After Dinner Speaker - Revisited?

[Snoop Doug]

Howdy y'all

Last I recall on this I think Alan had mentioned trying to maybe contact Rebecca Romero...? Trouble is I can't find any posts relating to it tho I know there were some.......maybe I'm wrong sorry brain like sieve these days. Anyhoo - I read yesterday about David Weir. He won gold in the 800m wheelchair race t'other day. He's a local boy (Wallington) and it got me thinking he might have an interesting tale to tell....? Sporting, overcoming adversity, beinh number one in the world at what he does.....

I wonder how people might feel about him? I could try to track him down and see if this might be something he's interested in - if we are...?

Back in my box

Snoop

[Tamar]

Sounds like a tippity top suggestion to me Mr Snoop. I'd be really interested to hear about how he got into sport, what motivates him, what his training schedule's like, whether he's a full time athlete or also juggles other commitments etc etc

[Snoop Doug]

OK I've written to the Paralympic Association, let's see what happens. I expect there'll be a delay - think they're a tad busy right now

I wonder if we might want to look beyond just a speaker slot and think about doing something to support the run up to 2012....?

[Tamar]

Definitely need to check but I'd be very disappointed if a venue of that stature didn't.

[Jon H]

A few people got legless at the last dinner and they managed OK.

[Andrew G]

It's the speed bumps you've got to watch out for.

[Snoop Doug]

good point - just checked as I recalle the main room last year was accessed via stairs. There is a ramp going down the length of the room in the corridor outside and access is available via a door at t'other end of the room. All OK - Glad I checked tho.

Cheers - Snoop

[Snoop Doug]

OK folks I've now heard from DW's agent. Will pick this up in a few days and provide some club info.

Meantime can I ask for some constructive feedforward (like the excellent contribution from Tamar) so that I can paint a picture of what we might want from this please...? Come on - don't be shy - what would you want to hear about from a gold medal winning Olympian...?

Also - how do people feel about developing a plan to support 2012 in some way..? Perhaps we could do something for DW specifically as he is local, perhaps we should also pick another athlete - a cyclist...?

Come on - let's have some of that famous ACC creativity please

Snoop

[Andrew G]

How / why did he choose the sport he did over any others?
How does the training differ to cover such a huge range of distances that he competes (and wins) at?
Is it difficult to switch from one to the other?
General views on how he thinks disabled athletes are treated - within sport / media / general public?

[John the old'un]

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]Does the Selsdon Park have wheel chair access?

[Snoop Doug]

Folks

I'm still pursuing this. Hope to get some feedback soon - think all the athletes are busy with this parade in London....

Also - I wonder what appetite there might be for ACC to support the 2012 paralympics and the run up to it in some way..? I mentioned this @ the committee last night and the idea got a +ve response. I'm planning to meet one of the admin team to discuss and no doubt they will have ideas. Maybe we could raise funds at some of our events through the year - if we did something big we could get a few of the athletes along. It'd be cool if we had one or more take part in one of our events - imagine Darren Kenny nailing the sprint in the ACC road race . Maybe hire a school playground and do something linking to Huw's excellent go ride work..?

Food for thought - we're a large and diverse club - this feels like something fun, worthwhile and relevant to get our teeth into.

Thoughts..?

Snoop

[Tamar]

I think it would be good take to use the ACC 'bums on saddles' approach to any fundraising and instead of funding the paralympians (who get Lottery funding) we could build a relationship with them to promote any fundraising event but proceeds go to some charity (haven't researched this yet, am just typing as thoughts pop into me head) that supports grass-roots sport eg providing hand-bikes or racing chairs to disabled athletes who are new to the sport.

[Snoop Doug]

Sounds like a good angle Tamar - maybe we could do a bit of both??

[Marky Mark]

Like a 5 hour mini olympics.

Summers day.

Every sporting event done on a bike or turbo, young, old, tall or short.

Beer tent.
Wall of death.
Stunt bikes.
Jumping.
Cake stand.
Beer tent.
Treasure hunt.
The slow race!
Track standing.
Beer tent.
Wheelies.
Pit stop competition.
Campag V Shimano British Bulldog.
Yard of Ale.
Staring competition.
Guess the age.
Kiss chase.
Wine tent.
Fish finger eating competition.
Conkers.
Tombola.
Face painting.
Beer tent.

Did I miss anything out?

[Tamar]

Yeah, you missed the pushing contest.

Stand face to face with your opponent and try to push them over. The only parts of you that can meet are your palms. If you touch any other part of your opponent you are out. If you move your feet you are out. It's easy peasy rules and not necessarily the strongest person who wins...guile and an intimidating stare are fair weapons.