Special Olympics 2015 JUNE 6th @ Harvard U Volunteers needed

[Titan_Bariloni]

I received the annual Special O interest email from this years intern

I inquired about transitioning disc golf into a competitive event

Hi Titan,

Thank you for your interest in coming back to our Summer Games in June! I see that you guys have been participating in Olympic Town for many years and I’m excited to get to work with you. As I’m sure you know from previous years, we have time slots on both Saturday and Sunday from 10:00-2:00. Please let me know what day(s)/time(s) you would like to attend! As the event gets closer we can make more concrete plans.

I have forwarded your information along to Matt Ruxton who is our Vice President of Sports at SOMA, so he should be reaching out to you in the near future about making Disc Golf more competitive!

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Best,

Kristen Giombetti

Program Intern

Special Olympics Massachusetts

we shall see
I will ponder what day we shall attend this year sat or sun and let everyone know so we can get a gameplan together in regards to disc funding and volunteers

thanks

edit, Matt Ruxton was the original contact years back to get DG into O town so after years of dedicated volunteer work should sit well for that to actually happen

[Thomas Bentley]

Thanks for leading Titan. Let us know what day you decide. I'd like to try to make it!

[Matt DeAngelis]

Damn, same weekend as the Spring Fling again.

Let us know when details are ironed out and if any assistance from NEFA is needed for the purchase of the event discs.

[Titan_Bariloni]

Thanks for the continued support
Yes perma spring fling weekend but as i alluded to first year helping here and having a huge successful event is just a win win that weekend for dg

I will say gateway is out this year I was not thrilled that they charged so much and hit us with custom stamp fees for a volunteer effort event after it was discussed that it would be waived

That said it makes complete sense for vibram to get the call, nefa supporters,ma company and delivery issues would be solved

What this event will need esp if it is given the go to include a competitive portion is volunteers

I would also like to add over the years I have made relationships with teams from all over ma and many want more more dg

The western ma games held at umass Amherst has expressed huge interest in being included

I suspect pure flight may have an interest there as they should speaking business wise at the very least it would be publicity that would be super positive

Anyways great to have early discussions started

This could all be much bigger for our sport if we all help where we can

Thanks

[Rob Breckenridge]

I am 100% In

[Rob Breckenridge]

Also, does anyone remember last year when I threw back to back aces on Temp hole #1, I bet Duke does

[Arty Graustein]

I remember you threw "alleged" back to back aces. Did not actually witness them.

Titan count me in.

[Rob Breckenridge]

O Town with the Mayor, yeah Buddy!

[Matt Duquette]

I'm in.

[Titan_Bariloni]

Nice

[Titan_Bariloni]

http://www.specialolympicsma.org/about-us/quick-facts/


recently reading some pdga stuff and I like their new stance on partnering with X org to push the sport

I would love to stress the opportunity NEFA and DG has with pushing our relationship past just this one event into an across the board activity for all their programs to try

The numbers their org holds in just MA alone is growth nefa could not see in 20years

recent convos around here suggest DG needs to broaden their audience, I agree

This needs to be an org wide effort and not just a few volunteers, I understand we all have our own causes and time restraints but since I have been with nefa this is the biggest opportunity that has been presented and would make a huge impact on the org,sport and participants

also I find people that have such huge obstacles inlife to overcome appreciate the things most of us take for granted watching joy from someone when they sink a five foot putt is awesome, even if it takes ten tries...makes ya laugh a lil when you miss your own five footer. So many times I see rages over that missed five footer, time for our sport to keep that competitive aspect but bring back the FUN also

[Titan_Bariloni]

serious FU?N

[Rob Breckenridge]

Titan,
can you post ASAP what the two potential dates might be, I need to get that on my calendar pronto, space on weekends is quickly filling and I want to be sure to include this!

[Titan_Bariloni]

its a sat let me google the date will post later

[Titan_Bariloni]

Saturday June 6th@ Harvard University

[Rob Breckenridge]

Got it and can do!

[Bob Johnson]

I want to help with this also!

[Rob Breckenridge]

Nice Bob, let's see if we can round up a KDGC crew, trust me, this is a fantastic event!

[Rob Breckenridge]

Keene Disc GOlf Club discussed this at our monthly meeting, we will be rolling a crew down, not sure on #'s yet but a few of us for sure.

[Titan_Bariloni]

great news!

[Thomas Bentley]

I'm in if I can join the crew. I've got a rusty In-Step basket to bring if it can be of use. What time does it start/end? Thanks Titan!

[Matt DeAngelis]

I'm in if I can join the crew. I've got a rusty In-Step basket to bring if it can be of use. What time does it start/end? Thanks Titan!

If you don't want to use that rusty In-Step basket, I have two non-rusty Innova sports (personal) that you could bring with you to the event. NEFA also has three of the Innova traveler (Mesh portable) baskets which are at your disposal if needed.

