Alison Hall of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department addressed the club about her recent trip to the inaugural National Special Olympics competition in Ames, Iowa. Ms. Hall helped coach the state's track athletes. Team Alabama faired very well, achieving three gold medals, 24 silver medals, 15 bronze, 10 fourth place and 11 fifth place finishes.

More than 3,000 athletes with disabilities from all 50 states participated. Iowa had the most athletes with 244, Alaska had the least with 10. Team Alabama was represented by 100 athletes, with 16 participating in track and field. Hall coached the track and field athletes, as she is a certified coach. Team Alabama’s team ranged from 15 years old to early 50s.

Of the 3,000 attendees, about 1,800 were transported by the Special Olympics Airlift, which is a volunteer club of 230 Cessna Citations from 30 states. This first-ever event was a huge success, with Hall already looking forward to next year. There are more than 500,000 special-nNeeds athletes in the U.S., with 13,136 in Alabama.

Hall (center) with program chair Dick Phelan (right) and Club President Bill Hutto (left).