IN THIS EDITION:

ASF Racer and Guide Train at Mount Hood in July

Golf, Kayaking, Hiking, Cooking, Yoga and More at ASF Support Our Troops Women's Weekend

ASF's Kim Seevers Wins National Contest Promoting Healthy Choices for Youth

Iraq and Afghanistan Female Veterans Find Healing and Strength at ASF in June

Beautiful Weather for Small Craft Water Safety Training

Getting Enough Exercise?

Sponsor a Flag at ASF's 5th Annual Golf Tournament

Discover Super Cyclist, an Inspiring Children's Book About a Crime Fighting Hero in a Wheelchair

ASF ride2live Project Wins United Way Community Caring Award

Congratulations to ASF Volunteer Will Grunenthal

Baby Boomers, Generation X and Grandparents Use Facebook!

ASF Wish List

Golf, Kayaking, Hiking, Cooking, Yoga and More at ASF's Support Our Troops Women's Weekend
By Claudia Schachter, ASF Intern

Warriors, volunteers and staff gather for a group photo after practicing their golf swings on the driving range.

It was a warm and sunny Thursday when the female wounded warriors arrived at the Adaptive Sports Foundation to settle in. Eight women were in for a weekend they would never forget. I was too. I must admit I was a little on the nervous side when the women arrived. I wasn’t really sure how to act around them. I didn’t want to give the impression that I pitied them; but at the same time, I didn’t want to appear nonchalant to their diverse conditions. However, I quickly realized they were just like other women and more: each and every one was an extraordinary person who had served our country. These women, who have lost crucial elements, managed to find happiness and more importantly, a will to continue. Each one persevered in their own way, whether it was getting over their fear of water and going into a kayak, or if it was mastering a new position in yoga despite their disability. Each of these women proved to have at least one thing in common: a will and desire to succeed and to go on with their lives in the sporting world.

Every day was something new. The women learned how to swing a golf club, or otherwise improve their golf skills. They had a great time soaking up the beautiful weather kayaking on the lake at Camp Oh-Neh-Tah, some overcoming their fear of water, while others showed their great kayaking skills by impressing everyone with flips and races. One night, everyone worked hard in the kitchen learning from each other and making a delicious meal of hors d’oeuvres following Pam Greene’s great recipes. However, more important than the success of the meal was the companionship and the fun that everyone shared on that night.

What made the weekend even more impressive, however, was how close everyone grew in just four days. After a few days of playing golf, kayaking, practicing yoga, eating and living together, these women, along with the ASF volunteers, shared an incomparable bond. Sunday was the last day, and everyone said their final goodbyes. Hearing these women speak about the weekend and how they felt, was a truly moving and unforgettable experience for me. Tears were spilled, however, these were tears of joy and emotion, not those of regret or sadness. These wounded warriors words still ring loud and clear in my head as they truly were sensational. One woman, who had participated in past wounded warrior weekends said, “I sit here and look around at each and every one of you, and I see no handicaps, I only see that I am surrounded by wonderful people.” In my opinion, this is what the weekend was about: giving the women a sense of pouvoir-faire, and to have fun!

Claudia Schachter will be a junior at the Lycee Français de New York in New York City. She is currently in Cusco, Peru dedicating her time to volunteer work in an after-school program and hiking in the Peruvian Amazon.

ASF's Kim Seevers Wins National Contest Promoting Healthy Choices for Youth

Slide4Life is a new ASF initiative featuring education on nutrition and wellness.

Kim Seevers has been named a Gold winner in the national United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) True Sport Award, produced in partnership by the USADA and Discovery Education. The award goes to individuals who promote honesty, respect, teamwork and healthy choices for middle and high school students in their community.

Kim’s winning proposal included an action plan outlining how ASF would create a short video about the impact of proper nutrition on the health of disabled individuals. The gold prize package included program funding for ASF to implement Kim’s proposal and a trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for her to participate in an educators summit.

In addition, Seevers was awarded a pocket camera, a commendation award and a one-year subscription to Discovery Education Health, a comprehensive health and prevention digital classroom resource.

