December 2011 - Special Olympics Wisconsin

AgencyTimes
December 2011
ISSUE NO. 101
Mutual Respect. Positive Attitude. Teamwork. Dedication. Accountability.
Next issue: February 2012
Values SOWI lives by to create an environment of integrity where winning is more than coming in first.
2310 Crossroads Drive · Suite 1000 Madison, WI 53718 · (800) 552-1324 · FAX (608) 222-3578 · SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org
Leadership Conference & Awards Ceremony a Huge Success!
Spread the Word to End the Word
The March 7 National Spread the Word to End the Word
Day is quickly approaching and we are asking all SOWI
Agencies and athletes to get out into their communities to
raise awareness. This year, there are kits available to Agencies
that commit to running a campaign –whether that be
speaking to a local school or setting out a banner at the nearest
grocery store. These kits will include wristbands, stickers,
tattoos, and three t-shirts. (We do ask that these promotional
items be given to people outside of Special Olympics
as we are trying to spread the message beyond our organization.)
There are also t-shirts and drawstring backpacks available
for purchase in the new black and green colors!
For more information on this year’s campaign, a copy of the
commitment form, or details on how to order t-shirts or
backpacks, please contact Ally Armstrong at
aarmstrong@specialolympicswisconsin.org.
Process for Agency Managers to
Schedule a Certified Training School
Agencies can now schedule their own Certified Training
School and below are the steps you should follow in order
to do so. When you’re thinking of scheduling a school,
please consider if there may be another Agency in close
proximity that may have similar needs as we encourage
Agencies to work together when scheduling. Should you
have any questions, please contact your Regional Director
of Sports or the Director of Training and Competition.
1. Contact a State Certified Clinician from the SOWI list
(you will find the list on the Agency Manager website and
enclosed in this issue of the Agency Times).
2. Identify a date/time and secure a location for Certified
Training School.
3. The State Certified Clinician will contact the Director
of Training & Competition to coordinate the needed paperwork
and materials.
4. If possible, the Certified Training School will be posted
on the SOWI training calendar.
5. State Certified Clinician will be responsible for returning
necessary paperwork to the state program office after
the Certified Training School.
6. If the intent is to use a clinician that is not a State Certified
Clinician, you must contact your Regional Director of
Sports in order to conduct the training school.

1
The Directors of Field Services
have reviewed all of the accreditation
packets. Enclosed you
may find a letter regarding your Agency’s
status for accreditation. If there
are no concerns, you have no letter.
Please contact your Director of Field Services
if you have any questions.
2
On December 3 rd , 880 athletes, including 20
volleyball teams, competed in the Fall Sports
Tournament. Way to go athletes! Hats off to
the 310 coaches and chaperones that helped make
the tournament possible.
3
MedFest was held at the Northern Fall Sports
Tournament at Weston
Lanes for the first time. The
event was a huge success, 42
athletes received a free physical.
MedFest will be back at
the 2012 Northern Fall Sports
Tournament!
4
SOWI is excited to announce the income tax
check-off bill was signed on Wednesday, November
16th at the Wisconsin State Capitol at
10:30a.m. The check-off program enables taxpayers
to make a contribution to state programs on
their personal state income tax form and will
begin with the 2012 tax season.
5
Polar Plunge® registration is now online.
With two ways to participate even those who
prefer to keep their feet on dry land can support
Special Olympics Wisconsin and be a part of all
the fun! Event participants can register to take the
Plunge on SOWI’s website or sign up as "Too
Chicken to Plunge". "Chickens" can still raise donations
and join a team. They will even get their
own t-shirt proclaiming "I was Too Chicken to
Plunge".
Top Ten
6
An inaugural SONA Regional Flag Football
Tournament hosted by the National Intramural
-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) and
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale took
place in November. Three Special Olympics teams,
including Wisconsin’s own Oshkosh Predators Flag
Football Team, participated as one of six brackets
amongst 17 college rec teams. A first for all involved,
tournament planners look forward to building upon the
new relationships formed and expanding the NIRSA/
SONA partnership to the other 7 Regional
Flag Football Tournaments NIR-
SA hosts nationwide. SOWI staff also
attended the tournament and brought
back much insight and enthusiasm for
SOWI’s Flag Football program.
7
The Special Olympics USA Scarf Project is
spreading its wings and going national, and
SOWI is one of 33 state programs participating. We
hope to drape all participants in unifying scarves at the
State Winter Games in Wausau January 28-29, 2012.
Help SOWI reach our goal of 1,000 knitted or crocheted
scarves by January 20, 2012 (please send
scarves after January 1, 2012)! For free pattern downloads,
more specific instructions, photos, and ideas
visit www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org.
8
Please join SOWI staff in welcoming Andy
Klossner, our new Visual Media Manager. Andy
oversees the designing and managing the website as
well as other social media. We are excited to have
Andy on board!
9
Wondering who to call when you have a question?
Visit the SOWI website, click on About Us
and then Contact Us. If you scroll past the staff contact
information, you’ll see a link to download a PDF
version of our Yellow Pages.
10260% from 2010 to 2011, reaching a total of
Young Athlete participation has grown
1211 youngsters with current forms at any time during
the year. Across the state there are 26 Young Athletes
sites, the program has recruited 125 volunteers, and
we are always looking to expand! A total of 7 young
athletes have transitioned into Agencies – new resources
have been developed to continue seeing this
number grow and keep athletes connected.
.