SO Brief 
SONM's Bi-Weekly Newsletter
June 1, 2016
In This Issue
Athlete Profile
Thoughts From Randy
Something Special Dinner & Auction
Summer Games Recap
SONM Athlete Blog
Summer Games Sponsors!
LETR News!
UNM Basketball Clinic
Athlete Profile

Name: Gabe Rau
Team: Special Olympics Los Alamos
Sports:  Unified Volleyball, Basketball, Unified Golf, Aquatics, Bowling
Highlights: Gabe won a Bronze Medal in Volleyball at the 2016 State Summer Games.
Join Us Online
Thoughts From Randy
The Force

This year's theme "State Summer Games Where The Force Is With You" was not only wildly popular and fun - it was true.

I would venture to guess that almost everyone attending the Games had enough knowledge to not only understand but experience the parallel between the Force of Star Wars and the Force of Special Olympics.

MORE>>>  

 
 
Auction Item Sneak Peak! 

The Something Special Dinner & Auction is a few short weeks away and we are getting more and more exciting items by the day - like this beautiful marble chess table! A perfect  unique touch for any room of the house.
 
 
The 2016 Something Special Dinner & Auction will take place on June 25th from 6pm - 10 pm at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets 
State Summer Games  -  Where the Force is With You!
On May 20-22, Special Olympics New Mexico (SONM) returned to the UNM Track and Field Stadium for the 2016 State Summer Games. Presented by Mountain States Insurance Group, the State Summer Games showcased the athletic skills of over 900 Special Olympics athletes and almost 500 Unified Partners as they competed in Track and Field, Bocce and Unified Bocce, Unified Flag Football, and Unified Volleyball.

The competition began on Friday, May 20 with the Opening Ceremonies from 7:00pm-8:30pm, followed by Track and Field, Bocce, and Flag Football on Saturday all at the UNM Track and Field Stadium. Unified Volleyball took place on Sunday at Sandia Preparatory School. It was a weekend of photo finishes and touching medal presentations, as the Albuquerque community celebrated the accomplishments of New Mexico's special needs population - a group of people who are often overlooked in everyday life.

On Saturday, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, SONM athletes also had the opportunity to receive health screenings in the following areas: Opening Eyes (vision), Special Smiles (dentistry), Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physical therapy), and blood pressure screenings by Blue Cross Blue Shield of NM. Blake's Lotaburger, Panda Express, and Rudy's BBQ provided the tournament meals.

For the fifth year in a row, SONM returned to Cliff's Amusement Park for "Special Olympics Day at Cliff's" and the Victory Dance on Saturday May 21st. 

To view the full broadcast of our Opening Ceremonies Torch Lighting, click HERE and for the broadcast of Saturday's Games, click HERE.

Click HERE to view photos of Sunday's Unified Volleyball Competition. Photos of Friday's Opening Ceremonies and Saturday's competitions are soon to come!
My Special Olympics Experience
SONM Athlete Blog

Summer Games 
By Ryan Hanson - Special Olympics San Juan County Athlete
 
I had a great time at Summer Games in Albuquerque.  I got new tennis shoes that are really awesome and I got new glasses. 

We won Gold in Bocce and Volleyball.  I got to see some great friends that I miss. 


Thank you Volunteers
By Sarah Wilson - Special Olympics AGS Athlete

I am thankful for all the volunteers at Special Olympics. 
 
Volunteers work at the Olympic Village. They teach athletes how to be healthy. They told me about hydration, eating vegetables and brushing my teeth. I got a pair of tennis shoes and I really like them.

Volunteers help us with the competitions. People from Bank of the West helped with the bocce competition and they were very nice to me. My coaches are volunteers and they are the best. We could not do Special Olympics without volunteers.
 Thank You Summer Games Sponsors!

Everyone had a great time at Summer Games a week ago! And we could have never had such an amazing weekend without our sponsors. Thank you for helping us to make these Games a success!


Law Enforcement Torch Run News!   

Check out our 2016 LETR State Relay Run and Final Leg Photos and Posts on Facebook!

On May 3 - 20, law enforcement agencies from across New Mexico carried the Flame of Hope torch for the 2016 Law Enforcement Torch Run State Relay Run and Final Leg. Click HERE  to view our LETR facebook page for photos and posts from this year's Relay Run.
 
LETR Farmington PD's annual Guns & Hoses Softball Tournament set for June 11th

The Annual Guns & Hoses Softball Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 11th at the Rickett's Park softball fields. Opening Ceremonies begin at 9:00 am and will be followed by the Unified Police vs. Fire Fighters Game immediately after.
  
Please bring a new or slightly used piece of softball/baseball equipment or a monetary donation for Special Olympics as an entrance fee. Concessions will be open and there will be plenty of fun for everyone!!
 
For more information, please contact Jenny Dennis at 505.320.8379.
Legacy Church and UNM partner to host Basketball Clinic for SONM athletes
   
On June 21st from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, UNM in partnership with Legacy Church will be  hosting a Basketball Clinic open to all Special Olympics New Mexico athletes. The clinic will be run by Coach Neal and will take place at the Davalos Basketball Practice Facility. It is free of charge to all athletes.

To register for the clinic, please contact Erin Gallegos at 505-856-0342 or eringallegos@sonm.org TODAY and she will get you signed up. 

Click HERE for more info.  
 Upcoming 2016 Events 
                                      
EVENT                                                             DATE                                               LOCATION               
Something Special Dinner & Auction                   June 25                       Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa
Golf Classic                                                       July 11                                         Paa-ko Ridge Golf Club
Four Corners Invitational                                    Aug 20-21                                            Farmington
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, Sarah McMahon, Trish Stuart, Craig Amundson, Consuelo Bolagh-Cowder, Dub Girand, Warren Ellis, Cathy Tingstrom, 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