Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!bu.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!157!3!Sheila.Fava From: Sheila.Fava@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Sheila Fava) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: sports desk report... Message-ID: <14845@bunker.UUCP> Date: 9 Oct 90 19:19:22 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Sheila.Fava@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:157/3 - Nerd's Nook, Rocky River OH Lines: 221 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 10992 Date: 10-01-90 (00:25) Subj: RE: SPORTS DESK REPORT... GREETS! Bill, Allow me to quote the letter you mailed on 01-Oct-90: BH> The city is Kingston, Ontario. It's just about 200 miles east of Toronto. They roll the sidewalks up around 9:00 pm here. SF> Ahhhh, Kingston...I didn't get that far East: just as far as Toronto to spec out the Can-Am Games site. The Games will be held next June 16-30 and I wanted to make sure the site was totally accessible (which it was) so that I could assure any questions about the site were answerable. You are right on the New York border, near Ottawa, eh? You are in a very strategic area (whether you know it or not) in that you would be able to attend the Can-Am Games and the Joint National Championships held in July, 1991, on Long Island, New York. I hope * both * the Games will be held back-to-back so that competing athletes (in both Games) will not experience a break in the training/competition schedule. SF> I will tell you I am calling from Las Vegas, Nevada and I am a SF> disABLED Competitive Sprint Swimmer who has competed in Canada SF> since 1985. BH> Remind me to pen up my killer guppies when your're in Toronto!! BH> SF> Remind me to be EXTRA-courteous to those KILLER guppies of yours. JKJKJK! SF> Nevada? Care about Sports for the disABLED? Surely you jest! BH> Hmmm... sounds familiar. SF> Yeah, Bill, the 'benign neglect' that the disABLED have suffered at the hands/hearts/minds of the AB -- has it -really- been on purpose? I think not...but what do you think? What do OTHERS think about this subject? How long has been the struggle for Civil Rights? A l-o-n-g time. The struggle for disABLED Civil Rights will be equally as long a time. How long was the Americans With disABILITIES Act (ADA) in the Government grist-mill? A l-o-n-g time...and there are -still- arguments over the wording of a Government Law. So, it's going to be an up-hill battle...the disABLED Civil Rights. SF> I began swimming as therapy and, after a year of swim therapy, the Doctor suggested that I swim competitively as well as therapeutically. This was 1983. BH> I've gotta get back to swimming myself at the local heated pool. It's located in a pallitive care hospital here. SF> Yep, the weather is going to get pukier and pukier but no matter WHAT the temperature outside is, the pool is indoors and the guts and determination will overcome the Procrastination Syndrome. The swimming you do now will increase your endurance, circulatory system and blood-pressure...not to mention self-esteem. If I sound like a recruiter: You are right. I am all in favour of Sports for the disABLED. BH> I look forward to meeting you face to face if I can get down there. SF> What a nift idea! You get a couple of your friends interested in sports...Coaching, Athletes, Volunteers -- the works! I will help you by supplying you with names, addresses and dates of com- petitions (both Canadian and American). SF> funding letters to Casinos, Hotels, Merchants and Companies, asking for funds that will allow me to travel to these competi- tions. You can do the same thing! There are Merchants and Companies in your area and surrounding area...and RESIDENTS who live in Kingston. Request a list of merchants (and their addresses) from the local Chamber of Commerce. Assign two of your buddies to get addresses of some important conglomerates (like a steel company or a Hydro Company) and write to them asking for funds. Write letters to the local newspaper. Speak to various Service Groups (like the Foresters) and tell them that you plan to beat the sox off the competition. BH> Fundraising for anything can been a pain. This city is a classic example. They support the able bodied sports but it's another story when it comes to disabled sports. Naaaa...they only THINK they support Sports for the ABLED! By writing letters and speaking in front of Service Organizations, you (and your associates) will CONVINCE them that a contribution toward beating the sox off the competition is -not only necessary- but it is _MANDATORY_! Sure...you think I think you have a Xerox machine in your living-room, don't you? Shuckins! In 1982, I started a -small- letter-writing campaign...and, for the most part, it has remained small. In 1985 and 1987 I had help writing letters. Where are they now? No guts...no glory! So, now I'm so 'street-wise' in the letter-writing category that I can copy the funding letters I wrote last year. Cheating? Nupe....smart..... SF> In order to know when these sports for the disABLED (all sports) SF> meets will be held, I became a member of the Sports f/t disABLED SF> organizations here in the States (National Wheelchair Athletic SF> Association, U.S. Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association and Paralyzed SF> Vets of America Auxiliary). I also belong to the Council on SF> Physical Fitness in British Columbia and Alberta. 1991 ==> Membership in the Physical Fitness Council of ONTARIO! BH> We get a letter from the Sports for the disabled people every so often and invitations to attend these games, but who has the money for hotels at $75.00 a night. The majority of competitions I've attended (both in Canada and the States) have been held at Universities (Edmonton, Calgary, Hofstra, Stanford, Univ. of Michigan and Minnesota) and Secondary Schools: (Nanaimo, Trail, Penticton, Phoenix, Tucson, Fresno). There were two competitions that I attended (and just for two days of my swim competition only) -- Richmond, British Columbia and San Jose, California -- where I was required to stay in a motel....for $12.50 per night. WHERE did you get this $75.00 a night price, anyway? That's prohibitive! The entry fee for TWO WEEKS of all-sports competition at the Universities (both Canadian and American) has been very nominal. When you consider the athlete is getting three good meals a day (and brown-bag lunches at the competition site), a social hour, BBQ, movie or dance (or all FOUR!) and a bedroom that includes a bunk-bed, a sink and a view of the courtyard BH> Oh, look out, the Feds have come up with this grand idea of taxing all but the food we eat, it's called the Goods and Services Tax. Most of us here in Canada call it the Gouge and Screw Tax. Right now it's stalled in our un-elected Senate while the Prime Minister tries to stack the Senate with Patronage appointees to tilt the senate's majority in his favour. Uh...Bill....have I missed something? What does G & S have to do with athletics? Will the disABLED Community suffer from this? I hope not. SF> Do not hold your breath waiting for this missive to end soon..... BH> So far so good!! SF> The name of my "Team" is "The Silver State Silver Streaks"..... SF> However, it can be shortened to "Streak". There are no facil- SF> lities or arrangements made in my metroplex for training the SF> disABLED athletes (or -potential- athletes). In order to find SF> out where the competitions are, I rely on the newsletters I SF> receive from the Sports Organizations I belong to. BH> There is a facility in the city of Toronto called variety Village. The money to build the facility was raised by the variety Club and a marathon swimmer named Vickey Keith. She got the Money for the pool they built by swimming incredible distances across the Great Lakes. Yet for all she did she did not get recognition from her home town that she deserved (she lived in Kingston, My home town). Kinda makes you think what kind of town I live in. SF> All towns are not like that, Bill. How about the amputee who attempted to walk across Canada (but died from cancer before the walk was finished)? How about Rick Hanson, the wheelchair athlete who has gone 'round the world in his wheelchair? I met Rick in Penticton last year. THOSE two disABLED people were recognized. And Vickey Keith? Did the Variety Club TRUMPET her accomplishment from the roof-tops? Did they (or someone) write letters to the newspapers? Did she have a Public Relations team? All this is needed -- in MANY endeavours -- or ultimate failure will be the outcome. Do you agree? SF> For years, Bill, I have advertised my adventures (and Ms-Adventures) SF> in the local paper. The other -potential- athletes are in the closet SF> or under the bed. I have had very little recognition -- except in SF> the (local <-- my addition) newspapers. BH> We did have a private effort here at one point but they really weren't top flight sportsters like yourself. I found that they are out to party more than seriously compete, as a result I traveled with another group from Kingston to another city once and avoided them like the plague. It seemed to have worked as I got a second place in I think it was the club throw. SF> TOP FLIGHT SPORTSTERS LIKE ME? == I would not consider myself a 'top-flight sportster'. I am competitive -- BUT I am not out for blood'n'guts. However: No pain...no gain. True, you will find the 'party animal' at ALL competitions. You will also find the athlete who follows the nutrition guidelines that the training books advocate. You will find the curfew violator as well as the athlete who keeps curfew til they are finished with their competitions and THEN parties. You will find the person who does not show up for the MANDATORY practices as well as the athlete who knows that practice will keep muscles toned and the spirit strong. Sure, they can be avoided. Who will meet with success? THE END of this missive! ---Sheila. ** HOST(ess): ABLED-Athlete Conference #72 ** -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!157!3!Sheila.Fava Internet: Sheila.Fava@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org