Our goal is to attract at least 100 seniors in each community that need a boost in getting started or continue on a path to improved quality of life by making fitness and health information available. So come join us and bring a friend for a day of fun, fitness and health educational activities. For dates and locations in your area, click here.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

    Virginia (Ginger) Grossetete; retired Social Service Manager for Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, Department of Senior Affairs, was recognized by Governor Johnson in conjunction with New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women as one of the top 10 Outstanding New Mexico Women for 2001. Founder and first Chair of the new Mexico Institute of Senior Center Directors, she worked to raise funding for the gaps in services to the needy and frail elderly. She was the first senior center supervisor hired by the City of Albuquerque for Palo Duro Senior Center in 1974. She volunteers not only for the New Mexico Senior Olympic Board of Directors (1992 to 2001), but also serves the New Mexico State Agency on Aging and the YWCA of the Middle Rio Grande.

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SENIOR OLYMPIC STATE GAMES IN LAS CRUCES

The Annual State Senior Olympic Games in Las Cruces saw many "Firsts" we can look back on. We can attribute many of these with the tremendous success of yet another successful Game.

This was the:  First time game management was able to compensate all 26 Event Managers with a small volunteer stipend for their hard work, time commitment and long endeavor to organize their sporting event; first time to have full time media support staff to have pre game publicity and profile senior athletes statewide for the media; first time we've seen a new look to the game medals and we didn't run out; first time we did not have the seniors wait in long lines for the parade of athletes; first time the Opening Ceremony incorporated a 5k competition; first time we have had an excess of 350 volunteers to assist in every aspect of the Games; first time the Games offered a variety of meal plans for athletes not staying in the dorms; first time to have a successful silent auction fundraiser; first time we receive a majority of positive game evaluations from athletes; first time the sport tables were properly staffed and equipped with game info; first time that this director is a Grandma; first time the local planning committee saw a board member jump in the swimming pool fully clothed; first time registrar office reported a low number of event inquiries; first time seniors received a free event shirt by participating in three health and fitness activities; first time Mandy was seen relaxed at Games because support team of A*VISTAS and City of Las Cruces Recreation staff came through to set up at all events.

The 2001 New Mexico Senior Olympic State Games will go on record to be the best organized event for my tenure as Executive Director. The memories are great, the working relationship with the community of Las Cruces will last a lifetime and we are ready to do it all over again in 2002.

The Game dates for next year are August 7-11, 2002. Calendar this now and make plans to be with us. The 2002 Games will be our qualifying year for the 2003 National Senior Games scheduled for Hampton Road, Virginia.

The 2001 State Game results and records are now available and will be officially adopted by the NMSO Board of Directors, September 20, 2001 at the annual meeting in Roswell.

Our plans now are to have more schedule info for the games on our web site for NMSO by early December and next year to have results posted on our web site during the Games.

I cannot go without saying thanks to our many sponsors, supporters and friends of Senior Olympics for being on the winning team and making our 2001 State Senior Olympics a giant success!

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Under Bonus and Open Events -- it is recommended we clarify that in order to sign up for an open/bonus event at State Games Such as the Triathlon or Co-ed 400 meter relay, an athlete needs to have PARTICIPATED in another event at locals before registering for an open/ bonus event at State Games.

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Carlsbad welcomes Mrs. Rosie Gonsalez as the new coordinator for Eddy County. Her area will encompass Carlsbad, Artesia, Loving, Hope, and Malaga. Rosie is employed by the City of Carlsbad Senior Program and Knows the job to fill the shoes of former coordinator,
Darlene Allen will not be easy. Seniors in Eddy County and NMSO wish to extend a great big thanks to Darlene Allen for her devoted THIRTEEN (!) years of hard work for coordinating, delegating driving, cheering and supporting all the Seniors from Eddy County. Darlene is former Senior Program Director for Southeast Community Action Corporation, the local sponsors of Senior Olympics. Darlene is now the Dietary Consultant for Landsun Home Incorporated in Carlsbad. Thank you Darlene for all the fond and fun experiences. Good luck and take good care!!

A huge "Thank You" to Tammy Barton, of Gallup, who will be stepping down as McKinley County's local coordinator. Tammy says her favorite part of the job was meeting people she would never normally get to know. She enjoys seeing them in public and saying "HI" to so many familiar faces. She says she has developed a deep respect and admiration for her over 50 crowd. "They are amazing!" They inspire her to always be active and competitive. She currently plays First Base for a Women's and a Co-Ed Softball Leagues in the Gallup area. She plans to stay active on the local Senior Olympic Board and remain actively involved in local games. 

Dan Vigil, local coordinator for Valencia County, has accepted a wonderful position as Assistant Track Coach with University of New Mexico. Wow! Way to go, Dan! He plans to volunteer at local games and continues to stop in his favorite Senior Centers and say "Hello".

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First Place

Al Becchetti - Photographer
"Race Walk"
l-r Ryszard Nawracki, Bart Young, Alex Burr

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Events Managers:
Most had high praise for the event managers, the chief concern being not enough volunteers to help them, or enough eyes and ears to see and hear all that was happening. 

