As a CDA for the Virginia District, Alice has the job of promoting and growing the sport of tennis throughout the entire State.  She has held the position here for nearly 5 years, and five years before that in North Carolina for the Southern District.

Alice says the best way to describe her job is as "a little ADD (attention deficit disorder)".

"I focus on lots of different things and get pulled in different directions," she said. "But it all has the same goal in mind."  Her work requires 50 hour workweeks, and travel 15 - 20 weekends out of the year.  She is available to her profession all week, including weeknights if the job requires.  And it does.

"Most of the CTAs (Community Tennis Associations) meet at night, so that's when I'm needed."  Alice serves as a liason to 30 CTAs in Virginia.   She provides knowledge and assistance to CTAs that are starting out, as well as relaying information back to the District as to what's happening at the grass roots level.

Alice got her job with the Virginia District by offering to volunteer.  Because she had done such a great job with the Southern District, Virginia created a position for her.  At the time, the Virginia District had a very small staff.  Since she's been here, the District has added three more staffers.  

In addition to her work with the CTAs, Alice is also responsible for  The National Junior Tennis League, which focuses on inner-city, at risk youth.  Alice assists the Richmond Parks and Recreation with applications for need-based grants for player development and scholarships.  Program funding is made possible by money received from The US Open.  "It's like a cycle of life," Alice explained, describing how money from the Open is recycled back to the community, which in turn feeds the growth of tennis, which ultimately feeds back into the Open.

She also works to develop the Junior Team Tennis program, which has recently seen new interest here locally. 

"It is somewhat competing with the Richmond Junior Suburban Tennis League," said Alice.  "It's not our goal to take away from any existing programs, especially successful ones."  The Tidewater and Lynchburg areas have strong USTA junior leagues, and Alice is working to develop the Northern Virginia area as well.   She does that by looking to find the right people to coordinate the programs in their community.  "Tennis pros themselves are so busy, and they often don't have time to fill administrative roles," she said.  "I'm always asking people 'who do you know' and am on the lookout for people willing to help out."

The Richmond Tennis Association is a CTA.  "There are different kinds of CTAs," Alice explained.  "Some CTAs do one special thing very well. Others are geared to have lots of social events and activities.  And some are clearinghouses for information."  Alice is a member of the RTA Board of Directors.    She also plays USTA League tennis on weekday and weekend league teams at the 4.0 level.

Alice played Division I college tennis on scholarship at Appalachian State in Boone, NC, where she won the Sportsmanship Award for the Southern Conference. She started playing tennis at age 11 at the Raleigh Racquet Club.  "I was in the top 10 in 18s," she laughed.  "But that's because nobody really plays in the18s."  She was also an Education Major, which caught the attention of the Executive Director for the Southern District, who was looking for someone to train Physical Education teachers to teach tennis in schools at the time Alice went looking for a job.  It's all worked out.  She calls herself a USTA "lifer" - someone who's been with the organization for awhile.  "Ten years qualifies me as a lifer, don't you think?"  

Given her involvement in so many areas, it's not surprising Alice fields lots of questions.  "I have people who'll call and ask 'What's my rating?' and others who'll call to ask about finding a league.

"I always try to direct them to the right person.  Sometimes a person may have started their search by calling the National office, which directs them to the Sectional office, which directs them to the District office in Roanoke, which says 'Talk to Alice Buckner.'  By the time they get to me, they're exhausted.  After all that, they deserve correct information!"

While the job does have demanding hours, it allows for flexibility, which is important to a young mom.  Tom, her husband of 8 years, who is employed with Meridian Construction Capital, is "the man in charge" on weekends.   He's learning to play tennis, when not working on renovating their home in the Belllevue area.  It's a 1910 "money pit", said Alice, but she thinks it's going to be wonderful once all the renovations are completed.  

"My job is good for where I am in my life right now." 

And for the community of Richmond area tennis players, too.