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July 28, 2016 |
TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE:
The Brown Family announces their retirement
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Norm, Holly, Brittany, Nick, Cathy & Tiffany |
Track A staging at the State Summer Games will not be the same next year as some familiar faces will be missing. Norm Brown and his family of helpers (wife Cathy and daughters Brittany, Tiffany & Holly) are retiring from the role on the management team.
20 YEARS! That's how long Norm Brown and his family have been volunteering with Special Olympics. They first got involved in 1996 in Nebraska, and when they moved to New Hampshire in 1998 they
volunteered at the State Summer Games and came back year after year. Eventually the Brown's took on Track A Staging, becoming part of the Summer Games management team.
"It is people like Norm and his family that are the backbone of Special Olympics," said Mary Conroy, President of SONH. "The Brown's not only said that they would take on the responsibility of staging hundreds of athletes at the largest venue of our Summer Games, but they also challenged themselves each and every year to make staging as efficient and fun as possible for our athletes."
Two things stand out for Norm when asked about what made their experience of volunteering with SONH so special. The first: "watching Tiffany and Brittany devote every bit of their attention and talent to these athletes and to the volunteers and coaches." It was that attention and talent that helped them to run Track A Staging so well over the years!
As for what else stands out in Norm's mind: "getting to know many volunteers that I believe are absolutely the best people in the world. We have known some very special people, doing very wonderful things to support Special Olympics."
Fellow Summer Games management team member and longtime SONH volunteer, Marty Gladu, had this to say about the Browns: "Over the years, they put their hearts and souls in trying to figure out how to make it smoother for the athletes and coaches"
As for what's next for Norm, he says it will include "being with family."
To the Browns: Thank you for your years of dedication, commitment and kindness. The Summer Games - and all of SONH will miss you!
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A BIG THANK YOU TO TD BANK BRANCHES IN NH!
 Over $16,000 was raised for Special Olympics New Hampshire this summer through a special campaign presented by TD Bank! Thank you to all of the TD Bank branches who invited our athletes to visit during the promotion, allowing us the opportunity to spend some time talking with customers and educating employees about Special Olympics New Hampshire! We value your ongoing support of our organization and look forward to next year's campaign!
A very special thank you to Kelley Gelinas from TD Bank who spearheaded the campaign in NH!
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Meet Officer Murray & A-Train:
Unified Golf Partners
On Tuesday, August 2nd, the State Golf Tournament will feature a pair
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f individuals who collectively have 63 years of experience with Special Olympics. Jason "A-Train" Kimball and his partner, Officer Mike Murray, will compete for the Manchester Special Olympics team in the Unified 18 Hole Alternate Shot Event.
Jason got involved with Special Olympics when he was only 8 years old. He competes in basketball, athletics, golf, softball and bowling, and has also participated in skiing and snowshoeing. His preferred events are bowling and basketball. He is also a Global Messenger, a role that he really enjoys. Being able to spread the word of the benefits of Special Olympics is a favorite and very proud memory of his. Jason says that "Special Olympics is a family, and everybody is accepted."
Jason's golf partner is Officer Mike Murray of the Merrimack Police Department. He has been involved with Special Olympics for 27 years, getting involved originally with the Torch Run. Over the years he has participated in three Final Legs, representing Law Enforcement and New Hampshire in China, South Korea and Nebraska. He was part of a caravan of law enforcement drivers who took the New Hampshire delegation to New Jersey in 2014 for the National Games. While there he volunteered for awards, an experience he says will get anyone hooked on Special Olympics. He enjoys the interaction with athletes and says that "Special Olympics is the best police therapy there is!"
Please wish A-Train and Officer Murray good luck, along with the other 160 athletes and partners, as they compete at the State Golf Tournament on Tuesday, August 2nd at Nippo Lake Golf Club in Barrington.
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CIRCLE K, IRVING OIL AND COCA-COLA ARE FUELING DREAMS
Don
 't forget to mark your calendars for Monday, August 1st! That's the first day that you can stop in to receive your cling by making a donation at any of
these locations or a participating Irving store.
Fueling Dreams Day is Saturday, August 27th from 10am-2pm. If you are a Local Program interested in getting involved with TSP Day, please contact Mary at
[email protected] or (603) 770-4055. If you are a member of Law Enforcement, please contact Chelsea at
[email protected] or (603) 624-1250 ext 42.
Thank you to Circle K, Irving and Coca-Cola for their continued support of the Fueling Dreams promotion.
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PROJECT UNIFY:
Meet Meghan Labelle
 In her freshman year of high school, Meghan Labelle watched a game of Unified Volleyball at her high school and realized that it was something she wanted to be involved with.
For the rest of her high school years, Meghan was a part of Project UNIFY and helped expand it to include basketball and soccer. She played on the NHIAA Unified Basketball and Volleyball teams, helping the Winnisquam High School volleyball team achieve three undefeated seasons!
 In looking back at her high school time, Meghan says that Project UNIFY at Winnisquam helped make her high school a better place, not only for the athletes, but also for the entire student body. Megan explained that Unified Sports teams don't happen without commitment and enthusiasm from the athletes and partners alike. Both groups are necessary to create an atmosphere that discourages bullying and disrespectful behavior and encourages positive interaction among all students.
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APPLEBEE'S PROMOTION IS UNDERWAY!
Police officers will don a different uniform to support Special Olympics New Hampshire at participating Applebee's locations!
Special Olympics New Hampshire is very excited to announce our 2016 partnership with Applebee's Restaurants for the annual Applebee's icon sales and Tip A Cop events! Icons will be sold to patrons at 14 Applebee's locations across the state from now until September 13! For a list of locations click here.
Please join us for a night out on the town while supporting SONH during one or more of the Tip a Cop events which will be scheduled throughout the promotion. At these events, Law Enforcement Torch Run volunteers will act as "Celebrity Servers" by greeting guests, serving food and drinks and working for "tips" while spreading awareness about SONH and Law Enforcement for Special Olympics. Everything they do will benefit the athletes of Special Olympics New Hampshire! Keep your eye out for the full Tip a Cop schedule to be released soon! If your agency is interested in taking part in a Tip a Cop night at a local Applebee's, please contact, Chelsea Gill at [email protected] or call (603) 624-1250 ext. 42.
A big thank you to Applebee's for their continued support and involvement with SONH!
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NEW FACES:
Meet Zack Medlock
We are excited to introduce you to Zack Medlock, our new Director of Programs! Zack brings years of teaching and athletic administration experience to his role at SONH. In his former job as the Athletic Director of Winnisquam Middle and High Schools, Zack was instrumental in introducing Project UNIFY to both schools.
We are thrilled to have Zack as a new member of our team. Please join us in welcoming him!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Nippo Lake Golf Club, Barrington
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Saturday, August 6th
Wheelock Park, Keene
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Monday, Aug. 8-Tuesday, Sept. 13th
Statewide
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Friday, Aug. 26-Sunday, Aug. 28th
Farmington, CT
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Saturday, October 1st
Andover
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| MISSION PARTNERS Special Olympics New Hampshire is grateful for the annual support of our Mission Partners who help bring our programs to life.
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