Decision making process - Approved July 14th, 2010

All, as I said in my  June 10th email, we will be reviewing and voting on a proposed decision making process at our monthly meeting July 14th.  Bob Uerz has documented a decision making process based on our discussions at the June 9th meeting which is posted at the above link and reproduced below:

SUMMARY OF BASIC ELEMENTS OF DECISION-MAKING FOR
THE CHITTENDEN DELEGATION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS VERMONT
 (PROPOSED JUNE 20, 2010)


Brief Description of Roles and Responsibilities of Delegation Coordinators, Coaches, Parents/Guardians, Caregivers, and Athletes

Delegation Coordinators are volunteers who take the responsibility to make sure that the delegation complies with requirements of Special Olympics Vermont. Delegation Coordinators work with SOVT, coaches, parents/guardians, caregivers, and athletes as well as other volunteers to address numerous organizational issues. Especially in the absence of other volunteer resources, they propose solutions to complex problems and their role is key in this new decision-making process.

Coaches are volunteers and must comply fully with the rules and regulations set out by Special Olympics Vermont and follow the Code of Conduct published by Special Olympics. Coaches should be focused on the safety of athletes while imparting to those athletes the spirit of sportsmanship and understanding of the rules and objective of the particular sport. In the course of working with athletes, they will educate parents/guardians and athletes about the approach they will employ and stress that each athlete commit to training and active participation.

Parents/Guardians can choose to be volunteers or not. The Delegation hopes that parents/guardians as well as caregivers will make an effort to understand the training requirements required for the sport their athlete wishes to participate in and support the coach in preparing their athlete for competition. We encourage all parents/guardians and caregivers to be actively involved with the Delegation.

Athletes are the reason why the Delegation and Special Olympics Vermont exists. The Delegation is and must remain athlete-centered. All volunteers with this program must work together to see the Delegation grow and flourish. Athletes must be encouraged to try their best and develop both a commitment to sportsmanship and making their best effort.  Athletes are expected to follow the Athletes Code of Conduct as published by Special Olympics.

Since without involvement in fund raising, the Delegation can not achieve its goals, we ask all volunteers and athletes to be directly involved in the fund raising efforts and ask each to think about how we can bring into the Delegation the resources we need to continue to grow!

Primary Communication Tool for Chittenden Delegation

At the present time and into the future, the Delegation will use computer-based technology to communicate critical information to all members of the Delegation. We ask all to sign up for the “Special Olympics Vermont Chittenden Delegation” google group which can automatically provide e-mail announcements directly to you. We will use these announcements to “warn” (announce upcoming discussion and action) on critically important issues facing the Delegation.  Delegation news will also be posted on the “Chittenden Coordinators Corner” weblog along with email announcements broadcast to the distribution list maintained by the coordinators.  The “SOVT Chittenden Calendar” will also be actively maintained.

Postcards will continue to be sent to athletes announcing the start of the respective seasons listing the practice days and times. 


Advanced Notice for Key Decisions

A 30-day notice or warning will be given to critical decisions by the Delegation so that all may actively participate in the decision making process. After proper warning, a vote by those present at the monthly meeting of the Delegation will determine a final decision if that decision is not in conflict with rules and regulations of Special Olympics Vermont.

Responsibilities of All Members of the Chittenden Delegation

It is the responsibility of all members of the Chittenden Delegation (whether they be athletes, parents/guardians, caregivers, coaches, or delegation coordinators) to be respectful and try to understand the challenges before us. We encourage all to think about all possible options in solving problems and understand the value of each others opinion. 

Proposed 2010 Chittenden budget for review and approval at the 7/14/2010 Program Meeting

All, as I said in my  June 10th email, we will be reviewing a proposed budget and fund raising plan at our monthly meeting July 14th. I have posted the first draft budget and fund raising plan on our google group.  If you haven't joined the google group, please do and then click on the links above.

Key to making the budget balance was adding stretch goals for individual contributions, corporate contributions and fund raising on the income side and cutting Team Bowling back to athletes only on the expense side as we did this year. 

Join Special Olympics Vermont Chittenden Delegation google group now!

If you are interested in viewing our financial reports, program plans, program policies and other information to be shared and policies to be reviewed, discussed and voted on at our program meetings, please consider joining the Special Olympics Vermont Chittenden Delegation google group.  You may join using you own email address and do not need a google email address.  You may join using the Google Group widget on the left of this blog or by visiting: http://groups.google.com/group/sovt-chittenden-delegation

2010 Golf Tournament August 10th at the Equinox

The 2010 Special Olympics Vermont Golf Tournament will be on Tuesday August 10th at the Equinox Golf Course in Manchester VT.  Our Chittenden program will not be offering golf but individual athletes may still sign up and participate in the tournament.  For more information visit: http://www.vtso.org/golf.php

Chittenden Program Meeting Wednesday June 9th, 7:00 PM

Where: Comfort Inn & Suites University Inn

Agenda:

• Decision making guidelines for the coming year
• Annual plan that includes program offering, coaching volunteers, fund raising plan, fund raising volunteers, budget 
• Warning process
• Voting process
• Brief minutes and record keeping (record of votes only)
• Change process
• Coaches authority
• Coordinators authority

• 2010 - 2011 proposal
• Proposed program 
• Proposed fund raising activities
• Proposed budget

• Summer Games Assessment- All
• Swimming/Bocce/Softball/Track&Field 

• National Games - July 18th - 23rd in Lincoln Nebraska  
• Chittenden athletes

• Fall Sports -
• Soccer - Competition planned for 9/25/10
• Individual bowling - Competition planned for 9/26/10

• Fund raising activities  
• Calcutta results -Net Income $8,201.00
• Spring Flower Sale results - Net Income $1,362.46
• 50/50 at Champlain Lanes - Net Income $1,500.00
• Champlain Lanes/Twin City Lanes Harley Raffle - Net Income $1,800.00
• Bluebird Tavern night 
• Bowl-A-Thon - Tenatively July 25th

• Grants
• IBM Community Grant - Dave
• Walmart grant - Received $250.00

•  Financial Status - Dave

Bluebird Tavern Community Night Wednesday June 2nd! Support Special Olympics Vermont

Wednesday nights are community night at the Bluebird Tavern.  This Wednesday, June 2nd is dedicated to Special Olympics Vermont and specifically to our Chittenden program!  Join us on Wednesday night for drinks or supper and support local organizations that are working to make Burlington such an awesome place to live!
10% of nightly sales go directed to the organization to help support their mission.