May 2008
Feature Story
Important News
Upcoming Events
Sports Department News
Development Department News
CAS Unified Sports/Young Athletes Program
Law Enforcement Torch Run
Northwest Region News
Southwest Region News
Eastern Region News
Board of Directors
Feature Story
2008 Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) News
Over $40,000 was raised three Connecticut University “Jail n’ Bail” events for Connecticut’s Law Enforcement Torch Run program
Central Connecticut State University came in at $6750.00, Southern came in at $13,000 and Fairfield University came in at an incredible $21,000! Not only did these events raise funds but they raised awareness! Student and faculty campus wide participated in these events. We also had friends and parents coming in person to support the event and also by phone! The chief of Fairfield Police event landed on the grounds in a helicopter.
Congratulations to Detective Christine Jameson at Central Connecticut State University, Sgt. Tom Madera at Southern Connecticut State University and Director of Public Safety Todd Pelazza at Fairfield University. These individuals were the leaders behind the event but they had lots of help from fellow officers, fraternities, sponsors and volunteers. Thanks to all who participated and gave so much to make these events successful!
4th Annual Tip-A-Commissioner Event
On May 27th at Glas Restaurant in Glastonbury, our state Commissioners and top
law enforcement officials will be serving patrons to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut. The event will be held from 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Join us for dinner that night and have a Commissioner or top law enforcement official wait on you! For more information, please contact Lisa Markham at Special Olympics Connecticut at lisam@soct.org.
For more LETR events click here.
2008 Law Enforcement Torch Run is right around the corner
The 2008 Torch Run will be held on June 4, 5, and 6th. Law enforcement officers from
around the state will carry the flame of hope over 530 miles through 100 towns and
cities ending at Southern Connecticut State University for the lighting of the cauldron
at the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games. Please visit our website at http://soct.org/torch/routes.shtml to see when the torch run is coming through your town.
2009 Law Enforcement International Torch Run Conference
Planning for the 2009 Conference has begun! We have identified Chairpersons and formed planning committees for the 2009 Law Enforcement International Torch Run Conference. If you have an interest in being part of a committee, please contact Lisa Markham at 203.230.1201 ext. 231 or lisam@soct.org.
Important News
2008 Summer Games and the New Haven Register
This year we are once again partnering with the New Haven Register for Summer Games. In addition to the Special Olympics Insert that will be distibuted on Wednesday, June 4th, the New Haven Register is running two In-Kind ads which will be printed on Friday, May 30th and on Sunday, June 1st.
Distribution of the insert includes:
Approximately 80,000 copies.
Over 200,000 readers.
And the Section will also go up on-line.
Once again the New Haven Register is selling Classified Ad Space where athletes, coaches, volunteers or anyone else you can think of can be supported.Click here for the flier to purchase ad space. Please pass it along to anyone that you might think is interested. The more spaces we sell the larger the insert and therefore the more we are able to raise awareness and continue changing attitudes and changing lives.
For more information please contact Laura Gremelsbacker by phone at 203.230.1201 ext. 240 or by e-mail at laurag@soct.org.
Michaels Jewelers' Unified Sports® Cup Awards Banquet
The 5th Annual Michaels Cup Awards Banquet took place on April 24th at the Aqua Turf Country Club. The event, hosted by NBC 30 Sports Director Kevin Nathan, was a great success. There were many extraordinary Connecticut schools and students honored that evening.
For a complete list of winners click here.
