Special Olympics New York Western Region: FW: Special Olympics Western Region Program Report

We are looking for 1-2 athletes with a parent/guardian/coach to be at each Applebees location to help greet customers, work with the law enforcement officers and make sure everyone is enjoying their dinner.

Here is a list of locations:

5017 Transit Road Williamsville
4405 Milestrip Road Blasdell
3189 Erie Boulevard East DeWitt
1608 Military Road Niagara Falls
1641 Niagara Falls Blvd Amherst
5822 South Transit Road Lockport
340 East Fairmount Avenue Lakewood
2656 Delaware Avenue Buffalo
1785 Walden Avenue Cheektowaga
1050 Union Road West Seneca
4967 Transit Road Depew
3908 Vineyard Drive Dunkirk
3067 West State Street Olean

Please contact me if you know of an athlete that would be interested. I would be happy to speak with any parent/guardian/staff member.

ab's applebees logo

When: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 5:00-8:30 PM

This April, the Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch run has an incredible opportunity with Applebee's. On Wednesday, April 29,2009 we have the opportunity to do "Law & Orders" again in your area! From 5-8:30pm law enforcement officers will be greeting the public, helping the waitresses get drinks, and bus tables while educating the customers about our initiatives. On each table there will be an envelope where the customers can leave a donation for Special Olympics New York. Historically in events like this we can raise anywhere between $500 - $1000 at one restaurant and with over 60 locations across the state we should have an amazing success!

Participating locations in our area include: Clarence, Blasdell, Niagara Falls, Amherst, Lockport, Jamestown, Delaware Ave., West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Olean and Batavia.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics is the movement's largest grassroots awareness and fundraising initiative, raising more than $30 million internationally in 2008. At its most basic level the Law Enforcement Torch Run was started as a group of officers carrying the Torch into Special Olympics games and ceremonies and it has evolved into one of the largest fundraising programs for the organization. Law Enforcement Officers have the opportunity to play a crucial role in the success of the events held here in the Rochester Area.

This is a tremendous opportunity with Applebee's to raise both funds and awareness for our programs! Law Enforcement Torch Run has been holding these types of events for almost 20 years, but never have we had an event with this much potential. It is my privilege to invite you to join us at this fun and exciting event.

With support like yours, we can continue to show that when people with and without intellectual disabilities are brought together by Special Olympics, myths are dispelled, attitudes are changed, and new opportunities to embrace and celebrate people with intellectual disabilities are created.

If you have any questions about this request or anything pertaining to the upcoming event, please contact:
Melissa Wiggins
(585)586-7400 ext. 105 ormwiggins@nyso.org

Thank you for being a friend to our athletes and their families

Summer State Games Announcement from CEO Neal Johnson

Since my last communication, our organization continues to face economic challenges. In that letter I mentioned that our organization has had to budget expenses to match a very conservative fundraising outlook. To continue to ensure that we meet our financial needs, we have had to reduce our organizational expenses by more than $1,000,000, including reductions in our operational expenses, personnel costs, and unfortunately, we now have to change the shape of Summer Games. This proved to be very difficult, knowing we were going to disappoint a lot of people.

This year's Summer Games 2009 will see a reduction in the total number of athletes by 35% and only one day of competition. With a smaller time frame for competition, making this reduction evenly across every sport brings a number of events to a level where quality competition will not exist. To preserve a portion of our larger events, we moved the allocations from some of the low participation sporting events. We also needed to keep in mind that with one day of competition, our larger events would not be able to sustain full participation while maintaining quality competition. With that said here is what events will make up the 2009 Summer Games:

Aquatics - 100% participation*
Athletics - 85% participation*
Basketball Skills - 100% participation*
Basketball Team - 80% participation*
Bowling - 0% participation*
Gymnastics - 0% participation*
Powerlifting - 100% participation*
Tennis - 100% participation*
Volleyball Skills - 0% participation*
Volleyball Team - 0% participation*

*based on 2008 Summer Games Participation

I appreciate your understanding during these unprecedented times. It was with no great ease that these decisions were reached. The reductions to Summer Games were made very carefully and strategically. In spite of our economic environment, we look forward to the great competitions we will see all around the state this spring. It is essential for us all to do what we can to continue moving forward with our mission. I would ask each of you to explore ways in which you can help support our athletes. Thank you for all you do.

Upcoming Events

Western Region Basketball Competition

April 2nd, 2009

Sweet Home High School

9:00am to 9:30am                     Registration & Check-in
9:45 to 10:15am                       Opening Ceremonies
10:15am 10:45am                    Paring Games (team)
10:45am to 3:00pm                  Team Competition
10:15am to 2:00pm                  Skills Competition
1:30pm to 2:30pm                    Skills Awards
3:00pm to 3:30pm                    Team Awards

Registration is due Friday, April 10th.

Registration forms and informational packet can be found on the online folder

Super Regional Volleyball and Aquatics Competition

April 9th 2009

Volleyball: Buffalo Niagara Court Center (West Seneca)

Aquatics: Canisius College Koessler Pool*

Schedule: vball

· 9:00-9:30      Registration at each location
· 9:30-9:45      Opening Ceremonies at each location
· 10:00            Coaches Meeting
· 10:15-11:00 Volleyball Team Pairing Games
· 10:15-3:00    Volleyball skills and aquatics competition
· 11:00-4:00    Volleyball Team Competition

· Awards Aquatics: awards will be handed out throughout

the competition
Volleyball skills and Team: will be handed out at the end of each

division

Registration forms are due April 16th.

Registration forms and informational flyer can be found on the online folder.

*Please note the change in venue for the aquatics competition. We apologize for any inconvenience, however the change had to be made in response to availability of facilities.

Future Events

Houghton College Track Meet April 28

Super Regional Volleyball and Aquatics May 9

Western South Local Track and Field May 12

Olean Schools Track and Field May 15

Genesee Region Super Regional Basketball* May 16 (Registration due May 1)

Western South Local Track and Field May 21

Western North Local Track and Field May 27

Salamanca Schools Track and Field May 29

Western Central Local Track and Field May 30 (Registration due May 2)

* Event NOT required to attend states

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
~Athlete Oath