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!!!!!!

Velcome to the 90's Mister Bahnks!

Okay, unless you have seen the Father of the Bride with Steve Martin, this title probably means nothing to you but if you have then you will recall when the wedding planner, played by Martin Short, used this line. Well, I have been saying this to myslef all week long because I have been working my butt off trying to bring Special Olympics Maine up to date in the world of internet communications! I was pretty impressed with myself last year when I started this blog. You have no idea how computer illiterate I am. (If you only knew!) Well, in the past two weeks I have taken us even further into the depths of the internet. I have created...wait for it...a Facebook page! Yes, I know, it's about time. Anyway, if you are on facebook please search for Special Olympics Maine and visit me there, join my friends group, subscribe, comment etc.
Also, I have set up a channel on YouTube! (www.youtube.com/SpecialOMaine) We can now share Special Olympics MAine videos with the world. I only have a couple up there so far so if you have any video footage of any Special O Maine events or fundraisers like the Lobster Dip or the LETR or anything pertaining to us please email it to me and I will post it on our youtube channel. LBIRD@maine.rr.com Could this be anymore exciting? Yes, it could...I am also working on a MYSPACE page. This one is not going quite as well because I really don't know what I am doing but I'm working on it. I will keep you posted.

Now, to show how computer savvy I am, I am about to upload a video to this blog so hang on just a minute...hum the jeopardy song...you know the drill...

Wow, I did it. SOME might actually ask me to be their new IT girl!

You have to check out this video. It was produced by ARC of Virginia and it has an awesome message!

That's it for today...would someone please let me know that you visited this blog...anyone...

Yard Sale for SOME

Hey Gang,
I wanted to let you know that there is going to be a huge yard sale on the 25th and all proceeds go to SOME!!!! Big thnaks to Mari Smith from Freeport PD for organizing this. Very cool! Here are the details...
Huge cook book and yard sale with a collection of over 2000 cookbooks and assorted treasures. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Maine. Saturday October 25th from 9-3 at 1613 US Route 1 Freeport-Brunswick town line.


We need more items to sell. . If anyone has something to donate to the cause please drop it by the Freeport Police Department. Thanks so much!


In other exciting news we have a winner for the Harley Raffle! The drawing was held on Friday at Noon at our state office and the winner is Ticket #665
Jeff Brusso
Buxton, ME
Meghan Brunell from Saco PD sold the ticket.
Congratulations Jeff. Enjoy!!!!

Drawing will be held on Friday for our Final Leg Runner for the Winter World Games in Idaho next Feb. I'll keep you posted.
That's it for now. Have an awesome day.
BTW some of you have asked about our band which has nothing to do with Special O but we play three songs every Sunday at 9 AM and on the first Sunday of every month we play for a full hour from 9-10 during Praise and Bagels. You can listen to music and eat free bagels/coffee/juice and fruit at Cressey Road United methodist Church in Gorham, ME! This Thursday we are playing at the Root Cellar and in November at His Place Teen Center in Oxford.
Another question was about my son Noah's hockey team. You can keep up with them and also see their game schedule by searching portland junior pirates. All info is right on the web site.

See ya!!!!!