=	Special Olymp= ics Seminole County ̶= 0;Seminole Spirit” February= 2006=	&nbs= p; =
Coaches Corner	Sports Talk	Our Heroes
Wh= ether you are an experienced coach or not, Special Olympics needs you. You bring the enthusiasm and some knowledge and w= e will provide all the Special Olympics training yo= u need to Be a Successful Coach. If you become a co= ach, you’ll find the rewards go far beyond the finish line. For Information on Coaching, Contact: Min= dy Setzer (32= 1)276-6463 MSetzer@Special= OlympicsSeminoleCounty.org The 1<= sup>st Quarter Coaches Meeting was held a= t Lake Mary High School on Fe= bruary 9^th. There was a lot of information shared and necessary paper= work completed and the sports director, Dani Lundy, is busy with updating coaches’ documentation with state office representatives. The next meeting will be held some time in May…info to follow Upcoming= … Coaches Training Certification Classes Please visit SOFL for information on upcoming classes. &nb= sp; Management Team Meetings Continue = to be held: First Thursday of the month 6pm Eastmonte Park, Altamonte Springs= . Join us to find out more about Special Olympics and how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities and their famili= es. WAY TO GO VOLUNTEERS! The Lake Mary High School Track Boosters and Athletic Direct= or have been very supportive of our program. Each Sat for the past 4 we= eks they have had at least 20 student athletes volunteering at the track and field practices. The following is from Bridget and Mike Kirkpatrick, Track Boosters, Frank Schwartz, a teacher at <= st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Lake Mary High School and D= oug Peters, the Athletic Director. The Special Olympic County Games were held at Lake Mary High School, March 4, 2006.= Lake Mary had 20 students, 2 parents and 2 Staff Members volunteered in the games. The experience was a great feeling to get to know these very special people, the spirit and inspiration of the athletes is contagious. The student body of Lake Mary has embraced and is commi= tted to the opportunity to work with the Special Olympics in Seminole County. We view this chance to make a long term allegiance and to partnership LMHS and the Special Olympics of Seminole County. It = is the goal to LMHS to facilitate lifelong friendships, as our students leave to attend college that they will continue to volunteer and be a part of the Special Olympic programs across the country.	Over 200 Seminole County athletes are training and competing in year-round Special Olympics programs. Each athlete participa= tes in eight weeks of training conducted by talented volunteers and coaches p= rior to competition dates.	“Let Me Win. But If I Cannot Win, Let Me Be Br= ave In The Attempt.” Congratulations Febru= ary Birthdays! <= o:p> Christopher Friedman Emily Funaro Brett Jones Julie Jones Zach Palmer Mathew Roszak Tamara Schlier Sammy Sheldon Valorie Sutton Meggan Van Loon Josh Vogel Gymnastics Season = Moved! SOFL has moved Gymnastics season. Practice for Gymnastics wi= ll begin July 11^th. Location will be announced. Contact Coach Nin= for more information. 407-929-7= 254 Rel-khoury@S= pecialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org Shriner’s Circus We still have Circus Tickets UCF Arena on April 22^nd-23^rd. Contact Debbie Taylor for= FREE tickets!! (407)699-4776 DTaylor@Special= OlympicsSeminoleCounty.org Special Announceme= nt from Our Special Community! § &nbs= p; <= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD";mso-bidi-font-family:= Arial; color:black'>1st Prize: Bar-B-Que Grill &= amp; $100 gift certificate - $800 value § &nbs= p; <= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD";mso-bidi-font-family:= Arial; color:black'>2nd Prize: 3 day Carnival Cr= uise for 2. Ocean view stateroom - must sail between Sept 1 & Dec 18, 2006= . Must have valid passport - $750 value § &nbs= p; <= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD";mso-bidi-font-family:= Arial; color:black'>3rd Prize: 4 - 1 day Park Ho= pper Disney tickets & $200 spending money - $450 value Donation $1.00 per ticket or 6 for $5.00 Court Of Dreams:= WE NEED EVERYONES HELP!<= /span> Parents, Athletes, Coaches, Volunteers, Sponsors… The last page of this newsletter is a flyer for our Court Of Dreams Basketball Fundraiser. Plea= se print it out and pass it out to your friends, co-workers, church members,= neighboring community. We really appreciate your help in ensure that our fundraiser in May helps our progr= am in SOSC grow strong. Please vis= it the website for details or contact Nin. 407-929-7= 254 Rel-khoury@S= pecialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org
Cheerleading: Tuesdays, 6-7 PM. Practice locations alternate between St. Mary Magdalen’s Annex and Morning Star School’s Big Room. &nbs= p; JamFest FunJam March 11: Silver Spurs Arena Morning Star Bazaar April 2: MSS Jacksonville Blast April 7^th-9^th SPARKLERS WILL BE ENDING THEIR FIRST SUCESSFUL SEASON IN THE END OF APRIL. SEASON TWO WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER 3^RD. A 6-WEEK DANCE WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD FROM JUNE 6-JULY18. Contact C= oach Nin for weekly location & to join 407-929-7254 Rel-khoury@S= pecialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org &nbs= p;	Track & Field, Volleyball, & Cycling<= o:p> Practice = time change: Saturdays= 9am-10:30am Lake Mary High School. Debbie Taylor (407)699-4776 DTaylor@Special= OlympicsSeminoleCounty.org Equestrian Practices= continue on Saturdays Contact <= st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Vinnie Coon for details, 407-571-8812. &nbs= p; Area Games March 25<= sup>th Equestria= n @ Freedom Ride Track and= Field, Volleyball, & Cycling @ Freedom High school Volunteers Needed for Area Games!! Please co= ntact Debbie Taylor for details on helping out! (407)699-4776 DTaylor@Special= OlympicsSeminoleCounty.org
