Bethlehem Special Olympics PO Box 536 Bethlehem, PA 18016-0536 Phone: 610-264-3616 www.bethlehemsopa.org

Craig Maurer - HOF 1

Mercedes Semler

Recognized 1

Car Show Planning 1

Volunteer Awards 2

Rhythmic Gymnasts

Shine 2

Hoagie Sale News 3

BSO Awards Picnic 4-5

Sports Camp Info 6

Training Schedule 7

Important Volunteer Info 2

Upcoming events 6

Inside this issue:

Remember to check the BSO website often for updates: www.bethlehemsopa.org

Volume 4, Issue 5

May 2012

BSO SPORTS NEW

SBSO SPO

RTS NEWS

BSO SPORTS NEW

SBSO SPO

RTS NEWS

Bethlehem Special Olympics Newsletter

Have news or photos to be published in the Newsletter?

Send info to Mark Cole at

mjcole@rcn.com

BSO Athlete Selected for SOPA Hall of Fame

Craig Maurer is going to be inducted in the SOPA

Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Philadelphia on May

16, 2012. He is one of only four athletes chosen from

across the state of Pennsylvania to be honored this

year. Craig joined with Bethlehem Special Olympics

more than 20 years ago. He trains in swimming, ar-

tistic gymnastics and powerlifting. He has competed

in powerlifting events outside of Special Olympics

with the Twin City Powerlifting team. Craig was a

member of the 1999 World Games team competing in

gymnastics in New Haven,CT, and he also competed

in powerlifting at the 2011 World Games

in Athens Greece. Craig also competed in gymnastics

at the 2006 National Games in Ames, Iowa where he

was the most decorated athlete in the Team PA delegation. Craig has participated

in many BSO fundraisers, and manages the cell phone collection and recycling

fundraiser for BSO that was started by his father. Outside of Special Olympics,

Craig works as a custodian at the Federal Building in Allentown. The SOPA Hall of

Fame honors athletes and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions both

on and off the field of competition. The dual purpose of this prestigious event is to

raise public awareness about the talents of our athletes and raise the funds necessary

to sustain the incredible growth of the Special Olympics movement here

in Pennsylvania. CONGRATULATIONS CRAIG!

Congratulations to Award Winner Mercedes Semler !

BSO swimmer Mercedes Semler received one of the Bishop’s

Scholar Society Awards and a scholarship from the Bishop of

the Allentown Diocese. The scholarship recipients were

selected based on their academic achievement, their school,

parish and community activities, leadership roles and

recommendations from their principal, teacher and pastor.

Each of the three learning centers of the diocese had a

recipient chosen as well as numerous students attending each

of the diocesan high schools. Mercedes was the recipient

for Mercy Special Learning Center in Allentown.

CONGRATULATIONS MERCEDES!

3rd Annual BSO Car Show - Planning Meeting

Initial Car Show Planning Committee meeting, Wednesday, May 30, 6:30 PM, BSO

Office, 894 Marcon Blvd. Bring your ideas to make this year’s car show the best

ever! Contact Ashley Amato, 484-903-7185 for more information.

Volunteer Awards Honor BSO

Bowling coaches Sue Reddinger and Dawn Urban were honored at

the Lehigh Valley Volunteer Center Breakfast for Champions during

volunteer week. Sue and Dawn have coached bowling for many years

and have helped out coaching several other sports. They are also

members of the BSO Booster club and have helped to coordinate sev-

eral fund raisers. Also honored at the breakfast as the Sandie Kelly

Youth Volunteer was BSO swimming volunteer Junru Guo for her

extensive volunteer work at the hospital and across the community, as

well as her academic achievements.

CONGRATULATIONS VOLUNTEERS!

Rhythm Gymnasts Shine at Exhibition

March 24th was a great day at the Fairgrounds Mall in Reading, PA with

five of our Rhythmic athletes. The Berks Gymnastics Team runs a fund-

raiser for BSO every year and these young ladies performed a demo of

some of their routines, which was well received. Amanda Reiss, Dedra

Sobol, Amanda Knauss, Joleen Kocher & Kathleen Dezubay were so

awesome & were in perfect time with their routines. Rhythmic Girls

ROCK!!

