Torchbearer Invitation from Anne Bethune
Dear Friends
As many of you know I am a torch bearer in the Paralympic Torch Relay with thanks to Coca Cola!
My leg of the relay will be this coming Thursday, March 11th sometime between 3:00PM – 4:30 PM on/near Robson Street, downtown Vancouver. I will be given an exact time/location the day before and I will try to send out a follow-up email – it will also be posted on the VASS website – www.vass.ca.
For anybody who is coming out to support this (thank you!), we will be meeting afterwards at Cafe Barcelona (1049 Granville St @ Nelson) to celebrate ~ 6:00 PMish. Come meet my Mom!
The magnitude of this once-in-a-lifetime experience is yet to come I am sure – but I am completely honoured to be carrying the torch on behalf of VASS and all the people I have been blessed to know and been inspired by over the years in my work/volunteer involvements. Among other good things, this flame represents the light within us to be the best that we can be regardless of our abilities.
I hope you will support the Paralympics by going to some events. Below is a link to a short video produced by the International Paralympics Committee - http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/videos/spirit-in-motion_303972g174122-oy.html.
I’m proud to be a part of the Paralympics movement!
GO CANADA GO!
Anne
VASS Challenge Cup updates
First off – not much snow up there……..yes we know. We reviewed the situation with Grouse today and unless we get a big dump between now and next week it is unlikely we can hold the race in the usual format. We have decided to go ahead however and will put together a number of activities on the mountain as a fallback should racing just not be possible – still plenty of fun to be had, and a great morning out on the hill.
These will likely be a choice of:
1/ Ziptrek and/or “Eye of the Wind” – Grouse has just opened their wind tower in the last few days and you can ride up and see the panoramic view from up there, plus do the big ziptrek lines on the back of the mountain, which has people raving! This activity one has limited “accessibility” however for some of our disability groups, and consider carefully before signing up / maybe only for some racers / participants
2/ Snowshoeing and/or beginner ziptrek – lots of fun and not so challenging on the ziptrek lines as the one above. Again some accessibility issues for some students but we can figure that out later.
3/ Free skiing with VASS volunteers. We’ll split into groups of similar abilities and do some runs together – learn some of the techniques we use to help people learn to ski, try out some of the equipment, or just have some fun by yourself. This one will include all the disabled skiers who do not, or cannot, make the other activities.
There will be a sledge hockey demo throughout the morning for everyone to try, and a “chuck-a-duck” competition by the ice rink run by Rotary to win prizes. Of course still a banquet lunch and raffle / silent auction etc, so lots of fun to be had.
PS – A number of participants signed up do not have any pledge amounts by their names. For those coming from corporate teams sponsored by our Gold sponsors, or covered by other team member entries and sponsorships – NO PROBLEM! – you will know who you are. But for the others, remember the day out costs us $150.00 per head at VASS, so we need you to raise at least that to keep us ahead, and any more funds our activities for the coming year.
The 3rd VASS Challenge Cup is in 2 weeks!
VASS Challenge Cup – March 4th, 2010.
Please attend our VASS Cup as a racer! http://www.vasscup.ca
We have made it easier than ever for you to sign up and forward our template email to your network to sponsor you online. We take care of the rest and you just show up for the fun!
If you are unable to attend then please scroll through the registered racers and choose one to sponsor – no donation is too big or too small!
Cruise Lottery at the VASS Challenge Cup on March 4, 2010
Cruise Lottery at the VASS Challenge Cup on March 4, 2010
Winner receives his/her choice of a 7-day Holland America cruise to Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, New England, or a $2000 credit towards another cruise.
Here is a link for more information on the prize, http://www.cruiselottery.com/cms2/index.php?page=how-cmsms-works
There are 250 tickets to be sold for $20 each – The winning ticket will be drawn on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the VASS Challenge Cup awards Banquet – Buy it HERE
VASS Board member Kay Fulford named to Paralympic Torch Relay
FREE Skills Improvement
SKIMP stands for Skills Improvement. In recognition of the hard work and passion that our volunteers put into their activities at VASS, we offer opportunities throughout the season for our volunteers to improve their skills in many different areas, from improving their own skiing, to working with adaptive equipment, to getting a better understanding of disabilities. These are also opportunities to interact with fellow volunteers from across VASS in both learning and social settings.
The SKIMP sessions are on Grouse, and we ask that people meet outside the VASS hut for a 7:00 p.m. start. They can get their tickets at Guest Services and go up as early as they like. The session goes from 7-9 p.m.
Dates available:
Tuesday, January 12
Thursday, January 28
Friday, February 5
Tuesday, February 9
Thursday, February 25
Tuesday, March 9
Friday, March 26
You can register to any of those dates on line – SIGN UP
Why YOU should Volunteer with VASS
The value of volunteering is not a monetary value. If we measure this work in dollar terms we actually reduce its value because the essence of volunteering is that it is a gift, freely given. Its value can be the value the individual volunteer puts on it or even a great deal more, and that value will be as different and complex as the volunteers themselves. There may be a value to those who receive a particular volunteer service, there may also be a value to their family and friends, and ultimately there is a value to the wider community that may be perceived in different ways by different members of that community.
VASS continues to grow year after year, which is great for the adaptive skiing and snowboarding communities. However, with more student and more programs, so comes the need for more volunteer support. Volunteers are the reason VASS is able to provide the services it does. The great thing about VASS is that your volunteer experience is not only a gift to the students but also a gift to yourself. The feeling you get from knowing that you helped make a difference is something that stays with you. If the bonds and relationships that are formed aren’t enough than the smiles and sense of accomplishment on people’s faces will be enough for people to come back year after year.
There is flexibility and freedom in volunteering that is rarely found in paid employment. Volunteering makes a difference, it is different, and it can be whatever the volunteer wants it to be.
Come Volunteer this season and give a little back to the community and sport you love. See you on the hills!
Contact info@vass.ca for more information.
Anne Bethune, VASS President, named to Paralympic Torch Relay
Starting March 3 in front of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, and lasting 10 days as it traverses through 11 cities, the Paralympic torch relay will need 600 people to carry it across the country.
Three of those torchbearers were named Friday, November 27– Anne Bethune, president of Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports, who has been involved with the Disabled Skiers Association for more than 20 years will carry the torch on March 12 in downtown Vancouver.
John Furlong, Vanoc Chief Executive said each of the 600 torchbearers will be “individual sparks, adding to the brightness of the Paralympic flame as it travels towards Vancouver.
Congratulations Anne!
