Donna Morales brings bowlers, bowling together at USBC Women's Championships
The 61-year-old San Jose native was personally responsible for coordinating the participation of 26 teams this past weekend at the National Bowling Stadium.
"My whole purpose is to give a lot of ladies the opportunity, which otherwise they may not have, to take part in these tournaments," Morales said. "I get involved in about 11 or 12 tournaments every year." She's been performing her labor of love for about a dozen years.
Morales laboriously maintains a database of approximately 250 women, whom she contacts prior to different tournaments to ask if they might want to participate. She then sets the dates, fills out the paper work and provides them with informational materials from the USBC. In some cases, she'll even book a block of hotel rooms for her ladies in the host city.
What's in it for her?
"Satisfaction," she broadly beams. "I love bowling and putting people together who love bowling. Sometimes, at the smaller facilities, my teams will take up the whole house, but I've never met most of the women except over the computer. Usually they come looking for me on the lanes."
Far from realizing any monetary gains from her efforts, it usually ends up costing Morales in supplies, postage and phone calls, not to mention her time. But, she confesses, the effort gives her and husband Harold a great excuse to travel.
There are other perks as well. Some bowlers show their appreciation for her efforts by providing bowling jackets as souvenirs, or little keepsakes, even postage. Morales says USBC has also graciously expressed its gratitude.
"David Biber, the tournament manager has been very thoughtful and kind, and I really appreciate that."
Biber says it's bowlers like Morales who are so integral to the success of the USBC Women's Championships.
"The squad coordinators are a vital part of the tournament, because we know how many teams they're going to bring, year-to-year," Biber notes. "We know that these gals are going to bring bowlers to us every year, and we count on them. They're extremely organized. I can't imagine the amount of work it takes to put together these teams. The squad coordinators always come in with a great disposition. They're always very friendly, cordial and extremely easy to work with. We're thankful to them for that, and for many other reasons."
The United States Bowling Congress, reinforced by a total of 66 squad coordinators, have brought in a total of 923 teams to bowl in the 2006 Women's Championships.
Morales has been bowling in league play since 1978, though she learned the game from her parents years earlier. A member of the San Jose Bowling Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service, Morales currently serves as secretary for two leagues. She also is a California Women's Bowling Association certified instructor, a certified lane inspector and member of the San Jose bowling board of directors.
Kegel is the official lane maintenance provider for the USBC. For more information about the USBC Women's Championships, visit www.usbcwomenschampionships.com.
5/23/2006
By Bob Sagan USBC Communications