March 2008
Feature Story
Important News
Upcoming Events
Sports Department News
Development Department News
CAS Unified Sports / Young Athletes Program
LETR
Eastern Region News
Southwest Region News
Northwest Region News
Board of Directors
Feature Story
2008 Winter Games
Congratulations for a great Winter Games!
Many thanks to everyone involved with the Winter Games especially in regards to the
weather delay this year. We had over 760 athletes and over 1600 volunteers involved
throughout the weekend at the 4 different venues. Congratulations to all of our
athletes and a special thanks to our coaches, committee members and volunteers who made it all happen.
To see photos of from the Winter Games click here.
Important News
IMPORTANT NEWS
HALL OF FAME
Tickets still available...Don't miss this opportunity to come celebrate the 2008 Hall of Fame.
The 2008 Hall of Fame will take place on Thursday, March 20th at the Aqua Turf Country Club in Plantsville, CT. If you did not receive an invitation or have any questions, please contact Kelli Bigelow at (203) 230-1201 X276.
This event is held to honor the athletes, volunteers, families, and sponsors who give so
generously of their time, dedication and support of Special Olympics Connecticut. Over 900 people come to the Hall of Fame to cheer on these individuals. Winners were listed in last month's newsletter and unfortunately, one winner was omitted by mistake. Please help us congratulate Sean Harris of Bozzuto’s Inc. for his 2007 Unsung Hero Award. Emcees for the evening will be Brad Field and Tom Monahan of NBC30.
World Winter Games 2009, Boise, Idaho
Applications were available at all venues of the 2008 Winter Games.
Any athlete within our quota parameters who received a gold medal at our 2008 Winter Games (March 1 & 2) may apply. Athletes must be able to travel independently and to meet additional criteria. Once all nominations are reviewed for accuracy and completion they will be placed in a lottery. The final selection of Team Connecticut will be based on our final quota of:
2 female alpine skiers
2 male cross country skiers
1 female figure skater
1 female speed skater
2 male snowshoers
All nominations are due to the state office to Laurie-Jean’s attention by March 20. Jody & Mitch Truwit and their family will have the honor of conducting the lottery draw for Team Connecticut on March 31 in New Canaan at 7:00 p.m. All nominees will be invited to attend.
Special Olympics Connecticut Seeking Athlete Board Member
We currently have an opening for an Athlete Board Member for Special Olympics Connecticut. This position is open for all athletes currently involved in Special Olympics Connecticut. You do not need to be a Global Messenger or involved in ALPs to apply for this position.
Please contact Sue Mohr for an application:
Special Olympics Connecticut
2666 State Street, Suite 1
Hamden, CT 06517
203.230.1201x239
susanm@soct.org
All applications are due by Friday, April 11, 2008
Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS
Date Event
April 19 UConn Husky Soccer Invitational
April 19 Northwest Region Aquatics Invitational
April 29 Urban Youth Day
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
June 4-6 Law Enforcement Torch Run
June 6-8 Summer Games
For more SOCT competition and special events click here.
Sports Department News
SPORTS DEPARTMENT
Program 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
· portable PA systems
· sunscreen
· pop up tents
· electrical ties
· duct tape
· caution tape
· padlocks with universal keys
· carnival games & prizes
UCONN Husky Soccer Invitational
The 2nd Annual UCONN Husky Soccer Invitational will be held on April 19 at Depot Field in Storrs. This 5-a-side Unified® soccer tournament is an excellent opportunity to get your teams some serious competition experience as they prepare for the upcoming State Competition. Sponsored by the Community Outreach Office at UCONN and Price Waterhouse Coopers of Hartford, our teams will be joined by 160 volunteers for the event. Registration will go out the 2nd week in March and will be due back by April 13.
Please contact Marc Mercadante at marcm@soct.org for more information
Family Services
Families play a critical and crucial role in all of our competitions at Special Olympics Connecticut. If there are any family members who would like to assist us in expanding opportunities and recognition of family members at any of our competition events please contact Laurie-Jean at 203.230.1201 ext. 235 or laurie-jean@soct.org. We welcome any and all suggestions and ideas.
