|
April 16th, 2009
My Brother Knights,
It has been three Months since “Special Olympics” became a separate Statewide Program in Louisiana. In that short amount of time, I am happy to say that there has been some very positive feedback from many of you. I welcome any and all suggestions or comments. Please keep them coming, I need all the help you can give.
How Many Kids do you Have? How many times have you been asked that Question? Betty and I have 75 just in New Iberia, La.
FACT : Special Olympic Athletes are between the ages of 8 Years old to ??? I personally have a Bowling Athlete “Bob” in New Iberia that is 78 Years young. Sometimes I call Bob one of “My Kids” and this is why.
EXPLANATION: Many of us, that have worked with Special Olympics for a long time are Parents , Volunteers and Coaches . With time, we grow to know and Love each and every one of them and become part of the family. Many and most of us after a while, start to, when referring to Our Athletes , call them Our Kids. Many times in this letter and in my speech , you will often see and hear me refer to “Our Kids or My Kids”. This, my Brothers , is said with all Due Respect and with Love to each and every one of them. Betty and I have more Kids than you can shake a stick at. And we constantly look to keep adding to ‘Our Family”. Brothers, Get more involved with Special Olympics and Increase the size of your Families. You will Never regret that decision.
I need your help. I am still working on a viable Contact and E-Mail distribution list that can reach all of your Councils and Grand Knights. send me your contact numbers, and e-mail address for your Councils and Grand Knights. If your Council has a Web Site, send that also. This is the only way that we can update you with timely information and also give your Councils the recognitions they have earned.
I have spoken to some of you to find out what your Councils do for and with Special Olympics. My Wife “Betty” and I have also gone to a couple of the events that you have recently done for and with Special Olympic. These are exactly the involvements that we need to foster in All our Councils throughout the State.
On Feb12th, this year Betty and I attended a Valentine Party for about 125 of St. Mary Magdalen Council 5301’s Special Kids in Metairie, La. They had light refreshments and most important to the Kids, a DJ that provided the Music they listened and danced to for about 2 ½ Hours. Many of them never got off the Dance Floor. For that amount of time, They were provided with the opportunities and means to enjoy and interact with others in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere that most of us take for granted. We left there that night with many more New Kids in “Our Family”. Quite a few of you are doing some similar things and that is Good.
In March, we were part of more than 650 Athletes ,coaches and Families in Baton Rouge, La. for the State Indoor Games. Friday night, Mar. 6th., Area E Coordinator, Ernest Theriot and his Council 5352 from Pierre Part, La along with Council 1099 from Napoleonville, La cooked and served a Great meal for everyone. The next night on Sat Mar. 7th, Area F Coordinator, Vince Whittington and his Council 9247 from Baton Rouge, La along with Council 6326 from Denham Springs, La cooked and served an equally Great Meal for all. I have gotten some rave and appreciative reports from a lot of Special Olympic People about the Service. Super Job Brothers .
These are just two events that I was present at and that I Witnessed. I know that there were others that occurred during this time, it’s just that I haven’t been made aware of them. Please Let me and the rest of the Councils Know what and when you are doing something that concerns or involves a Special Olympics event. If you give me enough advance notice, I can try and fit it in our Calendar and attempt to be there, to be of some help. We cannot give your Council Credit for the Great work they do if I don’t know about it.
The next Big event for Special Olympics will be the State Summer Games at Southeastern Univ. in Hammond, La starting on May 22nd. Opening Ceremonies are set for 7 PM Friday night at Strawberry Stadium. I am working with FN Kenneth Schatzie with Fr. Martin Assembly 323 in Ponchatoula, La. to provide a Fourth Degree Honor Guard During the Opening Ceremony. There should be somewhere around 700 plus Athletes and Coaches from the entire State of Louisiana. I have several of My Fourth Degree Brothers that have said that they would attend. It would be great if we could gather a group of about 40-50 Brothers. We could make an awesome Statement to the entire State about what how we feel about Special Olympics. Please try and be a part of this if at all possible. E-Mail or Call me for more details.
In Ames, Iowa , 2006 , I witnessed in the Coliseum, somewhere between 700 to 800 Fourth Degree Knights in Full Regalia for the Opening Ceremonies. That was a Statement. What a feeling it is to know that you are a part of such a Fraternity.
Last year, We assisted “Louisiana Special Olympic” with a Major Fundraiser with the sale of the “NFL Experience Raffle Tickets”. For the first year and not knowing what the heck I was doing , with your help , we (KC’s) managed to have the Second Highest total of tickets sold in the State. The Highest total came from My wife “Betty” who is a member of the “Evangeline Life Members Pioneers in Lafayette, La” , beat Me/Us ( KC’s) by more than $1,00.00 in sales. This cannot happen again. That woman, will never let me forget about it if she outsells me again this year. We will again be having a similar Raffle starting in June of this year and it will be basically the same. Once more I will be getting them sometime in June to start distributing them out to the Councils at both of the KCLS Meetings in July. I will also be mailing them out to you if need be. It would be Great if each Council would just sell or Buy at least one ( 1 ) Book of tickets. This Fundraiser is not meant to replace your regular contributions to Louisiana Special Olympics. It is to be an Additional Fundraiser that is desperately needed by Louisiana Special Olympics. NOTE: When you make out and send a donation and or Check, Make it to your (local) Parish Special Olympics or to “Louisiana Special Olympics”. That way ALL of your Donations stay in Louisiana
Brothers, There are so many ways that We, “Louisiana Special Olympics” can use your help. Go to the website at http://www.laso.org/ . Click on “your area”, click on the colored area where your parish is located. There you will see a list of Directors. Contact the Area Director or your Parish Director. Tell them who you are and ask what they need help with. You just may be able to help. If I can be of any help, call and we will find a way.
One of the Most Important thing we can do for Our Kids is TOO BE THERE. Being there in the Stands, Watching an event , Watching Our Kids is the best thing we can do to show our support. Believe me, there is nothing more sad than coaching and watching these Athletes compete their hearts out, with no one in the stands watching. They give their all and all they want is to be watched and cheered on. It’s a crying shame on all of us and also on the General Public that we Will Pay to Watch some self-inflated, overpaid ,unsporting like professional athletes perform and then complain about everything . Yet we will not go watch some of the Best Athletes in the World for FREE. Experience that feeling , do yourself a favor, go Watch them, you’ll never regret it.
PS. What do you think of the Heading Logo? Do I keep using it or do I work on another one?
Help Stamp out the “R” Word
Thanks and may God Bless you, as he did me.
Vivat Jesu`
Jerry LaSalle
Chairman Special Olympics
DD 32
|
