In This Edition

FEATURES
Janet Maher Honoured
The late Janet Maher is recognized Nationally and Provincially.

Local Volunteer Named to Team Canada

Dr. Carmel Casey Named Team Doctor for Team Canada.

Special Olympic's Newest Club
Special Olympics arrives at the Baie Verte Peninsula.

Our Athlete Leaders
Special Olympics NL offers it's first ever athlete conference.
Provincial Special Olympics Competition Head Back to Gander
The 2009 Winter Championships to be hosted in Gander.
Subway Cashes in its Cards for Special Olympics
Subway launces a new Program to Support Special Olympics.

2008-09 Board of Directors

The election of the SONL Board .

Janet Maher Honoured

2008 was a year that saw our organization celebrate a National Floor Hockey gold medal and National Female athlete of the year win with Janet Maher. It was also a year that we mourned with Janet’s family as she lost her battle to breast cancer in October.

In December Janet’s family were on hand in Toronto at the Special Olympics Canada Awards Evening to accept Janet’s National Award on her behalf. During the night Janet’s brother Dan game a heart felt speech about his Janet that conveyed what made his sister such an amazing women. Dan then stood as Janet received a standing ovation from Special Olympics supporters from across the country.

Following the National recognition Janet’s family and supporters from Special Olympics Mount Pearl were invited to the House of Commons and as Minister Dave Denine, a long time friend of Janet, paid tribute to her. This was another touching moment that once again relayed the impact that Janet has made on everyone she met.

Special Olympic's Newest Club

Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador is very excited to welcome Baie Verte to our Special Olympics family. The club currently has eight bowlers that meet twice a month. They have already hosted their first group social and they are looking forward to meeting other athletes and getting immersed into the Special Olympics community.

Our Athlete Leaders

In November SONL offered its first ever Athlete Leadership Conference. At this conference nine athletes from across the province were given leadership and public speaker training. Throughout the weekend athletes were given the chance to interact with each other and provide input into their feelings on what it takes to be a leader. The culmination of the conference was the athlete forum and Be a Fan presentation. The presentation was open to sponsors and supporters and provided the athletes with the opportunity to speak in front of a crowd.

This was a very successful weekend which provided our athletes with the opportunity to learn valuable skills as well as empower them as leaders within the organization. This was a valuable experience and we look forward to building on this success and offering similar conferences and other Athlete Leadership programs in the future.

SONL would like to pass on its sincere thanks and gratitude to two key individuals. Christina Casey-Flynn was the head facilitator for the weekend as well as the driving force behind the conferences content. Additionally SONL Student Intern, Laura Critch took the lead on logistical planning and execution of the conference. Their participation in the weekend was integral to its overall success.

Local Volunteer Named to Team Canada

Dr. Carmel Casey, Provincial Board Member and Chair of Special Olympics Gander, has been named team doctor for Team Canada that will be competing at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games to be hosted in Boise Idaho. This is a tremendous recognition for Dr. Casey and great moment of pride for Special Olympics in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We wish Carmel and Team Canada luck as they prepare to represent our country this February in Boise.

2009 Winter Championships

The 2009 Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Championships will be taking place in Gander on February 28th. These Championships will play host to over 100 athletes and volunteers who will be competing in the sports of Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing.

Gander has a long history of being a quality host for Provincial events. They host a annual invitational bowling tournament and last hosted the Provincial Summer Games in 2004. SONL is very excited to be back in Gander and working with their quality volunteers and town supporters.

Subway Gives Big this Holiday Season

SUBWAY Restaurants, a partner of Special Olympics Canada since 2004 and a long time supporter of programs in Newfoundland and Labrador, has introduced a new way to support this cause during the 2008 holiday season. A special edition charitable cash card program – the Special Olympics cash card - will be available at all SUBWAY Restaurants until December 31st, 2008. Every time a consumer loads their cash card, SUBWAY Restaurants will donate 1$ of all cash card sales to Special Olympics.

SUBWAY Restaurants supports Special Olympics because it gives people with an intellectual disability in every community a choice - and a chance - they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Through sport and active living, it changes their lives. In doing so it changes the lives of all of the people who come into contact with them.

2008-09 Board of Directors

On Friday October 17th Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador hosted its Annual General Meeting and four new members were elected to its Board of Directors. Mary Bluechardt, Judy Dobbin, Kevin Dunphy and Daniel Reid.

2008-09 SONL Board of Directors
Chair: Ken Marshall, Rogers Cable
Vice Chair: Dr. Carmel Casey, Gander Medical Clinic
Treasurer: Heather Moores, Rogers Cable
Winnie Power, RLC Representative
Evan Ash, Parent Representative
Dr. Mary Bluechardt, MUN School of Human, Kinetics and Recreation
Kevin Casey, The Idea Factory
Tom Clift, MUN Faculty of Business Administration
Judy Dobbin, Clovelly Golf
Rod Dunne, North Atlantic Petroleum
Kevin Dunphy, Dunphy Molloy
Dan Hutton, N.C. Hutton
Kate O’Neill, Cox & Palmer
Daniel Reid, Special Olympics St. John’s
Bob Moakler, Canadian Progress Club
Brenda Steele, Automobile Dealers Association