|
|
Change
the conversation...
Pledge your support at...
|
|
|
|
|
Dear
Erin,
Please
encourage friends and family to register online to receive our
e-Program Update! Also, please forward this update to as many
people as you think would be interested.
Ask
them to:
¨ visit our website
¨ type their email address into the "Join our Email
List" icon at the center of the home page
¨ select the information they would like to receive via email
By
receiving Special Olympics Wyoming information via email, everyone
can help us save money on paper, ink, postage and staff
time! What a convenient alternative to snail mail!
|
|
Year end and New Year Info
Summer
Games and Fall Games had more participation than ever. Our donors in the great state of
Wyoming continue to see value in our activities and mission and
support our efforts as we grow.
Six
athletes (and a coach) competed at World Winter Games in Boise, the
Young Athlete Program has been introduced in an increasing number
of communities across the state, Global Messenger Training was
offered and our first Youth Activation Rally. Wow all great!
What
will 2010 have in store for the organization? Three new Jackalope Jumps
bringing the total to seven across the state, maintaining our five
state-wide events, Special Olympics Team Wyoming will attend the
National Games with a delegation of more than 60, our largest
ever! More athletes, more
participation, more support; we have the power to be the
difference, to be the change, to be ambassadors of acceptance for
all. 2010 should be a great
year!
Capitol
Hill Day
On January 27th Shae'Lee Dial a Special Olympics Cheyenne athlete will
travel to Washington DC to meet with the Wyoming congressional
delegation to talk about the impact of Special Olympics and to
request continued and additional support for Project UNIFY through
the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act.
Shae'Lee will be
accompanied by her Mom and will be part of the largest Captiol Hill
Day ever with more than 50 athletes from 40 states. Shae'Lee was selected to represent Project UNIFY
activities in Wyoming.
Click HERE to watch
Shae'Lee's interview on KGWN TV.
2010
Special Olympics Wyoming Winter Games
Planning continues for the 2010 Special Olympics
Wyoming Winter Games to be held February 9-11 at Jackson Hole
Mountain Resort and Snow King Resort in Teton Village and
Jackson. Registration
packets were distributed by e-mail to all Special Olympics Wyoming
local program coordinators the week of November 23. Registrations are due to the
Special Olympics Wyoming state office no later than Friday, January
22.
If you need a Winter Games registration packet, you
may download one from the Winter Games page of the Special Olympics
Wyoming Website or
you may contact Shane Kiesner at 307-235-3062
to request one.
Due to lack of participation, the Thursday evening
Closing Ceremonies, Chili Dinner and Karaoke has been
cancelled. Programs will
responsible for any Thursday dinner arrangements.
We are looking forward to an increase in participation
this year with the addition of Sublette County and Lander Valley
Schools. Good luck to
everyone during your training and competition at Area Games and
we'll see you in Jackson!
Jackalope
Jump Info
2010 brings the addition of three jump locations! We are so excited to see this
fundraiser continue to grow!
Here is a list of this years jumps:
January 22, 2010 Douglas
at the High School Registration
at 12:00 p.m.
February 20, 2010 Sheridan
at Lake DeSmet Registration
at 1:00 p.m.
February 27, 2010 Bridger
Valley at the Lyman Aquatics Center Registration
at 12:00 p.m.
February 27, 2010 Casper
at the Aquatics Center Registration
at 5:00 p.m.
February 27, 2010 Laramie
at LaPrele Park Registration
at 12:00 p.m.
March 6, 2010 Jackson
at the Recreation Center Registration
at 12:00 p.m.
March 6, 2010 Cheyenne
at Lake Absaraaca Registration
at 10:00 a.m.
To register to jump or sponsor a jumper please go to www.Firstgiving.com/sowy.
|
 Area I
Lander Valley and Lander Masters sent coaches for
snowshoe and cross country coaches training in Pinedale. Area I will not be hosting Area
Winter Games in 2010, those programs will have the opportunity to
choose between events held at Terry Peak, Casper or Pinedale. Good luck to all athletes and
coaches for successful games.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Area II
Coaches from Teton,
Lincoln and Sublette counties participated in Cross Country,
Snowshoe and Alpine Coaches trainings held in Pinedale and Jackson.
Area II winter games will be held Thursday, January
28th at White Pines ski resort in Pinedale. Registration packets have been
sent via email and are due back no later than Monday, January 18th,
if you have questions please contact Jill Willard at (307) 702-0606. Good luck to all athletes and
coaches for successful games.
Jackalope Jumps are scheduled for Saturday, February
27th in Bridger Valley and Saturday, March 6th
in Jackson to register for either jump go to www.firstgiving.com/sowy
. Remember local program
volunteers can designate their pledges to support their own
programs!
Area II is looking to fill thevolunteer position of Area Director. This is a
volunteer opportunity which requires a desire to learn all things
Special Olympics, a willingness to be available and travel to all
Area II events, the ability to coordinate events with staff and
Local Program Coordinators including sports events, fundraising and
public relations and volunteers.