Dealing with the Heat:
Several people asked if we could hold events earlier in the morning as afternoons and evenings are still pretty hot. Many requested more shade and chairs for almost all our outdoor events. 

Scheduling:
This brought up many comments, some requested a come and go style for singles competitions, this would allow athletes to compete and record their best efforts and receive awards at the end of the day, allowing greater flexibility to participate in more events. Others voiced a preference to have the medals awarded immediately after the competition, older athletes competing first and that the event managers have faster, more sophisticated equipment for timing and measuring. 

Information:
Many took advantage of the tables set up in the lobby of Corbett Center, those who came in late Tuesday night and had to start early Wednesday morning felt lost and disconnected. An excellent idea suggested we have an information table set up in Garcia Hall for our late night arrivals. The chief complaint about the Event Sports Table was that information kept "walking off", or there was no one to talk to when they had questions.

Communication:
Being able to hear and see in certain areas was also a concern, suggestions were made to use loud-speakers, at the track, and to repeat clearly and slowly the directions and information so all could hear and to make the lettering on the signs larger and more distinct in the Swimming and Air Gun areas. 

Volunteers:
According to your evaluations certain venues would be greatly improved with more volunteers or better trained volunteers. On the most part you rated volunteers very high. 

Facilities:
This was superior in most areas and less than perfect in others. Table Tennis area seeming too small, the Bowling lanes too "oily", road signs for long races seemed too far apart and sometimes not clear enough, and the hoops in Basketball Free Throw varied a great deal in quality for participants of the same age group.

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Eternal Flame

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SPRINT PCS DONATES PHONE TO SENIOR OLYMPIC GAMES

The Las Cruces Sprint Store opened in September, 1999 and is operated by Alamosa PCS Network Partner that was named the Sprint PCS Affiliate of the Year for 1999. Alamosa Holdings, Inc. is the largest Sprint PCS Network Partner providing Sprint PCS wireless mobility communications network services in the Southwestern, Northwestern and Midwestern United States. Alamosa has the exclusive right to provide digital wireless mobile communications network services under the Sprint PCS brand throughout its designated territory primarily located in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Wisconsin. 

Sprint operates the largest 100-percent digital, 100-percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the Nation's metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country.

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A SALUTE TO SUPER SENIORS
by Katherine Lynn

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Puppet Performers Promote Pyramid

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Friends of Senior Olympics:

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New Mexico was represented by 326 exceptional athletes who were able to attend, we brought home 115 medals and ranked 5th over all. Though official results are not yet completed, New Mexico has been credited with 38 Gold,36 Silver, and 41 Bronze.

Our own John Pino of Laguna, was honored as oldest athlete, receiving Gold in Archery. Anthony Denardis returned home after setting a new game record in the 200 and 800 meter run for the 90-94 age group. Anthony actually fell during one race, got up and still won Gold in his age group!

A change from the past in opening ceremonies allowed the athletes to sit inside instead of melt outside in the heat waiting to parade in. Bearing the New Mexico State flag for the new "Parade of States" were athletes Ann Toya, and June Decker.

The group travel arranged by the NMSO home office was very successful. We covered the bulk of the Game Time Schedule with two overlapping flights. The NSGA did not supply any shuttle service, so we felt it important to include a daily shuttle service to and from all events and meals as part of the group travel package.

NMSO staff and State Board Members also provided escorts who stayed with the athletes through their events, when needed, and made sure they were even able to get a nap between sporting events! Many of our group travelers stated it made their experience so enjoyable and stress
free they won't ever do it any other way! They said not having to worry about car rentals, traffic, and getting lost left them free to really focus and enjoy their competition. 

Mary C. DeSnoo of Albuquerque wrote about her experience at the games "...the (swimming) volunteers were very professional and made us feel welcome. The presentation of the awards was tasty and timely...Girl Scouts and Brownies in Uniform were most welcome and the chance for photo sessions was adhered to. Everyone agreed that this
was the best run meet they had ever attended...I do not know why the decision was made to have no (NSGA) shuttles." Mary said she was fortunate to have family with her.

New Mexico State Games in Las Cruces to be held August 9-11, 2002 will be New Mexico's qualifying year for the next National Senior Games to be held in May of 2003, in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This is the third year the National Games will be held on the east coast,(1991 in Syracuse, NY,
1999 in Orlando, FL.) It will bring together competitors from all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as many international athletes.

The Senior Olympics will be produced by the Hampton Roads Sports Commission. Jack Ankerson, Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Sports Commission states "The enthusiasm of our community, the support from our city governments, the military, the business community and senior organizations, as well as the pride we have as a region will surely make this a great experience for the athletes and their family members."

We will send a list of qualifiers to NSGA, they will contact you directly to register for Nationals. Make sure you keep your address current. Good luck to all!
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Farmington Senior Appreciation Days

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COLLECTORS CORNER

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New Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc.  PO Box 2690  Roswell, NM  88202-2690  505-623-5777

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