Winter games have come and gone...lets get ready for Orono

The games were awesome! I hope everyone had just as much fun as I did...if not more. It was extrememly cold but it didn't seem to stop or even slow down anyone involved. What a great success. Thanks so much to all of the volunteers, coaches, families, and friends and athletes for a great event. Can't wait to see you in Orono!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009 already. Wow, time flies when you are having a blast. Speaking of having a blast, Special Olympics Maine has kicked off 2009 with a record breaking event. The 21st annual Lobster Dip brought in over $50,000 and over 300 dippers. What an awesome way to start off the New Year. Especially considering the economy right now. It's pretty scary. We are looking at making so many changes this year to cut costs in order to still be able to provide awesome programs for our athletes. It's going to be a tough year and we appreciate all of the help from everyone who participated in this years dip and from everyone who is currently planning to donate or volunteer for Special Olympics Maine.

We are going to need all the help we can get.

We are currently making plans for our 25th anniversary of the
Maine Law Enforcement Torch Run. That is so exciting to me. Although we have several new members, it is always amazing to me the amount of participants who have actually taken part since the beginning or close to it. That is dedication. The Torch Run can be very stressful at times and we just can't thank those people enough for their continued hard work. Congratulations on 25 years. Wow!!!

Hey, do ride a motorcycle or do you know someone who does? We are planning to hold the first ever Maine Iron Torch Ride this fall. This will be a huge motorcycle event with a great ride, and hopefully music, food, vendors, and a car show. Let me know if you have any interest in this very exciting event.

Our winter games are just around the corner. January 25-27th 500 athletes will be competing at Sugarloaf in a variety of winter sports events. I'll keep you posted.

That's it for today. Take care.

PS check out my son Noah in the red jacket above. He is pictured with Miss Maine Teen Jordan Shiers, and his friends Padraic owens and Dylan Weeks all of Gorham. The boys raised over $1300 for SOME!!!

Hey, how are ya

If you look at the large photo above in the header of this blog you will see a picture of Dana Dean, a young woman who competes in Special Olympics Maine. Look to the right and you will see an old photo of her at Winter Games. Just thought this was a cute photo. Reminds me of how old I am...birthday was last Tuesday. Ughhhh!!!!!

Anyway, Christmas is coming and I am thrilled. Macy's sent us a coupon for 20% savings this week in their store and online so if you would like one let me know and I can forward it to you right away.

I still have plenty of Clynk bags available for anyone willing to fill one for us. Let me know. Also still looking for dippers for the upcoming Lobster Dip. Call now...I mean it...right now...879-0489!

Hey, Karen Matthews...our Area Manager in Knox/Waldo county is retiring as of next week. A huge thank you to her for all of her years of hard work and dedication to our program. And a big thank you to the co-area managers taking her place Tammy Joy and Delisa Morong.

Still looking for old photos of SOME and also video please and favorite SOME short stories. Share soon. Thanks. Time to head home. I have a bad cold.

Congrats

Good Morning. I have a few congratulation wishes to send out. First, our 4 World Games athletes have left for their Olympic training camp in Colorado. They will be there all week and I am sure it will be an awesome experience. Also, congratulations to Jordan Shiers for being selected as the new Miss Maine Teen. She is an assistant Special O coach in Gorham and her brother is a Special Olympic Maine athlete. Way to go Jordan!!!! Jordan and her mom Lisa, as well as Special Olympics athlete Holley Beaumier were also recently selected to represent Maine at the Global Youth Summit in Idaho in February. They will join 152 other youth from around the world to discuss Special Olympics and how to get teenagers more involved with the program and with people with intellectual disabilties. This is an awesome opportunity and we are very excited that they were chosen.

It's so darn cold...let's make a plan to jump in the ocean

Did I mention it's Lobster Dip Time!!!!!!! Start your fundraising now. Go to our website to get your registration forms and get going. This is Maine's original and largest plunge in to the icy waters of the Atlantic. Dippers needed...individuals or teams. Incentives available. $100 minimum donation to dip. Call now! If you are too chicken to dip you can still raisie money but when you get to Old orchard you can enjoy yourself by the fire in our chicken coop. Costumes welcomed. Post Dip showers, and party. Lot's of food and live music and televisions in the bar.

Wow, is it cold. Brrrrr!!!!!! 22 degrees this morning. My office is freezing!!!! send blankets.

Is anyone out there? I would love to know if anyone actually reads this blog EVER or if I am just wasting my time so send comments.

Clynk

Just a quickie. I wanted to let everyone know that I have signed Special Olympics Maine up for Clynk! Yay! Not familiar? Well, Clynk is a bottle/can recycling system that is in many HAnnaford stores and other locations. They have special green bags that have stickers on them with a barcode. You just fill it up and drop it off at any Clynk or here at the office and that's it. You don't even wait for them to count it. You just leave it. They scan the barcode and we get the money. If you like recycling and like helping a great cause this is perfect. I have bags here in the office that you can pick up or if you want some I can send them out. You could put them in your work place or use them during a family gathering. Let me know if you want one. Thanks so much!!!!!

In honor of our recent Halloween holiday I thought you might enjoy this photo of 4 of our dedicated members of Law Enforcement at our Victory dance!

Vote! Vote! Vote!

Today is the day! Historic vote in progress. Very exciting. Our lines were not bad at all so get out there and be heard.


Speaking of being heard...you should hear the latest A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CD. All proceeds go to Special Olympics Worldwide. The album series was started 21 years ago and each cd includes various well known artists. You can get one at Target or Borders or on Amazon and several other locations.

Lobster Dip is fast approaching. Visit our website now to sign up and start getting your pledges. This is such a "cool" event. Think now about what your New years resolutions are going to be. You will probably want to give more to charity...(Special O. Maine), you will probably want to do something unforgetable...(jumping in the ocean on January 1st), maybe you want to visit the beach more...(Old orchard Beach in front of the Brunswick Hotel) and get more exercise...(like running down the beach, jumping in to the ocean, swimming, running out even faster than you ran in, and shivering for a good 30 minutes.) I think this is really a win, win event so sign up now. www.specialolympicsmaine.org or call us at 207-879-0489. All are welcome. Teams, individuals etc. Costumes encouraged!

Time for Holidat shopping. Visit Charityblast.com for all of your online shopping. Type in Special O Maine as your charity of choice and then shop from all of the stores you would regularly shop at. You will even get some discounts and we will receive donations and it's no extra cost to you. You can't beat it.

That's it for today. Vote, vote, vote!!!!!!