This position is a great opportunity to get involved in
Special Olympics and assist in year round organization and
development of programs in your community. If you, or someone you
know, are interested in volunteering for this position, please
contact Jill Willard.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Area
III
Athletes from Cheyenne will compete in Area Winter
games in Casper again this year.
Cheyenne will be hosting The Night of Celebration Dinner and
Auction on Friday, February 26th to raise money for
Cheyenne and Area III Special Olympics.
Jackalope Jumps are scheduled in Laramie on Saturday,
February 27th and an inaugural jump in Cheyenne on
Saturday, March 6th.
Register at www.firstgiving.com/sowy! Remember local program
volunteers can designate their pledges to support their own
programs!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Area IV
The Area IV Festival of Trees fundraiser was a great
success and raised $14,500 for the Sheridan area Special Olympics
programs. Great job Anita Badgett and everybody who helped in this
event.
Area IV Winter games were held Tuesday January 19th at
Terry Peak and Routter Camp Ground, near Lead South Dakota. Special thanks to Bob Gray for coordinating
games activities.
A Jackalope Jump is scheduled in Lake DeSmet (between
Sheridan and Buffalo) on Saturday, February 20th . Register at www.firstgiving.com/sowy! Remember local program volunteers
can designate their pledges to support their own programs!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Area V
Area Games will be held on Saturday Feb 6th at Hogadon Ski
area and the Casper Mountain Trails Center. Registration deadline is
Wednesday, January 27th .
Area V will have two Jackalope Jump; an innaugaral
event in Douglas on Friday, January 22nd and a second
event in Casper on Saturday
February 27th .
Register at www.firstgiving.com/sowy! Remember
local program volunteers can designate their pledges to support
their own programs!
Carbon County is coming back ! Rawlins is in the
process of establishing a team in preparation for 2010 Summer
Games. Welcome Michelle
Peterson and there is some potential interest from Saratoga as
well!
|
 Project
UNIFY
Project UNIFY is a U.S. national project, funded by
the U.S. Department of Education. Its goal is to activate young
people around the country in an effort to develop school
communities where all young people are agents of change - fostering
respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual
disabilities by utilizing the programs and initiatives of Special
Olympics.
Project UNIFY initiatives include a host of core
activities, both on the national and the grass-roots level. Local
projects that meet Project UNIFY objectives are supported through
grants for local Special
Olympics Programs.
In Wyoming Project UNIFY
grant monies are being used for Youth Activation, Young Athletes
and Unified Sports activities.
 Young athlete enthusiasm is spreading across the
state! Families and pre-schools in Jackson, Cheyenne, Wheatland, Bridger Valley, Gillette and
Casper have received kits.
Demonstration days giving young athlete an opportunity to
showcase their new skills will be scheduled in the coming
months. Please contact
Dede McDonald if you or someone you know might be interested in
getting more information about this program. (307) 413-4880 or dedmcdon@wyoming.com.
Global Messenger Program
We're looking to schedule the next Global Messenger
Training sometime in late June or early July, 2010 . If you think
your community would be interested in hosting the upcoming
training, please contact Jill . A Global Messenger Newsletter will
begin soon to share accomplishments and other information regarding
leadership opportunities. Included in this format will be an
on-line survey for Global Messengers to report back on their
activities. If you are a
Mentor or Messenger and need to update your information in order to
receive this newsletter, please email your info to Jill. Look
for the newsletter at the end of this month!
 Youth
Activation
Imagine young people around
the world acting as agents of change - fostering acceptance,
respect, dignity and inclusion for all people. Imagine a
friendlier, more welcoming place for all of us. Here are some
things Wyoming youth are planning to help make that happen.
Youth around Wyoming are
planning Rallies in thier schools and/or communities to help
educate and mobilize people to help build a more accepting and
inclusive world and help to reverse negative stereotypes and
attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities.
Join us
for this year's day of awareness on 03.03.10! If you would like to participate
in your community please contact Erin Gamoth at 307-235-3062.
 Winter
Sports Coaches Training
Thanks to Karen Beddoes, James West, Rick
Thayer and Don Carr for
serving as clinicians at our December Winter Sports Coaches
training.
While we are still a few weeks away from Winter Games,
it is not too early to start thinking about Summer Games and Summer
Coaches Trainings. No
trainings have been scheduled as yet, but our plan is to offer two
Summer Coaches trainings this year with one likely to be held in
Casper and the second at a location to be determined. The trainings will be scheduled
for dates in March.
Information will be e-mailed to all local program
coordinators as soon as dates and locations have been
confirmed.
Also this year we will be introducing our new,
comprehensive coach training plan, which will be scheduled for
implementation starting in 2011.
