SOCT - Special Olympics of Connecticut

March 2010

Feature Story
Important News
Upcoming Events
Sports Department News
Northwest Regional News
Southwest Regional News
Eastern Regional News
Connecticut Association of Schools Unified Sports School® Based Program
Advancement
Board of Directors

Feature Story

"Spread the Word to End the Word™” Day on March 3rd

Take the on-line pledge to ban the R word

March 3rd will mark the second annual “Spread the Word to End the Word” day of awareness, a campaign created by youth, in an ongoing effort with Special Olympics and Best Buddies International, to engage schools, organizations and communities by raising the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encouraging everyone to stop using the R-word. Youth leaders are encouraging people to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org with the goal of reaching 100,000 pledges.

The day will be devoted to educating and raising awareness of the positive impact individuals with intellectual disabilities have in our communities and why the use of the R-word is hurtful, even in casual conversation. Special Olympics and Best Buddies International hope that this day becomes an annually recognized day to raise awareness and ultimately encourage acceptance and respect for people with intellectual disabilities in everyday lives.

Special Olympics Connecticut encourages locals to take the pledge on March 3rd, in order to “spread the word to end the word.”

Important News

Upcoming Events

2010
March 11
2010 Hall of Fame

March 13
Windham Invitational Swim Meet
Windham High School

March 19
Deadline for articles for the April issue of the e-newsletter

March 27
2010 Summer Games Coaches Meeting
at CAS/CIAC Office, Cheshire (10 a.m.)
Click here for driving directions to meeting.

March 27
Local Coordinators Training
at CAS/CIAC Office, Cheshire (Noon)
Click here for driving directions to meeting.

April 18
2010 Aquatics Invitational
Click here for the Aquatics Invitational Registration Packet.

June 11, 12, & 13
2010 Summer Games

June 23
2010 Fall Sports Festival Coaches Meeting

September 11 & 12
2010 Fall Sports Festival

September 22
2010 Holiday Sports Classic Coaches Meeting

November 20 & 21
2010 Holiday Sports Classic

December 5
2011 Winter Games Coaches Meeting

For more Special Olympics Connecticut competition and special events click here.
For a list of Penguin Plunges click here.

Sports Department News

Curling
Congratulations to all of the members of our Curling teams from Waterbury, Darien, and Milford. A great job was done by all partners and athletes. Special thanks to the members of the Nutmeg Curling Club in Bridgeport for hosting this training and competition season. It was a great start to a new sport for Special Olympics Connecticut.

2010 Winter Games
Many thanks to everyone involved with the 2010 Winter Games. We truly appreciate the time and dedication provided by all especially our coaches who work so hard training our athletes to prepare them for competition. Thank you to all our committees for organizing the games and also to the hundreds of volunteers who came out during the weekend to offer their assistance.

2010 Winter Games Zoomerang Surveys
Zoomerang Surveys have been designed by each individual venue to make it easier on everyone. Please take the time to complete a survey based on your experiences at the Winter Games. This is an invaluable tool for future planning. All surveys need to be completed by March 15. Here are the links for the Zoomerang Survey. Thank you!

Click here for the Alpine Skiing Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4PEYJLN

Click here for the Figure Skating and Speed Skating Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4UXYMYQ

Click here for the Floor Hockey Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4UCYMM5

Click here for the Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoe Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4RWYL5H

2010 Summer Games
Mark your calendars for the 2010 Summer Games to be held on June 11, 12 & 13 and will take place at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

The Summer Games Coaches meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 27th at 10:00 a.m. at CAS/CIAC Office in Cheshire. Click here for driving directions to the CAS/CIAC Office.

Local Coordinators Training
Please mark your calendars for March 27th, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. for a Local Coordinators Training. This will be a refresher for many of our Local Coordinators as well as a valuable, insightful training for any new individuals. The meeting will take place at CAS/CIAC Office directly after the Summer Games Coaches Meeting. More information including the agenda and registration information will be sent directly to all Local Programs.

Click here for driving directions to the CAS/CIAC Office.

World Games 2011
Special Olympics Connecticut has just received the quota for these World Summer Games. We will be sending one co-ed Level 2 golf team and two unified sailing teams to these games. More information will follow in future e-newsletters.

Congratulations to long time volunteer Rob vanderHorst
Old Saybrook Police Officer Rob vanderHorst was recently promoted to Master Sergeant. Rob is a Support Services volunteer for all state competitions. You can find him at the Summer Games providing water and ice and whatever is needed to all venues on campus. At the Fall Sports he is invaluable to the Softball venue; at Holiday Sports he is in charge of support for the Basketball Venue and at Winter Games he is the key support personnel for the Speed Skating and Figure Skating venue. Congratulations on a much deserved promotion!

