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| New Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc. | Summer 2005 |
| 2005 Local Game Sites |
Local Game Sites Hustle To Qualify athletes Before National Games begin in June.
Local Coordinators are the key to the New Mexico Senior Olympics program. With their local boards they plan, promote, secure venues, register participants, and conduct local games. As we called around checking on locals we asked for stories and photos. Here are a few that we received.
EDDY
The Carlsbad / Artesia area, reported that they are ready to battle the other
competitors from New Mexico according to Clyde Englebright, acting coordinator.
Thirty-five seniors participated in the local events with everyone qualifying in
at least one event. Clyde hopes to see most of his senior participating at the
State level, and showing what Eddy County can bring to competition!
SANDOVAL
Sandoval County Coordinator, Jim Wilson and his wife Martha report that this
year they made a few changes and were very happy with the results. They created
a poster with all the registration info and the dates of the different events
and locations and distributed this to all the area pueblos, senior programs and
popular senior spots. They also conducted an extensive event manager training
session early in the year. They feel this gave the event managers more
confidence and enabled them to reach more people. They have gone from 171 in
2004 to 193 participating this year. They attribute their increased numbers to
their enthusiastic event managers and better communication. Martha says we
should have her registration packet by the time this newsletter goes out early
in June.
VALENCIA
Helen Abeyta, the newly elected Board Chair of Valencia County reports that the
new quarterly newsletter and the support of the local paper were instrumental in
keeping people informed of the 2005 schedule. This year brought 17 new people
for a total of 96 local participants for Valencia County and the Pueblo of
Isleta. As a grand finale they planned a Local Wrap Up Fun Day and barbecue cook
out to be held at the conclusion of their Recreation Events this year.
CHAVES
Shelia McKnight registered 80 participants this year and had great coverage from
her local Newspaper. She sent us this photo to share.
CLOVIS
Local Board member and Senior Olympian, Becky Nufer, wrote to tell us the Clovis
Curry Co. Organizing Committee begins their planning in September and decided to
hold registration three weeks before their Kick Off Breakfast so all their
athletes could receive their T-shirts before competition. Their registration fee
of $15.00 covers Kick off Breakfast, the Recognition Banquet, T-shirts and
awards. They also enlist local support to create fun “Goodie Bags” as an added
reward for participation. All these strategies promote a very positive
atmosphere and she feels the games go much smoother.
Most local groups began planning in November and promoting in January for registration in March. Almost all Game Sites report they are finished or will be finished by early June- just in time for National competition in Pittsburgh. According to the numbers being turned in so far, it seems over 2,700 Local Athletes will be kicking, tossing, shooting, swimming, running and cycling their way to the Albuquerque NMSO Annual Summer State Games August 3-7, 2005.