IN THIS ISSUE:
- GLENELG COUNTRY SCHOOL FUN DAY - MAY 23
- 2010 OUTSTANDING STUDENT VOLUNTEER SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
- 2010 INSPIRATION WALK TOP FUNDRAISERS - STILL TIME TO GIVE
- SUMMER GAMES PARENTS MEETING - JUNE 8
- CHAMPIONS FOR THE CHALLENGED SPRING FESTIVAL, JUNE 19
- SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPORTS CAMP
- LOSE THE WHEELS CYCLING CAMP
- NEXT VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS
- SPORTS IN SESSION
- CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- OFFICE INFORMATION
- SOHC POINTS OF CONTACT
- SPECIAL OLYMPIC LINKS
 
GLENELG COUNTRY SCHOOL FUN DAY SATURDAY MAY 23RD - PLEASE RSVP
The date for the 9th Annual Fun Day end of year celebration at Glenelg
Country School has been set for Sunday May 23rd from 2:00 - 5:00 pm at
GCS. This end of year celebration is a guaranteed great time - games, food
(dinner and snacks), entertainment and lots of fun! Registration begins
at 2:00, come join the students at Glenelg Country School for a fun
cookout with lots of activities! This is a rain or shine event, all
athletes and family are invited to attend!!! PLEASE RSVP TO CLAIRE BUCH
AT claireb@glenelg.org or David Weeks at weeks@glenelg.org ASAP.
 
 
2010 OUTSTANDING STUDENT VOLUNTEER WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Two Howard County seniors have been selected as Outstanding Special
Olympics Student Volunteers for 2010.
 
Jackie Burk Memorial Award
Alex Haden, a senior at McDonough School, is the recipient of the 2010
Jackie Burk Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Volunteer and will
receive a one time scholarship of $1500. Alex has been a volunteer since
2003, when he was "inspired with hope for [his] sister, Caroline.. He
then volunteered for soccer and basketball and finally adding cross
country. He has volunteered approximately 1000 hours to these programs
and has demonstrated the characteristics that make a volunteer successful
- patience, compassion, and a dedication to develop a meaningful
relationship with the athletes as a mentor, friend, and coach. Five
recommendations by coaches and coordinators all praised Alex for his
dependability, dedication, leadership, and ability to connect with the
athletes. All cited that, as a result of Alex's involvement, athletes
reached new levels of skills and confidence. The fact that Alex was able
to support the SOHO program to the extent that he did while maintaining a
rigorous academic schedule, playing a varsity sport, and playing the
trumpet in the school band is indicative of this remarkable young man. We
congratulate Alex and wish him continued success as he attends Yale in the
fall.
 
The Burk Family is funding this annual scholarships through memorial
donations received to honor their daughter, Jackie, who was also a student
volunteer for Special Olympics and very committed to our program.
 
Allan Homes Award
The recipient of this year's Allan Homes Award for Outstanding Student
Volunteer is Kasey Baumann. While some families go to church every Sunday
or have other activities, Kasey noted that her family went to Special
Olympics aquatics practice. Her father, long time SO aquatics coach,
Curtis Baumann, starting bringing Kasey to practice when she was 12 years
old. She made friends with the athletes and by the time she was 16, she
started coaching the athletes. According to Kasey, Special Olympics is
the one thing that has defined and shaped her into the person she is and
the athletes have helped her become a more confident individual. She has
taken on coaching some of the more "challenging" athletes with great
success. Becky Lessey, the dean of Special Olympics aquatics coaches,
noted Kasey's positive nature, yet firm instruction, enabling the athletes
to improve each week. In addition, Kasey has been a Unified aquatics
partner going to state games and qualifying events. Kasey plans to attend
Washington College in the fall and hopes to major in special education
with a minor in creative writing. Congratulations Kasey and best of luck
in your future endeavors.
 
This award was established through the generosity of Allan Waschak,
management team member and aquatics coordinator, and his wife Kathy, who
created an endowment to honor outstanding student volunteers.
 
