June 2018 Bethlehem Special Olympics PO Box 536 Bethlehem, PA 18016-0536 Phone: 610-264-3616 www.bethlehemsopa.org IN THIS ISSUE REMINDER: BSO PICNIC JUNE 24 PLEASE remember to RSVP using form on page 2 DEADLINE: June 10th Thank You Ciocca - - - -pg. 1 Subaru Thank You Ciocca Subaru Gold..Silver..Bronze - pg. 1 For Coaches!!?? Summer Awards - - - - pg. 2 Picnic Registration On May 19, Ciocca presented a check to Athletic Leadership - - pg. 3 Team Corner programs from the Share the Love the three Lehigh Valley Special Olympics campaign at the end of last year. Our programs were the Hometown Bowlers Knock em - -pg. 3 Down at Competitions Charity and received donations from car sales. We greatly appreciate their Powerlifters Raise - - - pg. 3 It Up ongoing support of Special Olympics in our area. THANK YOU! Polar Plunge Results - pg. 4 Gold...Silver...Bronze for Coaches!!?? TD Bank Campaign - - pg. 4 to Benefit Special Olympics Volunteer - - - - - - - - - pg. 4 Opportunities Upcoming Events - - - -pg. 4 Health and Fitness - - -pg. 5 Tip of the Month SOPA Presents - - - - - pg. 5 Monthly Lunch & Learn Webinars by Alice Moat That s right! SOPA has created a Coaches Training Progression of four levels, recognizing advanced training, coaching goals, and the experience of coaches. The first level is Coach. This starts with completion of the three courses required for all Class A Volunteers, and by completing the skills-level certification for your sport. Going above the skills certification are new Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The Bronze-level recognition requires coaches to attend a Coaching Special Olympics Athletes course, and to implement the Fit 5 Initiatives. Silver Level includes additional course work, athlete goal-setting, and extended training. Gold Level builds on additional tactics training and performance tracking. To learn more, visit the SOPA website and search Progression. Page 1
Meet Penny Coup, Interim Manager. Be sure to stop by and introduce yourself. Page 2
Athlete Leadership Team Corner Bowlers Knock em Down at Competitions in March by Laura Neary - Athlete Leadership Team Mentor by Alice Moat - Assistant Coach In recent months we have been introducing you to the members of the Athlete Leadership Team - today we bring you one our newest members, Donny Laudenslager. We've asked Donny to tell you a little bit about himself - Eight BSO s Bowlers competed at Eastern Bowling Sectionals in March. Congratulations to Joey Adorno who was selected for participation in summer games from the participants at bowling sectionals. The BSO Bowling team ended the season with a local competition and party. Special Thanks to Head Coach Kelly Kleppe, Assistant coaches Bonnie Kuhns, Alice Moat, and Kemon Roth. "Hi, my name is Donald Laudenslager. I joined the ALT in March of 2018. I have been participating in Bethlehem Special Olympics since I was about 14 years old. That was 10 Years ago. WOW! I was also involved in Northampton Special Olympics track and field when I was in high school, and tried skiing when I was in college. The bowling season is changing next season!! Our 2019 bowling program will start in September 2018. Sectional competition will be in January, and State Games will be combined into the NEW Indoor Winter Games on March 2-3, 2019. Bowling, Floor Hockey, Figure and Speed Ice skating will all be offered at State Indoor Winter Games in York, PA. I was the Northampton HS Girls softball manager for one year and girls Basketball manager for three years. In college I helped out the ESU wrestling team. I love sports! I have been working at Aharts market in Bath since June 2017, I volunteer 2 days a week at Kirkridge Retreat Center (the animal shelter), and Feed the Children. On Monday nights I play darts, Tuesday nights I powerlift for BSO and on Wednesday night I play softball for BSO. I look forward to Special Olympics Summer Camp each year!" We hope you have enjoyed getting to know our members! Powerlifters Raise it Up! In April, BSO s Powerlifting team traveled to Bigler, PA to participate in the 100% Raw / ADAU Powerday PA State Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships. In May, the group traveled to Quakertown for the USAPL PA State BP and Deadlift Championships. Here are some pictures from their travels very impressive awards great job BSO! Page 3
Polar Plunge Results BSO received over $3,900 from the 2018 Polar Plunge that was held in February. MANY Thanks to every BSO plunger and all those who came out to cheer them on. SPECIAL Thanks to our groups from Alpha Tau Omega at Moravian, Phi Sigma Kappa and Alpha au Omega at Lehigh and a SUPER PLUNGE THANK YOU to the WalMart Super Heros (pictured right) who participated in the 24-hour Super Plunge Event. Feeling hot this summer? Keep a lookout for the date of the 2019 Lehigh Valley Polar Plunge and sign up for the fun! Volunteer Opportunities Sports coaches needed for fall sports, including Soccer, Bocce, and Vollleyball. We would like to get our bocce program up and running this fall, and we we would like to add a youth soccer team (which could be unified if there is interest). BSO Management Team positions are open especially Manager, Assistant Manager, and Fundraising Coordinator please contact Dana or Penny Coup (pcoup@specialolympicspa.org) if