Track & Field Officials Training
A Track & Field Officials Clinic will be held on April 6 at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Yvonne Grimes, our main track clinician will be teaching this course for people around the state who officiate at high school and college track meets. Some of these officials also do our games. Yvonne is opening this course up to anyone who would like to become a track official for Special Olympics Connecticut. For all of our existing officials this would be an excellent refresher course especially if you have not been to training in more than 3 years.
Track & Field Officials Clinic
Coast Guard Academy
April 6, 2008
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
No Fee
Certification packets will be available. Register with Yvonne Grimes, USATF-CT Certification Chair: grimeseven@aol.com
2008 National Unified Bowling Tournament Results
Congratulations to the following teams for their participation in the 18th Annual National Unified Bowling Tournament which was held in February in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
CT Catz and Dawgs 1st place Team Competition
Indiana/Connecticut 2nd place Team Competition
Waterbury 1st place Team Competition
Mystic/Ledyard Ladies 2nd place Team Competition
Mystic/Ledyard Patriots 1st place Team Competition
Allied’s Enfield Stars 5th place Team Competition
Mystic/Ledyard Twisters 1st place Team Competition
CT Muppets 2nd place Team Competition
Mystic/Ledyard Sun 3rd place Team Competition
CT Catz and Dawgs 2nd place Doubles
Allied’s Enfield Stars 5th place Doubles
Allied’s Enfield Stars 2nd place Doubles
Waterbury 5th place Doubles
Waterbury 1st place Doubles
Indiana/Connecticut 1st place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Twisters 4th place Doubles
I-Con 2nd place Doubles
CT Catz and Dawgs 1st place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Twisters 5th place Doubles
CT Muppets 4th place Doubles
CT Muppets 1st place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Patriots 4th place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Patriots 1st place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Sun 2nd place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Ladies 5th place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Sun 5th place Doubles
Mystic/Ledyard Ladies 4th place Doubles
Competition Dates, 2008
Summer Games: June 6, 7 & 8, 2008
Coaches meeting: March 11, 6:00 p.m., CAS
Cycling Time Trials: May 18
Soccer Divisioning Tournament: May 10
Fall Sports Festival: September 5, 6 & 7, 2008
Softball Divisioning Tournament: August 16
Bocce Tournament Divisioning: August 16
Fall Sports Festival Sailing: September 13 & 14, 2008
Holiday Sports Classic: November 22 & 23, 2008
Unified® Basketball Divisioning Tournament: October 25
Unified® Volleyball Divisioning Tournament: October 26
Development Department News
Development Department News
Special Olympics Connecticut’s YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM receives a boost from MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL:
Special Olympics Connecticut has secured $25,000 from MASTERCARD for our Young Athletes Program. The Young Athletes Program is an introductory program for families of young children ages 2-7, with intellectual disabilities to begin activities that would stimulate the child’s development. The program’s goal is to engage children
with special needs through developmental play activities designed to foster physical, cognitive, and social development with the help of family members. The program was unveiled in the fall of 2007 with major emphasis in 2008 through the Connecticut School System.
Special Olympics Connecticut will continue to seek out funding in an effort to sustain this program for the future.
Please contact Special Olympics Connecticut to learn more about the Young Athlete Program.
Pratt & Whitney & Enerlume join the family of Special Olympics Connecticut Corporate Sponsors:
Special Olympics Connecticut recently secured corporate funding from Pratt & Whitney as a Supporting Sponsor/Venue Sponsor for Floor Hockey. Pratt & Whitney joined Winter Games 2008 Premier Sponsors – Northeast Utilities Transmission, Yankee Gas, Connecticut Light & Power and Supporting Sponsors, OTIS (Alpine Skiing),
Konica Minolta (Skating) on March 1-2 at the SOCT State Winter Games.
In addition, Enerlume sponsored the Athlete’s Dance.
Continued thanks to Year Round Suppliers: Adams/IGA Hometown Markets, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New England, Crystal Rock Water & Coffee Co., Dunkin Donuts, EDART, Guida’s Dairy, Marcus Communications and the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service for providing product and services throughout the games and throughout the year…
Of course, much of what our athletes experience would simply not be possible without the tremendous level of support SOCT receives from our Partner Level Sponsors:
ADAMS /IGA HOMETOWN MARKETS, UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, FOXWOODS RESORT
CASINO/MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION AND NBC30.
GOODSEARCH.COM:
Raising $$$ for the Athletes of Special Olympics Connecticut.