Northwest Regional News

2010 Winter Games Zoomerang Surveys
Zoomerang Surveys have been designed by each individual venue to make it easier on everyone. Please take the time to complete a survey based on your experiences at the Winter Games. This is an invaluable tool for future planning. All surveys need to be completed by March 15. Here are the links for the Zoomerang Survey. Thank you!

Click here for the Alpine Skiing Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4PEYJLN

Click here for the Figure Skating and Speed Skating Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4UXYMYQ

Click here for the Floor Hockey Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4UCYMM5

Click here for the Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoe Competition Zoomerang Survey
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AA4RWYL5H

2010 Summer Games
Mark your calendars for the 2010 Summer Games to be held on June 11, 12 & 13 and will take place at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

The Summer Games Coaches meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 27th at 10:00 a.m. at CAS/CIAC Office in Cheshire. Click here for driving directions to the CAS/CIAC Office.

2010 Traditional Basketball Tournament
The registrations are in and we have 29 teams ready to play in the tournament to be held at Holy Cross High School, in Waterbury and 5 surrounding schools, on March 20th. All of our volunteers are students from Holy Cross High School who have been one of the main reasons this tournament has had such great success.

2010 Aquatics Invitational
This invitational will be held at the state of the art facility at Hotchkiss School in Lakeville on Sunday, April 18th. The intents are due on March 24th and registrations are due on April 5th. We are hoping to expand the event this year to include other states, so please consider bringing some, or all, of your swimmers to this event! For more information, please contact Morgan Reinig by e-mail at morganr@soct.org or by phone at 203.267.6566 ext. 703. Click here for the Aquatics Invitational Registration Packet.

2010 Northwest Regional Games
Our next committee meeting will be held on March 9th at Danbury High School at 6 p.m. in the main office conference room. If you would like to join us at this meeting we would love to have you. We will be doing a walk-through of the facility again and welcome suggestions from Local Coordinators and Coaches. We want any information that will help make this year an even bigger success than last year.

Upcoming Northwest Region Local Coordinator Meeting
Our first Local Coordinator meeting will be held on April 15th at 6 p.m. at the Northwest Regional Office in Southbury.

2010 Northwest Regional Games
The track portion of the 2010 Northwest Regional Games will be held on May 8th at Danbury High School. The swimming portion of the 2010 Northwest Regional Games will be held on May 8th at Pomperaug High School, Southbury.

Northwest Region Penguin Plunges

The Northwest Region of Special Olympics Connecticut is happy to report that the first three penguin plunges for 2010 have raised more than $168,000 for Special Olympics Connecticut's year-round programs of sports training and athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Thank you to all who participated and supported over 600 brave penguins!

The Farmington Winding Trails Plunge raised more than $48,000 on January 24th. The Winsted Highland Lake Plunge raised more than $45,000 on January 30th. The Middlebury Lake Quassy Plunge raised over $75,000.00 on February 6th. If you missed these great penguin plunges, and you want to take the plunge, please come join us on March 7th at our Danbury Candlewood Lake Penguin Plunge! For more information visit our website: http://soct.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=2140&pg=entry .

The Northwest Region of Special Olympics Connecticut would also like to thank our Penguin Plunge sponsors: Emerson Processing of Watertown, Naugatuck Valley Savings & Loan, Bozzuto’s IGA, Quassy Amusement Park , I-95, NBC Connecticut, 96.5 WTIC, Farmington Bank, Winding Trails Recreation Association, Greenwood Country Club, Winsted Rotary Club, Hocon, Northwest Community Bank, FM 97.3 WZBG, Savings Bank of Danbury Foundation, and Echo Bay.

A Plunge Story
A Photo-journalistic Comedy/Drama Short Story
By: Biff of the Farmington Valley ARC

We begin the story on the chilly and muddy shores of old Lake Winding Trails. Once again the throngs have gathered for the annual rite of passage, The Penguin Plunge. Kate had made up her mind. She wasn't going to get talked into another plunge. This was her last one...she really hated it after all. The last couple plunges, she'd managed to keep most of herself dry, hiding amidst all the plunge chaos. Just one more time and she was home free.

This year's theme was another well coordinated Sullivan Special, “Little Bo Peep and her lost sheep”.

Well, okay, trust me on this. They looked better with the masks down...but I digress. Kate, keeping with the subtle backstories typical of the Sullivan team, chose to play the "black sheep". Well, I sure get it! As their time came to plunge, the team bravely
and confidently approached the icy water.

Unwilling to leave her sheep alone this time, Little Bo charged into the water leading her sheep to their frigid fate.