To read the 1st Place High School essay click here
To read the 1st place Middle School essay click here
Upcoming Events
Date Event
May 3 & 10 Regional Games- Eastern
May 10 Soccer Divisioning Tournament
May 10 Regional Games - Northwest
May 10 & 17 Regional Games - Southwest
May 18 Cycling Time Trials
May 20 & 21 Lime Rock Karting Challenge 2008
May 21 Golf Coaches Training School -- Click here for registration form
June 4-6 Law Enforcement Torch Run
June 6-8 Summer Games
June 18 2008 Fall Sports Festival Coaches Meeting at CAS/CIAC Office at 6pm
August 2 Coaches Picnic at Shuttle Meadow Country Club, New Britain
For more SOCT competition and special events click here
Sports Department News
2008 Summer Games Families Housing
We were unable to get a room block at a local hotel, but were able to secure a reduced rate for families at the Clarion Hotel & Suites in Hamden. The room rate is $109/tax,
reservations can be made by calling 203.288.3831. Please call as soon as possible since there is no block in place the hotel could potentially sell out.
2008 Summer Games, June 6, 7, & 8 – News & Notes
• All Developmental Aquatics events will take place on Friday afternoon, June 6
at Pelz Gymnasium, Southern Connecticut State University from 12:00-4:00 p.m.
• Gymnastics will take place at Pelz Gymnasium, Southern Connecticut State
University on Sunday from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
• There are 5 parking lots available on the SCSU campus.
o The Fitch St. Parking Garage for all events, best location for
Developmental Aquatics (Friday) and Gymnastics (Sunday)
o Parking Lot 2 on Fitch St. for all events
o Parking Lot 7 on Wintergreen Ave. is best for Athletics & Aquatics
o Parking Garage on Wintergreen Ave. is best for Residence Halls,
Athletics and Olympic Town
o Parking Lot 8 on Farnham Ave. is best for Cycling
• The Coaches Handbooks will be mailed out the week of May 19. Please contact
Sarah Dickinson if you do not receive a copy. Please read this booklet carefully
for any additional changes to the Summer Games.
Coaches Appreciation Picnic
There will be a Coaches Appreciation Picnic on Saturday, August 2nd, 4:00 p.m. at
Shuttle Meadow Country Club in New Britain. Invitations will be mailed.
NEW Emergency Pager Number
Our emergency pager number has been changed. This is now a direct phone call to the person on-call to allow for quicker response time. The new emergency number is 203.230.1201 ext. 275.
Sports Department Wish List
If anyone can help us out with any of these items it would be greatly appreciated:
• Stop watches
• Time clocks
• Score books
• flip score charts
• whistles
• air horns
• batteries – AA, C, D size
• ice chests
• bull horns
• PA systems
• sunscreen
• pop up tents
• electrical ties
• duct tape
• caution tape
• padlocks with universal keys
• carnival games & prizes
Development Department News
Urban Youth Day Sponsors
Thanks to the following sponsors for their financial support of Urban Youth Day held on April 29th at the New Haven Athletic Center.
Presenting Sponsor:
United Technologies Corporation
Supporting Sponsor:
Newman’s Own Foundation
Contributing Sponsors:
CVS/Pharmacy Foundation, HID Global, Tyler Cooper Law Firm.
Goodsearch.com
Instead of Google, Yahoo or others – why not utilize the search engine, goodsearch.com, that is giving back? Please add GOODSEARCH.COM to your toolbar so that when surfing the net Special Olympics Connecticut will benefit. It’s as simple as clicking on www.goodsearch.com and clicking on the icon to add it to your computer's toolbar.
2008 Travelers Championship Fundraising Programs
We will be participating in two 2008 Travelers Championship fundraising programs in conjunction with their golf tournament that takes place June 16th-June 22nd at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT.
Birdies For Charity:
Birdies for Charity is a pledge-based fundraising program in which 501©3 non-profits in
Connecticut raise money by soliciting pledges (just pennies!) based on the number of
birdies made during the 2008 Travelers Championship. Simply solicit pledges of one penny or more and at the conclusion of the Championship, the tournament will not only bill our donors and collect the pledges…but they return 100% of the funds to SOCT.
The more pledges you gather, the more funds you’ll raise. If 1500 birdies are made:
1¢= $15; 10¢= $150; $1.00= $1500. Start with just 5 cards! If you can get 5 friends or family members to pledge just 2 cents a piece…we’ll be well on our way!
