'Lots of affection'
Volunteer sees genuine side of people at Special Olympics
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, August 11, 2008
Ryan Bertrand volunteers with the Sioux City Parks and Recreation Annual Special Olympics Expo. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
Ryan Bertrand's motivation in assisting with this month's Special Olympics Expo is personal.
"I have a nephew with Downs Syndrome and friends who also have a child with Downs Syndrome," said the detective with the Sioux City Police Department. "So, I was probably more interested in participating than others might be."
Bertrand and other volunteers helped with the 21st annual event at Leif Erikson Park in Sioux City in early August. Although he listed his interest as personal, it was another police officer and e-mails soliciting volunteers from Geoff Hubbard, recreation superintendent, that compelled him to start volunteering four years ago.
Bertrand's responsibility during the event has been in the volleyball area, although he has helped out in tennis and softball as well.
"I set up the net and make sure each group -- we color code them red, blue and green -- will rotate in with different cycles," he explained.
The spikes and set-ups are there, but at not quite the competitive level, Bertrand acknowledged.
"We have some heavy hitters, which means I do a lot of ball shagging," he said with a grin.
The rules aren't quite as intensely followed either, Bertrand admitted.
"We're kind of loose on the rules," said the Sioux City native, who also serves as unofficial scorekeeper, judge, referee and linesman, in addition to ball boy. "It's more important to keep the competition going and fun for the participants."
Although unheard of in most volleyball games for an official, Bertrand has stepped in and "played" the ball.
"It's more about participating than scorekeeping," he said. "If the ball is comin' at you, it's more important to keep it in play."
Not only does Bertrand step in on occasion, he confessed to messing with the net and the lines.
"I've been known to pull the net down to make sure the ball gets over," he said, smiling. "And if the ball is close to the line, I may judge it a little closer than it really is."
Bertrand said the joy he gets from working at the Expo is a nice trade off from his daytime job in the investigative services bureau of the police department.
"First time I ever participated, it hit me that the work I do really shows the tougher side of life," he said. "It's easy to get cynical about people."
That's not the case with people at the Special Olympics, Bertrand, 35, pointed out.
"With them, I get to experience truly, genuine folks," he said. "There's always lots of affection and it's the most enjoyable thing for them and for me."
Once the sports events have concluded, Bertrand segues to helping out with swimming and grilling hot dogs.
"That's when I really recognize familiar faces from past years," he said. "That's so great because when I'm out in the community during the rest of the year, I will see these people at other events and I remember them and they remember me."
VITA
Name: Ryan Bertrand
Hometown: Sioux City
Education: 1991 East High graduate; 2000 Briar Cliff University alum with a bachelor's degree in HR management
Military: Served in U.S. Marine Corps from 1991-95
Professional: Worked in construction, Gateway 2000 and UPS before joining the Sioux City Police Department in 2002; detective in crimes versus persons unit since 2005
Personal: Married to wife Jackie since 1992; twin boys Carter and Cole.
"I have a nephew with Downs Syndrome and friends who also have a child with Downs Syndrome," said the detective with the Sioux City Police Department. "So, I was probably more interested in participating than others might be."
Bertrand and other volunteers helped with the 21st annual event at Leif Erikson Park in Sioux City in early August. Although he listed his interest as personal, it was another police officer and e-mails soliciting volunteers from Geoff Hubbard, recreation superintendent, that compelled him to start volunteering four years ago.
Bertrand's responsibility during the event has been in the volleyball area, although he has helped out in tennis and softball as well.
"I set up the net and make sure each group -- we color code them red, blue and green -- will rotate in with different cycles," he explained.
The spikes and set-ups are there, but at not quite the competitive level, Bertrand acknowledged.
"We have some heavy hitters, which means I do a lot of ball shagging," he said with a grin.
The rules aren't quite as intensely followed either, Bertrand admitted.
"We're kind of loose on the rules," said the Sioux City native, who also serves as unofficial scorekeeper, judge, referee and linesman, in addition to ball boy. "It's more important to keep the competition going and fun for the participants."
Although unheard of in most volleyball games for an official, Bertrand has stepped in and "played" the ball.
"It's more about participating than scorekeeping," he said. "If the ball is comin' at you, it's more important to keep it in play."
Not only does Bertrand step in on occasion, he confessed to messing with the net and the lines.
"I've been known to pull the net down to make sure the ball gets over," he said, smiling. "And if the ball is close to the line, I may judge it a little closer than it really is."
Bertrand said the joy he gets from working at the Expo is a nice trade off from his daytime job in the investigative services bureau of the police department.
"First time I ever participated, it hit me that the work I do really shows the tougher side of life," he said. "It's easy to get cynical about people."
That's not the case with people at the Special Olympics, Bertrand, 35, pointed out.
"With them, I get to experience truly, genuine folks," he said. "There's always lots of affection and it's the most enjoyable thing for them and for me."
Once the sports events have concluded, Bertrand segues to helping out with swimming and grilling hot dogs.
"That's when I really recognize familiar faces from past years," he said. "That's so great because when I'm out in the community during the rest of the year, I will see these people at other events and I remember them and they remember me."
VITA
Name: Ryan Bertrand
Hometown: Sioux City
Education: 1991 East High graduate; 2000 Briar Cliff University alum with a bachelor's degree in HR management
Military: Served in U.S. Marine Corps from 1991-95
Professional: Worked in construction, Gateway 2000 and UPS before joining the Sioux City Police Department in 2002; detective in crimes versus persons unit since 2005
Personal: Married to wife Jackie since 1992; twin boys Carter and Cole.
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