ALCAP preparing to name Dan Ireland’s co-director

For nearly 30 years, Dan Ireland has been a moral mainstay in the Alabama Legislature, standing up for Baptists’ beliefs on issues such as alcohol, gambling and pornography.

And while Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), has seen plenty of victories, there are still many good things  to strive for, he said. And he’s ready to pass on the mantle to someone who is ready to do just that. Ireland, who plans to retire in March 2008, is awaiting the appointment of a co-director in March 2007 who will work with him for a year before he bids ALCAP goodbye — in official terms, anyway. Resumés are currently being reviewed, and interviews will soon be scheduled for selection of someone for the role.

“The new person will have to be open with the legislators and prove credible. It’s important to know the ins and outs of the laws,” Ireland said.

He added that the presence of the ALCAP leader is not just for legislative purposes but also as a chaplain and spiritual leader for the legislators. Along with his work with the Legislature, Ireland crisscrosses the state talking with citizens considering legalizing alcohol sales in their city or county. He works to educate the public about the ills of alcohol by speaking in various venues and providing educational literature on the subject.

The ALCAP office, which Ireland oversees, also supports an abstinence education program for public schools, led by Bill Day, which focuses on curtailing drug use by students.

And there aren’t many Sundays when Ireland is not preaching in a pulpit somewhere in the state.

Because of this heavily relational role and the tedious nature of learning the issues, ALCAP’s board of directors agreed to hire a co-director for a year to shadow Ireland.

“We felt this was an important step to let the new director learn the ropes with the Legislature alongside Dan and get up to date on other ALCAP programs as well,” said Mike McLemore, chairman of the board for ALCAP and pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association.

Supporting two directors, however, will present ALCAP with a “financial challenge for the next year,” so McLemore said ALCAP is asking state Baptists for help. “I just sent a letter to pastors asking for help this year, either adding us into their budget for the year or giving a one-time gift to help us with this effort,” he said.

McLemore said although ALCAP is on a “very lean budget,” the board feels a year of mentoring is a vital move to keep the vision of ALCAP going.

Ireland agreed. “There are good things that have not yet been accomplished that the new person can get done, as well as see that ALCAP remains in the foreground of credibility and acceptability throughout the state.”