Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Larre’s Corner
They say that the cream rises to the top and even among special individuals, there are those that just rise above to soar just a little bit higher.
That is the case here. Just recently four Special Olympics Texas athletes from Northeast Tarrant County reached a bit further to complete required coursework in order to become public ambassadors for the organization and now carry the designation of Special Olympics Texas Global Messengers.
Billy Ray Glass, Jimmy Makowiecki, Theo Meier and Josh Altman, not only are still training and competing in their own competitive events for Special Olympic Texas, but now they are spending time sharing their own personal story and educating individuals in their communities about the mission, philosophy and benefits of Special Olympics.
Originally created as the Athletes for Outreach in 1988, the Global Messenger program changed its name in 1997 to the Sargent Shriver Special Olympics Global Messenger program to honor the organization’s chairman. This program provides opportunities to build awareness of the many accomplishments of Special Olympic athletes, as well as the impact that Special Olympics has on people with intellectual disabilities.
"These Athlete/Messengers are now able to take our message to anyone in any setting such as Civic Groups, Schools, Businesses, Volunteers, the General Public, and even Potential New Athletes" said Joel Maxwell, Fort Worth area program director. "We’ve even had Global Messengers speak to members of the Legislature at the state and national levels."
These new Messengers have already hit the ground running with their story. Just last week, Billy Ray Glass shared his story with more than 1,200 law enforcement officers from around the world at the International Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference at the Hilton Anatole hotel in Dallas. If your organization needs a speaker for one of their meetings, contact Program Director Joel Maxwell at 817-332-3433. I promise you it would be a meeting that your organization would never forget.
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They may have been out looking for bargains, but it isn’t like they aren’t going to travel in style to do so. Just a couple of weeks ago, members of the Colleyville Woman’s Club headed out to Canton for a First Monday shopping expedition.
Now don’t be thinking that this was a car caravan, or your basic bus trip. Oh no, not here. I have heard that this trip took place on a luxury touring bus complete with Mimosa’s and Bloody Marys! Now that is how one goes bargain hunting!
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