Jouni Helminen elected President of the Finnish Bowling Federation
12/24/06
Finland
Bowlingdigital: Jouni, this was a big surprise for us, when we heard that you are the newly elected president of the Finnish Bowling Federation. How big was the surprise for you?
Jouni Helminen: I offered a program to the delegates and I was surprised how well my thoughts were accepted, so yes, I was little bit surprised too.
Bowlingdigital: Please tell us a little bit more about the procedure?
Jouni Helminen: The meeting was held on the 16th of December in Helsinki. The delegates are chosen every three years by federation's convention. This was also the end of that three-year term. I and Heikki were not among the delegates. I won the election by 12 to 10 votes. Vice president Erkki Jääskeläinen was re-elected. The federation board was also elected for two years. Three of the eight members changed. Lasse Lintilä (editor's note: Lintilä is one the most successful amateur bowlers in the world) is one of the new members.
Bowlingdigital: What were the reasons to run against Heikki Sarso for president?
Jouni Helminen: I talked to a lot of bowlers around the country before the election. After Heikki Sarso became the WTBA (World Tenpin Bowling Association) president, people felt like he didn't have enough time for Finnish bowling. That is the reason why it made sense to have to another person as the Finnish president. The presidency is not a job. You have to make a living doing something else and then use your spare time for presidential duties. Since a day has just 24 hours, I thought it would be better to share the duties. I will now take care of the domestic matters and Heikki Sarso can focus on WTBA issues.
Bowlingdigital: What went wrong with federation's 'policy' in the past two years?
Jouni Helminen: I wouldn't say that there has been anything wrong. It was just time to have new ideas and new faces. My plan is not to do this for the rest of my life. I'm actually trying to change the rules so that a president can be re-elected only twice for a maximum of six years. This would make sure that there would a new person and new ideas at least every six years.
Bowlingdigital: Since you won the election, what are your plans for the future?
Jouni Helminen: My biggest concern is to get more members in the Finnish Bowling Federation. We are lacking all those 20-40 year old bowlers who are now only on the recreational side. We need to make some marketing especially for that age group. Coaching is another thing we need to make available in the whole country. We are working on building a better system on that. I also have some new ideas for the Federation's website and newspaper. There are a lot of things on my mind and I got some new ideas from all the bowlers I talked to before the election.
Bowlingdigital: It looks like President of the Finnish Bowling Federation must be the easiest job for any bowling official in Europe. The men's team has won numerous medals in the European championships, Osku Palermaa won the World Cup, Kimmo Lehtonen won the World Ranking Masters last year - and another Finnish bowler was second … you. Ok, the women took a little rest after winning all those World and European Team Cups, but they are still a force to reckon with. So how tough will the task be for you?
Jouni Helminen: It's true that Team Finland has been really strong for last ten years. The same guys have won almost everything on international field. The biggest challenge will be to find new players to replace them once they retire. I'm pretty well aware that it will take some time and I'm willing to give that time to the new coaches and new players.
Bowlingdigital: You have been sixth in the 2004 European rankings and tied for second in 2005. Will you now focus on bowling administration and retire as player?
Jouni Helminen: I will not retire yet, I love the game too much. Bowling has always been a part of my life, and by keeping up with competition I'll stay in touch with the bowlers. Of course this new duty will limit my time to bowl, but I'll try to do my best for both sides.
Bowlingdigital: You will become 37 in January and you are only a few years younger than Tomas Leandersson, who retired from the national team to become Swedish head coach. Is this a new trend in Scandinavia that the former national team members take over duties in their respective national federation?
Jouni Helminen: So it seems. As I mentioned earlier Lasse Lintilä is a new member of the federation board. Petri Mannonen (editor's note: Reigning European Masters champion Mannonen is also a long-time national team member.) is the head of the tournament committee which since the fall of 2006. I'm a member of the committee too.
Bowlingdigital: Do you think your (young) age will make it easier or more difficult to work with the Finnish bowling officials?
Jouni Helminen: After I got my driver's license at the age of 18, I bowled a lot of tournaments in Finland. For about ten years I bowled a thousand games a year around the country. I know most of the bowling centers and the bowlers know me. I'm younger than the previous presidents but I've been bowling for almost 25 years. I think that working with other bowling officials won't be a problem at all because I already know most of them.
Bowlingdigital: What did your team mates say? The (former) national team members and the members of your bowling club? Any reactions?
Jouni Helminen: Actually the whole idea came from my fellow bowlers. They told me that I should run for the president.
Bowlingdigital: What does Pauliina say to your plans?
Jouni Helminen: Pauliina has got used to the idea that with me our life will always be around bowling. This is just one side of it. I think that having a wife at home with all the bowling experience (both on the lanes and in business) she's got is not a bad thing at all. (Editor's note: Pauliina is a former Finnish international and PWBA member.)
Bowlingdigital: What's next? Is there anything official on Jan. 1, 2007 or do you just start working?