 
2010 INSPIRATION WALK TOP FUNDRAISERS - STILL TIME TO GIVE
Congratulations to Chuck Spalding who was our top fundraiser with a
amazing total of $3,135.00!! Coming in 2nd place with a grand total of
$2,870.00 was the Mineart Family and 3rd place goes to the Emmerling
Family who raised $2,400.00. These top fundraisers will pick from our top
three prizes, 1) four tickets to an Orioles game 2) a weekend stay at a
Marriott Hotel, or 3) two tickets to Toby's Dinner Theater. A list of all
donors who earned an incentive prize (i.e., $500 or more) will be
published in the next newsletter. To date, we have 42 families or
individuals who raised more than $500, averaging $1,303 each!!
 
Check out the great pictures of our 9th Annual Inspiration Walk at
http://somdhc.smugmug.com/ under events. To date, we have collected
nearly $100,000 and we are hoping to push that number even higher over the
next month.
 
Thanks again to all who contributed. If you haven't made a donation yet,
it's not too late. Send your checks to Special Olympics Howard County,
8970 Route 108, Suite A-1, Columbia, MD 21045 or donate online at
www.FirstGiving.com/somdhcdonate. When considering your donation, the
average cost per athlete to operate our program in 2009 was $268. This is
such a small cost for what our athletes gain!!
 
 
SUMMER GAMES PARENT MEETING - TUESDAY, JUNE 8TH
ATTENTION ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF ATHLETES ATTENDING SUMMER GAMES.
Please plan to attend a short, but mandatory meeting at the LONG REACH
HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA on Tuesday, June 8th from 7:00 - 8:00. All your
questions concerning Summer Games at Towson University on June 11-13 will
be answered. Information on sports schedules, chaperone and dorm
assignments, day only athlete instructions, directions, and special events
will be provided. Please make every effort to attend, athletes welcome to
attend as well.
 
EQUESTRIAN FAMILIES - PLEASE NOTE YOUR ATHLETES ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE
IN OPENING CEREMONIES ON FRIDAY AND THE DANCE ON SATURDAY AT TOWSON
UNIVERSITY.
 
 
CHAMPIONS FOR THE CHALLENGED SPRING FESTIVAL - JUNE 19
Here's an exciting announcement and invitation. The Order of Alhambra
have helped us with food at competitions for many, many years. This group
of dedicated individuals have started a new charity called "CHAMPIONS FOR
THE CHALLENGED" and would like to become even more involved with helping
Special Olympics. Their mission is to provide exceptional social and
entertainment programs with a variety of learning experiences for those
challenged with disabilities.
 
With that mission in mind, they have announced their first "Spring
Festival" to take place on June 19 beginning at 11:30 am at the Bon
Secours Spiritual and Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road,
Marriottsville, MD 21104. The days activities include a catered lunch,
Wild Bill's Magic Show, a unique and enlightening program of the Maryland
Natural Resources featuring animals, birds, and reptiles found throughout
the state of Maryland, lots of music and time for socializing.
 
There is no cost to attend for our athletes and immediate family members
are welcome as well. To attend, please RSVP to John Ramming at
410-584-7273, Michael Parker at 443-506-8209 or John McCuen at
410-375-4997.
 
 
SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPORTS CAMP
Special Olympics sports camp will be held from August 2-5 at the Elks Camp
Barrett. There is $25.00 activity fee to attend camp which covers some of
the material cost for activities. There will be two groups at camp this
year. SOMD will be offering a Competitive Group where the level of fitness
training and instruction will be increased and expectations for
participation will be 100%. There will also be a Lifetime Sports Group
that will highlight participation in less strenuous sports where the
physical demands will be less but that participation will still be
expected to be 100%. Campers may be moved between the groups depending on
the interest and their participation level. Please also be aware that
Campers who do not participate fully in either of these groups will not be
accepted back next year.
 
 
LOSE THE TRAINING WHEELS CYCLING CAMP
Another cycling season will be here before you know it and many families
have worked hard to get their athlete to ride a bike independently with no
success. Here's a program that might be able to help.
 
