Striking up Special Olympics’ bowling season by seeking volunteers with time to spare

(Special Olympics photo)

Special Olympics Alaska-Juneau’s bowling season is starting soon. We are looking for volunteers and new athletes are always welcome.

Practices are on Sundays from noon to 2 p.m. at Pinz Bowling Alley starting Aug. 3 and ending Sept. 28, (with no practice on Aug. 31). Local games are on Oct. 4 and 5, and are the competition that determines which teams will go to State Games in Anchorage in November. 

As a volunteer you will meet new people, help athletes and coaches, and make new friends. My mom says that she “really loves volunteering and being around the athletes, and their supporters and coaches, and that it brings her a lot of joy."

I am an athlete and a health messenger with Special Olympics Alaska.  I have been an athlete in Juneau for 13 years. 

I am a bowler in the fall and swimmer in the spring with Special Olympics.  As health messenger I have learned how to be a spokesperson and advocate, as well as how to stay healthy with the Fit 5 Program.  

Special Olympics has helped me improve how to bowl and swim, allowed me to meet new athletes, coaches and staff, and to start and build friendships. The Health Messenger Program has taught me how to be a spokesperson and advocate. That is important to me because I love to advocate for people with disabilities, especially those who can’t speak up for themselves.

As a spokesperson I work on getting the word out for Juneau events like the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the need for volunteers for bowling, swimming, and basketball and to encourage new athletes to sign up. 

As an advocate for Special Olympics, I went to Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C., to meet with Alaska’s congressional delegation to ask for support. 

For bowling, we need ramp assistants and lane monitors. A ramp assistant assists athletes competing with a bowling ramp. They would be paired up with a bowler for the entire season and assist them with their ramp. Rules will be provided. Bowling experience is not required.

A lane monitor is assigned to a pair of lanes. They watch for lane malfunctions, stuck balls, write down scores, etc. Bowling experience is not required.

Anyone interested is welcome to contact Special Olympics Alaska for more information. To volunteer or if you or someone you know are interested in being an athlete, please email Juneau@specialolympicsalaska.org. Volunteers can call Eddie at (907) 222-7625 ext. 610 and athletes can contact Dakota at (907) 222-7625 ext. 609.

• Fu Bao Hartle is a Juneau Special Olympics athlete and advocate, and a commercial photographer.