A quarterly newsletter published by New
Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc.
| New Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc. | October 2003 |
Salute to
VOLUNTEERS
W
EBSTER’S DICTIONARY defines a volunteer as “a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service.”We all know that a volunteer is so much more. David Hsi, Golden Athlete for 2002, has been quoted as saying that America is a “volunteer” society. This may be the a big part of her success. New Mexico Senior Olympics is a microcosm, one tiny organization within this great country. Yet NMSO is also proof that volunteerism works!
Volunteers—New Mexico Senior Olympics could not survive without them. You see them at state games—nearly 300 individuals assisting event managers and staff with the events—but do you know how many work behind the scenes?
In over 31 local Game sites qualifying games are held. How many thousands of volunteers are required to run local games? We have no idea. We are told most Senior Olympic athletes all pitch in and help each other during local games.
The entire New Mexico Senior Olympics Board of Directors, all strictly volunteer, meet every other month, taking time out of their already busy schedules to travel to meetings,work together on rules, finances, regulations, improvements and concerns; guiding and directing and supporting the organization and its athletes.
Glorieta, Conference on Aging
Volunteers were also able to assist the Department of Aging and Long Term Care at Glorieta’s Annual Conference on Aging. New Mexico Senior Olympics sponsored several of the Speakers who presented workshops on the Healthy Aging Track. This was a relatively new component of the program this year and was geared towards teaching “active education” for Healthy Aging. These presenters provided information and hands on demonstrations for a wide range of health promotion topics.
Olympics Sport Advisory Committee
Those of you who competed in the 3-3 Basketball Games at State this year may have noticed that every game had two officials. Many athletes have told us that this was great and made the experience very enjoyable. The games ran more smoothly than when using only one official. This change resulted from just one of the many suggestions presented by the Senior Olympics Sport Advisory Committee.
Earlier this year New Mexico Senior Olympics invited several athletes, coaches, and Sports Administrators to sit on an advisory panel and review the status of Team sports—beginning in 2003 with 3-3 Basketball. The panel includes Scott Herron, Jan Weinstein, Paul LaPort, Sonya Delgado, Albert Nunez, Bill Brown, and Tony Chavez as well as NMSO Board Member; Dick Griffith, NMSO Health Promotions Specialist; Mandy Owens and NMSO Director; Ceci Acosta.
The committee was organized and designed to provide increased communication from the “grass roots” level between Senior Athletes and New Mexico Senior Olympics Local Planning Committee and New Mexico Senior Olympics Board of Directors. They have provided valuable insights and a multitude of suggestions. This volunteer committee—many whom had to travel long distances - gave freely of their time and talents to this project.
The Local Planning Committee for the State Games is made up of volunteers; Senior Programs, Las Cruces City Employees, Athletes, professional and retired—all volunteer their time to meet regularly to prepare for the Games. They organize everything from media to facilities, event managers to other volunteers.
Event Managers for 26 different sports spent hundreds of man hours recruiting and training volunteers, studying rules, drafting brackets, organizing supplies, recruiting officials, judges, and researching facilities to bring each event to reality. All Event Managers are volunteers.
Other amazing volunteers include many of our Local Coordinators.
Only a few coordinators are employed through their local programs. Over 6 of 31 Local Coordinators are 70 or older—3 are over 80 years of age! There is a lot to be said about staying active and staying healthy!
All the New Mexico Senior Olympics VISTAs work in various regions around the State serving the health promotion needs of seniors in their local communities.
For State Games other VISTA project groups as well as New Mexico Senior Olympics came together to provide critical support for the State Games.
On a Individual note:
Mike Simione, the New Mexico Senior Olympics VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) in Las Cruces, solicited and collected many of the door prizes, for the volunteer Social and the Final Banquet. This included the 27" color TV door prize at the Expo and a Target Grant for the special giveaways.
Myron Linder, of Las Cruces, put a great deal of time and effort into our media this past year and is responsible for the Athlete Profile featured in this issue. We hope to have several more—this is a great contribution to the newsletter. He is only one of many that work hard to keep the wheels turning.
Mike Miyagishima took hundreds of photographs all around the 2003 State Games—spending four days of his own time to capture our 25th Annual New Mexico Senior Olympic State Games on film.
In the act of service we, essentially, serve our selves. Volunteers not only improve the lives of those they serve but they improve their own lives in the process. We think it is safe to say that as long as Americans continue as a “volunteer” society we, as Americans can, literally, do anything. To all those who go out of their way to make Senior Olympics, our communities and our country the wonderful place it is—Way to go!!
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2003 New Mexico Senior Olympics E ach year New Mexico Senior Olympics strives to recognize volunteers that go above and beyond the call of duty. We are grateful for all who give freely of their time and effort but many of you put in that little extra effort that is an inspiration to those around you. Each day of the games Event Managers are encouraged to nominate volunteers that exhibit that “something special.” The committee reviews the nominations and one volunteer is chosen as the “Super Star Volunteer of the Day.”
Toni won the honor of Superstar for donating much of her free time to develop a database for the State Game volunteers. Her efforts made a tremendous difference in how smoothly the volunteer process worked this year.
Harry was recognized as a Superstar because he has not only helped for more than three years, but always shows up early and stays late to assist with the set-up, judging, and clean up of the shuffleboard tournament portion of the games. He is remarkable for not only his work ethic but his very patient and kind disposition. Rebecca and Dan Kongs—Thursday, August 7th This dedicated cycling team of volunteers worked for hour
developing a software program that would facilitate the events, timing, and
placements of the cycling races. PLUS they worked from the early hours to
set up, register athletes, enter data, time, coordinate long distance
starts, and printout results. This enabled the event manager to give out
medals and ribbons immediately after a race. Juanita Ramirez—Friday, August 8th Juanita Ramirez, Friday, August 8th. Juanita works hard at the fruit and water station, spends her vacation time at Senior Olympic State Games, and shows up at 5 a.m. with a smile—she has done it for years. She is praised for always staying at her station and never complaining. |
Toni
Flores—Tuesday, August 5th
Harry
Vorce—Wednesday, August 6th
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THANK YOU TO OUR NMSO STATE GAMES SPONSORS: Aramark Catering • Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn • CMI Business Products CenterCaliente Designs • S & H Mobile Home & RV Center • Santa Ana Tamaya Resort & Spa • Village at Northrise • Wells Fargo Bank |