Lose The Training Wheels is a national 501 (c)(3)organization that travels
across the U.S. partnering with local organizations, to teach children
with special needs how to ride a two wheel bike without training wheels.
The summer of 2010 is the first time LTTW is coming to Maryland. LTTW
uses adapted equipment, trained professionals & volunteers. With 75
minutes of riding over 5 days approximately 85% of bikers learn to ride a
two wheel bike independently. See videos of this technique in action at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sswZ_I6yuxQ&feature=related and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMN98mE0UmI&NR=1. This is being offered
locally at two different locations.
 
1) Chesapeake Speech School is sponsoring this bike camp August 2nd-6th in
the gymnasium of the McDonogh School, in Owings Mills. Call Sue Ann
Shafley at 443-745-0455 or email bikecamp@chesapeakespeechschool.org.
Biker & volunteer forms posted at www.chesapeakespeechschool.org.
 
2) The Howard County Autism Society in collaboration with Howard County
Recreation and Parks is pleased to be hosting the Lose The Training Wheels
Bike Camp June 28 through July 2 at the Glenwood Recreation Center.
Contact Sandra MacMahon at sandra.macmahon@howard-autism.org for more
information.
 
 
NEXT VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS – Sunday Thursday August 26, 2010 from
7:00-8:30pm and Monday September 13, 2010 from 7:00-8:30pm
 
Special Olympics requires all volunteers and unified partners, including
family members who have direct contact with athletes during sports
training, to attend a volunteer orientation. The volunteer orientation not
only goes over volunteer responsibilities and protective behavior but also
goes over a preliminary introduction to SOHC who we are, what we do, and
what we need.
 
In preparation for the fall sports season, Special Olympics Howard County
will be conducting volunteer orientations on Sunday Thursday August 26,
2010 from 7:00-8:30pm and Monday September 13, 2010 from 7:00-8:30pm.
PRE-Registration is required and you are asked to contact Beth Greenberg,
our volunteer coordinator, for specifics. bjb410@comcast.net / cell
301-233-1296.
 
Reminder>>ALL volunteers both past, present and future are required to
take the following on line course in addition to attending a volunteer
orientation. . If you could complete ASAP, it would be greatly
appreciated. Online Protective Behaviors Course - EVERYONE MUST take this
online tutorial with audio that takes about 15 minutes to complete.
(http://www.specialolympics.org/protectivebehaviors). Once the ten
questions are answered correctly, click on the finish button, enter your
Full Legal name and other requested information and your name is submitted
to SOI and SOMD. Upon completion, you will receive a confirmation e-mail
and I ask that you please forward a copy to Beth Greenberg at
bjb410@comcast.net
 
 
SPORTS IN SESSION
Sunday – Aquatics, Howard Community College, 9:00 – 12:00 pm
Sunday – Fitness, Quest Fitness Center, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Sunday – Softball Veteran Team, Cypressmeade Park, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Wednesday – Athletics, Oakland Mills HS, 5:30-7:00
Wednesday – Beginner Aquatics, MarTar Swimming at Lifetime Fitness Center,
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Wednesday – Bocce, Cedar Lane Park, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Thursday – Cheerleading, Jeffers Hill ES, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Thursday – Softball Veteran Team, Rocky Gorge Batting Cage, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Thursday – Fitness, Quest Fitness Center, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Saturday – Equestrian, TRRC, 9:00-12:00 pm
Saturday – Athletics, Oakland Mills HS, 10:00 – 12:00 pm
Saturday – Softball Rookie Team, Cypressmeade Park, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Saturday – Bocce, Cedar Lane Park, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
 
