Bowl-a-thon Team Leader Instructions
1. Secure a Date, Place and Time to Bowl
NOAH’s 3rd Annual Bowl-a-thon is scheduled for the weekend of February 15-18, 2008.
The goal is to schedule all bowling on one of these three days to join in a virtual event.
Because bowling alleys are booked with leagues and events well in advance in the fall,
winter and spring months, the sooner you get started the better. Figure out when you
would most like to bowl. Select possible bowling alleys in your area. Then contact the
bowling alleys to see when they have open bowling available. Reserve the number of
lanes you will need for the team(s) you have recruited. Keep in mind that NOAH may
refer bowlers in your area to you. It is wise to reserve a little more space than you need.
It is suggested that the cost of bowling (lane and shoe rental) will be the responsibility
of the bowlers.
If you have a large group, you may wish to organize a party in conjunction with the
Bowl-a-thon. Many bowling alleys have party rooms and offer food and drink packages.
Some bowling alleys may allow you to bring in your own food or cater a meal. Any
arrangements for a party in conjunction with the Bowl-a-thon will be made by the team
leader. Team leaders are responsible for all aspects of booking the party including
ordering food and drink, collecting money and paying the bills. Your bowling event may
be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. Contact a bowl-a-thon committee member to
help you plan what will work best for you.
Karen and Chris Jordan
914-276-3366
Sheila and Joe Adamo
630-420-6909
Scott Gibson (Canada)
519-745-3058
Smaller groups may wish to organize a meal in conjunction with bowling at a nearby
restaurant or at someone’s home.
2. Recruit Bowlers
Any number of bowlers or teams are welcome to participate in the NOAH Bowl-a-thon
– the more the merrier. You can go bowling as an individual or as a family if you wish.
There is no minimum number of persons required to participate. If you choose to reach
out beyond yourself and family, then you can recruit neighbors, friends and or coworkers who are willing to bowl for NOAH. If you are willing to team up with other
NOAH members in your area who are willing to bowl, then let NOAH know at info@
albinism.org or by calling 1-800-473-2310. Team leaders should keep in mind that each
bowler will go out to gather pledges. Try to pick people you know who will get out
there and get pledges from family, neighbors, friends and or co-workers.
3. Submit Schedule Information
As soon as possible, please let us know the date, time and location of your event by
emailing [email protected] or telephoning 800-473-2310. Also, the committee would like
to know if you are willing to put your contact information on the NOAH website to allow
others in you area to bowl with you. A list of bowl-a-thon events will be posted on NOAH’s
website in a special section.
4. Get Pledges
This is the most important part of the Bowl-a-thon. Team leaders should instruct
bowlers to get as many pledges as possible. Using the pledge sheets provided,
bowlers should approach family, friends, neighbors, and or coworkers to ask them to be
a sponsor.
There are two kinds of pledges. The first type of pledge is based on the score the
bowler achieves. For example, if a sponsor pledges 10 cents per pin and the bowler
gets a score of 140, the sponsor pledges to make a donation of $14 (ten cents times
140). Sponsors may also choose to make a flat rate pledge. The advantage of a flat rate
pledge is that the bowler does not need to collect the money after they bowl. They can
simply collect the donation while getting sponsors. Note that the minimum score will
be 100 regardless of how well the bowler plays.
For cash donations, issue a receipt if the sponsor wishes. Instruct bowlers to have
sponsors make donation checks payable to NOAH in US Funds.
Bowlers may wish to give the NOAH fact sheet or NOAH’s development brochure
to potential sponsors as a means to explain the organization and to state how money
raised will be used. You can obtain copies of the NOAH development brochure by
contacting Lori at 1-800-473-2310 or at [email protected].
To help you collect pledges NOAH has again contracted with an online web service
at events.org. If you so choose to take advantage of this online tool, events.org allows
you to create a webpage to advertise your bowl-a-thon event and collect donations via
an online credit card transaction. Events.org allows your friends and family to donate
online using a credit card, and the website tracks your progress as you go. Events.org
also allows you to see who else has set up a bowl-a-thon event. You do not have to use
events.org. It is your choice.
5. Bowl
This is the fun part! Team leaders ensure that each bowler who has collected pledges
bowls at least one line (or game) as arranged over the weekend of February 15-18, 2008.
It is our goal to have hundreds of people bowling across the United States and Canada.
If a team or bowler chooses to bowl more than one game, instruct the bowler to use the
highest score to calculate pledges.
6. Collect Donations Pledged
After everyone bowls, team leaders instruct bowlers to enter the final score on their
pledge sheets and to collect the appropriate amount from sponsors based on their
highest score by March 15, 2008. For cash donations, be sure that bowlers issue a
receipt if the sponsor wishes. Instruct bowlers to have sponsors make donation
checks payable to NOAH in US Funds. Team leaders should instruct bowlers to
convert the cash they collect to a check or money order in US Funds.
7. Send Money to NOAH
It will be up to the team leader to make sure that all money gets to NOAH. If possible,
team leaders should gather all pledge sheets and checks once bowlers have collected
all pledges, fill out the transmittal sheet, batch all pledge sheets and checks together
with the form and mail it to NOAH at PO Box 959, East Hampstead, NH 03826-0959 by
March 15, 2008. Alternatively, team leaders may instruct the bowlers to send checks and
pledge sheets directly to NOAH. Please be sure to have your contributors designate your
team so you get credit towards your prize(s).
NOAH’s second bowl-a-thon was a great success, and we’d like to make this, our third
annual bowl-a-thon even bigger and better. While working on the bowl-a-thon keep in
mind those aspects that worked well and those that did not so that we can continue to
improve the event. Team leaders should submit their comments and suggestions with
their pledge sheet(s) and checks.
Purpose of the Bowl-a-thon
The Bowl-a-thon is a fun way for the albinism community to come together in person
locally and in spirit across the United States and Canada while raising funds for
NOAH programs. NOAH now operates almost exclusively on dues and donations
by members. Although we can continue to operate basic programs with current
support, we need your help to raise money for new programs, services and the
2008 Conference. All of the money that you collect will help keep NOAH moving
forward, so get your team together, gather your supporters and bowl your best!
Money raised by the 2008 NOAH Bowl-a-thon will go to:
• Subsidize the 2008 Conference and make personal grants available to those who
cannot otherwise afford the cost of attending
•Subsidize the NOAH Family Summer Camp
•Subsidize local and regional events
•Print and publish a new parent book
•Produce grade level specific resources for the student with albinism in
the regular classroom
•Fund advocacy and outreach programs
Team Prizes
National Fundraiser
This year NOAH is again offering prizes based on the amount of money
you raise.
$100
cap
$500
t-shirt and cap
$1,000
sweatshirt
$2,500
sweatshirt, trophy and special recognition in Albinism InSignt
$5,000
sweatshirt, trophy, special recognition in Albinism InSight plus a special
dinner at
the 2008 conference
Aim high and remember that our families and friends often want a way to show their support
to us and the bowl-a-thon gives them that opportunity. Encourage your NOAH friends to
either join you at your event or have one of their own. You could even challenge them to a little
friendly competition.