&nbs= p; Congratulations to the Local Middle Schools Track Meet! The Speci= al Needs Students from 5 local middle schools competed in a Mock Special Olympics Track Meet. The meet was held at Indian Trails on February 16^{th. Over 50 athletes came and displac= ed their wonderful talents.} Equestrian The five athletes of the Seminole County Equestrian Team recently traveled to Continental Acres in Weirsda= le, Florida to participate in= the 13^th Annual Challenge Equestrian Horse Show on January 21, 2006. Our athletes competed in equitation, trail, barrel racing and pole bending events. Approximately= 60 athletes from Florida and Georgia participate. The results fo= r our athletes were as follows: Pole Bending-Trot/Canter: Greg O= rtt riding Jasmine – 5= th Place Barrel Racing-Trot/Canter: Greg Or= tt riding Jasmine -5^th= Place Trail-Walk Only (1 Aide): Joe B. Nasehi riding Jasmine – 1= ^st Place Trail-Walk Only (1 Aide): Simone Moss = riding Forrest Gump – 2nd Place Trail-Walk Only (1 Aide): Emily Funaro riding Mr. Bojangles – 4^th Place Trail-Walk/Trot (1 Aide): Maggie Bibeau rid= ing Forrest Gump – 6th Place Equitation-Walk Only (1 Aide): Emily Funaro riding Mr. Bojangles – 3rd Place Equitation-Walk Only (1 Aide): Joe B. Nasehi riding Jasmine – 4= th Place Equitation-Walk Only (1 Aide): Simone Moss = riding Forrest Gump – 6th Place Equitation-Walk/Trot (1 Aide): Maggie Bibeau rid= ing Forrest Gump – 3rd= Place Congratulations to our riders; and special thanks to our volunteers – Amber, Amanda= , Cheyenne, Brian= ne, Dianne and Coach Elise. Bocce<= o:p> Bocce practice w= ill start on March 5^th. We are practicing at Westmonte Park on Sunday’s from 1:00 P= M to 2:30 PM. Ca= ll Dani Lundy at 407-468-8519 if interested in joining our team = Swim Season = Will begin on Saturday, May 6 at the RDV SportsPlex in Maitland. Contact Coach Debbie Harger for information: 407-739-3622 Basketball States Good Luck to the Semionle Spirits as = they advance to State Competitions this Saturday, March 11 in Orlando! <= /span> Track County Games CONRATS t= o all that competed in Track, Cycling, and Volleyball County Games. You all did an AMAZING job! Please visit our calendar for additional information!
= = = = <= /span> Please visit the website for updates throughout the month. = www.SpecialOlympic= sSeminoleCounty.org = Contact Kevin Lajeunesse for any E-newsletter related questions: KLajeunesse= @SpecialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org	<= /b> <= /b> Volunteer Voices <= /b> We appl= aud the efforts of Jeff Medevic, a student at UCF. For the past cou= ple of weeks Jeff has been assisting us with various aspects of our Court of Dreams fundraiser. Jeff, we do appreciate your wonderful efforts, adn how fortunate we are to have him on our fundraising "team"! So you can get to know Jeff that much more, = we asked him to share a little about himself and his involvement with the Special Olympics. <= o:p> My name is Jeff Medevic, I am a 22 year old student at the <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">University of Central Florida. I have a busine= ss management major as well as a sports management minor. After living in Cleveland, Ohio for a year after I was born I moved to Venice Florida which is on the w= est coast. Growing up I played in all different sports but as I grew older I focused all my athletic ability towards baseball. I played all throughout high school, on all-star teams, as well as traveling teams. During my 4 y= ears at Venice High School, my baseball team an= d I worked several times with the Venice Little League Challenger Division. T= his was a division for both mentally and physically handicapped kids. Helping with this league was unforgettable. This Spring I was offered a chance to work on the fundraiser to help the Special Olympics of Seminole County. I= am currently working on getting sponsors as well as donations for the Court = of Dreams, which will be held in May. I am really looking forward to seeing = all the athletes in action. My favor= ite quote comes from the retirement speech of all of fame center fielder Kirby Puckett. What he said that really touched me was, “Tomorrow Is Not Promised”. Kirby lost all vision in one of his eyes which forced hi= m to retire and today, March 6, he passed away from a stroke at age 45. Hearing things like that makes me realize how special life is and to not take any= of it for granted. <= o:p> <= /span> <= /span> <= /span>	<= /b> Donate With out your help, Special Olympics Seminole = County would not be able to provide the athletes with some of the following: transportation, uniforms, training equipment, awards, and facility rental= s. With upcoming National Competitions in Iowa, our athl= etes need your help more than ever! Please join us in our attempts to raise $30,000! To Dona= te: Click Here <= /span> Sponsors & Contributors <= /span> City Of Altamonte Springs RDV SportsPlex Worlds Gyms National Networking Association &nbs= p; AMF Altamon= te Lanes Trotters Field <= /span> Morning Star School Girls Scouts La= ke Mary High School St. Mary Magdelan Vista Print

