| Special Olympics New York | | Genesee Region
Program Report April 7, 2009 |
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| | | Dear Darcie, | | 
Hello again friends. updates to the report this week! A message from our Chief Executive Officer: Refer to the article block below for a letter from our CEO Neal Johnson. The letter contains important information regarding Summer State Games. Super Regional Volleyball and Aquatics: This event is being held on May 9th in Buffalo. We will be providing transportation to training clubs in need. Interested coaches must contact Rob Mitchell and make arrangements before Friday April 17, 2009. Demand Case Survey's are now available for Summer State Games. If you haven't already, you will receive the forms via email. They are due back to us by April 17, 2009. Rochester Rhino's ProPass: Special Olympics New York and the Rochester Rhino's have been working together to bring you this great Rhino's ProPass promotion. For $10 any one of our Genesee Region athletes can get season tickets (15 Games) to the Rhino's. Here are the details: SIGNIFICANTLY discounted price (general season tickets are $100 minimum) Designed only for athletes in the Special Olympics program. Upon arriving at the stadium, simply have your card scanned at any of the four entrances of the stadium (Gates A, B C, D), and you're in! No need to stand in line waiting for tickets at the box office... Your card IS your re-useable ticket all season long! (Make sure you don't lose it!) Choose from any seat in ANY of our NINE general admission seating areas. *If you have athletes that would be interested in this promotion or would be interested in purchasing them for an entire group please contact us here in the office by Friday April 10th. Medfest: 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, April 10th. Summer 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. 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 are a breeze. As usual if you have any questions you should feel free to contact me using the information provided at the bottom of the page. |
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| | | | A Message from President and CEO Neal Johnson | | Date: April 7, 2009
To: Athletes, Families, Volunteers, and Friends
From: Neal J. Johnson, President & CEO
Subject: 2009 Summer Games
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I'm sure you are all aware of the economic challenges we are facing. As I mentioned in my previous letter, our organization has had to budget expenses to match a very conservative development outlook. To ensure that we meet our financial needs, unfortunately we have had to change the shape of Summer Games. This proved to be very difficult, knowing we were going to disappoint a lot of people.
This year's Summer Games 2009 will see a reduction in the total number of athletes by 35% and only one day of competition. With a smaller time frame for competition, making this reduction evenly across every sport brings a number of events to a level where quality competition will not exist. To preserve a portion of our larger events, we moved the allocations from some of the low participation sporting events. We also needed to keep in mind that with one day of competition, our larger events would not be able to sustain full participation while maintaining quality competition. With that said here is what events will make up the 2009 Summer Games:
Aquatics - 100% participation* Basketball Team - 80% participation*
Basketball Skills - 100% participation* Volleyball Team - 0% participation*
Powerlifting - 100% participation* Volleyball Skills - 0% participation*
Tennis - 100% participation* Gymnastics - 0% participation*
Athletics - 85% participation* Bowling - 0% participation*
*based on 2008 Summer Games Participation
I appreciate your understanding during these unprecedented times. It was with no great ease that these decisions were reached. The reductions to Summer Games were made very carefully and strategically. In spite of our economic environment, we look forward to the great competitions we will see all around the state this spring. It is essential for us all to do what we can to continue moving forward with our mission.
| | Upcoming Competitions | | Open Unified Volleyball  April 20, 2009 Regional Basketball Saturday April 25, 2009 St. John Fisher College 3690 East Ave Rochester 14618 Nazareth College 4245 East Ave Rochester 14618 | | 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. *If you are having trouble viewing these documents, you may need to adjust the settings on your computer to allow it to download information from the website. 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 | | Calendar of Events | | Our calendar of events is also available online: Just Click Here! And get dates 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 | | 
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:
Melissa Wiggins
(585)586-7400 ext. 105 or mwiggins@nyso.org
Thank you for being a friend to our athletes and their families. CALLING ALL ATHLETES, COACHES & VOLUNTEERS
The Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run will once again be taking to the streets on
FRIDAY, JUNE 5th, 2009
A ceremony is planned at the Liberty Pole which will feature law enforcement dignitaries, Monroe County and New York Special Olympics directors, athletes, and City and County officials.
The run will begin at the Gates Police Department and travel 5 miles to downtown where law enforcement officers will meet up with the athletes to carry the torch into the ceremony to be held @ the Liberty Pole downtown.
Please join us. All are invited to attend. Please prepare to meet at 11:15am at the:
Rochester Educational Opportunity Center
305 Andrews Street
Rochester, NY 14604
Be sure to proudly wear your Special Olympics clothing!
If you plan to attend, please RSVP NO LATER than May 20th
Contact Melissa Wiggins @ 585-586-7400 ext. 105
Or mwiggins@nyso.org
For those of you who are not familiar with the Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics it is the largest grassroots fundraising and public awareness vehicle for the movement across the globe! More than 85,000 officers from 35 countries carried the "Flame of Hope" across their communities and into their local games and competitions last year! Internationally more than $34 million dollars was raised through LETR initiatives in 2008! Right here in New York State we have a rapidly growing Torch Run program! We are proud to say for the first time in history more than $1 million dollars was raised for our athletes through LETR fundraisers last year which was over a forty percent increase from the prior year!
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| | "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
~Athlete Oath
| | Josh Dority
Program Specialist Special Olympics New York 585.586.7400 x103 jdority@nyso.org |
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