Those using Goodsearch.com when surfing the internet are raising funds for Special Olympics Connecticut without any effort! Please consider using Goodsearch.com instead of google, yahoo or any other search engine you currently use.
2008 Travelers Championship Fundraising Programs:
We will be participating 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 SPECIAL OLYMPICS CONNECTICUT.
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. Please 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 foreveryone!
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 x241 or elizab@soct.org to get started!
CAS Unified Sports / Young Athletes Program
MasterCard Joins as Corporate Partner for 2008
We are pleased to announce that MasterCard has made a commitment of $25,000 to support the new CAS Young Athlete Program. We welcome them to our family and look forward to their support for Special Olympics Unified® Sports programs with these 3 and 4 year olds!
MasterCard has 500 employees living in the Fairfield County area. We are planning
opportunities for employee involvement for them with both CAS and Special Olympics
Connecticut programs in that county.
Active Young Athlete Programs are running in Glastonbury, Farmington, Southington,
Rocky Hill, and New Haven schools. We look forward to more schools joining us in the
near future. A demonstration of the Young Athlete Program is currently being planned
for June 3 (time to be determined) at Nayaug Elementary School in Glastonbury.
Hatton School in Southington is also planning an “Olympic Day” in the Spring to showcase the progress of the youngsters.
Schools or local programs interested in getting their Pre-K athletes involved
should contact Beth Rasmussen at (203)250-1111 or brasmussen@casciac.org.
LETR
LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN NEWS
Law Enforcement Torch Run Kick-off Luncheon
On February 21st, 2008 the Law Enforcement Torch Run Kick-off Luncheon was
held at Foxwoods Resort Casino The following are the top ten fundraising departments in Connecticut in 2007!
#10–Milford PD $8527.28
#9–Shelton PD $9015.93
#8–Avon PD $10,005.20
#7–Willard-Cybulski CI $10,949.25
#6- South Windsor PD $12,215.00
#5- Monroe PD $13,530.00
#4- Southern CT State University $14,610.12
#3-Guilford PD $14,854.62
#2- Branford PD $18,345.66
Top Fundraising department or agency in 2007
BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT RAISING $30,152.00!!
Department and Agency Awards
CSP Award – CSP Traffic Unit
DOC Award – Willard-Cybulski CI
IACLEA Award – Southern Connecticut State University PD
CPCA Award – Bridgeport Police Department
We would like to thank our award presenters:
Colonel Thomas Davoren, Connecticut State Police
Deputy Commissioner, Brian Murphy Department of Correction
President Cheryl Norton, Southern CT State University
Chief Kevin Hale, Ansonia Police Department
2007 Final Leg
Supervisory Inspector Greg Dillon spoke about his experience in China this past summer and about the importance of getting involved with Special Olympics athletes!
2007 Law Enforcement Hall of Fame Induction
Back in the early 80’s Gary Mazzone was a veteran officer at the Vernon Police Department; it was there that he began assisting Chief Skip Thomas with the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Gary along with other Officers and the Connecticut State Police worked to set up the routes in early years of the Torch Run. Gary also delivered shirts to runners and Special Olympic athletes throughout the state. Gary took the assignment very seriously and worked tirelessly in an effort to make the first years of the event a positive experience for everyone with the hope that the torch run would be popular with the Connecticut Law Enforcement Community. It is through his initial efforts and the teamwork of a small group of people that brought the concept to Connecticut and today is a great success!
Special thanks to Wethersfield Officer Manny Silva and his family for speaking at the luncheon. Their daughter Bella is a Special Olympics Athlete and she captured the hearts of everyone in the room. We thank them for sharing their story with us.
Fundraising
Paper torches are available to sell for $1.00 each. This is a great way to get families and friends involved in supporting LETR! Please contact your SOCT coordinator for more information.
Law Enforcement Officers recognized at Hall of Fame Dinner
On Thursday, March 20 Special Olympics Connecticut will hold its annual Hall of Fame Dinner. During the evening several awards are given out to thank an honor our volunteers, coaches and sponsors who works so hard for us. This year, 2 members from Law Enforcement will be recognized, Captain Bob Gearing from Bridgeport PD and Sgt Tom Madera from Southern Connecticut State University
2008 LETR Torch Run Sponsors
We welcome back to the Torch Run family, our Premier Level Sponsors, Whelen Engineering, Adams Hometown Markets and IGA. Thank you for all your support these past years. We look forward to a successful 2008! We are happy to announce the following new sponsors for 2008.
