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it’s special


Oklahoma electric cooperatives reach out to children and adults at Special Olympics


By Melanie Wilderman


“Mind blowing.” “Electrifying.”


“Contagious excitement.” “Emotional.” “Intense.” “Rewarding.” “Joyous.” “Inspiring.” “A true miracle.”


These words come from a handful of electric


cooperative volunteers who gave of their time May 11-13 at the 42nd Annual Special Olympics Summer Games in Stillwater. They were describ- ing the atmosphere of the event.


Athletes from 14 geographic areas around the state come together each year to compete in ten sports categories, and the 2011 games brought in more than 4,300 competitors, accord ing to a newsletter from www.specialolympicsokla- homa.org.


Jennifer Dempsey, Oklahoma Association


of Electric Cooperative’s (OAEC) director of member services, youth and education, is in her 12th year as the statewide’s coordinator for OAEC Special Olympics volunteers. Of the approximately 2,500 volunteers at the event in May, the electric cooperatives accounted for 130, according to Dempsey.


This year, there was one minor problem with the volunteers.


10 OKLAHOMA LIVING


“There were actually too many,” Dempsey said; and she agreed this was a great problem to have.


However, she assured that no volunteer was turned away. The surplus of volunteers just meant a slightly less hectic schedule and maybe a few more breaks than in past years. Electric cooperatives have been sending volunteers to the Special Olympics since 1987, and Dempsey confi rmed she has seen an increase in volun- teerism during her time as coordinator. “It’s neat to see the same volunteers year af- ter year and welcome the new ones,” Dempsey said. Keith DeVaughan, member services repre- sentative at Caddo Electric Co-op, is a 21-year veteran of volunteering for the Stillwater Spe- cial Olympics. DeVaughan’s son, Lance, 29, is a past athlete who participated for about 10 years. Because of Lance’s Down Syndrome, Keith said, the event has always had a special meaning to him.


“It’s a time for them [the athletes] to shine. You can really see the light in their faces,” DeVaughan said.


OAEC volunteers help with the track-and- field events, and DeVaughan said it is hard work but very rewarding. He described the athletes as being “fi red up.”


“They know what they are there for—they are there to compete,” DeVaughan said. As a seasoned volunteer, DeVaughan believes


everyone should experience the volunteer work at Special Olympics.


“It’s the co-ops’ spirit to give to the commu- nity,” he said. Glen Clark, marketing representative at Lake Region Electric Co-op, said this was about his 12th year to volunteer, and of all the commu- nity programs the co-ops are involved in, this is his favorite.


“It’s the highlight of my year…it puts things in perspective for you,” Clark said. Unlike some volunteers who become in- volved due to a family member’s or friend’s disability, Clark said he had not been around individuals with disabilities much until he became a volunteer. He did not know until he experienced it how big the event was, with so many people involved and fi reworks that rival the Fourth of July.


“It’s a genuine atmosphere. It’s real,” Clark summed up the event.


Clark is passing on his propensity for volun- teer work: his son has volunteered the last two years.


Cindy Wright, an employee at Central Ru-


ral Electric Co-op (CREC), has watched her 24-year-old son, Jason, compete in the Special Olympics since he was in third grade. She is also a volunteer, and this was her fourth year to serve as the volunteer coordinator for CREC. Jason has a rare genetic disorder, trichorhino- phalangeal syndrome, which has caused him


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