Jessie's Blog: How can you help?

Hi Everyone:

This is Jessie Salness, your Athelete Representative.  As you might know, part of my position is going to the monthly management meetings where we talk about the details that go into running Lebanon County Special Olympics. This month we talked about the budget for the year and how much money is going out and how much money is coming in. The money going out pays for uniforms, sports equipment, coaches' training, registration for sectionals and much more than I could possibly list. We cannot run Lebanon Area Special Olympics without paying the expenses both for day-to-day stuff, and the fun things like the dinner dance. How do we pay for it since we don't get funding from the state, Special Olympics PA, or the federal government?  Unbeknownst to many people, we are funded strictly by donations and fundraisers.

Jim Campion, the Treasurer, explained that we are spending a little more each year than the monies received from donations and fundraisers. This is a problem we can solve two ways. One way is by cutting costs by not having some of the things we enjoy but are extras, like the annual picnic. In order to have fun extras like the picnic, we need to bring in more money than we are spending. The second way is we can increase the amount of money coming in by donations and fundraisers like the upcoming Bunny Run, Sheetz coupon books, and the Car Cruise, for example. Deb Tice said that there are 20 athletes and their families who are consistently participating in fundraisers and are doing a good job. We have a total of 270 athletes, and if each of us helped with both the fundraisers and donations, we would be so much better off. We each can do our part to help with the budget by talking to people we know about Lebanon Area Special Olympics. I have learned a lot being a Special Olympics athlete, and one of the things I learned was that I can achieve more as part of the team than by myself. We are all part of the Lebanon SO team, and we do a lot more together than we ever thought possible. We as athletes can help by letting the people who care about us know how much Lebanon Area Special Olympics means to us and how it impacts our lives. We can tell them that Lebanon SO is funded ONLY by donations and fundraisers, and that costs approximately $160 every year to pay for each athlete, from first practice to the final event. Their support makes it possible for us Lebanon County Special Olympics athletes to participate in various sports, and without everyone's support, there would be no Lebanon County SOPA!

Let's prove that we are up to the challenge, and show others that we are more than athletes, that we are advocates for the Lebanon County Special Olympics!  "Many hands make light work" as they say, and with banding together to participate in fundraisers and assisting in securing and providing donations, we can ensure a bright future for Lebanon County Special Olympics!

 Thank you for support and interest,

Jessie Salness

   Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative

Press Release: Special Olympics Lebanon County Thanks The Community For A Successful Dinner & Auction Benefit

Contact: Jackie Gostomski, Special Olympics Lebanon County, lebcoso@comcast.net 

For Immediate Release

SPECIAL OLYMPICS LEBANON COUNTY THANKS THE COMMUNITY FOR A SUCCESSFUL DINNER & AUCTIOn BENEFIT

(Lebanon, PA, March  21, 2014) – Special Olympics Lebanon County held their annual Dinner and Auction Benefit March 8, 2014 at Sacred Heart Parish Social Hall in Cornwall. The event, sponsored by R Field And Stream, GSH Home Med Care, Rexmont Social Hall, & Members 1^st Federal Credit Union, was a huge success. With help from local businesses E&E Discount Beer Warehouse, Con-Ger Farms, and Zigs Bakery, Special Olympics Lebanon County raised over $18,000 at the event. The night featured the talents of emcee Ray Maillet, music by Ryan Yingst and Bob Phillips as well as a lively auction commanded by auctioneer Ben Nolt.

The event showcased what happens when a community pulls together. Donations poured in from community businesses, groups, and individuals. Funds were raised from ticket sales, sponsorships, and silent & live auction items. Now in the fourth year, the event nearly sold out.   Joan Sechrist, County Manager and committee member commented, “We had some new faces with lots of friends bidding, laughing and raising funds.”

Each year Special Olympics serves more and more individuals with intellectual disabilities and closely related developmental disabilities in the Lebanon County. As they continue to grow they could not do it without the help of the community. Serving their mission with an all-volunteer team makes events like these even more special. To those that sponsored, attended, donated, volunteered, and bid thank you for making this annual event a continued success. Next year’s dinner and auction benefit is planned for March 2015.

About Lebanon County Special Olympics

Lebanon County Special Olympics provides year-round training and competition at no cost in 14 Olympic-type sports to more than 250 children and adults with intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.lebcoso.org/.

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Jessie's Blog: National Developmental Disability Awareness Month

National Developmental Disability Awareness Month 

March is National Developmental Disability Awareness Month, proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987.  Why should we care?  This designation focuses on educating the general public about what developmental disabilities are.  It helps open the doors to more opportunities for greater inclusion with education, employment, and independent living.