Premier Level Sponsor – Dream Ride 2008
Leg sponsors -
- ProEast Asset Management in South Windsor – Legs 4 and 4A
- Torello Tires in East Haven – Leg 8
We welcome everyone to the Law Enforcement Torch Run family and look forward to a great partnership in 2008!
Eastern Region News
Eastern Region News
March 2008 -- Eastern Region Local Coordinator Meetings
Please note that the March Eastern Region Local Coordinator meetings will take place
March 18 at BKM in East Hartford and March 19th at the Norwich office.
Food will be served at 6:15 and the meeting will start promptly at 6:30.
Coaches Training
There will be coaches’ trainings in Athletics and Soccer offered through the
Eastern Region in April 2008. More information to follow.
Southwest Region News
Southwest Region News
SOUTHWEST REGION LOCAL COORDINATOR MEETING
The next Southwest Regional Local Coordinator meeting will be held on April 17 at 6:30 p.m.at Vazzys Restaurant in Bridgeport.
Bridgeport Police Department Tops the List
Thank you and congratulations to the Bridgeport Police Department, led by Captain
Robert Gearing, which was recognized as the top fundraising law enforcement department for Special Olympics Connecticut in 2007 at a recent Law Enforcement Kick-off Luncheon at Foxwoods. The Bridgeport team of officers raised over $30,000 dollars to support Special Olympics Connecticut and become not only the top fundraising police team of the year in the state, but the team to raise more money in a year for Special Olympics Connecticut than any other law enforcement team in the history of Special Olympics Connecticut. Captain Gearing inspired and organized events during the year with volunteer assistance from officers on his department that included Tip-A-Cop events at Captain's Cove Memorial Day Weekend, a weekend fundraiser with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers hockey team, an Adopt-A-Mile campaign that raised over $5,000, a holiday Cop-On-Top event and Tip-A-Cop at Vazzy's Restaurant, the Bridgeport Torch Run, and the Stratford/Bridgeport leg of the Dreamride motorcycle fundraiser. We are sincerely grateful for this dedicatedteam's extraordinary support!
The Southwest Region also thanks members of the Milford Police Department,
Shelton Police Department and Monroe Department who raised enough money in 2007 to be among the top ten law enforcement fundraising teams in the state for the year.
Thank you Karen's Kitchen/Shelton Police
Thank you to Shelton’s Local Coordinator Karen Forlenzo, owner of Karen's Kitchen,
a friendly place to enjoy breakfast and lunch, and members of the Shelton Police
Department who held a Tip-A-Cop event on Saturday, February 23rd. Despite a little snow, there was a great turnout and the officers not only served Irish breakfasts and
homemade soups and wraps, but also cooked the eggs and washed the dishes! Thank you to Karen and Chief Hurliman and his team for their efforts!
Weekend with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers & Bridgeport Police
Get tickets now for the 2nd Annual Special Olympics weekend with the Sound Tigers and Bridgeport Police. Purchase tickets for the March 28, 29 and 30 home games and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Connecticut.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers will host:
Hershey Bears Friday March 28th 7:30 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Saturday March 29th 7:00 p.m.
Hartford Wolf*Pack Sunday March 30th 4:00 p.m.
Tickets are $15.00 each. For more information, please call 203.380.9990 ext. 604 or
email debbieh@soct.org.
The Sound Tigers also invite all Special Olympics Connecticut athletes to attend the
games that weekend as their special guests and their family members, coordinators and coaches to attend at a reduced admission charge.
The Bridgeport Police, let by Captain Robert Gearing, is asking local businesses to
sponsor the event by pledging a donation per goal scored by the Sound Tigers or by
making a donation to benefit athletes. For tickets and more information,
call 203.380.9990 ext. 604.
Northwest Region News
NORTHWEST REGION NEWS
March 2008 -- Northwest Region Local Coordinator Meeting
The next Northwest Region Local Coordinator meeting will be held on March 27 from
6:30 to 8pm at the Apple Barn in Simsbury.
