From the Desk of the CEO...
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If all goes well...we are targeting
Veteran's Day as our Grand Opening for the SHARE Center in West Sand Lake!! The SHARE Center will be integral to STRIDE’s continued growth and commitment to being a leader in the community and will allow us to address several existing needs. For this purpose, creating multi-purpose program rooms, a warrior and family lounge, and an adaptive fitness area in the Center will better meet our programming goals and expand our offerings.
STRIDE relies on over 350 skilled volunteers to coach our students and provide a safe environment for learning. Having a large space with athletic flooring and equipment, as well as audio, video and internet capabilities will allow STRIDE to train our volunteers both in sport specific coaching techniques, and to share the facility with like-minded organizations in our community for additional integrated educational programs.
The SHARE Center Warrior & Family Lounge will allow STRIDE to continue to provide support to our warriors, their families and the families of our youth participants. It will be a resource center and relaxing spot as you enter the building.
An adaptive fitness area in the gym will include 4 specific pieces of equipment, planned as part of the SHARE Center to help support the variety of STRIDE programs that are offered and to allow personal training for students with health compromised body types.
Our last step of the building and construction is installation of the elevator and finishing the lounge. We are on track and hope to see the Grand Opening kick off our journey to more exciting programs in our future!
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*ALL of our events and program dates are listed on the STRIDE Homepage calendar.
www.stride.org
Sunday, September 8:
Ride 4 STRIDE Motorcycle Ride sponsored by UPS
Wednesday, September 18 6 pm Better Together Social event for Volunteers
September 13- 15 - Kidtastic Nature Camp ( last weekend)
Thursday, September 19, 8:30 am Bake Sale @ 110 State Street 3rd floor sponsored by OSC Volunteer Team
Saturday, September 21 - NABA Visually Impaired Archery Day at SCORE
September 24 - Snowsport Trainers Meeting and BBQ
September 28 -
Veteran's Resource Fair at Chandler Young VFW, Nassau NY 10-1pm
September 30 -
Sowsport Coach Orientation @ SHARE Center 6 pm
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We have constant needs to keep our supplies replenished and the doors open with lights on! Feel free to drop by and bring us items we use on a continuous basis such as:
copy paper ;toilet paper and paper towels; cleaning supplies; Keurig coffee pods; upright vacuum; batteries, garbage bags-all sizes.
Additionally we still need a large
Tool Box filled with all purpose tools such as hammers, mallet; pliers, screw drivers; power driver; blades; wrenches, etc...
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Welcome New Fall Business Intern!
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Camille Pawlowski is a final year student at the University at Albany. Moving from Cleveland, Ohio in June 2018 to finish her degree in Communications and Leadership, she has found her calling in the non-profit community. Passionate about social change, Camille has worked with different non-profits, holding the position of Volunteer Coordinator and assisting in marketing for the Habitat for Humanity Capital District ReStore, and volunteering to plan and market events and complete projects with The Vegetable Project (Albany, NY). Upon graduating in May 2020, Camille aims to continue to work within the non-profit sector managing, organizing, and fundraising for organizations who's mission is to improve the lives and communities of others. With a special place in her heart for youth, she looks forward to using her experience and drive to contribute to the youth and veterans with STRIDE.
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Welcome Communications Intern, Nora Kipp
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Nora Kipp was born and raised in Hoosick Falls, NY. She is beginning her sophomore year at Siena College and is currently working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education with a minor in Writing and Communication. She is thrilled to be interning for STRIDE Adaptive Sports and cannot wait to get to work! From a very early age, Nora dreamed of pursuing a career in an English-related field and sharing her passion for writing with others. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, practicing photography, and traveling to foreign countries. She finds adventuring abroad rewarding because it allows her to be immersed in different cultures and experience the world from a new perspective. Presently, she has visited six countries and has plans to check many more destinations off her bucket list.
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STRIDE Early Snowsport Season Training Gearing up!!
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Believe it or not,
September 30 marks the start of our early season snowsport training and is a busy time at STRIDE; hundreds of volunteer coaches attend indoor training sessions before we welcome skiers and snowboarders for the opening weekends for our winter program. All our volunteer coaches attend 20 hours of trining training each year. We have an impressive crew of about 30 experienced/certified trainers who lead training clinics for their fellow instructors. In addition, we bring in trainers from the
Professional Ski Instructors of America & American Association of Snowboard Instructors to add a different perspective.
On
September 24, our trainers spend an evening reviewing our training clinic content and exploring tools that are available to help teach our students the best lesson possible. we kick off the season with an impressive roster of motivational speakers.
We are blessed to have some great trainers in the four adaptive Snowsport programs in four states - Jiminy Peak, MA; Catamount, NY; Ski Sundown, CT and Yawgoo Valley, RI who put a lot of energy into the creation of educational training sessions.
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WE NEED Volunteers for our swim program!
Join us September through November on Sunday mornings to help these athletes in the water!
We also need other sport volunteers...call us!
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Annual Military Boot Camp Weekend
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“An awesome weekend helping to give some military knowledge to the kids of
STRIDE Adaptive Sports
. “ said STRIDE Wounded Warrior, Gonzalo Duran. This photo is one that can speak a thousand words. Our veteran is surrounded with love, daughter by his side and campers all around in their uniforms provided by STRIDE; inside the new tents that were donated by PFC Dwyer Foundation. The annual Boot Camp Military weekend at our SCORE camp is a special trip, inviting new kids to participate each year in a military themed weekend for an adventurous educational endeavor. Veterans are given the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while mentoring children with special needs. They teach them military basics such as how to raise/lower a flag, marching in line, and salute. The group spends a day at Jiminy Peak's Adventure Course on the high ropes course and alpine coasters. Both mental and physical strength is tested and nothing feels better than being a witness to seeing a veteran and a child overcome their hesitations and conquer a fear. STRIDE Program Director, Megan Evans reflected on the weekend by saying, “This weekend is incredibly special for everyone involved. Hearing a veteran coach a child who is nervously approaching a zip line, telling him he can do it, all while knowing that he is apprehensive and dealing with his own anxiety as he approaches the same task - it is something that can’t be put into words. I stand in awe, get goosebumps, and can’t stop smiling.”
