SPECIAL OLYMPICS

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Special Olympics Wisconsin

Special Olympics Wisconsin provides sports training and competition for nearly 10,000 athletes with cognitive disabilities in 18 different sports year-round.

Look up your events calendar, contacts, photos and more.

Volleyball: Center Court Complex in Waukesha
State competition in bowling has been split into a Northern Tournament in Schofield and a Southern Tournament in Wausautosa to allow for more athelte access. More information and online volunteer registration

Kwik Trip to sell $1 wall icons for Special Olympics
Help spread the word about the Kwik Trip icon sale scheduled from October 29 - November 11. During this time, customers can purchase a paper wall icon and $1 will be donated to Special Olympics. In 2009, Kwik Trip Raised $223,000 for Special Olympics athletes in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa during this promotion. Tell your friends and help spread the word through e-mail, facebook and twitter!

Now Hiring: Regional Director of Sports, Eau Claire, WI
Join the Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) team! The SOWI Sports Department is seeking an outgoing; sports oriented Regional Director of Sports. Duties include conducting sports competitions, running special events, recruiting and training volunteers, coordinating coaches’ training and assisting local programs. This position, based in Eau Claire, WI, is responsible for coordinating Special Olympics activities in the Northwestern portion of the state. This position is full time, and offers a competitive wage. Some travel is required.
For consideration, please email your cover letter and resume to: the Vice President of Program Services at bwhitehead@specialolympicswisconsin.org. Please no phone calls. Special Olympics Wisconsin is an equal opportunity employer.

2010 Law Enforcement Torch Run Calendar
Support the 25th Anniversary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin by purchasing a 2011 Calendar! For only $5.00 (plus $2.50 shipping/handling), you can have important dates and memorable photos at your fingertips, along with great Kwik Trip coupons. Please contact Valerie at vgreen@specialolympicswisconsin.org or (608) 442-5670 if interested.

The Scarf Project provides handmade scarfs to Special Olympics athletes
Do you love to knit? Help Special Olympics provide scarves to athletes attending Winter Games through the 2011 Special Olympics USA Scarf Project.
Visit http://www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/ to get started.

Red Heart Super Saver 512 Turqua - buy now
See project guidelines for complete details and free downloadable patterns.

Athletes as Coaches Training to be held December 11
The Athletes-As-Coaches (AAC) Program is designed to help train and certify Athletes to become coaches in the Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) system. Attend a training on December 11, 2010 at the Cedarburg Police Department. More information and registration form.

2011 World Summer Games in Athens, Greece
Two athletes and three coaches will represent Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece to be held June 25-July 4, 2011. Team USA includes athletes and coaches from all 50 states and 185 countries.
Menomonee Falls athlete Rebecca Stelpflug, 20, will compete in swimming and Burlington athlete Christopher Mark, 17, will compete in track and field. The three track and field coaches who will represent Special Olympics Wisconsin are Bonnie Kahn of Tomahawk, Deb Moore Gruenloh of Nekoosa and Steve Meurett of Neillsville. Read more

The most meaningful gift
Looking for unique gifts for your clients or employees? Get in the spirit with "in lieu of" gift to Special Olympics. Your support will bring joy of sport to people with intellectual disabilities and speak volumes to your business associates about your values of acceptance, generosity, and opportunity. In return for your contribution, we will provide elegantly embossed cards to insert with your holiday wishes or place at your celebration. Donate online

Inaugural Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day held on Saturday, September 25th
Blackhawk Middle School of Madison, WI hosted the first annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS Day) celebration as a school assembly and press conference shared what Special Olympics and the legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver is all about. EKS Day is an annual celebration to be held the 4th Saturday of every September in honor of her life and a global call for people to commit actions of inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with individuals with cognitive disabilities. Follow this link to share your EKS Act of Unity online.

Special Olympics Athletes featured at Kohl Center
Check out the new traveling exhibit in the Kohl Center that features Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes with their medals. The Exhibit titled "In a Celebration of Athletic Spirit" is located inside the entrance of Gate B. The Kohl Center is open to the public Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Thank you to the Madison Area Down Syndrome Society (MADSS), Alphagraphics and photographer Shawn Harper.

120 Trucks participate in World's Largest Truck Convoy®
On September 18, 2010, truckers from all over North America joined the World's Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics. In Wisconsin, 120 trucks participated raising an estimated $83,000 for Special Olympics athletes. More information

Fox Valley Area 4 Office Has Moved
The Special Olympics Wisconsin Fox Valley Area office has moved to a new location. The phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

"Cindy Bentley: Spirit of a Champion” Book tells the story of a Special Olympics Wisconsin athlete
Cindy Bentley has joined the ranks of Frank Lloyd Wright, Bob and Belle La Follette, Gaylord Nelson, Curly Lambeau, and other noteworthy people from Wisconsin. Her biography, Cindy Bentley: Spirit of a Champion will be published as part of the Wisconsin State Historical Society’s Badger Biography series for young readers.

The Program office has moved to a new location. We are very excited about our new space as it will allow for future expansion and, due to the market, we were able to negotiate a great long term lease. Our new address is:
Special Olympics Wisconsin

Over the Edge for Special Olympics Wisconsin
Thank you to everyone who participated in Over the Edge for Special Olympics Wisconsin at the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace or the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. During these two events, 91 people went Over the Edge helping to raise over $66,000 for Special Olympics Wisconsin. More information

August 6-8, 2010 • Eau Claire, WI
Athletes competed in bocce, softball, t-ball, golf and tennis during the State Outdoor Sports Tournament in Eau Claire, WI on August 6-8.

Special Olympics Wisconsin Holds Award Celebration
About 60 supporters received awards for their dedication to Special Olympics Wisconsin during the Award Celebration at Epic in Verona on August 1. Congratulations to all of this year's award winners! View photos

Special Olympics and Denny's Restaurants kick off year long partnership
Special Olympics Wisconsin and Denny’s restaurant announced a year-long, national partnership to raise awareness and support for people with intellectual disabilities across the country. Denny’s Gold Medal Program, the first of two national Special Olympics initiatives, provides guests the opportunity to benefit Special Olympics Wisconsin by purchasing a paper "Gold Medal" for $1 or more. Read More

Spread the Word to End the Word
Young people around the world are taking a stand and raising awareness of the dehumanizing and hurtful affects of the words “retard” and “retarded” and are helping encourage others to think before they speak.

Duties may include: Coaching, committee work, agency management
Class A volunteer requirements

Submit a Class A Registration Form to the program office (requires background check)
Request to have a Class A form mailed to you

Complete the online Protective Behaviors training and test
(must use Internet Explorer or Firefox web browsers)

View the General Orientation video at a training or view it online and take the General Orientation Test

This video instructs coaches and athletes on warm up, strength training and stretching exercises.

"What does Special Olympics mean to you?"
Check out this compilation of 3-word videos created by students from the University of Miami in response to this question.