Traditional Basketball Invitational
The Traditional Basketball Invitational will be held at Holy Cross High School on
Saturday March 15th. Twenty-eight teams from Connecticut and New York are expected to compete. Please call Kristina at 203.267.6566 for more information.
Aquatic Invitational
The Aquatics Invitational will be held Saturday April 19th at Watertown High School.
Registration packets will be available at the 2008 Summer Games Coaches Meeting
on March 11th. Please contact Kristina for more information.
2008 Northwest Regional Games
There will be a Regional Games meeting on May 8 at the Bristol Eastern High School
cafeteria, from 6-8:30pm. Local Coordinators are invited to attend this meeting. The 2008 Northwest Regional Games will be held Saturday May 10th at Bristol
Eastern High School and the Dennis Malone Aquatic Center. For competition and volunteerinformation, please contact Kristina. For sponsor opportunities, please contact Steve DeWitte at 203.267.6566. There will Committee Planning Meetings at Bristol Eastern High School from 6-8:30 pm on Monday March 24th, Wednesday April 16th, and Thursday May 8th.
Save the Date!
The 1st annual Northwest Regional Athlete Dance will be held Saturday July 19th at
Veteran’s Park in Watertown.
Special Recognition
The Northwest Region is pleased to note that LARC athlete Joan Gowen received special recognition in the January edition of the Blanche McCarthy Winsted Senior Center Newsletter.The article stated that every December Joan donates beautiful wreaths to the Senior Center in memory of special friends.
Cycling Coach Needed
Tri-Town Special Recreation is looking for a cycling coach. Please contact Mike Canty
at mgcanty@aol.com or 203.284.8356.
Northwest Region Law Enforcement Torch Run Events
Please consider supporting our officers at these events.
March 28th - State Troopers All Stars v. Woodland Hills High School Basketball Giants. This event includes Exhibition with Waterbury Special Olympics Team
March 28th – Tip-A-Cop at the 99 Restaurant in Avon
Northwest Region Penguin Plunges
All three Northwest Regional Penguin Plunges set new records. Each plunge had a
large number of committee, volunteer, and sponsor support.
Please join us in thanking those that helped make these Plunges so successful.
Winding Trails Penguin Plunge: Winding Trails Recreation Association; Supreme Industries; Farmington Savings Bank; TRUMPF Inc.; 96.5 FM; FAVARH; Farmington Fire and Safety teams; State Dive Teams; and the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service Program.
Winsted Penguin Plunge: Supreme Industries; SCASCO Energy; the Rotary Club of Winsted; Sharon Hospital; Salisbury Savings Bank and Trust; Green Woods Country Club; Highland Lake Watershed Association; Northwest Transit; Northwest Community Bank; Northwest Chamber of Commerce; Town of Winchester Police, Ambulance, Fire, and Parks and Recreation; the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service Program; State Police Dive Team; Explorers; Marino’s Restaurant; Kelly’s Kitchen; Spillway Grill; Stan’s Place; and 97.3 WZBG FM.
Quassy Penguin Plunge: Emerson Processing; Thomaston Savings Bank; Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan; Supreme Industries; SCASCO Energy; and United Parcel Service; Special Olympics Oxford; Watertown Association of Special Citizens; Southbury Training School; Special Olympics Naugatuck; Bethany Fire Department; Thomaston Fire and Rescue; Middlebury Ambulance; State Dive Team; Torrington & Thomaston Police Explorers; and the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service Program; and Ethan & Lou at I95 FM, “The Home of Rock and Roll.”
Congratulations to Staff
Please extend thanks to Jay Case and Liz Gray for their contributions to the
Northwest Region. Liz Gray recently accepted a position with Camp Horizons, thus continuing her support of the special needs community. Jay Case was recently promoted to Director of Corporate Sponsorships for Special Olympics Connecticut, and will report to the Vice President of Development.
Board of Directors
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN KICK-OFF LUNCHEON
Thank you to Board Member Judy Bell for representing the Board of Directors at the
Law Enforcement Torch Run Kick-Off Luncheon, also hosted by the Foxwoods Resort Casino.
U.S. BUSINESS MEETING
Thank you to Board Chairman, Roger Burns for attending the U.S. Business Meeting in San Diego with President, Beau Doherty and Senior VP & CFO, Mike Mason.
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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