Functional Area Lead Team Members: Kirk Miles- VP Competition, Ceremonies, & Events Ashley Collier – Sr. Director

1. 2009 World Winter Games PDL: Family Services • Functional Area Lead Team Members: • Kirk Miles- VP Competition, Ceremonies, & Events • Ashley Collier – Sr. Director of Delegation & Family Services • Carrie Leavitt – Director of Family Services I. Plan II. Do III. Learn • Key Interfaces: • Special Olympics International • ViewPoint Technology • GOC FA’s with emphasis on Delegation Services, Accommodations, Transportation, and Volunteer Services. • Delegation Family Coordinator/HOD from each delegation • Successes: • On-line registration provided to 1452 family members from 40 different countries. • Airport greeting provided for each family member in attendance by VS volunteers manning a welcome desk at the airport. • Development of an outstanding Family Welcome Center located in downtown Boise, very near focal point of the games that had an outstanding decoration and had a ski-lodge atmosphere while providing great information service capabilities. • Family Ambassador Program where each family had a local family assigned to provide support and assistance to them during the duration of their attendance at the games. • Worked with SOI to provide a screening of award winning “Praying with Lior” attended by the star Lior and his brother Yoni. • Family Lounges combined with VIP lounges at each Competition Venue with trained volunteers. • Worked with SOI to develop Educational Sessions and Family “Teas” for attending family members. • Provide a Family Night at Special Olympics Town during the games. • Provided each family member with an outstanding and high value gift bag. • Smooth and efficient delivery of games credentials for each family member was accomplished at the FWC • Provided an internet café at the FWC. • Provided a children’s play area at FWC. • Snacks and beverages were plentiful at FWC. • Provided a quiet social and relaxation area at FWC. • Outstanding Family Dinner and Reception provided for all Family Members prior to Closing Ceremony. • Challenges: • Finding enough Family Ambassadors with appropriate language skill needed for visiting family members. • Developing a warm, friendly Family Welcome Center and support services with a limited budget. • Working with transportation department on level of service needed to meet objectives of Family Services Department when Transportation was working under severe budget constraints. • Key Learnings: • Combining the family lounges and VIP lounges provide an opportunity for family members and VIP’s to interact and share experiences. This should be continued. • Sponsorship from a rental company was critical in decorating the DWC in an outstanding and welcoming fashion. The company provided sofa’s, love seats, chairs, computer desks, refrigerator, lamps, end tables, coffee tables, tv’s, etc. • Decorating Commissioner was key in gathering old skis, snowshoes, ice skates, sleds, trees, garland, pillows, lanterns, stars, and other decorations that provided the feel of a ski lodge and made you feel like you had walked into your home away from home. • Family Welcome Center at the airport was crucial to success of Family Services. • Recommendations: • Continue to combine family lounges and VIP lounges at competition venues. • SOI should provide family registration system as part of their support to each GOC. • Improve communication & coordination between SOI and GOC on development of Family programming and activities. • Involve the local program family coordinator with the planning of the Family Services activities and programs. • Provide an incentive to each program to encourage appointment of a family coordinator to communicate with the GOC (free travel, discounted travel, room, etc.) • Overview/Purpose: • To highlight and celebrate the experience of family members of Special Olympics athletes attending the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Idaho. To provide a safe and inviting environment for visiting family members to best enjoy the sport competition as well as the variety of opportunities this event provides. • To promote the interaction of families visiting Idaho with local residents and strengthen the global family support network. • To increase public awareness and knowledge about Intellectual disabilities and closely-related developmental disabilities through a world-class sporting event while celebrating athlete accomplishments and the Special Olympics movement. • Goals & Objectives: • To provide accurate, timely and complete Games information in a format that both U.S. and international families can easily identify and. understand • To provide a safe and hospitable environment at all family venues (non-competition) and ceremonies where families feel welcome, are recognized, and can enjoy all aspects of the Games. • To offer opportunities for U.S. and international family members to interact with each other, providing a cultural exchange that will enrich the lives of all involved. • Through a coordinated team effort, provide an atmosphere befitting a world-class, international sporting event that highlights the family experience in such a manner that they are provided special opportunities and experiences not available to general spectators and volunteers. • To provide a strong family legacy program to Special