Hello everyone,
We hope everyone is having a great week and enjoying their summer.
L.E.A.R.N. STARS GOLF TEAM: On June 10, Christopher Lacy and Eric Davis participated in the Nashville Classic Golf Tournament. This is an annual fund raiser for the State Special Olympics. They were teamed with local golf pros and played a 9 hole alternate stroke style of play. Eric and his partner shot a 57 and Christopher and his partner shot a 53. Next on the golf teams agenda is the West Tennessee Regional being held at the Forrest Hills Golf Course in Drummonds Tennessee. Amanda Amsler and Eric Davis will be playing in Skills Level I competition and Christopher Lacy and Tricia Lacy will be competing in partner 9 hole play level II.
POWER LIFTING and EXERCISE SESSIONS: Our Power Lifting Team is going to continue practicing two days a week(TBA), this is optional. We would also like to open this up for anyone who is interested in using the facility to get in shape, lose weight or for a light workout. The gym is equipped with two indoor racquetball courts (bring your own rackets and balls), weight machine, treadmill, stationary bikes and other equipment. Dave Salmonson will be working with our power lifters. We are open for anyone to volunteer to lead workout sessions. Contact Dave Davis at dave.davis@learntn.org if you are interested.
MOM'S FUZZY SLIPPERS NIGHT: We are planning a special "Ladies Night Only" just for the moms and grandmoms of children with special needs on Saturday, June 26th from 7-11pm at the home of Barb Porschakin. Our desire is to share, have some laughs and fun and connect on a deeper level. The only prerequisite for attending is that you must be the mother or grandmother of a child with special needs.
Bring your favorite drink (leaded or unleaded) and a finger food to share. No fashion statements tonight ladies!! Dress in comfy sweats or jammies and most importantly...wear your fuzzy slippers!!
***NOTE: To get an idea of how many we can expect and so we can provide you with directions to Barb's home, please email Sonya at sonya.craig@learntn.org if you are planning to attend. Hope to see you there!
JULY 4TH TAILGATING AND FIREWORKS PARTY: Bring your lawn chairs, games and a cooler with drinks and snacks and let's have a tailgating party! We will meet on July 4th at 6:30pm at the far end of the MTSU parking lot on Rutherford Blvd (across from Greek Row.) We'll hang out, play games and watch the fireworks together. We hope you'll join us for this fun time!
L.E.A.R.N. STARS FLAG FOOTBALL: This year our flag football season will kick off in July. We would like to invite all athletes who would like to participate in this year’s flag football program and their parents/guardians/caregivers to our Flag Football Orientation Meeting. The meeting will be on Saturday, July 10th in the gym at First Baptist Church (FBC) from 10:00am – 12:00pm. At this meeting we will demonstrate the sport, discuss some of the basic rules and regulations, what equipment we will be using, uniforms, our practice and game schedule for the season, and answer any questions you may have.
Last year, on our field at Sports Com, our STARS teams participated in weekly training practices in preparation for scrimmage games they played with other area Special Olympics teams. Our STARS team also joined other teams throughout the state and played three games at the Special Olympics State Flag Football Tournament. We had a great year and we are looking forward to the start of our new season.
At this meeting we will have registration forms available for you to complete and we will also give athletes a chance to practice some in-door drills. Also any one who is interested in volunteering as a coach or assistant coach, please plan to attend the meeting. We will have a form for you to complete and give you a Flag Football Rules handout. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact Tricia at tricia.lacy@learntn.org
CRAFT CLASSES: We will be having three craft classes on Thursday, July 15, 22 and 29 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm in our classroom at FBC. Carla, Tricia and Sonya will each lead the participants in creating a different craft project each night. The class is open to children and adults with special needs ages 10 and up. We are asking for a $5 donation to help cover the cost of materials for the three classes. This can be paid the first night of class. Because of space, we must limit the class size to 10 participants. If your child would like to participate, please email Sonya at sonya.craig@learntn.org to sign up.
PUPPETING CLASS: We will be having a puppeting class on five consecutive Thursdays from August 5th through September 2nd from 6:30pm - 8:00pm in our classroom at FBC.
Sharon Hay, First Baptist Church’s Minister to Children and Preschoolers and the director of the Puppets of Praise puppet team, along with the Puppets of Praise puppeteers will be leading a puppet class for LEARN! We will learn the basic skills of puppetry, make our own puppet, and learn a couple of puppet skits and songs to perform on September 2nd. Some of the skills we will learn include arm exercises and puppet aerobics, synchronizing the puppet’s mouth with the words, giving our puppet a personality and a voice and using gestures with the puppet. These skills can help us in our everyday lives by strengthening our arms; give us practice in working together and taking another’s perspective; and giving us a chance to be creative and have fun! We will limit our class size to 10 participants ages 10 and up. If you would like to sign up for this exciting new class, please email Sonya at sonya.craig@learntn.org
BEST BUDDIES COMES TO MURFREESBORO: Exciting News: MTSU will begin a Best Buddies Chapter in the fall of 2010 and will form a partnership with L.E.A.R.N.!
The Best Buddies College program provides one-to-one friendships and social opportunities between college students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Buddy pairs will maintain weekly contact via phone, email, letter, etc., and make two in-person visits per month (going out to eat, seeing a movie, shopping, playing video games, attending sporting events, etc.) There will also be social opportunities to have fun as a group such as picnics, dances and parties.
Best Buddies Mission is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Best Buddies was born when founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver recognized that people with Intellectual and developmental disabilities lacked opportunities to socialize with their non-disabled peers. Believing that friendship is key to building the self-esteem and essential to a happy and productive life, Anthony incorporated Best Buddies as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1989. Today, Best Buddies offers six programs: Best Buddies Middle Schools, Best Buddies High Schools, Best Buddies Colleges, Best Buddies Citizens, e-Buddies® and Best Buddies Jobs. For more information, you may visit www.bestbuddiestennessee.org
If you are interested in your child (aged 18 or over) beginning a friendship with a Best Buddy, or you would like more information, email Sonya at sonya.craig@learntn.org
Thank you,
Sonya Craig, Dave Davis, Tricia Lacy