Many organizations are involved in promoting awareness and opportunity for people with developmental disabilities.  Special Olympics is of course focused on sports as a way of showing people that we, as athletes, when given the opportunity, are capable of more than we or others ever thought possible. 

Special Olympics brings people with developmental disabilities into the spotlight, bringing change and possibilities that never existed before. This ultimately is what National Developmental Disability Awareness Month is celebrating!

Respectfully Submitted,

Jessie Salness,

Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative 

Jessie's Blog: Athlete Leadership Team Announcement

ALT Announcement

On February 25, 2014, the Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Team met to review applications and make selections of athletes to join the leadership team.  In attendance were: Joan Sechrist, Ines Antensteiner, Anita Park, Rachael Jones, Jim McIntyre, and myself.  We as a team are pleased to announce that three athletes have been chosen, and they are: Daniel Blatt, Alysa Dreibelbis, and Bobbi Jo Rhen.

The Leadership Team will be assisting with packing medical supplies for the local American Foundation for Children with AIDS on April 5th.  We will be joining with the LVC students for this volunteer experience.  This will be the first official endeavor that our three new Leadership Team members will be joining us for.

The Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Team provides great opportunities for us to enhance our leadership skills.  We appreciate the continued involvement of all of our members, including the LVC Community Dutchmen, and look forward to having our newly appointed athletes join us as well.

Respectfully submitted,
Jessie Salness
Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative

Jessie's Blog: My Personal Thoughts on the R-Word Campaign

My Personal Thoughts on the R-Word Campaign 

I have been thinking about Spread the Word to End the Word since I had recently written the blog encouraging folks to support this effort.  I think it is a great campaign, as the R-word is very hurtful and unkind.  I think the words we choose to use reflect the way we see people.  I also think that when we define who we are only in terms of intelligence, we lose our humanity.  There is so much more to being a good person that is not measured by IQ.

I feel that the R-word, like all language that is used to put people down, says more about the person saying it than who it is directed at. We, like many other groups, often experience unfair and unkind words and actions.  It doesn't matter what group you belong to, there will always be people who are ignorant or cruel.  In the case of ignorance, we can teach by explaining how the words or actions are not appropriate.  Oftentimes, the best way to teach is by doing your best and exceeding others' expectations.  In the case of deliberate cruelty, the best thing to do is to not interact with that person.  It also helps to understand that unfortunately people often are mean when they are hurt or angry about something else that has nothing to do with you.

To be honest, I have experienced both ignorance and cruelty, painful as it is, as I am sure many of you have too.  We can not control how others respond, but we can pledge to not use the R-word and lead by example.  As athletes, volunteers, and supporters of Special Olympics, we are leading by example that hopefully in the future, there will no longer even be a need to have the campaign Spread the Word To End the Word.  In the meantime, please pledge your support to Spread the Word to End the Word!

Respectfully yours,
Jessie Salness Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative

Jessie's Blog: Athlete Leadership Team (ALT) Announced

Athlete Leadership Team (ALT) Announced

On February 25, 2014, the Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Team met to review applications and make selections of athletes to join the leadership team.  In attendance were: Joan Sechrist, Ines Antensteiner, Anita Park, Rachael Jones, Jim McIntyre, and myself.  We as a team are pleased to announce that three athletes have been chosen, and they are: Daniel Blatt, Alysa Dreibelbis, and Bobbi Jo Rhen.

The Leadership Team will be assisting with packing medical supplies for the local American Foundation for Children with AIDS on April 5th.  We will be joining with the LVC students for this volunteer experience.  This will be the first official endeavor that our three new Leadership Team members will be joining us for.

The Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Team provides great opportunities for us to enhance our leadership skills.  We appreciate the continued involvement of all of our members, including the LVC Community Dutchmen, and look forward to having our newly appointed athletes join us as well.

Respectfully submitted,
Jessie Salness
Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative

Jessie's Blog: Spread the Word to End the Word, March 5th

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD

March 5th will be Spread the Word to End the Word day.  The campaign is a continuous effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and supporters to increase society's understanding about the hurtful nature of the R-word and to encourage people to pledge to stop using it.

Spread the Word to End the Word was founded in 2009 by two college students, Soeren Palumbo and Tim Shriver.  Passionate supporters across the United States and in other countries continue to spread the word to promote this campaign.

Language is a powerful tool and the use of inclusive language assists in making sure nobody is left behind, hurt, or excluded.  Oftentimes, people don't realize how hurtful and dehumanizing the R-word is to people with intellectual disabilities. 

In summary, let's band together to use kind, respectful language that includes everyone!  I encourage you to visit www.r-word.org to pledge your support to eliminate the R-word and also to get ideas for events to Spread the Word to End the Word.

Thank you for your time and support regarding this important effort!

Sincerely,

Jessie Salness

Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative