Frank DeFazio PER

Carl Gorman PER

Randy Wallace PER

By Frank Defazio III PER, State Chairman Special Olympics

On November 21^st & 22^nd , 2009, the Conn. Elks Assoc. sponsored and assisted in the Conn. Special Olympics volleyball completion and awards at the New Haven Sports Complex. This was for the 10^th consecutive year in a row.

The weekend turned out to be another great event with all the help and work of our volunteers. This was greatly appreciated by a thank you letter from the Conn. Special Olympic Assoc. They also wrote an impressive and heartwarming Press Release about how the Conn. Elks Assoc. has been working through out the state with charitable donations and volunteer work.

It also stated how the Connecticut Elks Association is a true friend of the Connecticut Special Olympics.

A welcome addition to the event on Saturday was a Soccer Shoot presentation run by Terry Ford PDD and Jim Sabio PDD. The competitors enjoyed kicking the soccer balls in through the goals in between the games.

I would like to thank the following:  from Hamden #2224 Phil Wilson and Carl Gorman for a great opening ceremony, Members of New Britain #957 for distributing lunch and keeping the competitors fed, Fairfield #2220 for registration of all competitors, our CEA Committees on Americanism, Drug Awareness, Public Relations and Scouting, our CEA President and State Officers for giving out awards and all of the Lodges and volunteers that helped make this a great event.

The breakdown of volunteers by district was:

The 2010 Special Olympics volleyball event will be held on November 20^th & 21^st at the New Haven Sports Complex.

 CENTRAL DISTRICT              PARTICIPANTS                                        EAST DISTRICT                  PARTICIPANTS

Hartford #19                                       0                                                       New London #360                          3

Middletown#771                                 5                                                       Putnam #574                                  3

Wallingford #1365                               21                                                    Willimantic #1311                           14

Windsor #2060                                    2                                                      Rockville #1359                              3

Glastonbury #2202                              0                                                      Danielson #1706                             1

Enfield #2222                                       2                                                      Westbrook #1784                            2

Hamden #2224                                    12                                                     Manchester #1893                          7

Wetherfield-Rocky Hill #2308              0                                                       Groton #2163                                  2

TOTAL:  5 OF 8 LODGES                 42                                                       TOTAL;   8 OF 8 LODGES                35

COASTAL DISTRICT                PARTICIPANTS                                          NORTHWEST DISTRICT      PARTICIPANTS

New Haven #25                                    0                                                        Meriden #35                                      0

Bridgeport #36                                      12                                                      Waterbury #265                                2

Danbury #120                                        5                                                        Torrington #372                                1

Derby #571                                            6                                                        Winsted #844                                   2

Stamford #899                                       25                                                      New Britain #957                              22

West Haven #1537                                0                                                        Naugatuck #967                                5

Milford #1589                                         11                                                      Bristol #1010                                     0

Branford #1939                                      0                                                        Southington #1669                           1

Fairfield #2220                                        12

TOTAL;   6 OF 9 LODGES                    71                                                       TOTAL;   6 OF 8 LODGES               33

                                                          TOTAL ----      181 VOLUNTEERS

SATURDAY        114                                                                        ELKS                141   (Sat & Sun)

SUNDAY               67                                                                        NON ELKS        40    (Sat & Sun)

Photographs from the Public Relations Committee!

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 Photographs from last years competition!

at the New Haven Athletic Center

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Click here to browse the photo gallery!

Click here for more photos from the Public Relations Committee!

Photograph courtesy of Chad Lyons, SOCT Photographer