USBC continues investing in local leaders through Association Leadership Academy; 2025 schedule announced
October 29, 2024
ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress succeeds when local and state associations are flourishing, and the Association Leadership Academy (ALA) has proven to be a valuable asset in helping these associations improve upon what they know and further their services to the bowling community.
ALAs are two-day events hosted by the USBC Association Services team, offering a variety of seminars and workshops similar to past USBC Conventions, either in-market or at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas. Collaborative sessions include board roles & responsibilities, enhanced fundraising ideas, association assessments and planning, and many more.
Since the inaugural event in 2017, there have been 36 ALAs, including five in 2024, which have involved nearly 1,400 association leaders from over 700 different associations.
Milwaukee Area USBC Association Manager Kathy Stevens and San Gabriel Valley USBC Vice President Abel Gervacio are just a few leaders that have attended ALAs, eager to put what they learned into bettering their local bowling communities.
“I felt that I could learn new things, just get out to see other associations and how they do things,” said Stevens. “We’re an association of about 8,000 members, and it’s good to hear how the smaller associations run and the bigger ones as well to see what would fit into our environment.”
“I was motivated to attend the class because I wanted to learn more about how I can help represent our league bowlers,” said Gervacio. “I was eager to participate with others in the class and obtain training from the leaders at the national office.”
In-market and IBC schedules vary slightly but set out to achieve the same core goal: to invest in local leaders for A Future for the Sport. Investing in education for local volunteers is a core function of any association, and the continued energy and excitement by attendees shows the value in these events.
Nearly all expenses to attend an ALA are paid by USBC, including travel, lodging and meals, investing even more into the leaders at the local and state levels.
Doris McAllister, Association Manager at Ashley County USBC, had high praise for the ALA she attended.
"The weekend leadership event was amazing,” said McAllister. “In my former career, I was a director at a college and attended several prestigious leadership academies, but this far exceeded what I was anticipating. Plus, I feel like I made 50 new friends. They are an amazing group of people who have a passion for bowling, and that energized me.”
We look forward to building on the momentum of previous years and delivering even more valuable experiences to our association leaders. The schedule for next year’s locations is available below.
2025 ALA Schedule
Jan. 18-19: Jacksonville, Fla.
April 4-5: Richmond, Va.
Aug. 15-16: St. Louis
Sept. 16-17 and Oct. 18-19: International Bowling Campus, Arlington, Texas
Full schedules for ALAs can be found here for in-market locations and here for IBC events.
Email invitations for in-market events will go out 60-90 days before the event to associations within driving distance (250 miles) of the city.
For more information on associations and ALAs, visit BOWL.com/Associations.
ALAs are two-day events hosted by the USBC Association Services team, offering a variety of seminars and workshops similar to past USBC Conventions, either in-market or at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas. Collaborative sessions include board roles & responsibilities, enhanced fundraising ideas, association assessments and planning, and many more.
Since the inaugural event in 2017, there have been 36 ALAs, including five in 2024, which have involved nearly 1,400 association leaders from over 700 different associations.
Milwaukee Area USBC Association Manager Kathy Stevens and San Gabriel Valley USBC Vice President Abel Gervacio are just a few leaders that have attended ALAs, eager to put what they learned into bettering their local bowling communities.
“I felt that I could learn new things, just get out to see other associations and how they do things,” said Stevens. “We’re an association of about 8,000 members, and it’s good to hear how the smaller associations run and the bigger ones as well to see what would fit into our environment.”
“I was motivated to attend the class because I wanted to learn more about how I can help represent our league bowlers,” said Gervacio. “I was eager to participate with others in the class and obtain training from the leaders at the national office.”
In-market and IBC schedules vary slightly but set out to achieve the same core goal: to invest in local leaders for A Future for the Sport. Investing in education for local volunteers is a core function of any association, and the continued energy and excitement by attendees shows the value in these events.
Nearly all expenses to attend an ALA are paid by USBC, including travel, lodging and meals, investing even more into the leaders at the local and state levels.
Doris McAllister, Association Manager at Ashley County USBC, had high praise for the ALA she attended.
"The weekend leadership event was amazing,” said McAllister. “In my former career, I was a director at a college and attended several prestigious leadership academies, but this far exceeded what I was anticipating. Plus, I feel like I made 50 new friends. They are an amazing group of people who have a passion for bowling, and that energized me.”
We look forward to building on the momentum of previous years and delivering even more valuable experiences to our association leaders. The schedule for next year’s locations is available below.
2025 ALA Schedule
Jan. 18-19: Jacksonville, Fla.
April 4-5: Richmond, Va.
Aug. 15-16: St. Louis
Sept. 16-17 and Oct. 18-19: International Bowling Campus, Arlington, Texas
Full schedules for ALAs can be found here for in-market locations and here for IBC events.
Email invitations for in-market events will go out 60-90 days before the event to associations within driving distance (250 miles) of the city.
For more information on associations and ALAs, visit BOWL.com/Associations.