DSES Volunteer End of Season Awards
May 5, 2005
DSES volunteers met at Dr. Phil & Adriene's House on Cinco de Mayo to celebrate the tremendously successful 2004-2005 season with fellowship and awards.
DSES Volunteers at end of season awards party on May 5, 2005
Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra Volunteer Recognition
by Adriene Alpert, DSES Volunteer
Cinco de Mayo means more than just celebrating the fifth of May, eating Mexican food, and drinking margaritas. This year, more than 45 volunteers, staff and friends of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES) got together at the home of Dr. Phil Cardan and Adriene Alpert to acknowledge everyone's hard work in making the 2004-2005 season so successful.
The Volunteer Coordinator for DSES, Dave Owings CTRS, toasted the volunteers with a wonderful tribute. He stressed four points: (1) being a volunteer makes you a better person; (2) being a volunteer makes you more patient; (3) being a volunteer makes you a more understanding individual; and (4) being a volunteer makes the Disabled Sports program work. His message can be read here.
E.L. Smoogen receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award
from Director Kathy Copeland
Executive Director Kathy Copeland, never at a loss for words, energy or enthusiasm, actually choked up and had tears in her eyes as she recognized several volunteers for their outstanding efforts this past season. Among those recognized were:
One of the students, Terry Smutney, a Gulf War vet who was all but confined to a wheel chair, became a volunteer towards the end of the season. The impact that DSES made on his life cannot be measured. Smutney makes strides every day and has been able to literally throw his medication away. At the volunteer party, he spoke spontaneously about how much the program had helped him not only get back on his feet, but back into life.
Jeremy McGhee, a T10 paraplegic, started free-skiing with the Disabled Sports instructors at the inception of the program. McGhee was commuting between San Diego and Mammoth. Early this season, McGhee made a commitment to Disabled Sports to volunteer as a mono ski instructor. That's kind of hard to do when you're living in San Diego, so McGhee and his service dog, Freedom, moved to Mammoth and became full time residents. McGhee started working with Smutney and developed a very strong camaraderie. They ski together almost weekly. McGhee works at Mammoth Mountain as the wholesale tour and travel rep and also edits the daily Mammoth Mountain Ski Report.
Copeland also acknowledged that without the help and support of local businesses, out-of-town donors, foundation grants and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, this program would not exist.
Kathy Copeland receiving her diamond snow flake pendent
from DSES volunteers and staff
On the flip side of that thought, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra would not exist without Copeland. She has been a long time supporter of the disabled community. The predecessor program to DSES, Mammoth Adaptive Sports Foundation, founded by Robin Conners, became a model and inspiration for Copeland. Her ability to motivate people and bring out the best in them makes you want to volunteer and work with her, not to mention the personal satisfaction you get for a job well done. Copeland spends many long, hard hours raising funds and putting together workshops and conferences. There is no one like her. In recognition of all her hard work, not only with DSES but over the past 30 years, the staff and volunteers presented Copeland with a beautiful snowflake pendant necklace along with a certificate for the Best Director in the Whole World!
Because of the efforts of Copeland and the DSES staff and volunteers, the number of lessons given this past season almost doubled. During the 2003-2004 season, the number of lessons given was 619 (141 to local students, 478 to out-of-town students). This season (and the season isn't quite over yet), DSES has given 1,149 lessons with 353 going to local students and 796 to out-of-town students! There were 162 active volunteers who put in 9,164 volunteer hours.
Would you like to make a difference? Please consider volunteering for this program or making a donation. DSES is starting a summer program and is looking for ideas and volunteers. For more information, please check out this website or call us at 760.934.0791.
Director Kathy Copeland honored by Volunteers
A festive time was enjoyed by all