 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May 22 – SOHO Bocce Competition, Cedar Lane Park, 2:00 – 4:30 pm
May 23 – Fun Day at Glenelg Country School, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Jun 6 – Softball End of Season Party, Cypress Meade Park, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Jun 8 - Summer Games Parents Meeting, Long Reach HS Cafeteria, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Jun 10 – Torch Run through Howard County, begins at PG/Howard Line on Rt
1, 9:00 – 10:30 am
Jun 11 – MATP Challenge Day, Cedar Lane School, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Jun 11-13 – SOMD Summer Games, Towson Univ (Aquatics, Athletics, Bocce,
Softball)
Jun 12 – SOMD Equestrian Competition, PG County Equestrian Center
Jun 16 – Bocce End of Season Party, Bocce courts, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Jun 19 – Aquatics End of Season Party, Cedar Lane Park, 11:00 – 2:00 pm
Jun 19 – Champions for the Challenged Spring Festival for Special
Olympics, 11:30 – 4:00 pm
Jun 20 – Aquatics Beginners End of Season Party, TBD, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Jul 1 – Fall Sports Registration Forms Mailed
Jul 17-23 – Special Olympics National Games, Univ of Nebraska, Lincoln,
Nebraska
Jul 25 - Cycling Practice Begins
Jul 29 - Golf Practice Begins
Aug 2-5 – 2010 Sports Camp/Elks Camp Barrett
Aug 5 - Powerlifting Practice Begins
Aug 10 - General meeting, SOHO office
Aug 14 - Soccer, Flag Football, Tennis, & Cross-country Running Practices
Begin
Aug 14 – Golf Competition, Links at Challedon GC, Mt Airy,
Frederick/Carroll County
Aug 15 – Golf Competition, Chesapeake GC, Cecil County
Aug 22 – Golf Competition, Easton CC, Upper Shore
Aug 23 - Volleyball Practice Begins
Aug 26 – Volunteer Orientation, SOHO Office, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Aug 28 – Golf Competition, Wicomico GC, St Mary’s County
Sep 12 - SOHO Golf Competition, Timbers
Sep 13 – Volunteer Orientation, SOHO Office, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Sep 14 - General meeting, SOHO office
Sep 18 – Golf Competition, Rattlewood GC, Montgomery County
Sep 19 – Golf Competition, Compass Pointe GC, Anne Arundel County
Sep 25 - SOMD Cycling Competition, MD State Police Driving Training
Center, Sykesville, MD
Sep 25 – SOMD Level 1 Golf Competition, Blue Mash GC
Sep 26– SOMD Levels 2-5 Golf Competition, Compass Pointe GC
Oct 1 – Winter Sports Registration Forms mailed
Oct 12 - General meeting, SOHO office
Oct 23 - SODE Volleyball Competition
Oct 23 - SOMD Fallfest Competition, Mt Saint Mary’s University,
Emmitsburg, MD
Oct 24 - SOMD Soccer Competition, Salisbury, MD
Nov 5 - SOHO Dance at Harpers Choice MS, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Nov 7 - Bowling Practice Begins
Nov 9 - General meeting, SOHO office
Dec 4-5 – SOMD State Bowling Competition, Gaithersburg, MD
Dec 8 - Basketball Assessments
Dec 14 - General meeting, SOHO office
Calendar Year 2011
Jun 25-July 4 – World Summer Games, Athens, Greece
 
 
OFFICE INFORMATION
Mailing Address: Office Hours:
 
Special Olympics Howard County Monday 8:30 - 5:00,
Thursday 8:30 - 5:00
 
8970 Route 108 Suite A1 or email our
office manager, Adele Slifker, at adeleslifker@hotmail.com
 
Columbia, MD 21045 to arrange for
a pickup or drop-off at other hours.
410-740-0500
410-740-2388 (fax)
info@somdhc.org
http://www.somdhc.org
 
Directions to Office:
 
Take Route 29 to Route 108 East, pass through two lights (2nd one is at
Red Branch Rd), after Red Branch Rd take the third left turn into Oakland
Center Business Park, go 100 feet, make right turn and immediately on left
is the SOHC office (where there are six parking spaces and you will see
the SOHC sign. Our building # is 8970, Suite A1.
 
