Bermuda registered charity, Special Olympics Bermuda (SOBda),#972, recently made significant changes to the Board of Directors includinf the appointment of a new Board Chair, Directors and roles at their Annual General Meeting.
The newly appointed Board, which includes seven incumbents and four new
Directors, is now under the guidance and leadership of former SOBda Secretary, Sacha Richardson who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in disability rights and advocacy, strategic planning, and administrative and operational management of non-profit organizations and small-to-medium
enterprises.
In addition to her new role as Board Chair, Richardson also remains responsible for marketing, communications, and high-level administration, while co-leading the Fundraising and Events and Volunteer Committees and sitting on all committees.
Special Olympics is a global organization that provides sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It aims to promote inclusion, acceptance, and respect for people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports. The organization offers a wide range of Olympic- type sports, giving individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Special Olympics events and programs are
held at local, national, and international levels, fostering an environment of sportsmanship, teamwork, and empowerment for individuals with intellectual disabilities.The diverse range of skills and expertise brought by the new Board members reflects their collective commitment to serving people with Intellectual Disabilities not only through Sports but also holisticly. Through their collective leadership, Special Olympics Bermuda aims to further strengthen its ability to make a lasting impact in the lives of those they serve.
Having people with professional and personal connections is important for several reasons including that these individuals bring a deep passion and emotional investment to the cause,
which can be a powerful motivator for driving positive change and their personal experiences can provide valuable insights and perspectives and fosters a sense of authenticity, empathy, and commitment within the board, leading to more effective and meaningful contributions and outcomes.
National Director, Karen Woollery shares, “As a working Board, Special Olympics Bermuda Directors perform strategic and fiduciary duties as well as participate in the organization’s day-to-day functions in a volunteer capacity. In keeping with SO International mandates and governing bye laws, the Board must comprise of specific key personnel including experts in Sports and Finance as well as representation of
athletes and families.
As one of the smaller accredited programs of SO International, SO Bda faces several challenges due to our small population, location and human and financial resources needed to implement
the many programs available to us. But we have, and continue to do, all we possibly can to serve people with IDs”. Sacha adds, “This year and beyond, my hope is that we continuously strive for improvement and success in serving our athletes and the community as a whole. As we look ahead, identifying areas where we can do better, whether it be in our athlete development programs, community engagement initiatives, or
organizational practices must remain at the forefront understanding the importance of continual growth and determination to make the necessary changes to further enhance our impact. Likewise, we will diligently continue to build on the areas where we have already achieved success and are eager to embark
on new initiatives by fostering collaboration and innovation, pooling our talents and resources and partnering with stakeholders.
I’m excited for yet another opportunity to advocate for a this population of deserving and inspiring people and humbled that my experience and past contributions is seen and
valued as a postive attribute to lead and work alongside this equally amazing team. Through this I’m confident that we can make a positive and lasting impact in the years to come.”
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