In June, Kim traveled to the True Sport Education Summit and presented her video, Fuel Up to Place in the Race, which covers the importance of proper nutrition for athletes participating in sports and features ASF Race Team athletes. The video proposal has grown into Slide4Life, an initiative that will include a physical activity component as well as nutritional changes to our daily lunch program coupled with education on diet, dietary supplements, and wellness. Look for Slide4Life this winter at the ASF!

Project Odyssey participants soak up a beautiful summer day kayaking in Windham.

In June the ASF hosted a Wounded Warrior Women’s Project Odyssey. 13 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, four Veteran Administration counselors, and a few Wounded Warrior Project Staff members spent four days bicycling, kayaking, horseback riding, practicing yoga and hiking. After each active day of learning and honing skills, the participants gathered for group discussions. The week culminated with an outdoor healing ceremony, by a campfire, under a rising full moon. Mike Tarbell, Curator of the Iroquois Museum at Howes Cave, New York, Mohawk American and Vietnam War veteran, led the healing ceremony. The women found strength and courage through shared experiences, both past and present, to move forward on their individual paths.

The Catskill Scenic Trail in Stamford makes for a sweet, scenic ride and an opportunity for camaraderie and sport.

Thank you for helping us help ourselves. I leave with a peaceful presence in my heart to keep on my path to health and happiness,” Melissa wrote upon her departure.

“Thank you for everything you’ve all provided this week: wisdom, knowledge and caring, strength. In this, I have found my own. I’m eternally grateful,” wrote Sandra.

We at the ASF feel honored and grateful to have the opportunity to work with these wonderful women who are striving to improve their well-being and to find ways to continue to serve others.

Beautiful Weather for Small Craft
Water Safety Training

Camp Oh-Ne-Tah provides a peaceful setting for ASF kayaking and canoeing.

June 19th and 20th, Pam Greene, Adam DeMuth and Lou Caracciolo gave a Small Craft Water Safety Training course at Camp Oh-Neh-Tah in Windham. ASF staff members Greg Richards, Bob Speck and Jo Kirsch along with ASF volunteers Brian Mitko and Hannah Fandl received American Red Cross certification in Basic Water Rescue and Small Craft Safety Canoeing & Kayaking. Volunteers Anita Buyers, Clyde Clounie, Shannon Corcoran, Vinny Femenella, Caitlin Laveroni , John Macek, and Rachel Shore, attended as a refresher. Also participating and receiving certification were fourcounselors from Camp Oh-Neh-Tah. The group learned canoe and kayak strokes, how to right a capsized boat, basic rescue skills and emergency care. “The weekend training was a wonderful example of experiential learning in the outdoors… 20% coaching and reflection, 80% doing and improving,” said ASF Training Coordinator Bob Speck.

Skidmore sophomore and ASF volunteer Brian Mitko hones his kayaking skills at weekend training.

Getting Enough Exercise?
By Bob Speck, ASF Training Coordinator

With ski season four or five months away, you are probably starting to ramp up your training preparing yourself for winter. Just in case you are wondering if you’re getting enough exercise, I thought I’d give you the exercise recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine. These are not specific to skiing or snowboarding athletes; they’re just recommendations for the general population for good overall health, assuming you have no particular health risks and your doctor approves.

Cardiovascular
Frequency: 3-5 days per week
Intensity: 57%-94% of maximum heart rate (commonly 220 minus age)
Time: 20-90 minutes
Do activities you enjoy, like walking or biking, using your larger muscles in a continuous, rhythmic way.

Muscular Strength
Frequency: 2-3+ days per week
Intensity: 2-4 sets of 8-12 repetitions per set, with rest of 2-3 minutes between sets, at 60%-80% of your one-rep maximum
Time: Up to one hour
Move your joints through a full range of motion at a controlled speed, emphasizing major muscle groups.

Flexibility
Frequency: 2-3+ days per week
Intensity: To mild discomfort
Time: 15-60 seconds for each of 3-4 repetitions
Warm up first, and use static, slow dynamic or assisted stretches.