[Titan_Bariloni]

Nice
Thanks

[Titan_Bariloni]

I'm in if I can join the crew.

also this is open to all to join just to clarify

been trying to get in contact with steve d for disc from vibram as gateway irritated me last year

[Titan_Bariloni]

working with Steve Dodge at Vibram for disc this year
Thanks to NEFA again for sponsoring this awesome cause

I am hoping to get DG integrated into the entire MA SO Org, there have been hurdles but things look promising

[Rob Breckenridge]

Vibram is a solid company, hope this partnership works out!

[Titan_Bariloni]

ok some thoughts,ideas

I feel we as DG'ers are not fully taking advantage of this opportunity of having a partnership with the Special Olympics

That is said not in the context of "getting something" from "doing something" rather we are doing it anyways lets maximize the opportunity while doing something positive to create an even bigger positive for both our sport and an org that really does give people an avenue to achieve personal goals through sports competitions and teamwork

This post is in no way chastising Nefa or any DG'ers, so please don't confuse the progression of this event/idea as negative but rather a positive on the evolution from conception to now

As with any org there is always political issues that must be sorted out with any idea
I will save the gory background and just leave it at those issues have been resolved over the years and I feel the current BOD and in recent years past BOD's get it, they really do and have overwhelmingly supported the event from volunteer support to always financial support.

In regards to the event and the people who have been from start to now have seen the progression on the SO side we have gone from literally sticks marking spots at 2 putting stations and a far away corner of the event, that was partially closed mid event to allow for a bigger attraction to have room(police convoy) to Now being in an enclosed multi million dollar field Jordan Field at Harvard U.

Really folks ponder how big that really is Disc Golf at Harvard U smack in the middle of one our nations oldest and biggest hubs Boston. DG is the biggest and has the largest following in regards to side events at these games now and the ORG thanks and recognize our efforts with inviting us back every year.

The issue with not being a medal event is, like any sporting org there are restrictions for events. All coaches must have a fair shot at teaching and training participants for a medal event and be given some advance notice to prepare.

This is where we as DG'ers are missing the mark. MA was the start of boom for the SO games as most any native to the area would know and the reasons why. You can google to refresh or learn.

That said we do not need to contact every State SO org to adapt DG as medal event across board. We need to get it into MA summer games and the rest will follow suit as MA is the trend setter even on a global level. Of course a trickle effect would take place and other States DG'ers would have to step up eventually to help with process. Would it not be cool as an ORG tohave started that trend?

So back to the point
We as New England DG'ers should be reaching out to the teams that compete on a local level and integrating DG into those programs and once a majority is actively playing DG it will be a natural occurrence of DG becoming a medal event.

My proposal and solution.
It has been asked and pondered by many "what is nefa" we all reply with jokes,truths and the "to promote flying disc blah blah"
I understand Nefa does what they can in regards to course grants,competition,charity events and I am no means taking away from that. Its awesome the work many people do for their communities and DG as a whole

I have watched for years talks about youth involvement and other things Nefa can do to promote the sport.
The SO org has such a wide audience from youth to adults. It would also be nice to prove DG's model of anyone can play as often has been lost once you play seriously but in all reality DG can be played by almost anyone and have fun. Maybe just not up to what we think playing may be, as myself have fallen victim to naw not playing with those dudes for so me I am to awesome to reason even though I actually suck. I am glad I can play with anyone again and have fun and maybe teach them some basic rules/shots to help them have more fun.

I would propose a day or days where as an org we all throw small events at our local courses reaching out to local SO type orgs
even a small temp loop or shortened version of course...heck even putting(and this is just more general to reach our target audience and educate them on our sport)

Then I would propose as an ORG Nefa state reps all host one points event per state to help fundraise

I would then propose all state reps attend or send group to their respective states summer games for a day.

once we are more setup and have had more direct offseason contact with coaches around state we move forward getting DG as medal event

We allow for more resources to be pumped into the MA summer games as that would be first place IMO medal event would happen, maybe we donate the temp baskets needed with nefa/so flag on them and disc to get started for competition.
Send a group of volunteers to help transition/give feedback to the SO org so they can make some set of rules to determine victors. I suspect this would evolve to team, and solo competitions

Its a cause I think is worthy, its also very beneficial tour sport

This would have to be a thought out process and would take commitments and focus from BOD and reps

IMO its time for Nefa to go to the next level

discuss

[Titan_Bariloni]

pop up tent? arty? anyone?

[Matt DeAngelis]

Borderland is in discussion with the DCR to design and install a handicap accessible course loop at the park in a new area. Will be right up this ally and will hopefully foster growth in local SO org participation, leading to a larger goal of creating a medal event.

[Titan_Bariloni]

nice to hear Matt

I have some contacts w/I that area that may be of valuable help in design process