Get Involved

September 2011 Program Memo

Topics Include:

 

Writable PDF Class A & Class B Volunteer Forms

Now available on Special Olympics Virginia's Web site are writable PDF versions of the Class A and Class B volunteer forms. A writable PDF is a document that functions like a form – people can type directly onto the forms and save, print, fax or email the forms. This makes the forms more legible and you can type in the event name (eg. “Area 8 Volleyball Tournament”) and then print out the forms, alleviating some of the work at check-in.


A couple notes to keep in mind in case of questions:


In Virginia, an electronic signature is legally binding. Read more.


PLEASE NOTE: Forms that do not have a signature (digital or written) from the applicant, or do not have the ID Verification portion filled in, are incomplete and will not be processed.***


Security: Since the Class A Form requests a Social Security Number, we still recommend that Class A Forms with complete Social Security Numbers not be sent electronically through e-mail since it is not secure. If volunteers are concerned about the privacy of their SSN, we ask that they enter the first 5 digits on the form, and expect a call from Special Olympics Virginia asking for the final four.


Of course, we will still accept “old” versions of Class As and Bs, though we prefer that you begin to use the new ones since they will be helpful to everyone!


The forms are available on Special Olympics Virginia's Web site here. You also can get here by clicking on Volunteers on our homepage, and then Volunteer Resources/Forms on the left sidebar.


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Get Into It


Get Into It (GII) is a free, K-12 service-learning curriculum empowering all young people to be agents of change. Lesson plans are designed to advance students’ civic knowledge and skill development, promote acceptance and understanding of people’s differences and to motivate them to become advocates for and together with all people. The curriculum is designed for general education classrooms with modifications and extensions to include all learners. Check-out the GII site by visiting www.specialolympics.org/getintoit and share this tremendous resource with teachers in your Area or Local program.

 

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Bowling Championships and FanQuest

 

Special Olympics Virginia's statewide Bowling Championships will be held Jan. 28–29 in Fairfax. This is a 2-person team bowling competition for either traditional or unified teams.

 

In conjunction with the Bowling Championships, Special Olympics Virginia will host FanQuest, a new innovative event featuring local Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics basketball teams from Oakton High School and McLean High School will play a basketball game complete with cheerleaders, entertainment, giveaways and cheering fans the evening of Saturday, Jan. 28 at Oakton High School. The game will be followed by a dance. All Special Olympics Virginia athletes, family members and volunteer are invited to attend.

 

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Speed Skating Championships

 

Special Olympics Virginia's Speed Skating Championships will be held March 3 – 4 at the Ice Zone in Richmond. Registration packets will be sent in early January and the registration deadline is Jan. 31.

 

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State Games Information

 

The state games competition calendar with all pertinent deadlines can be found here. Please make sure that you have valid Athlete Participation Forms and that all coaches are Class A Eligible Volunteers at the start of each sport training season.

 

Also included here as reminders are Special Olympics Virginia's State Games Deadline Policy and State Games Procedures. Please make sure the appropriate people in your Area/Local program are familiar with these two documents.

 

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Bowling RTPs

 

RTPs are used to calculate quotas for state championship events. Areas with bigger training programs in a particular sport get higher quota numbers for that sport. Bowling is a sport that is hard to track because Area programs train at different times of the year and there are three different types of bowling competitions offered at the state level: 4-person team bowling at Fall Championships, 2-person team bowling at Bowling Championships in January and individual bowling at Summer Games.

 

We have tried different ways to track bowling RTPs to be as fair as possible to the Area programs. We will now track each sport season separately. Programs that bowl in the fall should submit a RTP for 4-person bowling. These RTPs will be used to calculate quotas for Fall Championships. Programs that continue their bowling season in the winter or start training in the winter should submit a RTP for 2-person bowling. Programs that bowl in the spring should submit a RTP for individual bowling.

 

Hopefully this system will be easier and fairer for everyone. Please direct any feedback regarding this system to Val Reinford at vreinford@specialolympicsva.org.

 

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FirstGiving – A Great Tool to Raise Area Funds Online!

 

The number of people making charitable donations online has skyrocketed the last couple of years. FirstGiving is an online tool that Special Olympics Virginia uses to capitalize on the trend of donors preferring to give online. You can customize FirstGiving pages for most Area/Local fundraising events and volunteers/athletes can encourage their friends and families all over the country to contribute to their fundraising endeavors. Refer to the FirstGiving Area Tool Kit to learn how Areas around the state are raising funds through FirstGiving.

 

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Special Olympics Shirts Available at Walmart

 

Special Olympics licensed T-shirts are now available at Walmart in the Men’s Department. The retail price is $7.50. The artwork is a very simple Special Olympics logo and each T-shirt has a "hang tag" with a link to SOI’s website and a brief message about SO’s mission. View the T-shirts here.

