Regional Offices
Special Olympics Connecticut is geographically divided into three different regions throughout the state.
A Regional Director and a volunteer committee manage each one of these three areas. Within the regions, there are approximately 88 Local Programs. The majority of these Local Programs are run by volunteer Local Coordinators and committees.
When an individual wishes to participate in Special Olympics, SOCT headquarters refers them to a Local Program that best meets the needs of the athlete. The Local Program must ensure the proper medical and release forms are secured before participation begins. Most Local Programs provide sports training and competition opportunities year round. Many are not able to offer all sports within Special Olympics Connecticut; however, they will do the best they can to refer athletes to other Local Programs as needed.
The Regions provide the first competition experience for athletes who wish to go on to statewide games. All three regions host multi-sport Regional Games in May, which is a qualifying event for the Summer Games in June. Athletes train with their Local Program in preparation for competition at the Regional level; they are then eligible to advance on to the state games.
Regional Directors
Special Olympics Connecticut
Marc Mercadante
Regional Director
Special Olympics Connecticut
Eastern Region
401 West Thames Street,
Suite 107
Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: 860-887-1555
Toll free: 877-660-6667
Fax: 860-887-7435
MarcM@soct.org
Special Olympics Connecticut
Steve DeWitte
Regional Director
Special Olympics Connecticut
Northwest Region
1459 South Britain Rd.
Southbury, CT 06488
Phone: (203) 267-6566
Fax: (203) 267-6570
SteveD@soct.org
Special Olympics Connecticut
Lisa Vane
Regional Director
Special Olympics Connecticut
Southwest Region
999 Oronoque Lane
Stratford, CT 06614
Phone: (203) 380-9990
Fax: (203) 380-9991
LisaV@soct.org
Eastern Region
The Eastern Region (ER) was created by Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) in 1999. It was the first of three Regions currently established as the result of an organizational initiative to increase SOCT's athlete base, and improve local programs' effectiveness and participation.
The Eastern Regional efforts are led by Regional Director Marc Mercadante, Director of Development Jackie Turro and Program Coordinator Rita Ford.
The Region is comprised of 37 local programs in the following 88 towns:
Andover, Ashford, Berlin, Bloomfield, Bolton, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canterbury, Chaplin, Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Lyme, East Windsor, Eastford, Ellington, Enfield, Essex, Franklin, Glastonbury, Granby, Griswold, Groton, Haddam, Hampton, Hartford, Hebron, Killingly, Killingworth, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, Middlefield, Middletown, Montville, Mystic, New Britain, New London, Newington, Niantic, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Plainfield, Pomfret, Portland, Preston, Putnam, Rocky Hill, Salem, Scotland, Somers, South Windsor, Sprague, Stafford, Sterling, Stonington, Suffield, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Voluntown, Waterford, West Hartford, Westbrook, Wethersfield, Willington, Willamantic, Windham, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Woodstock.
ER oversees the involvement of over 1,571 athletes, over 1073 special partners and 500 volunteer coaches, and coordinates their participation in all of SOCT's Olympic-type sports: Alpine Skiing, Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Croquet, Cross Country Skiing, Cycling, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Horseshoes, Powerlifting, Sailing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Soccer, Softball, Speed Skating, Tennis and Volleyball. The ER is the largest of SOCT three Regions.
Currently, the Eastern Region (ER) organizes and executes six sports competitions a year, including the Windham Swim Meet in March, Eastern Regional Games in May hosted by the University of Hartford in May (1,000 athletes competing in athletics, aquatics, soccer and tennis) a Softball Invitational Tournament at the Coast Guard Academy in August and two Bowling Qualifiers in October/November. The ER is looking to add another Athletics Competition in SE Connecticut in 2006.
The Region also conducts several special events throughout the year, such as two Penguin Plunges in February in New London and Middletown, the Chowderfest at Mystic Seaport in October and the Bowl-A-Thon with the Harford Wolf*Pack in November. To make all of these events successful, ER is fortunate to be supported by a network of over 1,000 volunteers.