Jouni Helminen: Nothing official, but lots of work to do. We haven't made any traveling plans yet. I guess that the first international experience will be European Tenpin Bowling Federation congress in Vienna next summer.
Jouni Helminen: I offered a program to the delegates and I was surprised how well my thoughts were accepted, so yes, I was little bit surprised too.
Bowlingdigital: Please tell us a little bit more about the procedure?
Jouni Helminen: The meeting was held on the 16th of December in Helsinki. The delegates are chosen every three years by federation's convention. This was also the end of that three-year term. I and Heikki were not among the delegates. I won the election by 12 to 10 votes. Vice president Erkki Jääskeläinen was re-elected. The federation board was also elected for two years. Three of the eight members changed. Lasse Lintilä (editor's note: Lintilä is one the most successful amateur bowlers in the world) is one of the new members.
Bowlingdigital: What were the reasons to run against Heikki Sarso for president?
Jouni Helminen: I talked to a lot of bowlers around the country before the election. After Heikki Sarso became the WTBA (World Tenpin Bowling Association) president, people felt like he didn't have enough time for Finnish bowling. That is the reason why it made sense to have to another person as the Finnish president. The presidency is not a job. You have to make a living doing something else and then use your spare time for presidential duties. Since a day has just 24 hours, I thought it would be better to share the duties. I will now take care of the domestic matters and Heikki Sarso can focus on WTBA issues.
Bowlingdigital: What went wrong with federation's 'policy' in the past two years?
Jouni Helminen: I wouldn't say that there has been anything wrong. It was just time to have new ideas and new faces. My plan is not to do this for the rest of my life. I'm actually trying to change the rules so that a president can be re-elected only twice for a maximum of six years. This would make sure that there would a new person and new ideas at least every six years.
Bowlingdigital: Since you won the election, what are your plans for the future?
Jouni Helminen: My biggest concern is to get more members in the Finnish Bowling Federation. We are lacking all those 20-40 year old bowlers who are now only on the recreational side. We need to make some marketing especially for that age group. Coaching is another thing we need to make available in the whole country. We are working on building a better system on that. I also have some new ideas for the Federation's website and newspaper. There are a lot of things on my mind and I got some new ideas from all the bowlers I talked to before the election.
Bowlingdigital: It looks like President of the Finnish Bowling Federation must be the easiest job for any bowling official in Europe. The men's team has won numerous medals in the European championships, Osku Palermaa won the World Cup, Kimmo Lehtonen won the World Ranking Masters last year - and another Finnish bowler was second … you. Ok, the women took a little rest after winning all those World and European Team Cups, but they are still a force to reckon with. So how tough will the task be for you?
Jouni Helminen: It's true that Team Finland has been really strong for last ten years. The same guys have won almost everything on international field. The biggest challenge will be to find new players to replace them once they retire. I'm pretty well aware that it will take some time and I'm willing to give that time to the new coaches and new players.
Bowlingdigital: You have been sixth in the 2004 European rankings and tied for second in 2005. Will you now focus on bowling administration and retire as player?
Jouni Helminen: I will not retire yet, I love the game too much. Bowling has always been a part of my life, and by keeping up with competition I'll stay in touch with the bowlers. Of course this new duty will limit my time to bowl, but I'll try to do my best for both sides.
Bowlingdigital: You will become 37 in January and you are only a few years younger than Tomas Leandersson, who retired from the national team to become Swedish head coach. Is this a new trend in Scandinavia that the former national team members take over duties in their respective national federation?
Jouni Helminen: So it seems. As I mentioned earlier Lasse Lintilä is a new member of the federation board. Petri Mannonen (editor's note: Reigning European Masters champion Mannonen is also a long-time national team member.) is the head of the tournament committee which since the fall of 2006. I'm a member of the committee too.
Bowlingdigital: Do you think your (young) age will make it easier or more difficult to work with the Finnish bowling officials?
Jouni Helminen: After I got my driver's license at the age of 18, I bowled a lot of tournaments in Finland. For about ten years I bowled a thousand games a year around the country. I know most of the bowling centers and the bowlers know me. I'm younger than the previous presidents but I've been bowling for almost 25 years. I think that working with other bowling officials won't be a problem at all because I already know most of them.
Bowlingdigital: What did your team mates say? The (former) national team members and the members of your bowling club? Any reactions?
Jouni Helminen: Actually the whole idea came from my fellow bowlers. They told me that I should run for the president.
Bowlingdigital: What does Pauliina say to your plans?
Jouni Helminen: Pauliina has got used to the idea that with me our life will always be around bowling. This is just one side of it. I think that having a wife at home with all the bowling experience (both on the lanes and in business) she's got is not a bad thing at all. (Editor's note: Pauliina is a former Finnish international and PWBA member.)
Bowlingdigital: What's next? Is there anything official on Jan. 1, 2007 or do you just start working?
Jouni Helminen: Nothing official, but lots of work to do. We haven't made any traveling plans yet. I guess that the first international experience will be European Tenpin Bowling Federation congress in Vienna next summer.