Look at that Bo! You go girl! And just look at those sheep following. Black sheep Kate has taken on the sheepdog nanny duties. Hmm, why would she do that? As the sheep begin their plunge, trouble develops. Seems the dog, with its primitive instincts for self-preservation on full alert, hesitates upon sensing the water's unwelcoming temperature.

Kate stays behind and tends to the balking canine. Oh well, too bad, looks like Kate will not be able to plunge this one last time after all. But then our hero, Bob, yes, I actually said hero Bob, takes matters into his own hands.

Quick thinking, Bob! The moral of the story, well, let's see...a family that plunges together, gets cold together? (Hmm, well, that needs some work.) And they all lived wettily ever after. The End

Southwest Regional News

Eastern Regional News

Looking for a fun family or group outing? Buy a ticket voucher, good for any 2009-2010 Hartford Wolf*Pack home game including Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) Night on March 20th for only $10 with $5 from each ticket sold going back to SOCT. Great gift idea! Local Programs and Law Enforcement Torch Run departments interested in selling tickets as fundraiser please e-mail Jackie at jackiet@soct.org. Click here for an order form.

Eastern Region Penguin Plunge
Are you ready to take the plunge for Special Olympics Connecticut? It’s Penguin Plunge season again. For fundraising tips click here and don’t forget to register online at www.soct.org/plunges to start on-line fundraising today! Check our Facebook
application to help you reach your fundraising goals.

Upcoming Eastern Region Penguin Plunge:
March 6
Crystal Lake, Ellington

Please contact the Eastern Region office at 860.887.1555 for Sponsorship Opportunities or click here for more information.

Upcoming Eastern Region Local Coordinators Meetings
Tuesday, March 9
CSC Building, 55 Hartland Avenue, East Hartford

Thursday, March 18
Eastern Regional Office, Norwich

Food – 6:15p.m.
Meeting – 6:30p.m.

Please RSVP to Sarah Ford at sarahf@soct.org by March 5th.

Connecticut Association of Schools Unified Sports School® Based Program

Spread the Word to End the Word
Beginning on March 3, 2010 Unified Sports® Teams will help create a more tolerant environment within their schools. Campaigns which will take the form of assemblies, pride day classes, and pledge signings will take place throughout the state in our schools.

The goal is to encourage students to eliminate the casual usage of the “R-word” in schools. Through school based activities it is hoped that students will realize the hurt that name calling can cause, especially to our Unified Sports athletes and partners.

At a recent pride day classroom discussion at Middletown High School, Kelly Griffin and Liz Mancini used the UMASS research for this initiative to develop meaningful discussions among high school students. These two teachers who coach the Middletown High School Unified Team developed a user friendly lesson plan which was very well received with 1,300 students taking part and signing the R-Word pledge.

If Unified Sports coaches would like a copy of the Middletown lesson plan and UMASS research please call Lou Pear at 203.250.1111 or by e-mail at lpear@casciac.org . We can also supply your school with posters and wrist bands. Together we can make a difference through tolerance and understanding. Thank you to all coaches, principals, athletes, and partners. Your continued support changes lives everyday!

Advancement

On January 27, 2010 a delegation of athletes and family members from Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) and Best Buddies visited Washington DC to meet with congressional leaders in person to share the impact government funding has on our efforts. With each Congress Person and US Senator we reviewed The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act, which continues the legacy of Mrs. Shriver by appropriating funds for specific programs supporting persons with intellectual disabilities, including Special Olympics. The FY2011 funding will help us provide critically important programs and services to people with intellectual disabilities, especially during these tough economic times. We are happy to announce that Senator Lieberman, Senator Dodd, and Congresswoman DeLauro agreed to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation. We are thankful to all of our congressional leaders for meeting with us and supporting Special Olympics Connecticut in such an important way.

Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, Katie Harrington SOCT Athlete, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Albert Lognin SOCT Athlete and Best Buddy participant, and Dr. Tim Shriver.

Planned Giving
An athlete's future can begin today… Create a legacy of acceptance & inclusion. Please consider Special Olympics in your will or estate plan. For more information about Special Olympics Planned Giving opportunities click here.

Board of Directors

U.S. Business Meeting
Thank you to Chairman Dave Cassano for attending the U.S. Business Meeting with President Beau Doherty in New Orleans. Many great topics are discussed at this conference which is always helpful to our organization.

Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame will be held on Thursday, March 11th at the Aqua Turf Country Club in Plantsville, CT. It is a wonderful event where we honor athletes, coaches, volunteers, and donors. This year’s theme is a tribute to Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Please contact Kelli at 203.230.1201 ext. 276 if you are interested in attending.

Next Full Board Meeting
The next full Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:00 p.m. at the Special Olympics Connecticut State Office in Hamden. Agenda and materials will be sent out prior to the meeting – please mark your calendars!

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