Saturday, August 27th / Annual athlete registration 11:00 – 13:30 hrs @ St. George’s Church

Programs starting 1st week in September include Bowling, Swimming & Floor Hockey.

R/M is hosting 1st Annual / FLOOR HOCKEY Ref training & Round Robin Tournament.
This is open to all B & C level teams – We have meeting rooms, 2 rinks & lunch included. Saturday & Sunday / November 19 & 20, 2005 – More details to follow $40 per team. This will be located @ Planet Ice & Agricultural Fair Grounds next door buildings. There is lots of free parking – easy access from Lougheed Highway and Albion Ferry. Medal presentation will be Sunday after the round robin tournament – more details to follow.

R/M is hosting 1st Annual / Swimming Meet / Sunday, February 26th, 2006 10:00 – 14:30 hrs.
There is a separate room rented for medal presentation – More details to follow / BYO Lunch. This will be located @ Maple Ridge Aquatics & Leisure Centre next to Zeller’s @ Haney Place Mall. There is lots of parking in the underground – easy access from Lougheed Highway & 224th Street.

We are very excited to have a new Special Olympics executive working with our athletes. We are in need of your help as the executive and potential volunteers for becoming trained as coaches / helpers. There is no cost for this, the training is usually 1 or 2 days depending on which course you take & what level you wish. The commitment is for one event of your choice during the season – usually fall / winter / spring – depending on the sport. Usually the athletes meet @ the venue for one session per week + occasional tournaments within that sport.

We do not usually have activity during the summer months except additional training & organizational stuff.

For the year 2005 / 2006 we offer swimming, bowling 5 & 10 pin, floor hockey & possibly curling / NEW for fall & winter.
We had for 2004 / 2005 two new additional sports soccer & softball which we intend to have again next spring 2006.

There has been some interest to again start up power lifting / NEW @ our leisure centre complex & new volunteers. Some of the volunteers stepping forward have been involved with Special Olympics in the past & are coming back.

Swimming – need more coaching volunteers / venue – leisure centre / Tuesday 17:45 – 19:00 hours.

Floor Hockey – need more coaching volunteers / Monday evening

Bowling 5 & 10 pin – need more helper volunteers / Ridge Meadow Bowling Alley – Thursday evening.

Curling & Power Lifting are new for this fall – need volunteers & venue commitment for fall & winter.

Soccer & Softball is spring only – need helpers & managers to assist with organizing the athletes.

There are several other sports available to our athletes, if your interested, just ask anyone. We can pass your volunteer time & interested athletes to one of our neighbor communities.

We hope to include the local Rotary and possibly other service clubs to assist with special requirements. We have been fortunate in the past to have the Athletic Association assist us with funding for sport activity. We need some new funding sources for some of the special needs of our athletes & could use your help. With the help of a few soap boxes on the street corners, signage and promotion, we will succeed & be brave together!

The most important commitment is your time to one event or help with one group of athletes – we will do the rest.

Please congratulate Shawna MASON for her coaching skills as she was chosen to be part of TEAM BC. For more information on the Brandon, Manitoba event www.slam.canoe.ca/CanadianSpecialOlympics/

Please note: we are approaching the local schools, service clubs and general public to step forward. We have 70 athletes @ the moment, but expect 100 + for the upcoming fall season / New Pirate theme! These athletes need some help & direction – you can be that person – you will be rewarded beyond your imagination.

Thank you for your help with this matter, appreciably yours.