What do you think? Are you getting enough exercise? If not, make a plan, seek guidance, and start slowly. If you are getting enough exercise, start to consider sport-specific training, emphasizing functional movements for skiing and snowboarding. Be well!

Sponsor a Hole at ASF's
5th Annual Golf Tournament

Put your name on a flag and take it home as a souvenir!

We invite you to join us at the ASF Golf Tournament on September 20, 2010 at the Pelham Country Club. Make it super special by sponsoring your very own hole. For $500 you will receive a custom keepsake tournament flag printed with your company name and a custom sign at the tee. Join us for lunch, 18 challenging holes on Pelham Country Club's Devereux Emmet designed course, and an evening with fine food and cocktails and the chance to win fabulous prizes in a silent auction and raffles. For more information and registration information, click here.

Discover Super Cyclist, an Inspiring Children's Book About a Crime Fighting Hero in a Wheelchair
Submitted by Author Dave Carl

Super Cyclist is the story of John, a determined kid in a wheelchair who wants to catch criminals when he grows up. But others discourage him because he has a disability. He decides to follow his heart. John learns to develop the gifts and qualities he does have and becomes a super crime fighter. Super Cyclist is a story that every young child will enjoy.
Author Dave Carl graduated in 1999 from Buffalo State College where he majored in social work. He uses his own wheelchair full time, but doesn’t let his spina bifida define him.
Through his work, speaking engagements, and seminars, Dave teaches people with and without disabilities of all ages independent living on all levels. It is very important to understand that independent living starts at a very young age when a child is learning basic social and daily living skills. Dave is using Super Cyclist as a fun way to teach children, and adults, to believe in themselves and be all that they can be.

Illustrator Kathryn Mack loves art, has been drawing her whole life, and has won several awards for illustrations. This is her first published children’s book. She teaches college math in Northern Idaho and is legally blind.
If you want to find out more and order a copy of Super Cyclist, visit www.supercylist.com

ASF ride2live Project Wins 2010 United Way Community Caring Award

Zach Elder delivers a heartfelt acceptance speech on behalf of ASF volunteers Vince Passione and Karen and Richard Elder (Zach's parents.)

Zach proudly displays the award.

Congratulations to ASF Volunteer Will Grunenthal

Will graduated from Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School on Friday, June 25 and will be attending Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, this fall. Will volunteered as a snowboard instructor this past winter and as the son of the ASF bookkeeper Joanne Grunenthal, has been unofficially helping out at ASF since he was nine. We wish him the best and know that his enthusiasm, hard work, positive attitude and terrific smile will continue to serve him well!

Baby Boomers, Generation X and Grandparents Use Facebook!
By Jo Kirsch

My father’s 83-year-old friend who skis faithfully at Alta, year after year, is on Facebook. My 12-year-old nephew is on Facebook. My favorite TV show, Glee, has a Facebook page. Facebook was originally created as a social network for high school and college students. But now its user base has expanded to include multiple generations! Baby Boomers, Generation X and grandparents are all communicating on Facebook. It’s an excellent, easy way to keep in touch with friends and family through photos and updates. You too, can join Facebook! And then you can follow the happenings of your friends, family, favorite foundations, baseball team…you name it. If you don’t know how to use it, just ask a co-worker, a grandchild, a babysitter, your son or daughter! Then, find the Adaptive Sports Foundation on Facebook, become a FAN and find out what we are up to now!

ASF Wish List
Anyone interested in donating any of the items below, please contact us at asfwindham@mhcable.com.

New laptop computer; copy paper; new high volume fax machine; file folders; pens; flip video camera; a multi disk cd burner - able to burn multiple cds at a time; toilet paper; bottled water; paper towels.

Newsletter articles are compiled by Jo Kirsch, ASF Special Projects and Event Coordinator, and copyedited by ASF Training Coordinator Bob Speck and ASF Operations Director Kim Seevers. We invite articles by ASF volunteers, participants and staff. Please submit articles to jkirsch@mhcable.com for consideration in future newsletters.