South Central Area 6 Winter News:
This is the winter issue of Special Olympics Wisconsin Area 6’s newsletter. A new issue is sent every season featuring important information, dates of special events, Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) updates, Spotlights, event wrap-ups and fundraising news. The newsletter is sent to LETR committee members, polar plunge volunteers and committee members, Agency managers, volunteers and athletes.
The Polar Plunge is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support local Special Olympics athletes by jumping or running into the icy waters of Wisconsin.
Since its inception ten years ago, Wisconsin Plungers have helped raise $7 million for Special Olympics. Children and adults with cognitive disabilities who participate in Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image. This year there are over 11 plunges to choose from including the Madison Polar Plunge being held at Olin Turville Park in Madison on Feb. 21st, 2009 and the Coulee (La Crosse) Polar Plunge being held at Black River Beach in La Crosse on March 7th, 2009.
Click here for more information.
 Too Chicken to Plunge?
Even if you are too chicken to plunge, you can still participate. New for 2009 in Madison, you can register as a chicken and still raise pledges, receive incentives and enjoy doing the chicken dance down by the hole with no water involved!
Corporate Spotlight: Cummins Inc.
 Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems.
Cummins started participating in the Polar Plunge this year, February of 2008. Cummins has a charity of the month for each month of the year. February's charity of the month was chosen for Special Olympics due to employee interest in the Plunge. Cummins is hoping that the involvement for the next plunge will become a yearly event.
Agency Spotlight
Stoughton Special Olympics Agency 6-50 was started in February 2005. In March of 2006, Brenda Slovacek became the agency manager and still currently holds that position.
One of the agency’s greatest victories includes getting athletes to try new sports offered by the Special Olympics. Many athletes like to stick the sports they know and are comfortable with and seeing them try new sports and succeed at them has been very rewarding for the agency.
The agency has some upcoming fundraising events and is also working on getting a website up and running. They will also be participating in the Polar Plunge again this year and plan to have a pancake breakfast in the spring at the local VFW and a Water Stand during the Syttende Mai festival in Stoughton in May.
As an agency, the biggest challenge they have had to overcome had been recruiting athletes in the past. They have recently combined with agency 6-17 and have seen an increase in the amount of athletes wanting to participate. There has also been a large increase last year due to the Olympic games being held. This has given them the opportunity for team sports. Although more athletes are participating, they still would like to be able to recruit more coaches. Most recently they have gained a couple of coaches from the Janesville group. This is a tremendous help to their agency.
Though there have been challenges, the agency has many great memories. The agency loves seeing the joy in the athlete’s at practices and competitions. “The friendships and teamwork that are created are priceless. To know that you make a difference is all the reward you need.”
Du Run Run is an event held across the state to raise funds for the athletes of Special Olympics Wisconsin. During the event children ages 2-12 compete in a duathlon, run/bike/run, against kids their same age and gender.
The Great Wisconsin Credit Union Du Run Run is the duathlon for South Central Wisconsin. It was held at McKee Farms in Fitchburg, WI, as it is every year. Last years event was held on Sep. 21, 2008 and was a great success!
$19,000 in funds were raised through registration and with pledges. There were 246 participants who collected pledges and won awards.
We would like to thank our title sponsor Great Wisconsin Credit Union and also give a special thanks to our supporting sponsors: Summit Credit Union, CUNA Mutual Group, and Madison West Kiwanis.
Du Run Run Event Sponsors
  
|
Athlete Spotlight: Joe Neumann
Joe Neumann has been involved in Special Olympics since he was ten years old.
He competes in bowling, team basketball, track and field and tennis. He says that he doesn’t have a favorite, they are all his favorite. He loves being active.
In his spare time, Joe likes to listen to rock and roll music. Whether it is on his CD player or on music channels on the television. He also likes to watch sports, especially the Green Bay Packers and Donald Driver, his favorite professional sports team and professional football player.
“You get to meet new friends” That is why Joe is involved in the Special Olympics. He has made friends from many other states; including New Jersey. A highlight of his experience with Special Olympics was competing on the first national team for tennis and placed third in singles and second in doubles.
Upcoming
Events
2/21/2009
Madison Polar Plunge
Area 6, LETR, Fundraising
Lake Monona,
Olin Turville Park
2/28/2009
Special Olympics District 7
Basketball Skills Tournament
Area 6, Area 7, Volunteers needed, Sporting
Badger High School,
Lake Geneva, WI
3/7/2009
Coulee Region Polar Plunge
Area 6, LETR,
Fundraising
Black River Beach,
La Crosse, WI
3/14/2009
Area 6 District Basketball Skills Competition
Area 6, Volunteers needed, Sporting
La Crosse, WI
3/15/2009
Area 6 District Basketball Team Tournament
Platteville, WI
March 2009
Area 6 Athletics Coaches
Certified Training School
4/18/2009
Area 6 District Aquatics
Competition
Waunakee, WI
5/3/2009
Area 6 Area Athletics
Competition
Oregon, WI
May 2009
Area 6 Bocce, Softball, Tennis, and Golf Coaches Certified Training School
July 2009
2nd Annual South Central Area Shooting Competition
Deerfield Pistol & Archery Center
7/10/2009
Area 6 Bocce Coaches Certified Training School
Onalaska, WI
7/11/2009
Area 6 District Tennis & Tee-Ball Tournament
Onalaska, WI
7/11/2009
Area 6 District Softball & Bocce Tournament
Onalaska, WI
7/12/2009
Area 6 District Golf
Competition
Columbus, WI
September 2009
Area 6 Bowling Coaches
Certified Training School
Madison, WI
Click
here for the full state calendar of events.
State Partners
|
