ALCAP’s Dan Ireland honored by national anti-gambling group

Alabamians know Dan Ireland, executive dir­ector of Alabama Citizens Action Program, opposes gambling as much as anyone in the state. But his relentless lobbying efforts against the much-debated activity is also respected nationwide.
   
In fact, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG) recognized Ireland during the group’s Sept. 16–18 annual meeting, held in Rhode Island.
   
Guy Clark, NCALG’s chairman of  the board, pre­sented Ireland with the group’s Light­house Award for “people who have lighted the way in the quest against gambling.” Ireland was one of the founders of the group and served as chairman of the board of directors for many of the early years.
   
“His great character and power of leadership were major reasons that NCALG rose from an obscure, tiny organization to one that frustrated the plans of the gambling predators in scores of battles across the country,” Clark explained. “His money-raising abilities rescued NCALG many times when it looked like we wouldn’t be able to pay … our employees.
   
“He always came through when things looked desperate,” Clark said. “Also, if you have ever heard a sermon or a speech by Dan, you will understand why numerous states have invited him to visit … and motivate the troops.”
   
Ireland — who expressed gratitude for being recognized by the group he first dreamed about and then helped get off the ground and now supports through financial contributions and active participation — beams when telling the story of how the group got its start.
   
It was 1993 and Ireland decided to move ahead with a vision he and others had of a national group against gambling. He called together a think-tank of personalities, and from that meeting, NCALG was born.
   
NCALG’s founding meeting was held in 1994 in Nashville.
   
“It was coming an ice storm, but we made it there,” said Ireland’s wife, Polly, who was also instrumental in founding the organization. “We were amazed at how many people made it to that meeting, despite the weather,” she said, “and despite the way we advertised the meeting.”
   
The Irelands chuckled recalling the lack of a marketing budget to promote the meeting. They created the brochure using the resources they had and then sent it to another member of the original group, who printed it for free. The brochures were distributed to members of the founding group and from there who knows where they went.
   
“We handed them to anyone we thought might be interested,” Ireland said.
   
When it came time to meet that icy February, a group of people from all walks of life and numerous faith groups showed up. From that point on a core network of gambling opponents have worked together to fight pro-gambling legislation nationwide. The group also educates citizens across the country about the adverse effects of gambling.