Special Olympics New York Western Region: Special Olympics Western Region Program Report has been sent

Grand Island Bocce team playing in the Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage Festival in Buffalo to participate in an exhibition Bocce competition. They will be going head to head against last years Italian Festival winners- Councilman LoCurto's Little Italy All-Stars. The game will take place on Thursday, July 16th, 6:30 PM at the Bocce courts at Hertel and Commonwealth

Golf Team!

The Western Region is officially home to a brand new golf team!

There will be an informational meeting regarding the golf club at the Amherst Pepsi Center on Monday, July 20th at 7:30 PM in the Silver Room. Please RSVP by Thursday the 16th.

Directions to the Pepsi Center

Fall Conference Registration

The Western and Genesee Regions have teamed up for the Fall Conference.

The conference will be Saturday August 8th at SUNY Geneseo

A link to registration can be found HERE

Please take advantage of the many sport certifications being offered!

Schedule

Session 1: Around the Region (9:15am - 10am)
Catch up with everything going on in the regions. New policies, new rules and event regsitrations will be discussed.

Session 2: General Session (10am-10:30am)
New coaches wishing to begin the certification process need to begin right here! The general session is the starting point for all coaches.

Session 3: Coaches Recertification (10:45am-12pm)
Join us on the Holcomb fields as we work on concepts of coaching. This course serves as a recertfication for all your existing sports certifications.

Session 4: Lunch
Free Pizza and Pop for all attendance...(12pm-12:30pm)

Session 5a: Aquatics Training (12:30pm -2:30pm)

Session 5b: Bocce Training (12:30pm-2:30pm)

Session 5c: Golf Training (12:30pm-2:30pm)

Session 5d: Soccer Training (12:30pm-2:30pm)

Session 5e: Softball Training (12:30pm-2:30pm)

Session 5f: Volleyball Training (12:30pm-2:30pm)

Important!

Please remember that any expense(s) must be pre-approved. Please use the fundraising/planned expense form (located on the online file folder) and submit to the Western Office. Any receipts/invoices received that were not pre-approved will not be paid.

This same form can be used when planning a fundraiser.

Fall Season

Things to keep in mind for the Fall season

~Submit your Fall Roster as soon as your practices have started

include all coaches involved

please make sure the roster is filled out as completely as possible

make sure to include practice day, time and location

=coach tip=

fill out your rosters (or any other electronic document!) on the computer in the excel sheet so that you can save it and easily access and modify it later. Come next year, you will only have to add/remove athletes/coaches that are participating instead of re-writing the entire roster again.

~Every volunteer needs to have a current volunteer certification which includes:

having attended a general session

successfully completed the protective behaviors online quiz

complete and submit a volunteer application to the Western Region Office*

if you or anyone have not attended a general session please see details about the upcoming conference

Type A volunteer certifications are valid for 3 years. If you are unsure of your current status please contact the Western Office*

~Every coach must hold a current sport certification

At least one coach must be certified in the sport being coached

certifications are valid for 4 years

~Ensure all medical/consent forms are up to date

medical forms are valid for three years from the doctor's signature date

check to see if any forms may expire during the season so that there is enough time to get the form updated

medical/consent forms need to be current during the entire training season

~Review sport rules and look for any rule changes

*As some of you have encountered, Special Olympics records may not reflect the most up to date information regarding certifications. We appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation as we continue to streamline our record keeping during the state wide regionalization process.

Feel free to contact the Western Office to check the status of your certification dates and sports certified in.

Upcoming Events

A TEAM ROSTER MUST BE ON FILE IN THE WESTERN REGION OFFICE IN ORDER TO REGISTER FOR ANY EVENT

SO Softball

Western Central Local Softball

August 1st, 2009

Amherst Pepsi Center
Registrations are due no later than June 20th to the Western Region office

Registration forms, rosters and event packet can be found on the online file folder or by contacting the Western Region office

Schedule

8:00 AM Registration (Diamonds behind building)

8:30 AM             Opening Ceremonies

8:45 AM            Pairing Games (Team Competition)
                         Team Coaches Meeting to follow

8:45 AM             Skill Coaches Meeting for scratches

9:00 AM            Skills Competition - Awards to follow

10:15 AM           Team Competition

1:00 PM             Team Competition Awards

Equestrian

Western North Local Equestrian

August 9th, 2009

Location: Equi*Star Theraputic Riding center

SO Softball

Western South Local Softball

Date/Location: TBD

Equestrian

Super Regional Equestrian

September 12th, 2009

Lehman Farm, Pittsford, Genesee Region

*This event is a requirement to attend State Games

Bocce

Super Regional Bocce

September 12th, 2009

Rome, NY

*This event is a requirement to attend State Games

soccer SO Softball

Upstate Fall Classic

September 19th, 2009

Total Sports Experience, Rochester, NY

Registrations are due no later than September 4th to the Western Office

*This event has taken the place of State Games

Event flyer located in the online file folder

Equestrian

Western Central Local Equestrian

September 27th, 2009

High Hurdles, Elma, NY

SO Golf Golf Competitions*

Regional Golf Skills - August 23rd - Henrietta, NY

Registrations due to the Western Region by August 12th

Regional 9 Hole Independent Play - August 27th - Caledonia, NY

Registrations due to the Western Region by August 12th

Regional Golf Invitational - September 26th - Lima, NY

Includes individual and alternate shot play

Registrations due to the Western Region by September 9th

*These events are all held in the Genesee Region, however

Western Region athletes are invited to these events. Flyers

to these events are on the online file folder

Bowling

Regional Bowling

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Thruway Lanes

Please note the date and location change

from the original schedule

Be a Fan

The Special Olympics New York "FAN CLUB" Campaign will raise revenue, recruit new friends, and increase awareness of Special Olympics New York and its athletes. It will engage family and friends of Special Olympics New York to celebrate and support our mission. The initial stage will highlight the 40th anniversary and the second stage will focus on the next 40 years.

Special Olympics New York "FAN CLUB":

"A group of dedicated family and friends who support the athletes of Special Olympics New York"

"FAN CLUB" members are Family and Friends of SONY who are:
1.       Committed to the athletes of Special Olympics New York
2.       Make a donation to Special Olympics
3.       Agree to spread the word about the mission, signing up for E-Triumph, and asking friends and associates to do the same
4.       Introduce New FANS to the movement and opening doors to new opportunities

Fan Level - $4.00 donation ($5.00 on-line donation) & contact with email information