Special Olympics Seminole County

www.Spec= ialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org

“Inspire Greatness”

March 10, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

Please allow me to introduce our program: Special Oly= mpics is a Non-profit organization that offers FREE<= /st1:stockticker> year-round sports training and competition to intellectually challenged individuals. This program has been serving these amazing individuals for ov= er 30 years and remarkably, is run 100% on a volunteer basis. Our talented volunteer coaches and board members have been working diligently in attempt= s to raise thousands of dollars to fund Team Florida’s trip to the Special Olympics National Invitational in Iowa.

In Seminole County alone, we need to raise $30= ,000 to make dreams come true for our hard working athletes. In order to grant t= his opportunity to athletes all across Florida, Special Olympics Seminole County is hosting the 1^st Annual Court of Dream Basketball Challenge. This Single Elimination Basket= ball Tournament will allow our community to get involved with our wonderful prog= ram, while enjoying an exciting day full of basketball competition, Celebrity Guests, Lucky Tickets, and Live/Silent Auction with amazing items including= a golf trip to Ireland= .

How you can help…

Sponsorships/Donations

We are reaching out to our community f= or support. Sponsoring our event will provide many benefits to your company, including networking opportunities, increased exposure and promotion, and certain tax benefits.

Volunteer

In order to successfully host this fun= draiser, Special Olympics Seminole County needs all the volunteers they can get! This will be an exciting way to get your company involved in a very worth while community cause.

Compete

Making dreams come true has never been= so fun! Registering your team to compete will not only raise funds for Team Florida, but the= Top Three Teams are in store for some fabulous prizes!

Please contact us if you are interested in more infor= mation on any of the above opportunities. On behalf of the athletes, parents, coac= hes, and dedicated volunteers, we appreciate your time and look forward to your participation!

Kevin Lajeunesse = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; =

(407)257-7730 Fax (407)331-4469 = &nb= sp; =

KLajeunesse@SpecialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org =

Mindy Setzer

321-276-6463

Msetzer@SpecialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org

Ranwa Nin El-khoury

(407)929-7254 Fax (407)331-4469=

Rel-Khoury@Spe= cialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org

&nb= sp;