For more information on these and other events, please feel free to contact us at:
Special Olympics Connecticut
Eastern Region
401 West Thames Street, Suite 107
Norwich , CT 06360
Phone: 860-887-1555
Toll free: 877-660-6667
Fax: 860-887-7435
Northwest Region
The Northwest Region (NWR) was established by Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) in January 2001 as an essential arm of an organizational initiative to improve SOCT local programs' effectiveness and participation. The Regional efforts are led by Regional Director Steve DeWitte, Director of Development Jay Case and Program & Volunteer Coordinator Kristina Plyler.
The Region is comprised of 24 local programs in the following 51 towns:
Avon, Barkhamsted, Beacon Falls, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Bristol, Brookfield, Burlington, Canaan, Canton, Cheshire, Colebrook, Cornwall, Danbury, Farmington, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Meriden, Morris, Middlebury, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Hartford, New Milford, Newtown, Norfolk, North Canaan, Oxford, Plainville, Plymouth, Prospect, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Sherman, Simsbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Torrington, Wallingford, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Winchester, Wolcott and Woodbury.
NWR oversees the involvement of over 1,600 athletes and 250 volunteer coaches, and coordinates their participation in the following Olympic-type sports:
Alpine Skiing, Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Sailing, Softball, Snowshoeing, Soccer, Speed Skating, Tennis and Volleyball.
Currently, the Region organizes and executes six sports competitions a year, including;
- Basketball Invitational in March
- Aquatics Invitational in April
- Northwest Regional Games in May
- Bocce Invitational in August
- Softball Invitational in August
- Bowling Qualifier in October
The Region also conducts several special events over the year, such as the Penguin Plunges in February and March. To make all of these events successful, NWR is fortunate to be supported by a network of over 750 volunteers.
For information on these and other events, please feel free to contact us at:
For more information please contact us at:
Special Olympics Connecticut
Northwest Region
1459 South Britain Rd
Southbury, CT 06488
Phone: 203-267-6566
Toll free: 877-464-0006
Fax: 203-267-6570
Southwest Region
The Southwest Region (SWR) was established by Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) in July 2000 as an essential arm of an organizational initiative to improve SOCT local programs' effectiveness and participation.
The Southwest Region is staffed by Regional Director Lisa Vane, Director of Development Debbie Horne and Administrative Assistant Marie Domack.
The Region is comprised of 26 local programs serving the following 33 towns:
Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Bridgeport, Darien, Derby, East Haven, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, Monroe, New Canaan, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Norwalk, Orange, Redding, Ridgefield, Seymour, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, West Haven, Weston, Westport, Wilton and Woodbridge.
SWR oversees the involvement of 1,932 athletes and 120 volunteer coaches, and coordinates their participation in the following Olympic-type sports: Alpine Skiing, Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Sailing, Softball, Snowshoeing, Soccer, Speed Skating, Tennis and Volleyball.
The Southwest Regional Games, which take place each May, are the largest sporting competition in the region. More than 600 athletes compete in Aquatics, Athletics (Track & Field) Gymnastics and Tennis. Each November, athletes take to the lanes to participate in the fast growing sport of Bowling. The number of bowlers in the region continues to rise. Due to the enthusiastic participation, the region hosts a Bowling Invitational in October.
The region conducts special events throughout the year to help support program expenses while also promoting public awareness of the great achievements and inspiring accomplishments of our athletes. Our Westport Penguin Plunge kicks off the year in early March as brave souls make their way into the Long Island Sound at Compo Beach in Westport. An annual Golf Tournament in September, The Lilly Awards in October, a Penguin Plunge in East Haven, help us keep the spirit of Special Olympics alive throughout the year in the region and raise the necessary funds for supporting our programs.
For more information please contact us at:
Special Olympics Connecticut
Southwest Region
999 Oronoque Lane
Stratford, CT 06614
Phone: (203) 380-9990
Fax: (203) 380-9991
|
