FW: Special Olympics Western Region Program Report

 

Special Olympics New York   Western Region Program Report  January 28, 2009   In This Report Coach/Volunteer Certification Submitting Rosters Upcoming Events Winter Games Info Expense Procedure Online File Folder Next Conference Attention Event Directors Program Committee   Quick Links Special Olympics New York   Protective Behaviors Online   Western Region Calendar   Online File Folder   Welcome!    Hello all!  Please pay careful attention as there are many important announcements!   Coaching/Volunteer Certification   In order to be a coach, you MUST have a current sport certification.  These are good for 4 years.  The background check is good for 3 years.  There is no "grandfather" clause so every head coach needs to keep a current certification.  The best way to get re-certified is to attend our seasonal conferences.  Also, you MUST be certified in the sport you are coaching.  The good thing is that once you receive your re-certification, you automatically become re-certified in all other sports you have been certified in.    In addition, ALL volunteers and coaches must complete a volunteer application (background check) and protective behaviors online.  If you have not done so, the link can be found in the Quick Links section of the Program Report at the top.  It is recommended that when you complete the protective behaviors online, print out the completion letter for your own records.    If you are unsure of your coach/volunteer status please contact me and I can let you know where you are at.    Rosters Needed!   Please take note, rosters are REQUIRED to be on file (along with up to date meds/consents) for an athlete/team to register for ANY competition.   Effective immediately, in order for an athlete/team to compete in any competition, a roster must be submitted at least 8 weeks prior to the competition.  This is to ensure each athlete is accounted for and is training.  Even if you don't think a particular athlete will ever compete, put them on the roster anyway!   All registrations will be processed through the software program that Special Olympics uses.  Registration deadlines will be set to get them to me to process.    ROSTERS AND REGISTRATIONS CAN NOW BE FOUND ON THE ONLINE FILE FOLDER   *The roster deadline calendar will be on the online file folder shortly   Upcoming Events   Local Central Junior and Senior Bowling    Date: Sunday, January 1st Location: Thruway Lanes (Cheektowaga)                  Junior bowlers will bowl in the AM (registration begins at 8 AM)              Senior/ramp/wheelchair bowlers will bowl following the conclusion of Junior bowling,               registration beginning at 11:15                A big thanks goes out to Vaughn Keller who is organizing this event.     *Please note that a small snack and soda will be provided, however a meal will not so please make sure your athletes know to eat before they come.     Volunteer! If you are interested in volunteering for either of these events please contact me.   Another big thanks goes out to Kathy Miller for successfully running a Senior Bowling competition on January 18th.                                   _________________________________     The next big events coming up are the :     Western Central Local Basketball Tournament March 14th at the Clearfield Community Center directed by Debbie Fleetwood and Greg Belile Regiatraion forms are due February 20th to the Regional Office If you have not submitted a summer roster yet please do asap 8:00 AM          Registration 8:30 AM          Openining Ceremonies 8:45 AM          Coaches Meeting (Team and Skills)                         Competition Begins   *The information packet can be found on the online file folder*                                   __________________________________       And the Western Central Local Aquatics   March 28th at the Alumni Arena Pool at the University of Buffalo Directed by Jackie Starks 8:30-9:000 AM                          Warm-ups 9:00-9:00 AM       Openening Ceremonies 9:15-12:30 PM                         Swim Meet   Rosters are due by January 31st Registrations** are due by March 7th to the Regional Office   *The information packet can be found on the online file folder*   ** Please make note on the registration form if you are entering an athlete in an event being offered that is not listed on the registration form.  Also, please make sure to submit the Special Request form with your registration.      Winter Games Info The big event is next week! Official Coaches packets or specific venues/times have not been released yet.   Vaughn Keller is going to represent the Western Region as our Head of Delegation (HOD).    If you have any scratches/adds please contact me as soon as possible and on the 6th you will be contacting Vaughn as he will be registering the Region.   All buses will drop everyone off at the Rochester Plaza where we are staying   Bus Information:   All buses will be school buses.  I know this is not ideal, however please consider the economic situation the country is in and its substancial impact on Special Olympics.    Friday the 6th:      Niagara/Orleans: Bus departing from the Holiday Inn on Transit at 1:00 PM      The bus wil depart on the 8th back to the Holiday Inn at 8:00 AM        Alle-Catts: Bus departing from SubCon Industries at 1:00 PM      The bus will depart on the 8th back to SubCon at 9:00 AM        Jamestown/Fredonia:  Bus departing from the Tim Hortons in Jamestown, 21 Main St.).  The bus will then pick up additional athletes at the McDonalds in Fredonia (500 Main St., close to the thruway entrance)      The bus will depart on the 8th at 9:00 AM with dropping off first at the McDonalds in Fredonia then at the Tim Hortons in Jamestown   If you have been contacted regarding missing/incomplete information regarding your coaching certification, please make sure to get that information to me ASAP.  Please mail/fax me a copy of each volunteer application filled out.  I will get it processed.  Coaches will not be permitted to attend State Games if this information is missing/incomplete.    Expense Procedure  Just a reminder... ALL expenses MUST be pre-approved, in writing.  Bills and invoices will NOT be paid unless it was pre-approved.  Special Olympics must be fiscally responsible in these financial hard times and appreciates the cooperation from all coaches and volunteers in adhering to this process.   Get Files Online!    Need a roster?  Need a registration? Need a new medical/consent form?  Find many of the forms needed on the new online file folder.  Here you can download forms.  Click on the picture to the right and it will take you to the website.  If you think of a form that would be useful to have available please notify Shelby.  Make sure you bookmark the webpage!    Summer Conference!   We are gearing up for yet another season with Special Olympics.  Our Summer Season is quickly approaching and we are putting together the details.  The only finalized detail we have right now is that the conference will be held at Niagara University.  They are very excited to host us!   WE NEED YOUR INPUT!  At every conference we offer at least one sport training.  Please take a moment to survey your coaches to see what sport(s) have the greatest demand to be offered.  Please contact me with your sport request(s) by  Monday, February 9th A few things to consider: *A coach must be certified in the sport they are coaching *A coach must get re-certified every 4 years (in addition to the background check every three years) *Once certified, when a coach gets recertified, it is applied to all other sports he/she has been certified previously (If I was certified in soccer 3 years ago and then go certified in floor hockey, I would automatically be re-certified in soccer)   The Summer Season is our biggest season!  It is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED that EVERY coach attend the confernce.  This is the best way to get important information about the upcoming season and get certified/re-certified.    If you ar a head coach, please encourage your coaches/volunteers to attend   Attention Event Directors    If you are an event director please contact me so that we can establish deadlines and talk about the registration process and any procedural changes.   We can also talk about any needs (facilities, food, rentals...)   Social Security Numbers?   I have received many inquires regarding social security numbers on medical/consent forms and registration forms.  Only the LAST 4 #s need to be listed.  This is used as a way to identify each athlete and as a safeguard incase athletes' have the same name and/or birthdate.  The registration forms on the online file folder have been updated to reflect this.  Forms on the specialolympics.org website have NOT been updated.       "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." ~Athlete Oath     Contact Information:   Shelby Baker Program Director Western Region 8207 Main Street, Suite 13 Williamsville, NY 14221  Special Olympics New York 716-850-3346 716-580-3941 (fax)  sbaker@nyso.org     Program Committee    The Program Committee last met on January 21st.  They work very hard behind the scenes to assist the Western Region in providing support and direction.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday February 10th at 6:30 PM at the Regional Office.  If you are interested in becoming a part of the Program Comittee please contact me.  Please voice your questions/concerns and the Program Committee can address it.

 

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