Olympics Idaho that can be easily implemented into its present and future family programs. • Key Responsibilities: • Provide thorough and efficient services to all registered family members of athletes attending the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Idaho. • Educate family members about parameters of family services in a timely and effective manner. • Distribute, track and maintain family registration data. • Provide assistance to family members prior to and during the Games. • Organize and staff Main Family Center/Family Lounges to assist families during the 2009 World Games. • Provide reserved seating (where possible) at all competition venues as well as accommodate families needs to photograph athletes during awards ceremonies. • Legacy: • To provide Idaho with an increased awareness of and public sensitivity to the unique relationship between a Special Olympics athlete and his/her family. This relationship is often overlooked in the media because of the close athlete/coach relationship. An awareness of the family commitment to Special Olympics can add depth to the athlete/coach relationship. • To provide an increased interest in Special Olympics family specific programs. Through the positive highlighting of the family experience, other Idaho families will see that they are not alone in their efforts to see their athletes excel. • To develop a union between Idaho families and Special Olympic Families from all over the world. Through these relationships, families will be inspired to foster personal friendships that will lead to increased understanding of cultures and further support community participation in Special Olympics around the globe • Schedules/Timelines: • FAMILY SERVICES SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS • More detail information about some activities follows the schedule of events. • 1-7 FEBRUARY 2009 • Families Arrive: • Families flying to Boise may be greeted at the Boise Airport By Family Ambassadors • All family members should go to the Main Family Center to check in, regardless of transportation used to arrive in Boise • Family Services Welcome Desk Airport • Location: at the bottom of the escalator after leaving the secure area of the airport • Hours 06:00 – 24:00 for families to receive information upon arrival at the Boise Airport • Main Family Center: • Location: 404 S. 8th Street Suite 170, Boise, Idaho • Hours 08:00 –20:30 • Pickup Credentials, Welcome Packet, Handbook, Welcome Gift • Enjoy a Refreshment • Obtain information about transportation, venues, schedules, etc. • 7 FEBRUARY 2009 • Opening Ceremonies 14:00 @ Idaho Center,16200 S. Can-Ada Road, Nampa, Idaho • Catch Shuttle at shuttle pick up to Opening Ceremonies (check times and pickup location in handbook) • Seating provided in the Family Section for Opening Ceremonies • Families going to Sun Valley or McCall will catch bus at Main Family Center (check times and pick up in handbook) • 8 FEBRUARY 2009 • Competitions begin at each venue • Families catch shuttles or bus to venues • Main Family Center Hours 08:00 – 21:00 • Family Lounges at Competition Venues open during competition hours • Special Olympic Festival: Boise, 11:00 – 17:00 • 9 FEBRUARY 2009 • Competitions at each venue • Family Lounges at Competition Venues open during competition hours • Families catch shuttles or bus to venues • Main Family Center Hours 08:00 – 21:00 • Family Education Sessions - Topic: Siblings: Younger &/or older roles • Boise, Floor Hockey/Expo Idaho 12:00 – 13:00 • Sun Valley, Cross Country/Sun Valley Resort, 12:00 – 13:00 • Family Lounges at Competition Venues open during competition hours • Special Olympic Festival: Boise, 16:00 - 21:00 • 10 FEBRUARY 2009 • Competitions at each venue • Families catch shuttles or bus to venues • Family Lounges at Competition Venues open during competition hours • Main Family Center Hours 08:00 – 21:00 • Family Education Sessions - Topic: Family Support Network • Boise, Main Family Center, 12:00 – 13:00 • Sun Valley, Cross Country Skiing/Sun Valley Resort, 12:00 – 13:00 • Special Olympic Festival: Boise, 16:00 –21:00 • Family Night at Special Olympic Town: • Boise - Center on Grove, 850 Front Street, Boise, Idaho, 16:00 – 21:00 • Sun Valley – YMCA, 101Saddle Road, Ketchum, Idaho, 16:00 – 21:00 • McCall - Shore Lodge, 501 W. Lake Street, McCall, Idaho, 16:00 – 21:00 • 11 FEBRUARY 2009 • Competitions at each venue • Families catch shuttles or bus to venue • Family Lounges at Competition Venues open during competition hours • Main Family Center Hours 08:00 – 21:00 • Family Education Sessions - Topic: Healthy Athletes • Boise, Main Family Center, 405 S.8th Street Suite 170, 19:00 -20:00 • Special Olympic Festival: • McCall 16:00 – 21:00 • Sun Valley 16:00 – 21:00 • 12 FEBRUARY 2009 • Competitions at each venue • Families catch shuttles or bus to venue • Family Lounges at Competition Venues open during competition hours • Main Family Center Hours 08:00 – 21:00 • Family Education Session - Topic: Connecting with schools: Creating welcomingenvironments through Project Unify, 12:00 – 13:00, Floor Hockey/Expo Idaho, Boise • Special Olympic Festival: Sun Valley 16:00 – 21:00 • 13 FEBRUARY 2009 • Competitions at some venues; Family Lounges will only be open at these competition venues • Families catch shuttles or bus to venue • Main Family Center Hours 08:00 – 21:00