBO. I want to keep building stronger relationships across the region, encouraging people to get involved, and making sure everyone feels like they are a part of something bigger. If I can help create that sense of community and keep IGBO moving forward, that’s a win!”