you have interest in on serving the Management Team. Transportation Coordinator could you help by making rental car or bus reservations for our teams traveling to competition? If so, this job could be for you. TD Bank Campaign to Benefit Special Olympics Each year TD Banks hold a campaign benefitting Special Olympics where they sell wristbands, then present the proceeds to SOPA. SOPA shares the donation with local programs such as Bethlehem. The 2018 campaign runs from May 19 th until June 9 th. Take some time to visit the TD Bank Branches at 2712 Easton Ave, and 520 Wyandotte Street to purchase a collectible wristband and thank them for their support. There will be a Meet the Athlete day on Saturday, June 9 th. If you are interested in participating, contact Dana Lindsey at bso.dana@gmail.com. Upcoming Events Saturday, June 9 TD Bank Campaign Meet the Athletes. Contact Dana if you are available to go to TD bank and tell customers about Special Olympics Sunday, June 10 RSVP deadline for the BSO Picnic Monday, June 11 BSO Management Team Meeting, BSO Office Sunday, June 24 BSO Annual Awards Picnic, Wayne Grube Park, Noon to 8 PM July 1 - July 8 Special Olympics US National Games in Seattle Washington. Watch your TY Program for coverage by ESPN, July 17-21 Special Olympics is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year with major events taking place in Chicago, Illinois. Visit www.specialolympics50.org to learn more. FYI, SOPA s 50 th anniversary celebration will be in 2020. Monday, July 23 - Start of fall Volleyball practices at Hanover Township Community Center, 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Contact Head Coach Gretchen Siemon, gsiemon@ptd.net or 610-868-0180 for more information Sunday, August 5 start of fall Soccer practices at the HanoverTwp. BSO Soccer Field. Contact Donna Boyle, 610-317-3033, for more information. August 12-16 - SOPA/SOYO Multi Sports Training Camp Page 4
Health and Fitness Tip of the Month by Brittany Thayer, BSO Health & Fitness Coordinator Yay!! The cold snap is finally over, it s getting really nice outside. Perfect time to go out on really long walks around the local neighborhoods or on trails. And it s the perfect time to go out on super long walks with our dogs, so that s what I ve started to do. I ve started to take my best dog ever, who is a beagle. His name is Buddy, and especially with beagles they love to be outside a lot. My dog is no exception. He loves going outside on walks with me, because he sees it as we are spending time together, going on adventures. Each walk that we go on is definitely like an adventure, because no walk is the same, even if we stick to our usual places where we walk. And my dog Buddy is helping me to get ready for Sports Camp. I ve already starting to prepare myself for the long hours outside with moderate to intense hours exercising outside in the sun. I ve been taking my dog outside on a nearby trail, that goes out pretty far. It takes me and my dog almost 5 hours to walk the whole trail & get back home. I ve been taking my dog out on these super long walks once a week on the weekends, but when I get done with my sports training for the Summer Games, I m planning on taking my dog out on these super long walks every other day, except for when it s too hot or humid outside for him. So I encourage everyone, even if you don t have a dog, to just go outside & start walking, especially if you re doing the Fit 5 or if you re planning on going to sports camp. And don t forget to fill up & bring your Fit 5 water bottle to drink during your walk, because it s important to stay hydrated. I bring lots of water for me and my dog. I have a hydration water bladder bag, that I think holds at least 3 liters of water, and I bring a normal size water bottle for my dog, so he can stay hydrated on our walk as well. I bring his collapsible bowl for when he needs a drink on our walks during the warm & hot seasons. SOPA Presents Monthly Lunch and Learn Webinars by Alice Moat SOPA Training and Competition staff members are holding monthly Lunch and Learn Webinars on the second Wednesday of each month. These are one-hour sessions on various topics throughout the year. Visit www.specialolympicspa.org and search for Lunch and Learn to see the upcoming dates and topics, and to register for the sessions. Each session is recorded, so if you missed a session, you can click on the topic and still hear the Webinar. Also, some webinars are credit for Continuing Education for coaches when you complete a short quiz after you finish the webinar. Want to learn more about the coaches Progression Plan? Sign up for the June 13 session. SOPA s plan for Unified Sports is the topic for July 11. NOTE: The March Webinar topic was about the importance of training plans. Great tips for coaches, and it can be used for continuing education by completing the short quiz at the end. Page 5
Bethlehem Special Olympics PO Box 536 Bethlehem, PA 18016-0536 610-264-3616 Like Bethlehem Special Olympics on Facebook! SPECIAL OLYMPICS OATH Let me win, but if I cannot win, Let me be brave in the attempt. The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. Authorized and Accredited by Special Olympics International for the Benefit of Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities Page 6