Pledge cards are now available. Contact Liza Byron at 203.230.1201 ext. 241 or
elizab@soct.org to get started!
Chip In For Charity:
With Chip In for Charity, charities and other community organizations can sell tickets to the Travelers Championship for the discounted price of $20 (normally sold for $32.00), and 50% of the profits will be donated back to the group. Ticket buyers obtain a discounted ticket, and the organization raises $10 per ticket sold- it's a win-win for everyone!
Participating is easy!
1. Sell tickets! Tickets are valid for General Admission, Any One Day,
Monday, June 16 - Sunday, June 22.
2. Submit unsold tickets and 100% of funds received to the Travelers
Championship. There is no penalty for unsold tickets.
3. The Travelers Championship will send us a check for 50% of the sales in Fall 2008.
Tickets are now available. Contact Liza Byron at 203.230.1201 ext. 241 or elizab@soct.org to get started!
CAS Unified Sports/Young Athletes Program
2007-2008 CAS Unified Sports® Highlights
• An increase in basketball participation numbers to 1,591 from 813 last year
• Completion of a new Unified Sports® DVD, highlighting our school athletes
which will be sent to every school in Connecticut and shared with each state’s
NFHS Executive Director and each state’s Special Olympics President.
• The launch of our Young Athlete Program for pre-school youngsters, coordinated by
a new staff member, with 8 towns and 129 students participating so far
• The addition of 7 new middle schools, 5 high schools and 4 elementary schools
to Unified® Sports
• 34 new Unified Sports® coaches were trained this school year and 3 new events
were added: middle school bowling, outdoor soccer at Avon Old Farms for high
schools and an additional middle school basketball site in Meriden
• Our Award Banquet for Michaels Cup Unified Sports® was held at the Aqua Turf,
for the first time and recognized middle schools as well as high schools, three
“Friends of Unified® Sports”-Bozzuto’s, IAABO Board 9, and Gary Makowicki of NFA,
plus 23 outstanding school Unified Partners®
• The first Youth Leadership Summit on Unified Sports® is being planned for May 20,
2008 and will include 30 schools, representing 10 leagues across Connecticut
Law Enforcement Torch Run
Upcoming 2008 Law Enforcement Torch Run Events
May 2nd
Tip-A-Cop
Chili’s, Simsbury
5:00 – 9:00 pm
Hosted by: Simsbury Police Department
May 3rd
Tip-A-Cop
Dunkin' Donuts
6:00 am – 8:00 am
Newtown PD
May 3rd
Tip-A-Cop
Yorkside Pizza, New Haven
11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Hosted by: Yale University Police
May 3rd
Bicycle Safety Event
Beecher School
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Hosted by: Woodbridge Police Department
May 10th
Tip-A-Cop
Dunkin' Donuts, Willimantic
Hosted by: Eastern Connecticut State University Police Department
May 10th
Tip-A-Cop
(5) Dunkin' Donuts – Scitico, Shaws, Best Buy, Enfield Street, Stellas
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Hosted by: Enfield Police Department and Willard Cybulski CI
May 16th
Tip-A-Cop
Red Lobster
Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield
5:00 – 9:00 pm
Hosted by: Wethersfield Police Department
May 17th
Public Awareness/Merchandise Sales Campaign
Enfield Square
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Hosted by: Enfield Police Department and Willard Cybulski CI
May 20th
Tip-A-Cop
Dimitri’s Restaurant, Coventry
Hosted by: Coventry Police Department
May 27th
Tip A Commissioner
Glas Restaurant, Glastonbury
Hosted by: LETR Executive Board
May 30th
Golf Tournament
River Ridge Course
10:00 am start
Hosted by: Lt. Eric Dessaules
May 30th
Tip-A-Cop
Dom’s Broadway Eatery
330 Broad Street
Windsor, CT
Hosted by: Officer Amy Fiano
June 3rd
Tip-A-Cop
Lenny’s Restaurant, Branford
Lunch & Dinner
Hosted by: Branford Police Department
July 21st
Tip-A-Cop
Griswold Inn, Essex
5:30 – 10:00 pm
Hosted by: Essex Police Department
Northwest Region News
Northwest Region Meeting Dates
May 8
Northwest Regional Games & Local Coordinators Meeting Thursday, at Bristol Eastern High School cafeteria, from 6-8:30pm
June 25
Northwest Local Coordinators Meeting and Picnic, Northwest Region
2008 Northwest Regional Games
The 2008 Northwest Regional Games will be held on Saturday, May 10th at Bristol Eastern High School and the Dennis Malone Aquatic Center. For competition and volunteer information, please contact Kristina. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Steve DeWitte at 203.267.6566.