From Coach Rose Ann & Coach Dolores

Smiling Faces from Competitions ☺☺☺☺

Bethlehem Special Olympics – Spring Hoagie Fundraiser Sale

♦ To participate, use the order form on the following page to take orders and collect payment. Copies

are acceptable for more orders.

♦ All Hoagies are $4.00

♦ Orders and money must be turned in to Donna Boyle, Sue Reddinger or Dawn Urban by Tuesday

May 15. Donna will attend basketball practice on Monday May 14 and Sue will be at aquatics

practice on Tuesday May 15 to collect the orders. Contact Sue if you need to make other

arrangements to turn in order forms.

♦ You must pick up your hoagie order on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM at

the athletic entrance of Liberty High School. Please bring a cooler with you to the pick up

location to ensure the sandwiches stay cold.

♦ For more information, contact Sue Reddinger at 484-554-1191.

This hoagie sale is sponsored by the BSO Booster Club. The BSO Booster Club meets the 3rd Thursday of

each month at 7 PM at Valley Family Restaurant on Easton Ave. The Booster Club conducts activities that

support our sports program and the overall fundraising plan, and is open to anyone who would like to

participate. Note: The next Booster Club meeting is Thursday, May 10 at 7 PM instead of the

normal 3rd Thursday.

BSO Athlete/Volunteer Name:

Bethlehem Special Olympics – Spring Hoagie Fundraiser Sale ALL are 8-inch hoagies and cost $4.00 each. Delivery will be after May 22th. (Pickup is Tuesday evening May 22).

Money and orders are due to Sue Reddinger, Donna Boyle, or Dawn Urban before Tuesday, May 15.

Saturday, June 16, 2012 – RAIN OR SHINE! Southeast Park, Lower Saucon Township,

2675 Wassergrass Rd., Hellertown, PA 18055 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM - Music, sharing, Sports Fest and fun, including demonstrations of: - Volleyball - Soccer - Softball - Bocce - Golf - others??? - Long Distance Running/Walking 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Dinner and Awards Ceremony 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM – More sports and fun This year’s picnic is being catered! Menu includes roasted chicken, flame broiled hamburgers, grilled hot dogs, potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans, and other delicious picnic food!

Cost: Athletes, coaches, volunteers: FREE! Family & Friends: Adults $10 Ages 6 – 12 $5 Ages 5 & under Free Bring your own lawn chair (if you like to sit outside the pavilion), yard games (Frisbees, etc.), and

your family for a day of fun!

RSVP by Friday, June 1 using the form on the next page.

Directions to Lower Saucon Park from Route 412 & I 78: Take Rt. 412 South (Main Street, Hellertown). Approximately 1.3 miles south of the I-78 interchange, turn left onto E. Water Street. Go 0.2 miles, and turn RIGHT onto RENTZHEIMER DR.(just past DELAWARE AVE). Go 0.8 miles and turn LEFT onto DURHAM ST. DURHAM ST becomes WASSERGASS RD. Take the left fork at Reservoir Road, and stay on WASSERGASS RD approx. 3 miles to the park on the left.

For questions and any other information, contact Maria Talavera, BSO Family Coordinator, at 610-866-0127.

Still Time for NominationsStill Time for NominationsStill Time for NominationsStill Time for Nominations

Nominations for BSO Award recipients are due to Alice Moat

(manager@BethlehemSOPA.org, or call 610-264-3616) by TUESDAY, MAY 15,

2012.

Here are the award categories:

1. Don Eber Volunteer Award

2. Deb Kohl / Dan Morrison Coach of the Year Award

3. Gerry Miller Parent Volunteer Award

4. Athlete Hall of Fame Award 5. Kelly Frankenfield Athlete Spirit Award

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!MARK YOUR CALENDARS!MARK YOUR CALENDARS!MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

UPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTS

May 5

Eastern Spring Sectional Competition at Kutztown University

May 6

BSO Gymnastics Invitational at Parkettes

May 19

BSO Aquatics Invitational at Liberty High School

May 22

Sports Camp applications for athletes and coaches due to Alice Moat

June 7 - 9

SOPA State Summer Games, Penn State University.