Look for information in future program updates, on our
Website and at coaches meetings and coaches trainings.
|
BOARD
AND STAFF UPDATE INFORMATION
The Board of Directors met in December and meeting
dates for 2010 are:
Friday,
January 29, 2010
Friday,
March 19, 2010
Friday,
June 4, 2010
Thursday,
October 14, 2010
Friday,
December 10, 2010
Currently one Special Olympics athlete (Meghan
Blumberg) serves on the Board of Directors. The organization would like to
add a second athlete. If
there is interest, please contact Priscilla.
|
 Special
Olympics Wyoming is excited to be one of ten states selected to
receive a Project Unify grant to support the participation of a
Unified Sports® Youth Soccer team for the 2010 Special Olympics USA
National Games.
Congratulations to the Teton County School Unified
SportsSoccer team coached by MaryBeth Basye, who will represent
Team Wyoming in competition and Project Unify activities throughout
the games.
A complete
listing of the athletes, Unified Sports partners and coaches for
Team Wyoming accompanies this update.
The 2010
Special Olympics USA National Games are scheduled for July 18-23 in
Lincoln, Nebraska. Team
Wyoming will likely be leaving for the games on July 17 and
returning on July 24. Look
for more information coming soon on National Games Training Camp
(April), travel arrangements, uniforms and much more.
Click HERE to vist the 2010 USA National Games website.
ATTENTION...Last minute addition!!!
Special
Olympics Wyoming has two new opportunities for individuals
interested in joining Team Wyoming for the 2010 Special Olympics US
National Games in Lincoln, Nebraska this July. Opportunities
exist for a softball coach and the Assistant Head of Delegation
(AHOD).
~ The AHOD will assist the Head of Delegation, Special
Olympics Wyoming staff person Shane Kiesner, with planning for and
executing Team Wyoming's participation in the Games.
~ The softball coach will assist in the training and
management of the Unified Sports Softball team.
Individuals
interested in finding out more about these opportunities should
contact Shane Kiesner at 307-235-3062.
 2010
Special Olympics Wyoming Summer Games
Please be sure to mark your calendar for May 20-22,
2010, Summer games will return to Laramie! Registration information will be
distributed via e-mail in March.
Motor
Activities Training Program
Special Olympics offers opportunities for everyone. For those
individuals with severe limitations, The Motor Activities training
Program was developed. The (MATP) allows these individuals to train
and participate in non-competitive events in an effort to gain
individual goals. This year's MATP will be held at Manor
Heights Elementary School on Thursday March 18th at 9:30 in the
gym.
|
|
 LETR
It's just January and already we're trying to get
geared up for the 2010 Torch Run Season! 2009 was by far our most
successful year, not only globally but here in Wyoming - Around the
world Law Enforcement raised 34 million dollars to support the
Special Olympics movement, Wyoming's contribution this year was
more than $60,000... WOW!
Thank you to everyone that worked to make this happen!
The 2009 Casper
Festival of Trees grossed just over $175,000, this reflects a 3% increase
over last year's gross!
Special Olympics Wyoming is humbled by the generosity
of the community. This kind
of support challenges us to continue to improve the quality
experience our athletes receive and this fundraiser goes a long way
to give us the resources to do just that!
The
2009 Sheridan Festival of
Trees had over 350 people in attendance. They had 12 trees and over
30 wreaths and centerpieces, and a number of paintings, pottery,
and quilts in their live auction.
Over $ 14,000 was raised and will be shared with RENEW, Easter
Seals, Jodi's Heart and the Sheridan School District. A portion of the funds raised
will also be used to fund the Area IV Summer Games. imately $ 14,000! The funds will be shared
with RENEW, Easter Seals, Jodi's Heart, and the Sheridan School
District. A portion of it will also be used to fund the Area IV
summer games. Thanks to everyone who participated!
 Jackalope
Jumps! It's time to get
ready to start Freez'n for a Reez'n! With three new jumps
scheduled for this year, you'll have plenty of opportunity to
get in on this super-fun event!
Douglas
- January
22nd
Sheridan
- February 20th
Bridger
Valley - February
27th Laramie
- Februar 27th
Cheyenne - March
6th Jackson
- March 6th
 Planned Giving
Our programs are made possible through the generosity
and commitment of people like you. Please remember Special
Olympics Wyoming when planning your will, trust, retirement plan,
life insurance or other planned gift. You can help provide a
legacy of support, respect, diversity, communication, trust,
service and pride!
|
UPCOMING
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
January 22nd Jackalope Jump, Douglas
January 28th Area II Winter Games, White
Pines
January 29th
Board of Directors
Meeting
February 6th Area III & V Winter
Games, Casper
February
9-11th State Winter
Games, Jackson
February 20th Jackalope Jump, Sheridan
February 26th Area III Gala Auction, Cheyenne
February 27th Jackalope Jump, Casper
February 27th Jackalope Jump, Laramie
February 27th Jackalope Jump, Bridger Valley
March 3rd Youth Rallies at Various
High Schools
March 18th MATP, Casper
March 6th Jackalope Jump, Cheyenne
March 6th Jackalope Jump, Jackson
March Summer
Sports Coaches Training, Lander
March 19th Board of Directors Meeting
|
President & CEO
Director of Competition and Training
|
|
|
|
|
