[Sportsandrec] goalball in or around Dallas

Wed Aug 8 22:37:56 UTC 2012

Hi Lisamaria,

Yes, I am goalball Matt, but I'm from Georgia. I think we met at the 2008 convention which I attended as a scholarship recipient. I spent a lot of time with Joe Hamilton and Kristella at the convention, so that's probably where the Northwest connection came from.

I'm just starting and this is a new position, so I'm really just trying to evaluate what USABA is doing and what we can start doing better. My initial thoughts relating to USABA and NFB forming a stronger partnership are basic as of now, but I'm hoping to get some big stuff going. USABA is and aims to continue to be the leading resource for blind and visually impaired people across the United States who are interested in becoming active through sport and physical activity, whether that be on a competitive or strictly recreational basis. The NFB is of course the largest member organization for blind individuals in the Nation. Both organizations have some valuable and unique resources and both have similar goals in mind. 

The first idea that I'm thinking is that we try to help host some events at national conventions. A traditional seminar classroom setting won't really be advantageous for either the NFB or USABA. Neither would a display table in the exhibit hall offer a lot of value for us. I'm envisioning us doing a couple of events each day at convention. In '08 we did a goalball clinic that I think was very well received. It helped that between Lewis Burdette, Joe Hamilton, Tyler Merren, Chris Dodds and myself we had five National team level players there to get things going. Perhaps in the future we could do a couple of goalball clinics, a couple of guide running clinics, some tandem cycling, etc. We want to reach blind people, and the NFB hosts the largest group of them every year. The NFB has a huge national infrastructure that could help us reach more individuals, while USABA has access to the top athletes and coaches in every area of blind sport in this country. 

Other than that, I'm certainly open to anything. I don't speak for the rest of USABA by any means, but if you and I can formulate some great ideas I have no doubt that it will be easy to sell them to the rest of our staff. Maybe we put on a sports clinic for an NFB event. The Colorado Center is only an hour away from us, and I've already been in contact with Brent Batron to see if we could partner with them in any way to get some programs going. 

I'd love to hear any thoughts or ideas you have. I definitely don't have any firm ideas, I'm more interested in just getting the dialog going.

Best,
Matt

Matt Simpson
Membership and Outreach Coordinator
United States Association of Blind Athletes
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
719-866-3019 (Direct)
719-866-3400(Fax)
www.usaba.org 
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-----Original Message-----
From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lisamaria Martinez
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 4:00 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] goalball in or around Dallas

Hey Matt,

I'm glad you contacted me. I saw your original post to the listserv and haven't gotten around to emailing you. I'd love to partner with USABA in many, many ways. But first, you're goalball Matt from somewhere in the northwest, right? Just trying to picture the person with the name.

Anyhow ... I'd love to build a relationship with USABA and possibly work on getting USABA at NFB conventions or us out for sports camps, etc, etc, the possibilities are endless.

Do you have ideas in mind already? I guess I'm asking what are your hoeps, goals, intentions?

Lisamaria

P.S. Oh yes, Christy H has already contacted me and I've passed along her info. So, thanks.

On 8/8/12, Matt Simpson <msimpson at usaba.org> wrote:
> Hi Christy,
>
> My name is Matt Simpson and I'm the new Membership and Outreach 
> Coordinator for USABA. I actually just finished giving your name to 
> Lisamaria when I saw you send this e-mail.
>
> I just wanted to introduce myself. If there's anything that I can do 
> to help you or Texas Association of Blind Athletes please don't 
> hesitate to contact me. I'm a goalball player myself, so i'm always 
> hoping to see the sport grow. Please feel free to write back or give 
> me a call any time. I'm hoping to strengthen USABA's relationships 
> with every member and every sport club as well as enhance the programs 
> that are being offered to blind and visually impaired everywhere in 
> the United States.
>
> Best,
>
> Matt Simpson
> Membership and Outreach Coordinator
> United States Association of Blind Athletes
> 1 Olympic Plaza
> Colorado Springs, CO 80909
> 719-866-3019 (Direct)
> 719-866-3400(Fax)
> www.usaba.org
> Facebook  Twitter
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Christy 
> Householter
> Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 2:33 PM
> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] goalball in or around Dallas
>
> Yes, Texas Goalball has 2 teen/adult teams and we attended several 
> national tournaments last year.  We have recreation and competition 
> teams-ages 6 and up!  In addition, we do other community activities 
> several times a year just for fun and because we like each other!!
> Contact Christy Householter at crandlehouse at gmail.com or 
> Christy.householter at region10.org.  We are a part of Texas Association 
> of Blind Athletes, a newly formed non-profit organization.
> Christy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lisamaria 
> Martinez
> Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 3:11 PM
> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
> Subject: [Sportsandrec] goalball in or around Dallas
>
> Hey,
>
> Are there any goalball teams in or around Dallas? Someone on a 
> different list is interested in joining a team for adults and I'd like 
> to pass on some info to her if there is any info to pass along.
>
> Many thanks,
> LM
>
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