Special Olympics New York - Genesee Region: March 2009

Tuesday April 14th we will hold a Medfest at Paetec Park from 10:00am until 12:45pm. We will have two or three physicians on hand to perform basic physicals and complete SO medical forms. Any coaches that have athletes in need of updated medical and consent forms may attend. Space is limited so interested coaches must contact myself (585-586-7400 x 103) or Rob Mitchell (585-586-7400 x 107) by Friday, March 20th.

Summer Conference:

The summer conference will be held on March 28th at the Canandaigua Elementary School. Online registration is now available. Check out the "Seasonal Conference Info" section below for more information and a link to the online registration.You can also click here to register online!

Start of the season reminder:

Summer roster forms are available in the Online File Folder and should be fully-completed and returned to the regional office along with medical and consent forms for every athlete that is training with your club. (Important note: you will no longer be allowed to register for a regional or state event until we have received a completed roster and an up-to-date medical/consent for each of your athletes). I appreciate your patience and support regarding this important matter.

Medical and consent form tip:

While you are putting together your rosters this summer season, it would be beneficial to use that opportunity to assure that all of your athletes medicals and consents are in order, up to date and filled out from top to bottom. As I receive them here in the office I will do the same and notify you of any issues. If your rosters and medicals are in order at the beginning of the season, registrations should be no problem.

As usual if you have any questions you should feel free to contact me using the information provided at the bottom of the page.

Thanks,

Josh Dority

Important Special Olympics Documents

We have set up an online file folder system where we will save all important Special Olympics documents.

*This is not an online registration system. It is simply a place to store saved files. When you locate the registration form that you need, you can print the form and complete it... or save the form on your computer so that you can type the information. It still needs to be emailed, faxed or mailed to the genesee office.

The folder will include:

Event Registration Forms

Event Flyers

Roster Forms

Demand Case Survey Forms

We will also periodically add other important forms and documents as they are needed. In order to access these files you need to find the quick link to the left and then enter the user name and password (Listed Below). You could also visit the website directly at www.onlinefilefolder.com. Or Click this link!

User Name: Registrations (case sensitive)

Password: genesee

Conference Information

2009 Summer Conference

Canandaigua Elementary School

90 West Gibson St.

Canandaigua NY 14424

Saturday March 28, 2009

Session I:

Around the Region

9:00am-10:00am

Session II:

Planning Effective Training Sessions

10:00-12:00pm

Session III:

Lunch

12:00pm-12:15pm

Session IV:

General Session

12:15pm-12:45pm

Session V:

Basketball Training

1:00pm-2:30pm

To register for this conference click here!

Upcoming Competitions

Local Aquatics (North)

Saturday

March 14, 2009

Webster Aquatics Center

875 Ridge Road

Webster 14580

Events Schedule:

8:30am Adapted Athlete Registration

9:30am Athlete Registration

10:00am-1:00pm Competition

1:00pm Awards

The deadline to register for this event was Friday February 27, 2009

Local Bowling (Central)

Thursday

March 26, 2009

Livingston Lanes

4260 Lakeville Road

Geneseo 14454

Local Aquatics (Central)

Saturday

April 4, 2009

Holcomb Center

1 College Circle

Geneseo 14454

Future Competitions

Event: Location: Date:

Regional Junior Bowling Roseland Bowl April 6, 2009

Unified Volleyball (North) Nazareth College April 20, 2009

Regional Basketball Tourn. St. John Fisher/Nazareth April 25, 2009

Calendar of Events

Our calendar of events is also available online:

Just Click Here!

And then search for events around the Genesee Region.

Training Club Meetings

Coaches

As part of our continued commitment to improving Program we will now be conducting individual training club meetings. We will only be meeting with clubs that participate in the upcoming sports season so if you are doing a winter sport we will be scheduling to meet with you over the next few weeks. During the meeting the head coach/coaches will meet with one of our program team and will complete the following:

Rosters for the upcoming season.
Registration deadlines.
Medical and Consent Form needs.
Training Club issues (things that we can do to improve your Special Olympics experience).
Conference registration details.

If you wish to schedule a time for us to come and meet you please e-mail Rob Mitchell (rmitchell@nyso.org) or Joshua Dority (jdority@nyso.org).

Young Athletes

SONY LI Athletes

Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities, designed to introduce them to the world of sports prior to Special Olympics eligibility (age 8). This is a fun, participation-based program that teaches eye-hand coordination and motor skills through games and group activities. The Young Athletes program introduces children with intellectual disabilities and their families to the world of Special Olympics by pursuing the following goals:

Engage children with intellectual disabilities through developmentally appropriate play activities designed to foster physical, cognitive, and social development.
Welcome family members of children with intellectual disabilities to the Special Olympics network of support.
Raise awareness about the abilities of children with intellectual disabilities through inclusive peer participation, demonstrations and other events.

This is a versatile program that can work in various learning situations. The program is designed to be simple enough for families to use at home with their child. It is also appropriate for preschools, schools, playgroups and recreation programs to use with small groups of young children.

The program includes several resources to get started including a Young Athletes Activities Guide, a Training DVD, Young Athletes Equipment Kit and and website for further resources, materials and information.

For more information on how to get started or a list of locations already participating around the region please email Rob Mitchell at rmitchell@nyso.org.

Fundraising Opportunities

A message from Melissa Wiggins,

This April, the Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch run has an incredible opportunity with Applebee's. On Wednesday, April 29,2009 we have the opportunity to host "Law & Orders" at every Applebee's in upstate New York! From 5-8:30pm law enforcement officers will be greeting the public, helping the waitresses get drinks, and bus tables while educating the customers about our initiatives. On each table there will be an envelope where the customers can leave a donation for Special Olympics New York. Historically in events like this we can raise anywhere between $500 - $1000 at one restaurant and with over 60 locations across the state we should have an amazing success!

The Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics is the movement's largest grassroots awareness and fundraising initiative, raising more than $30 million internationally in 2008. At its most basic level the Law Enforcement Torch Run was started as a group of officers carrying the Torch into Special Olympics games and ceremonies and it has evolved into one of the largest fundraising programs for the organization. Law Enforcement Officers have the opportunity to play a crucial role in the success of the events held here in the Rochester Area.

This is a tremendous opportunity with Applebee's to raise both funds and awareness for our programs! Law Enforcement Torch Run has been holding these types of events for almost 20 years, but never have we had an event with this much potential. It is my privilege to invite you to join us at this fun and exciting event.

With support like yours, we can continue to show that when people with and without intellectual disabilities are brought together by Special Olympics, myths are dispelled, attitudes are changed, and new opportunities to embrace and celebrate people with intellectual disabilities are created.

If you have any questions about this request or anything pertaining to the upcoming event, please contact: