Program Manual

Special Olympics

Jack Harvey

The Special Olympics movement is about dignity, self-confidence, ability, and respect. There are more than 40,000 athletes in Texas who not only exemplify those qualities and many more, but are also outstanding and accomplished athletes. We invite our Brother Knights to attend upcoming Special Olympics Texas events and witness our athletes’ abilities and “can do” attitudes. Through this kind of involvement, people’s perceptions of those with intellectual disabilities can begin to be changed, hopefully leading toward more accepting and inclusive communities for all.

Words hurt and words matter. Words can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair and damaging to people with intellectual disabilities, and using “Special Olympics” in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs.

THE NEW “R” WORD
R-E-S-P-E-C-T

The word Retard hurts Special Olympics athletes, their families, and friends. Using the R-Word to describe people with intellectual disabilities or even using the R-Word in any manner is hurtful and disrespectful.

Volunteers
Volunteers are the lifeline of the Special Olympics program. Giving generously of time to help others will set the stage for a hopeful future. In answering the call for volunteers, we Knights need only do more of what we already do as individuals and councils—recruit more men and their families to our ranks to help with the growing needs around us. Visit our Web Site @ http://www.tkofcso.org for dates and locations of upcoming Competitions and Spring, Summer, and Fall games.

Unified Sports
Unified Sports is a program that combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to form sports teams for training and competition. Unified Sports dramatically increase inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities into the community by breaking down barriers that have historically kept these people apart.

Partnership Profile with Special Olympics
The Knights of Columbus Partnership Profile with Special Olympics (Form 4584) to be submitted by January 31) details our councils’ involvement – events attended, dollars contributed, man hours devoted to various Special Olympics competitions. Supreme Council awards a maximum of $9,000 annually to each Qualifying State Council.
To enhance participation from councils, an Awards Program was initiated for Diocesan and District Deputies to encourage the submission of Form 4584.To qualify for this award the District Deputy must have 100% of assigned Councils submit the 4584 (Page 13) with all indicating Activity by the January 31 due date.

Memorial Award
We recently announced the Charles ‘Chic’ O’Connor Annual Memorial Award. This award will recognize a Brother Knight for his exemplary contributions supporting Special Olympics in Texas. Criteria includes: leadership, volunteering, fund-raising, and community involvement.
Our first recipient was Brother Knight Bill Merrill and the second was Henry Gonzales, both from the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Charles ‘Chic’ O’Connor
October 9, 1919 – April 22, 2010

Chic was a proud and honored member of the Knights of Columbus since 1943. Chic was instrumental in starting Special Olympics in Gregg County (Longview). His involvement in Special Olympics began because of his daughter, Monica. The O’Connor family has been everything from timers, huggers, chaperones, pizza provider for the entire Gregg County delegation and area events.
Thanks to all for your continued support of Special Olympics… Be a Fan!

For information on upcoming Special Olympics events in your area, please
click on the following link, http://www.tkofcso.org/upcoming.htm