Articles from December 2016

You may have seen the above logo recently at Special Olympics Iowa events, on T-shirts or in newsletters. First launching during the 2016 Summer Games, SOIA’s INCLUSION logo was created to continue the conversation of opportunity for all, and to remind athletes, families and volunteers of the values Special Olympics was built on.

Of course, INCLUSION is not just a logo printed on a sweatshirt or posted on a flyer. It’s much more than just a word, too. It’s a theme. A theme that SOIA hopes will help spread our mission of giving athletes 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.

Because of this, the INCLUSION theme was built from the words that our athletes felt were important to them and described their experiences with Special Olympics. That’s why specific words appear in the letters of the INCLUSION logo.

Athletes are inspired by the sports they play and inspire others when they work hard and show dedication in everything they do. They find friendship and unity within SOIA. And that leads to finding courage and pride in their everyday lives. With the inclusion in SOIA sports and events, athletes find joy and ultimately acceptance. All of this can help transform attitudes and stigmas about what it means to have different abilities.

We encourage everyone to continue to practice the INCLUSION theme on and off the field, and to use our athletes’ words to promote inclusion for all.

Thank you from all of us at Special Olympics Iowa!

Often times while in a public setting when someone finds out that I work for Special Olympics, I am asked “When is the Special Olympics?” This question always surprises me since we offer year-round sports competition and training. When answering the question, I generally say what sport season we are in. At this time of year I would say, “We are in the middle of our softball season right now. We just finished two softball skills competitions and three team conference tournaments. Our state tournament will be August 6 in Ankeny.” I then follow up with, “We offer 23 different sports and five special programs. Our athletes are then able to practice and participate all year long.”

Most people are amazed that Special Olympics events are held year round. It is because of our dedicated volunteers that we are able to offer over 80 area and state competitions not to mention frequent fundraising events. Volunteers are truly the mainstay of the Special Olympics organization. They fulfill a wide variety of positions including those involved with area management, coaching, chaperoning, competition planning and fundraising. Volunteers are committed to our Special Olympics athletes and want to provide them with numerous participation opportunities. …

Special Olympics Iowa’s West Central Area will be involved in a fundraiser at Stuff Etc. in Ankeny during the month of August.

Stuff Etc. is a quality consignment store with six locations around the state. Each month, the company selects a charity to support with an in-store fundraiser called “Charity Umbrella.” Customers can make a donation in the umbrellas hanging upside down over the checkouts.

The store sponsors a sale the first weekend of the month offering shoppers a discount on their purchases when they donate a dollar to the umbrella. Special Olympics Iowa-West Central Area is the charity that is being supported this August. During August 5-7 customers will receive a discount on all of their purchases if they donate a dollar to the umbrella at the Ankeny store location.

For more information visit Stuff Etc.’s website or contact West Central Area Director Debby Eldred at 515-229-7733 or email debeldred@mchsi.com.

The Special Olympics Iowa family would like to thank Norm Johnson for his service and dedication as the North Area Director for the state of Iowa. Norm will be moving into a position with the YMCA in Louisville, Kentucky after July 22.

Norm has been involved with Special Olympics in high school and college in both Iowa and South Dakota. He ran the very first powerlifting event for the South Dakota State Games and went on to coach the South Dakota delegation for the World Games in 1995 in New Haven, Connecticut.

There is a lot he will miss about working with SOIA. “Working with the athletes, and giving them a venue and platform to compete is the best. I also really enjoyed bringing our volunteers together to support the various activities, and seeing their genuine enthusiasm and support for the athletes,” he says.

With dedication to SOIA, athletes, parents and volunteers, Norm will be missed. SOIA wishes him the very best of luck in all his future endeavors. We know he will continue to promote the power of INCLUSION.

Hello Special Olympics family! 

I hope you are having a great summer! Ours has certainly been a busy and exciting one thus far. For those of you who were able to attend Summer Games, you experienced great weather, saw many of your good friends and, in the words of many, “experienced the best Summer Games we’ve had in a long time.”

As always, the city of Ames and ISU opened their doors, arms—and, most importantly, their hearts to all of us as they have for over 30 years. Medals and ribbons were proudly displayed by our friends and they happily shared stories of triumphs.

But the best thing I saw was the joy of friendship among all who were there. Certainly our athletes led the pack (as they should), sharing high-fives, hugs and displaying smiles that were a mile wide. The same enthusiasm was obvious in our family members and our volunteers. Athletes were able to demonstrate their abilities—vs disabilities. I was (and am) so very proud of them.  …

 
Iowa vs. Miami, OH Sept. 3, 2:30 p.m. Kickoff 

Nancy Shannon (middle in red) with SOIA athletes.

Do you know someone who has done it all? We sure do! Our Area Director of the East region here in Iowa, Nancy Shannon, has done just about everything. She’s been coaching and volunteering with Special Olympics Iowa since 1978, has served on the Board of Directors, and has traveled with athletes to State, National and World Games.

Nancy, a native of Long Grove, Iowa, got involved with SOIA while she was working as a special education teacher. When she attended a class where Special Olympics athletes were training her curiosity was peaked, leading her to sign up to volunteer for a Special Olympics event. It wasn’t long before she was hooked and started coaching.

Today, Nancy serves as the Area Director for SOIA’s East region. Her job entails many duties, including organizing and running four or five events each year from things like bowling and track and field to golf tournaments and Challenge Days. “I have a really good group of coaches that work well together and really care about the athletes,” she says.
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Look, Cook, and Eat invites you to participate in a new event during the Iowa State Fair on Monday, August 15 at noon at the Elwell Family Food Center on the west side of the Fairgrounds.

Special Olympics Iowa is pleased to announce the hiring of Tanner Nissen as the new Information Manager — Games and Events.

Nissen was a recent Fellingham Intern with SOIA. During his time at SOIA he worked with both volunteers and games management systems, helped plan and execute Unified Days, and assisted with many other events and projects. He has a strong skill set in technology systems and applications.

A graduate of Northwestern College in Orange City with a degree in Sports and Business Management, Nissen has also completed internships with the Principal Charity Classic and the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Originally from Sacramento, California, he came to Iowa for college and is now happy to call Iowa home.

Please join us in welcoming Tanner to our Special Olympics Iowa family!

On Saturday, June 18, 12 Special Olympics Iowa athletes were spotlighted at the All-Iowa Elite Athletes Sports Awards Banquet by The Des Moines Register. The athletes chosen for the All-Iowa program represent the spirit of the Special Olympics Iowa movement and have gone above and beyond to show their dedication to sport and sportsmanship. They represent SOIA in competitions, service to their fellow athletes, and leadership within the organization and their community.

The banquet also featured keynote speaker Peyton Manning, who gave the SOIA athletes a special shout-out during his presentation and asked them to stand and be recognized as a group for their accomplishments. …