 

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Employment Survey for People with Down Syndrome

 

Special Olympics constituents are asked to participate in a survey regarding the employment status of adults with Down syndrome. There is currently no information available on employment and unemployment status for adults with Down syndrome. There is also no information describing where people work and the kinds of jobs they do. We all need that information in order to document the current situation and advocate for job training programs, funding, and more variety and choices in jobs.

 

The purpose of this survey is to begin to collect that information. The survey is designed to get information about adults with Down syndrome, ages 18-50 years old, whether they are working in paid or volunteer jobs, not currently working, or are in a training program to prepare for jobs. If you are one of those people, you can help us learn how to make jobs easier to find and to keep, and maybe even more fun to do. If you want to help, you can fill out the answers yourself, or you could get your parents or someone else to help you. Access the survey.

 

The survey will be online at Survey Monkey from July 20 – Dec. 31, 2011. Everyone’s response is important. Together we can make a difference!

 

Information is being collected by:

 

Libby Kumin, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Loyola University Dept. of Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210

 

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The Council for Exceptional Children Yes I Can! Awards

 

The Council for Exceptional Children Yes I Can! Awards honor children and youth with disabilities who excel. This year, we are proud to announce a new, streamlined array of categories to better suit nominees’ achievements in: academics, arts, athletics, school & community activities, self-advocacy, technology, and transition. All Yes I Can! Award nominees receive a certificate of accomplishment. Visit CEC’s Web site for more information, including eligibility guidelines and the nomination forms. Nominations are due by Oct. 21, 2011.

 

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Volunteer to Cheer at Fall Championships


Competing is not as special without fans – and that goes for any sports competition, including Special Olympics. Be part of something special: Volunteer to Cheer at the 2011 Fall Championships, Nov. 5-6 in Virginia Beach. Sign up today at www.volunteer2cheer.com. Please help us spread the word about this fantastic opportunity, and help us reach our goal of a record 1,000 fans in the stands! For more information, please contact Gray Miller.

 

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Special Olympics Virginia Partners with the ODAC


Special Olympics Virginia has formed an exciting new partnership with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference with the goal of creating new resources and opportunities for local Special Olympics programs around the Commonwealth. All local programs located in the vicinity of an ODAC school are encouraged to reach out to their Special Olympics Virginia Region Director with any specific program needs they have. These needs will then be passed onto the college or university in their area.

 

Several of the ODAC schools already participate in events with Special Olympics Virginia. From track meets at Lynchburg College and swimming and basketball events at Virginia Wesleyan College to an invitation to the men’s basketball year-end banquet at Eastern Mennonite University, the benefit of the ODAC’s involvement with Special Olympics Virginia is evident. The official partnership between the ODAC and Special Olympics Virginia's will help strengthen current relationships and build new opportunities throughout the state.

 

The ODAC’s experience with Special Olympics Virginia took its first steps at the 2011 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship in Salem, Va. A co-sponsor in the event, the ODAC was part of the planning group that included SOVA athletes in several activities, including exhibition games, surrounding the national semifinals and the Reese’s All-Star Game.

 

Here are the ways that the ODAC schools are being encouraged to help Special Olympics:


1) Tickets to events, clinics, inclusion in on campus sporting events, etc.

2) Student-athlete volunteerism, hosting competitions, etc.

3) Fundraising (All money raised will go toward scholarships for athletes to attend a state games of their choice.)

 

Here is a complete list of the ODAC schools around VA:

 

Bridgewater College – Eagles - Bridgewater, VA - Daniel Leake

Eastern Mennonite University - Royals - Harrisonburg, VA – Daniel Leake

Emory and Henry College – Wasps - Emory, VA – Nancy Morehouse

Guilford College – Quakers - Greensboro, NC – Special Olympics North Carolina

Hampden–Sydney College – Tigers - Hampden-Sydney, VA – Matt Camire

Hollins University - *No Mascot* - Roanoke, VA - Nancy Morehouse

Lynchburg College - Hornets - Lynchburg, VA – Matt Camire

Randolph College - Wildcats - Lynchburg, VA – Matt Camire

Randolph–Macon College - Yellow Jackets - Ashland, VA – Tina Andes

Roanoke College - Maroons - Salem, VA - Nancy Morehouse

Sweet Briar College - Vixens - Amherst, VA – Matt Camire

Virginia Wesleyan College - Marlins - Norfolk, VA – Brad Stevens

Washington and Lee University - Generals - Lexington, VA – Daniel Leake

 

You can also read more on the Special Olympics Virginia Web site.


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