SOHC POINTS OF CONTACT
Executive Management Team
Director - Bob Baker, bobbaker@somdhc.org
Asst. Director - Marilyn Miceli, marilynmiceli@somdhc.org
Fundraising Director - Allan Waschak, allan@allanhomes.com
Public Relations Director - Diane Mikulis, dianemikulis@verizon.net
Management Team (Exec Members plus:)
Volunteer Coordinator - Beth Greenberg, bjb410@comcast.net
Unified Sports Coordinator - Cara Gregg, clgregg@gmail.com
Competition Coordinator - Abby Penenburgh, abby.penenburgh@fiserv.com
Finance Coordinator - Wayne Luoma, wluoma@verizon.net
Outreach Coordinator - Gena Luoma, gluoma@verizon.net
Office Manager - Adele Slifker, adeleslifker@hotmail.com
Family Coordinator - Barbara Stewart, Stewgarden@aol.com
Athlete Representative - Nick Stewart,
captainlikessportsmanship7277@hotmail.com
Special Events Coordinator - Jen Perry, JPerry1228@aol.com
Medical Coordinator - Rosemary Gruss, rosemary.gruss@hotmail.com
SOMD District Director - Katie Shannon, kshannon@somd.org
 
 
Individual Sports Coordinators
Alpine Skiing - Clare Colleli, cc@djhpm.com and Mike Harding,
harding64@comcast.net
Aquatics - Allan Waschak, allan@allanhomes.com
Aquatics Skills - Marianne Otto-Smith, mottosmith@verizon.net
Athletics - Joe Bobinski, bobskibum@aol.com and Tracey Eberhardt,
traceyeberhardt@verizon.net
Athlete Congress Parent Representative - OPEN
Basketball Skills - Lavonne Smith, lavonne_smith@hcpss.org
Basketball 3x3 Development - Dave Donovan, thedonovans5@verizon.net
Basketball 3x3 - Phil Swanson, swansonp@cdpotomac.com and Therese
Dalrymple, Tada75td@aol.com
Basketball 5x5 - Jim Bourdon, jbourdon@verizon.net
Bocce - Karen Thiem, kthiem@verizon.net
Bowling - Sandy Schoenbrodt, TheSchoenbrodts@verizon.net, Assts. Amy
Korman akorman@verizon.net, Pat Condron, Mi0821ke@yahoo.com, Sheila Dwyer,
sdwyermd@verizon.net
Cheerleading - Mike Peter, navydude1@verizon.net
Cross Country Running – Ann Worley, annworley@comcast.net
Cross Country Skiing - Byung and Young Ahn, byungahn1@msn.com
Cycling - Cheryl Decker, ZachandCheryl@verizon.net
Equestrian - Susan Buningh, sohcequestrian@hotmail.com and Marianne
Otto-Smith, mottosmith@verizon.net
Flag Football - Kim McKay, themckayfamily@verizon.net and Jan Ulrich,
frontline@comcast.net
Golf Skills - Cindy Vidmar, vidgang@msn.com
Golf - Howard Mooney, mooneyfamily1@aol.com and John Stapleton,
jstapleton17@verizon.net
Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) - Gena Luoma, gluoma@verizon.net
and Jen Perry, JPerry1228@aol.com
Powerlifting - Bill Long, blong716@aol.com
Snowshoeing - Peggy Baker, pegandbobbaker@verizon.net
Soccer Skills – Ginny Geis, Bsktginny@aol.com
Soccer Emerging Level Team – Ann Scholz, annscholz@comcast.net
Soccer Low Level Team – Cara Gregg, clgregg@gmail.com
Soccer Mid Level Team – Cheryl Kemp, clkemp77@gmail.com
Soccer Unified Team – Cara Gregg, clgregg@gmail.com
Softball Veteran Team - Linda Rothfield, lindarothfield@comcast.net
Softball Rookie Team - Linda Pinos, linda.pinos@yahoo.com
Tennis - Sonal Parikh, sonalparikh1@gmail.com
Volleyball - Russ Young, russtace@comcast.net
Webmaster - Frits Buningh, fbuningh@hotmail.com, Ryan Palm,
ryan.palm@gmail.com
 
 
SPECIAL OLYMPIC LINKS
Special Olympics National/International - http://www.specialolympics.org
Special Olympics Maryland - http://www.somd.org
Special Olympics Howard County - http://www.somdhc.org, new test site
http://test.metromontage.com/
Special Olympics Howard County Photos - http://somdhc.smugmug.com/
Search for "Special Olympics Howard County Maryland" from your facebook
account - we are up to 184 members
 
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