Save the Date!
The 1st annual Northwest Region Athlete Dance will be held Saturday, July 19th at
Veteran’s Park in Watertown. Thank you to the Watertown Area Association for Special Citizens, Emerson Processing, and a number of local civic groups for their role in hosting this fun event.
Lime Rock Karting Challenge 2008
Experience the thrills of endurance racing like Le Mans and Daytona at the 2008 Karting Challenge to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut hosted by Lime Rock Park. Individual races are being held on Tuesday, May 20th and Wednesday, May 21st. Registration begins at 9:30am and will be followed by an orientation, practice, and a gourmet lunch. The race will begin at 1:00 pm.
The event is a 4-hour endurance race that pits a team of 4 drivers against the rest of the field. It’s your chance to go head-to-head with your family, friends, co-workers, or
clients for a fun filled day of action and thrills. Awards will be given to the top 3
finishers.
The entry fee for each team of four is $1,400 and includes the use of an Endurance Karting Super Kart (Top speed is 50 mph), fuel, helmet, racing uniform, and gourmet lunch. Each team receives professional instruction from the Endurance Karting staff and practice time. If you cannot fill a team of four, individual slots are available. A Discount of $200 per team ($50/individual) is offered for registration received on or before May 9th. Also, we are introducing the NEW “Checkered Flag Club”. The entry fee for a "Checkered Flag Club" team is $1,500 and an individual is $375. Each "Checkered Flag Club" member will receive a one-day pass to any one of the 2008 main events at Lime Rock Park and a commemorative Karting Challenge polo shirt.
Lime Rock Park has been a Northwest Regional Sponsor of Special Olympics Connecticut for more than 5 years. This event is a prelude to the start of the Lime Rock Park Racing Season. For more information about Lime Rock Park please visit their website, www.limerock.com. The Media Sponsor for this event is 97.3 FM WZBG.
Northwest Region Law Enforcement Torch Run Events
Please join us at the following Tip-A-Cops held in the Northwest Region:
May 2nd
5:00 - 9:00 pm
Chili’s in Simsbury
Hosted by the Simsbury Police Department
May 3rd
6:00 - 8:00 am
Dunkin' Donuts in Newtown
Hosted by the Newtown Police Department
Click here for a list of upcoming, statewide, Law Enforcement Torch Run events.
Congratulations and Thanks
The Waterbury Sportsmen Club honored 8 Special Olympics Connecticut Athletes at their annual banquet held on April 14th. Thank you to the Waterbury Sportsmen Club, who have been supporters of Special Olympics Connecticut for over two decades.
Aquatics Invitational
The 2008 Aquatics Invitational was held Saturday, April 19th at Watertown High School. More than 60 athletes from 5 delegations competed and had a fun morning! We would like to thank Cindy Stone, Watertown Area Association for Special Citizens, Northwest Special Olympics Swim Team and Watertown High School for their support. This event has generously been sponsored annually by Thomaston Savings Bank.