Thanks to Lansingburgh VFW for providing steak dinner for everyone; and also to Ella from The Pillow Project to create
personal comfort pillows.
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New Program for Volunteers! We're calling it....Better Together:
Wednesday, September 18
th
@ June Farms, 275 Parker Road, West Sand Lake, NY-
6pm
STRIDE owes so much to our volunteers that our gratitude and appreciation can’t be shown in just one appreciation event. We’d like to spread the love for all of our hardworking volunteers all year long. Quarterly, we’d like to provide you all with a chance to relax and socialize with other fellow volunteers in a variety of different ways to suit all the types of volunteers that help carry out our mission.
No strings attached.
Please join volunteers from all STRIDE programs and enjoy a drink and food on us... We are
better together
because of you.
The first 50
active
volunteers to RSVP get their first beverage and personal wood fire pizza, on us! Thereafter, while supplies last, free drink.
Email or call Megan to RSVP;
mevans@stride.org
518-598-1279
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What's Happening at STRIDE This Fall.....
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Swimming—
Sunday’s : 9/8– 11/10/19
Team/ Intermediate Swim : 9:30– 10:30 ( Ages 8—21
)
Participation in this hour of swim does not require team participation; intermediate swimmers welcome to improve skills. Stingray NY
Special Olympics
competitive swim program. To participate, athletes must be able to swim 25 yds. unassisted.
Beginner Swim:10:45- 11:15 am & 11:20- 11:50 am; Ages 5-21 yrs. F
ocus: sensory transition, basic instruction, and water safety.
Registration Begins 8/19/19 -Space is limited!
Participants are provided space in the program on a first come, first serve basis
.
Bowling—
Offered in 2 locations
Latham Spare Time - Saturdays 10am (9/7, 9/14, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/16, 11/23, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21)
East Greenbush Bowling Center : Saturdays 11am ( 10/19— 12/21/19)
Tennis —
SPORTIME Schenectady :2699 Curry Rd, Schenectady
Sunday’s 4:00– 5:00 pm (11/3- 3/29 ) Ages: 8– 21
Depending on the amount of participants, the program leader will divide the group in half
and alternate weeks of lessons.
Sled Hockey —
STRIDE’s Capital District Sled Warriors hold practices on weekends at the Albany County Hockey Facility ice rink throughout the season, with tournaments and games scheduled late winter and early spring. Equipment includes a uniform, helmet, neck guard, shoulder pads, gloves, elbow pads, shin guards, sled, and pick. It is recommended to have sturdy shoes or old ice hockey boots (without blades) to protect your feet. For more information on joining the team, please contact the STRIDE.
Where: Albany County Hockey Facility, 830 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
When: October – April on Sundays : 11- 12pm Practice Schedule dates listed on STRIDE Calendar
**If you are interested in trying this sport, you may join the team for the last 30 minutes of the first practice of every month.
Fall Golf, Learn to Dance , and Target Shooting Dates: TBA
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We would like to take this opportunity to thank this months contributors and the following groups, clubs and individuals for their financial and in-kind support. These contributions help make STRIDE adaptive programs possible:
Donors
Diane Albano
Robin Barker
Doug Bauer
Phil & Carolyn Bayly
Sharon Bellinson
Chelsea Belmonte
Kelly Bergmann
Cynthia Blair
Dwight Burnham
Gil Chorbajian
Joan Cusack
Elena del Peral
Sonya del Peral
Tracy DuShane
Jay and Deirdre Epstein
Jon& Tracy Flood
James & Laurie Furlong
Douglas Hajdin
Steve Hanagan
Joe Hart
Michelle Hirsch
Kathleen Jacobs
Roger and Rebecca Jensis
Maury Kestenbaum
Ottmar Klaas
Melissa Lachanski
Mary Loomba
Lenord Lukin
Mary Margret Lukin
Brian Mahar
Clem Marino
Julie & Tim Marion
Jamie & Patrick Masson
Mark Moran
William and Anne Newkirk
Thomas Niles
Sue Proskine
Brian Ralston
Kiersten Ralston
Andrew & Coleen Reiss
Don &Linda Reiss
Tonya Roloson
Courtney Rubin
Carl Sanner
Mary Sapp
Ken Secor
John Senter
Lauren Sirkin
Margaret Snelson
Adam & Renee South
Kayleigh Stumbaugh
Eileen & Frank Szepessy
William Telovsky
Mary Ellen & LJ Whitney
Kerrie & Rune Williams
Kim Wilson
Spencer Wohlers
Donald & Kathleen Witt
Mark Wyszomirski
Foundations and Funds
DSUSA
PFC Dwyer Foundation
The Christopher Dailey Foundation
The GE Foundation
Businesses
AllSquare Wealth Management
American National Insurance
Braverman & Greenspun Law Offices
CJM Wealth Advisors, Ltd.
Hannaford
Keeler BMW
Lavelle & Finn
Pioneer Bank
PJs Bar B-Q
Organizations
GE Veterans Network
Lansingburgh Veterans
The Isabelle School of Dance
Watervliet Baseball Camps, Inc.
In Memory of Sandra J. Mather
Dorothy Bouvier
Claudia Brady
Anita Ferrante
I.U.O.E. Local 478
Joyce Lemega
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