Lawn and Garden Equipment Repairs and Parts for Most Makes CURRENT POWER MACHINERY INC. 1661 Lakeshore Rd. W. Mississauga ?8224211 F o r u s ir FOURTH LINE AUTO good/ tear For All Your Car's Needs Drive Clean Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection T ire -U p s · Brakes · Exhaust · Coofang Systems CAA A pproved Shop Official Media Sponsor 559 Speers Road (905) 842-3001 Editor: Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com Volunteering pays dividends for coach By Paula Henriques ( ) . \ K V I L L E IM l A V I-: i < S T M I ·' hooting hoops is just as much a part o f life as eating in the Thomas household. Stu Thomas, head basketball coach o f the Ontario Special Olympics (OSO) Oakville Shooting Stars team, said basket ball has been a family affair for more than 40 years. Thomas, who has played organized basketball since his first year at Delta Secondary School in Hamilton in 1969. continued to play as an adult and coached for the Optimist Club in Burlington and Youth Basketball Canada in Oakville. As a parent with a son involved with a number o f OSO programs. Thomas attended many OSO prac tices and tournaments and applied for tiie head coach position when it became available last year after the urgings by both players and par ents. He did and got the job. "When I first started volunteer ing with OSO. I wanted to show my appreciation for all o f the OSO volunteers' efforts, by giving my time back to the organization and the community," he said. His 19-year-old autistic son. Mike, has been a member of the Oakville Shooting Stars Basketball team for five years and is also a participant in other OSO sports including swimming, bowl ing. track and field, golf, soccer and curling. Following in his dad's foot steps, Mike's athleticism has gar nered him much praise. A Grade 13 student at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School. Mike was recently awarded a plaque for his athletic achievements outside the school and specifically for his involvement with OSO. He was also added to the school's Athletic W all o f Fame. The OSO programs are geared towards people with a wide range of abilities, and there is no age bar rier. In his basketball team alone. Thomas said the age ranges from 13 to 48. But whatever the gender or age, Thomas said the OSO programs are geared towards the individual. " Sometimes the person's phys ical abilities arc slower. As well, they need a lot o f repetition, so I repeat the drills for weeks on end. S Chantal Ayotte · O akville Beaver Volunteer Stu Thomas, left, head basketball coach o f the O ntario Special Olym pics O akville Shooting Stars team, watches team member M atthew D ulT-Tyller slam dunk it. Melissa Reid, above rig ht, blocks Vivian Fenn while she tries to take a shot. And you always have to cncourage them. You never yell, you are never negative," said Thomas, who is a systems programmer with his own consulting business. OSO has 12 different sports programs, many which need vol unteers. In particular two o f their winter programs, basketball and swimming, as well as their spring and summer programs including golf, t-ball and track and field, still need volunteers. Thomas said since he got involved with OSO his life has changed immensely. " Volunteering has allowed me to make more worthwhile use of some o f my spare time. When I see the enthusiasm that the players have for the game, it makes me want to spend more time and make more improvements to our basket ball program. And our weekly Monday evening workout has helped me to get into a bit better shape." It isn't only the head coach who has gotten into better shape. He explained many o f the teammates have also accomplished more than an increased exercise regimen. " Every player on the team makes a contribution to make the group belter. Some are leaders, others have a special and unique skill, and some are solid and dependable contributors. " It is rewarding to see the play ers' achievements exceed our expectations, especially at a tour nament when the team coaching staff and parents can celebrate a great performance by the players." Thomas added. He said sportsmanship prevails at all tournaments, regardless of whether Shooting Stars is the win ning team. "They have excellent sports manship. It's really something. Even when they lose, they get real ly excited for the other team. Five minutes later they've forgotten about losing anyway," he said. Thomas is currently taking coaching courses to advance his skills, and said many of the same opportunities are available for interested volunteers. For more information about OSO programs contact the volunteer co-ordinator, Ria at 905-827-0153, or visit www.oakvilleoso.org. T h e O T M H C h a r ita b le in v ite s y o u to jo in th e se th is w o rth y c a u s e b y e ith e r s p o n so rin g o r p a rtic ip a tin g in ru n o r w a lk a n d b y p le d g in g d o n a tio n s v ia y o u r c o lle a g u e s a n d ? ® frien d s. A ll p ro c e e d s to th e O a k v ille T ra fa lg a r M e m o ria l H o sp ita l ( O T M H ) M a te r n a l/C h ild P ro g ra m . M ed a ls a n d /o r p riz e s fo r ru n n e r s in O p e n , M a ste rs, & A g e C a te g o rie s ANEW STORE IN TOWN! 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