Southwest Region News
Fairfield University's 1st Annual "Jail n' Bail"
Fairfield University’s Public Safety Department held its first “Jail n’ Bail” Fundraiser
to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut on Wednesday, April 23rd at the Barone Campus Center. The event was a tremendous success that engaged many students, administrators, teachers, coaches, and friends from the Fairfield community. Those “arrested” included Chief David Peck from the Fairfield Police Department who was brought in by helicopter!
The all-day event generated plenty of interest and attention on campus as teachers,
students and administrators were escorted in handcuffs to face the “judges” who set
their bail. The event also received great support from local sponsors. It was organized
with great effort and expertise by the public safety department under the direction of
Todd Pelazza, Director of the department and Torch Run Council member, and Officer Rob Didato.
2008 Southwest Regional Games
May 10th will include Developmental Aquatics at Hillcrest Middle School in the
morning and Gymnastics at Lakewood YMCA in the afternoon.
May 17th will include Aquatics, Athletics, and Tennis at Hillcrest Middle School
and Trumbull High School. We look forward to beautiful weather and seeing everyone out there!
Title Sponsor: Ronald McDonald House Charities
Gold Sponsor: Affinion Group
Silver Sponsors: Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation
Heidmar Inc.
NewAlliance Foundation
NYAC Athlete’s Fund
Purdue Pharma
Xerox
If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please contact maried@soct.org.
Sponsorships are still available, please contact lisav@soct.org.
Eastern Region News
Local Coordinators Meetings for Eastern Regional Games
A reminder for Local Coordinators, the meetings for Regional Games are as follows:
Eastern Regional Games – Stonington High School
Wednesday, April 30 at 6:30pm
Stonington High School
Eastern Regional Games/Soccer Qualifier – University of Hartford
Wednesday, May 7 at 6:15pm
BKM Building
At the meetings, you will receive your team’s credentials, schedule updates, inclement weather plans, team check-in instructions and Opening Ceremonies instructions. Head Coaches are also invited to attend.
UCONN Husky Invitational Soccer Tournament
Seven teams from Special Olympics Connecticut and one for Massachusetts were greeted by sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70’s for the 2nd Annual UCONN Husky Soccer Classic, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC and hosted by the UCONN Office of Community Services. Two 4-team divisions played in the round-robin style tournament with several games going into overtime with penalty kicks determining the winner. In addition, 5 athletes participated in the Individual Skills competition.
Participating teams included the Enfield Stars, HARC, Windham Athletic Association,
Seaside Saybrook, and Springfield, MA.
Eastern Region Program Department
A special thanks to Beth Regan for hosting a great Soccer Coaches Training School with 28 coaches participating.
A special thanks to Yvonne Grimes and Barbara Hedden for hosting a great Athletics Coaches Training School with 26 coaches participating.
Reminder: In order to be certified coaches must attend a training school, complete a
10-practicum in that sport, complete a General Session (available on-line), be current
with their Class “A” paperwork, and complete and send the Application for Sports
Training Certification (available on-line) to the to the Hamden office.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors Member, John Lobon, Receives Award
Monday, March 24, 2008 was declared to be John Lobon Day in the Town of Bloomfield. A proclamation, signed by Bloomfield Mayor Sydney T. Schulman, was read thanking and honoring "John Lobon and the 'Syracuse 8' for standing up for social change and awareness, making it possible for thousands of young men and women to fully participate in collegiate sports programs."
Click here for the proclamation and the article.
2009 World Winter Games Athlete Selection
Thank you to Honorary Board Member Mitch Truwit and Family for hosting the 2009
World Winter Games Athlete Selection at New Canaan Country School. Board Vice Chairman Dave Cassano and Board Secretary Thomas Joyce were in attendance representing the Board of Directors. The athletes selected were so excited and it was a great night for everyone.
Next Full Board Meeting
The next full Board Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at the Special Olympics Connecticut State Office in Hamden.
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