2018 Leadership Awards

Below are all of the applications for the 2018 Annual Volunteer Leadership Awards for Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA). These awards are handed out at Leadership Conference during the Saturday night banquet. Please distribute these forms to your program.  All programs should take the time to look at the people who have helped it work towards the goals and mission of SOPA. Taking time to fill out nomination forms is the first step in showing all volunteers how valued they are to our movement.

Please return all applications as the following: Award Name_Program Name_Applicant Name_Year

(For example) Coach of the year_Bucks_Smith_2018

SOPA will be awarding the following awards during the 2018 Leadership Banquet: 

• PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
• MANANGER OF THE YEAR
• COACH OF THE YEAR
• FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
• MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
• VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - (Non-Management)
• FAMILY OF THE YEAR
• ATHLETE LEADER OF THE YEAR
• MANAGEMENT TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR
• UNIFIED SPORTS PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Please note the following instructions:

1. Awards are based on the previous program year.
2. Only one nominee per category per program.  Do not submit multiple nominations for each award category.
3. Type in Black Ink only.
4. You may not submit a nomination in a category where your program had a winner last year.
5. Paid Managers should not submit nominations.  While they may provide input into the nomination process, in the interest of fairness, we request that they do not complete or submit the nomination forms. 
6. Limit responses to the space provided.
7. Only provide supporting documentation when specifically requested.  No videos/letters of support will be accepted.
8. Faxes/handwritten submissions will NOT be accepted.

All nominations must be e-mailed by June 4, 2018.   Those received after that date will not be considered.  All Program Nominations should be collected (except Manager of the Year) and sent in one e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Check Out Leadership Session Materials From Previous Conferences:

2017 Leadership Conference Session Materials

2016 Leadership Conference Session Materials

2017 Leadership Conference Session Materials:

NEW MANAGER TRAINING:

• New Manager Training – Fundraising
• New Manager Training – Marketing & Communications
• New Manager Training – Sports Team
• SOPA Housing Policy
• Training Coordinators
• Attendance Record for Athletes, Partners and Coaches
• New Manager Training – Unified Sports

GENERAL SESSIONS:

• Mindfulness: Balancing Work, Home & Volunteer Life
• Seling Our Story - PR Session
• 50th Anniversary Information Anniversary Information
  • Hero Funds
• Volunteer Recruitment and Retention
• VSYS Hands On Training (Link)

ATHLETE LEADERSHIP:

• Athlete Leadership Celebration of Achievement
• Healthy Communities
• Your Personal Bests
  • Personal Best Tracking Individual Sports
  • Personal Best Tracking Team Sports

SPORTS & TRAINING:

• Important Dates:
  • 2017 State Competitions and Important Dates
  • 2018 State Competitions and Important Dates
• 2018 Delegation Volunteer Fees - Comp Call with Single Rates
• Goal Setting and Personal Best Tracking
• Leadership Coaching Levels
• Sport Rules Updates
• Coaches Training

Q & A DOCUMENTS:

• Athlete Leadership Updates and Q & A
• Database Q & A
• Marketing Department Q &A
• Sports & Training Q & A

2016 Leadership Conference Session Materials:

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OPENING:

• CEO Opening Session

BUILD POSITIVE ATTITUDES:

• How to Communicate with Our Athletes Through Social Media
• Public Relations "How To Guide"

Handouts:

• Social Media How-To Guide

IMPROVE ATHLETE PERFORMANCE:

• Sports Programming & Coaches Education
• The Expansion of Unified Sports
• Improve Athlete Performance

Handouts:

• Coaches Education Handout

BUILD CAPACITY:

• Managing the Background Clearance Process
• A Meaningful Experience for Athlete Leaders
• The Support of the Finance Dept.
• Budgeting & How To Raise Funds (Link)
  
• Vsys Q & A
• Volunteer Management
• Your Program and their Financial Future

 Handouts:

• Lists in Vsys
• SOPA Master Sales Deck