SO Brief 
SONM's Bi-Weekly Newsletter
March 18, 2015
In This Issue
Athlete Profile
Name: TJ Baca
Team: Special Olympics Thunder Rollers
Sports: Bowling
Highlights
: TJ was honored as the March 7th French Athlete of the Game!
Thoughts From Randy
Magical?

It's that time again.  The NCAA Men's Division 1 Basketball Tournament is here.  If you are not a college basketball fan, you will have a hard time escaping conversations around bracketology, 5 vs.12 seeds, and all of the hooplah around the 68 teams participating in what is affectionately known as March Madness.  Like a million others, I am drawn to this tournament not only because I love watching basketball, but more than that, I love watching the teams, analyzing the teams, cheering for the  teams, and being connected to those teams I hold dear to my heart.  This morning I had the pleasure of talking to Special Olympics New Mexico's Area 6 Director, Janie Lee Hall, who during the course of our conversation shared with me her perspective about teams - more specifically Special Olympics teams, which I am now pleased to share with you.

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Athletes put a smile on the Roundhouse

Last Thursday,  SONM athletes Ryan and Desiree Hanson, Phil With, an d Grace Chacon served as Honorary Pages for the House of Representatives. Every other year athletes serve in this capacity, and it is always an enjoyable experience, both for them and the many people they meet at the Capitol. SONM pins were presented and other gifts to staffers and legislators.

A special thanks to Representative Larry Laranaga who served as our host. And a continued thanks to retired Representative "Kiki" Saavedra who served as a champion for all Special Olympics athletes and their families since 1982.

To view photos from our visit, click HERE.  
Play Unified - Live Unified this weekend!   

The 3rd annual Unified Team Bowling Tournament is this Saturday at Santa Ana's Starlight Lanes. SONM will welcome 107 teams from all over the state. Each team is composed of two athletes and two Unified Partners.

The concept of combining athletes with intellectual disabilities and those without was first introduced in the mid-1980s to promote equality and inclusion. Unified Sports enables athletes to learn new sports, develop higher-level sports skills, and experience meaningful inclusion as each athlete is ensured of playing a valued role on the team. The Unified Sports program also enables athletes to socialize with peers and form friendships with people outside of Special Olympics.

This tournament has steadily grown since its inception which means that more and more people are Playing Unified!

There will be three sessions and the event will last from 10 am - 6:30 pm. For more information, click HERE.
Law Enforcement Torch Run News!

LETR Rio Rancho PD's Motorcycle Training and Competition raises over $7,800 for Special Olympics

On Saturday, March 7th hundreds of New Mexicans showed up to the Intel Parking Lot in Rio Rancho to watch dozens of law enforcement motorcycle officers race their bikes in the inaugural LETR Germaine Casey Invitational Police Motorcycle Training and  Competition.

LETR Rio Rancho Police Department hosted the event that brought motorcycle officers from all over the state to train and compete in numerous obstacle courses.

The event raised over $7,800 with proceeds going to benefit SONM athletes and sports program. Funds were raised through participant registration fees, local business sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Special thanks to RRPD officer Ben Sanchez for organizing the event, and for LETR Agency Coordinator Lana Elder for bringing LETR on board.

To view photos of this event, click HERE.

Team NM Public Safety beats Outpost  Ice Arena All-Stars in Guns & Hoses Hockey Game

On Saturday, March 14th LETR officers from Albuquerque Fire Department joined forces with a number of police agencies (aka Team NM Public Safety) to take on an all-star team from the Outpost Ice Arena in a friendly hockey game to benefit Special Olympics.

Team NM Public Safety edged out the All-stars 4-3 in an action packed game that nearly went into overtime.  Fans were on the edge of their seats for the all three periods.

Despite ending in a 4-3 game, both teams participated in a "just-for-fun" shootout that gave the crowd an extra dose of excitement. The game raised $1,000 for Special Olympics.

Special thanks to the Outpost Ice Arena for donating the ice time and its staff, and additional thanks to volunteer official Dan Allison and Seth Martinez, as well as volunteer photographer Scott Adamson.

Follow LETR on Facebook to view photos from the game (coming soon).
Congratulations Team USA athletes from New Mexico! 

The 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles are just a few months away and Team USA athletes have been training since October to prepare for this amazing event. We are very proud to announce that three SONM athletes and one Unified Partner will represent SONM on Team USA!

Matt Scates
Unified Golf Athlete 
Jeannie Garriss
Rhythmic Gymnastics Athlete 
Rebecca Amador
Rhythmic Gymnastics Athlete 
     
Todd Phillips
Unified Golf Partner 








 
 
 

Congrats Rebecca, Matthew, Jeannie, and Todd! Way to represent New Mexico.  To read their full bios, click HERE.  
 Upcoming 2015 Events

EVENT                              DATE                                 LOCATION
Unified Team Bowling Tournament       Mar 21-22                                         Albuquerque, NM
Law Enforcement Torch Run               May 19-31                                        Statewide
State Summer Games                       May 29-31                                        Albuquerque, NM
Something Special Dinner & Auction   June 27                                            Sandia Resort & Casino
SONM Golf Classic                            July 13                                             Paa-ko Ridge Golf Club
SONM Board of Directors
 
Executive Committee : CHAIRMAN, Jack Eichorn; VICE CHAIRMAN, Karen Hudson; VICE CHAIRMAN, Bob Scanlon; SECRETARY, Ryan Danoff; and TREASURER, Steve Pino

Board Members:
 Tom Padilla, Jeff Ramirez, Ryan Garcia, David Harnick, Brad Hutchins, Walt Bolic, Darren Wilkins, Trish Stuart, Craig Amundson, Consuelo Bolagh-Cowder, Dub Girand, Warren Ellis, and Mark Wiggins 
Contact Us

Special Olympics New Mexico
6600 Palomas Pl. NE Ste. 207
ABQ, NM 87109
 
Phone: 505-856-0342
Email: sonm@sonm.org