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 Special Olympics Virginia Powerlifting Invitational
Updated: 12/19/19
SONC athletes have been invited to participate in the Longwood Powerlifting Invitational on Saturday, February 15, 2020. This meet is hosted by Special Olympics Virginia and will be held at Longwood University located at 201 High Street, Farmville, VA 23909. If planning to attend, please fill out this online athlete and coach request form by Tuesday, January 21. More information about this event will be made available in January 2020.
The last big push for Special Olympics NC license plates from the NC DMV! Help and win prizes!
Updated: 1/10/20
The deadline has been extended to January 31 and this will determine if we can get license plates in 2020!
We need to collect 300 applications before the NC DMV will deliver the plates and while it may seem surprising, we are not there yet!
The next 50 people who submit an application will be in a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card (or another gift card if you don’t regularly use Amazon). Please note that we have done a drawing for another gift card from amongst all those who previously applied.
For local program coordinators and/or local committee members, submit 20 applications from your local program and receive a $50 Amazon card. We need your support and the key is outreach in your community. Email us if you are interested in tackling this over the next few weeks.
Not familiar with the license plate program? Learn more.
Significant change coming to local program email addresses
Updated: 1/21/20
As has been the case for some time now, each local program has been given an email address by SONC (for example, newhanover@sonc.net). Up to this point, that email address simply forwards to the coordinator’s personal or work email.
We had previously announced that the forwarding would stop on March 2. After further discussion, we will push this transition back to August 1.
If you are interested in going ahead and making this switch, please let your community resources director know.
Why make a change?
- There are several local programs that now have co-coordinators. With the forwarding function, those emails could only be forwarded to one person so the second coordinator was not receiving them. Now both individuals can log into this email account and view the exact same information with the exact same access.
- If a local program coordinator is suddenly indisposed, a committee member can take over correspondence easily.
- And if a coordinator suddenly wins the lottery and moves to Fiji (after hopefully making a donation to SONC!), the transition to a new coordinator will be seamless giving that new person immediate access to former emails.
- All email correspondence regarding the local Special Olympics program will be in one place!
We hope you agree that this is a positive move but we realize it is a big change. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your community resources director. Further notice and detailed instructions will be sent out prior to the March 1 implementation.
Time for Winter Sports Training including Cheerleading!
Updated: 1/15/20
The time has now come to gauge the activity across the state. All local programs are asked to submit their usual training rosters for all athletes and all sports training occurring during the winter season. This is separate from any state-level competition.
If your program offers cheerleading, these training rosters should also be included as they will be the beginnings of identifying athletes eligible to attend the SONC Cheerleading Tournament on March 21.
Cheerleading Individual and Team Registration Form
An email has gone to all local program coordinators with the usual detailed instructions.
GHIN Golf Handicap Updates
Updated: 1/13/20
The transition of all handicap indexes to the World Handicapping System (WHS) is complete. Athletes and coaches may now enter scores using the new GHIN login and posting process. See the golf webpage here for an up to date “How To Post Scores” guide. Further detailed information on the new changes will be sent out in the coming weeks directly to coaches and local coordinators. For questions, contact us at sports@sonc.net.
Buncombe County Western Swimming Invitational
Updated: 1/15/20
For those planning on attending the annual swimming invitational, we are excited to announce it will take place at the new aquatics center in Asheville on Saturday, April 4. A save the date and registration information is forthcoming and will be listed here when it is available, but for now please contact Karla Furnari with any questions about the event.
2020 Special Olympics Henderson County Cheerleading Invitational
Updated: 1/8/20
Henderson County is hosting a cheerleading invitational on Saturday, February 15! This invitational is open to any counties that wish to attend. Individual performance athletes as well as traditional and Unified teams, both small and large, are welcome to attend. This event will be held at West Henderson High School located at 3600 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28791. Registration is now open and will remain open until Tuesday, January 28. Registration and questions can be submitted to Paige Allen.
Finance Reminder
1/6/20
As we enter 2020 and your local program is receiving new donations, please remember to contact your Community Resource Director if you are in need of new deposit slips, stamps, or any other deposit-related materials. Local program coordinators are not permitted to order these items directly from Wells Fargo.
2020 Spring Games Call for Information
Updated: 1/6/20
As you begin to plan or attend Spring Games, please remember that all programs will be required to fill out the 2020 Spring Games survey. This survey will 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 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.
The Southeast U.S. Swimming Invitational will be here before we know it! With that said, our event this year coincides with the High Point Furniture Market. This market is the largest furnishings trade show in the world. Due to this, we are not able to secure any room blocks as in the past, so please look into booking your rooms soon! Additionally, this means that hotel rooms will be more expensive, so plan accordingly. All registration and housing information can be found on the Special Olympics Southeast U.S. Swimming Invitational page on our website. You can also find the hotels we have used in previous years on that web page, but feel free to reach out to any other hotels as needed.
