This page provides information for leadership volunteers across North Carolina to keep them informed of new resources and opportunities from SONC while also sharing regular reminders on practices and policies. Visit it regularly to stay informed!
2020 Local Program Plunge Call for Information
Are you planning a Polar Plunge in 2020? Are you interested in learning more about hosting one? Please fill out this form to let us know. SONC staff can help you plan, promote, and execute your event. Please contact Lauren Bruce with any Polar Plunge fundraising questions.
Social Media Policy
Ensure that your program is in compliance with SONC’s Social Media Policy! Here’s how:
Accredited sub-programs may have and maintain their own social media profiles, provided said social media profiles meet minimum brand guidelines as outlined below:
-Use the official accredited sub-program logo as the profile image.
-Follow Special Olympics naming conventions: “Special Olympics _____ County”
-Follow all Special Olympics language guidelines and graphics standards.
All sub-program social media profiles must have a Special Olympics North Carolina staff member with administrator access at all times. This policy will be applied retroactively to pre-existing pages. Learn how to add SONC as a Facebook administrator here.
Social media profiles include but are not limited to Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and Instagram accounts. All programs must be in compliance by Jan. 1, 2020. If you have any questions, please email Katie McGhee.
An important reminder about Publix
Publix is a tremendous supporter of Special Olympics in several states and their January campaign is about to kick off. If you have yet had athletes sign up to be at the Publix event in January at one of the nearly 50 stores across the state, do not delay!
Out of respect for the support Publix is providing at the chapter level, please note that local programs are asked to refrain from requesting additional funds from the stores. This is the same situation with Sheetz stores as Sheetz contributes thousands of dollars to SONC annually through a chapter relationship.
Show your spirit with a Special Olympics NC license plate from the NC DMV!
UPDATE: The deadline has been moved to December 16, 2019! Sign up for a distinctive Special Olympics North Carolina specialty license plate for your vehicle. The cost for the specialized license plate is $25, with $15 of each payment coming back to SONC. We need to collect 300 applications before the NC DMV will deliver the plates, so fill out your application today! It’s fast and easy to apply. Learn more.
Local Program accreditation due December 16
All local coordinators have now received an email with details regarding 2020 accreditation via email. Thank you to those that have already completed the process! Please remember that though not everyone will complete the accreditation form, all programs must submit a local program budget and VIK report. If you did not receive an accreditation email with instructions or have questions about completing this process, please reach out to Lauren Bruce or Lindsay Waldron. Accreditation will be due on Monday, December 16.
2020 Spring Games Call for Information
Though the holidays are here, we’re looking ahead to Spring Games! All programs will be required to fill out the 2020 Spring Games survey to help us create a master list of all Spring Games that we can share with donors and sponsors, help you recruit volunteers, and plan the best event yet! Please fill out this form by January 31, 2020. If you have any questions about Spring Games, you can always check out our brand new resource page or contact your Community Resource or Sport Director.
2020 Special Olympics Virginia Speed Skating Quota Requests
Updated: 12/3/19
The 2020 SOVA Speed Skating Invitational will be held February 15-16 at Chilled Ponds Ice Arena in Chesapeake, VA. Local programs are responsible for all costs associated with this event. On average, this event costs approximately $150 person. This cost includes registration fees, meals, and approximate transportation. Local programs must first get permission from their Community Resource Director before submitting quota. If approved and interested in attending, please fill out this quota request form by Tuesday, December 10, 2019. Please also view other notable dates for this event below:
December 10, 2019 – Quota requests submitted
December 23, 2019 – Tentative date for quota to be confirmed with SONC programs
January 14, 2020 – Registration due to SONC
Charlotte Hornets Clinic gets moved back to 2020
Updated: 12/3/19
The Charlotte Hornets basketball clinic for SONC athletes previously scheduled for Monday, December 16, has been cancelled. The clinic will take place in 2020 on a date to be determined.
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Space is limited to a total of 80 athletes, so please take this into account when registering athletes. While registration slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, athletes that did not attend in January 2019 will be given priority. Local program coordinators are welcome to register as many athletes as you would like at this point and we will keep you informed of the total number of athletes you will be allowed to bring. The standard ratio of four athletes per one coach/chaperone will apply.
2020 Special Olympics North Carolina Winter Games – Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding
Updated: 12/3/19
Registration has now been collected for this state-level event. Detailed information will be shared out shortly as SONC prepares to host over one hundred athletes in Alpine skiing and snowboarding. If you have any questions, please contact sports@sonc.net.
MedFest Planning Made Simple
MedFest is an event that offers free sports physicals to new and returning athletes. Thanks to the help of East Carolina University’s Doctor of Nursing Program, SONC now has a complete interactive MedFest Planning Toolkit. This resource is broken up into three parts and provides all the tools needed to run a successful event.
Part One: Introduction – offers an introduction to MedFest and the importance of the event to communities across North Carolina
Part Two: Building the Team – reviews building a MedFest planning team in your community
Part Three: Planning Team Resources – provides detailed information related to each planning team role with included tools to support each team member
The toolkit can be found on the resources page under health and wellness. To learn more about MedFest and who is hosting one for their local program, visit the SONC MedFest page.
2020 SONC Cheerleading Tournament Date
Updated 12/5/19
The date has been set for the 2020 SONC Cheerleading Tournament. This tournament will be held on Saturday, March 21, in Mocksville! Training rosters will be collected in early January. Please click here to view the registration timeline.
2020 Special Olympics Southeast U.S. Regional Swimming Invitational
Updated: 10/1/19
The date has been set for the 2020 Special Olympics Southeast U.S. Swimming Invitational! The event will be held on Sunday, April 26, in Greensboro, NC.
Kohl’s Stores Offering Volunteer Support and Donation
Here is an opportunity to recruit volunteers and raise money!
For a 3 hour shift, local Kohl’s employees can help at your event (with set-up/take-down, check in, event assistance) or practices (set-up/take-down, greet athletes, assist with coaches). If you are able to get 5 Kohl’s volunteers to come out your program can receive a $500 donation. If you are interested please complete this Kohl’s Volunteer request form. We will post the event on the appropriate site and make the first call to the local store. We will provide contact information for you to follow-up. If you have any questions, contact volunteers@sonc.net.