June 16

BSO Awards Picnic

August 13

Stefano’s Golf Tournament

September 29

Run with Rotary — 5K/10k WALK/RUN

October 21

3rd Annual BSO Car Show

Weekends in October

Save the Dates - The Haunted Woods in Zionsville

(volunteers needed - 50% proceeds go to BSO)

Still Looking for a Few Coaches for Sports Camp

More athletes than ever are interested in attending Special Olympics Multi-Sports training camp August 12-

18, but our athletes will not be able to go without out additional coaches. Currently we need two additional

male coaches, and one additional female coach to be able to take all interested athletes. If you are over 18

years old, and willing to work with Special Olympics athletes in a sports setting, please

contact AliceMoat,.manager@BethlehemSOPA.org, 610-264-3616 for more information or to sign up to

volunteer at camp.

SPORTS TRAINING SCHEDULE SPORTS TRAINING SCHEDULE SPORTS TRAINING SCHEDULE SPORTS TRAINING SCHEDULE

AQUATICS

Liberty High School Pool

1115 Linden Street, Beth

Tuesdays Jan 10 through June

ROOKIES 6:00 - 7:00 PM

ADVANCED 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Coach Jeanie Earich (610) 865-0876

Coach Fred Knauss (610) 264-0237

POWERLIFTING Freedom High School

Weightroom

3149 Chester Avenue, Beth.

Tuesdays, March 6th to May 22nd

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Coach Nick Theodorou (610) 258-1894

RYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

Asa Packer School

1650 Kenwood Drive, Beth.

Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM through June

Coach Rose Ann Reiss (610) 703-6136

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

Parkettes Center

401 Martin Luther King Drive,

Allentown

Thursdays, Jan 12 through June

7:30 - 8:30 PM

Coach Bob Berni (610) 346-6257

SOFTBALL

Nitschmann Middle School,

909 West Union Boulevard, Beth.

Starts Thursday, Feb 23

6:30—8:00 PM

Co-coaches Jorge Cancel and Hilda Cerrato

hildacerrato@hotmail.com

(484) 478-2203

GOLF

Bethlehem Executive 9 Hole

Course

400 Illicks Mill Road, Beth.

Starts Sunday, April 1, 2:00 PM (weather

permitting). Practice Sundays at 2:00 PM and

Wednesdays at 5:00 PM

Coach Ron Lewis (610) 759-6837

BOWLING

Town and Country Lanes

1770 Stefko Blvd. Beth.

Starts Wednesday, Jan 16th

Coach Sue Reddinger (484) 554-1191

BASKETBALL Northeast Middle School

1170 Fernwood Street, Beth.

Starts Monday, Jan 23rd

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Coach Bonne Kuronya (610) 861-7347

Start Dates, Times, Locations subject to change. Please contact coach to confirm your Start Dates, Times, Locations subject to change. Please contact coach to confirm your Start Dates, Times, Locations subject to change. Please contact coach to confirm your Start Dates, Times, Locations subject to change. Please contact coach to confirm your

participation and that the information has not changed prior to listed start date.participation and that the information has not changed prior to listed start date.participation and that the information has not changed prior to listed start date.participation and that the information has not changed prior to listed start date.

♦ Roller Skating – practice dates to be announced – contact Kim VanBuskirk if interested (484) 646-3604

♦ Saturday, May 19th @ Skateaway Bethlehem -- 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

♦ Sunday, June 3rd @ Skateaway Whitehall -- 11:00 am – 12:45 pm

♦ Saturday, June 30th @ Skateaway Bethlehem -- 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

years old, and willing to work with Special Olympics athletes in a sports setting, please

SPECIAL OLYMPICS OATH

Let me win, but if I cannot win,

Let me be brave in the attempt!

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and

adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special

Olympics athletes and the community.

Created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation.Created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation.Created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation.Created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation.

Authorized and Accredited by Special Olympics International for Authorized and Accredited by Special Olympics International for Authorized and Accredited by Special Olympics International for Authorized and Accredited by Special Olympics International for the Benefit of Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities

the Benefit of Citizens with Intellectual Disabilitiesthe Benefit of Citizens with Intellectual Disabilitiesthe Benefit of Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities

Bethlehem Special Olympics

PO Box 536

Bethlehem, PA 18016-0536

NON-PROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-9652

PERMIT NO 492

PO Box 536

Bethlehem, PA 18016

MAIL TO: CURRENT RESIDENT OR