Picto Diary - 29 July 2015 - Texas Two Step

Above: Aimee Preston, Executive Head, Youth Sports Alliance, speaks to La Societe Deux Magots (LSDM). 29 July 2015. Wasatch Bagel, Park City, UT.

Note: Note taker is fallible. Mistakes are his. Aimee Preston is welcome to make clarifications and/or corrections of these notes.

Hat tip: Kilamanjaro

Background

Born Erie, PA

Early life in Indiana.

Highschool, AZ

Attended University of Utah where was member of renowned women's gymnastics team. On two national championship teams in the 90's. Daughter of an athlete. Dad, Terry Preston, played basketball for University of Wisconsin.

Stayed in Utah a bit after graduating, but, decided, with husband, to move to CO. We didn't like CO, so we moved back to Utah, where we felt a higher value was put on education, particularly here in Park City, where public education is also supported by the Park City Education Foundation.

Obtained an MA in Event Management from University of Utah. I ran events... raised money.

Youth Sports Alliance found me five years ago.

Above:  Aimee Preston, Youth Sports Alliance Executive Head, reacts to LSDM ROMEO humor.  Its hard to tell from this image whether Aimee is laughing at the individual or at his remarks.  Kilamanjaro is at right in image.   29 July 2015.
 
 
Youth Sports Alliance
 
The Youth Sports Alliance (YSA) was established to create a legacy for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games by spearheading a community-wide effort to increase the number of children who actively participate in winter sports programs from greater Park City area, including Summit and Wasatch Counties.
 
YSA caters to both recreational participants and elite athletes aspiring to world class competition.
 
YSA believes involvement in sports programs builds character.
 
The YSA supports the Get Out & Play elementary school program, 13 member teams, and scholarships for junior athletes.  Through these programs, YSA touches the lives of more than 2,000 youth.
 
YSA encourages all athletes to adopt and embrace core values spelling out the acronym SPORT.
 
Sportsmanship - Abide by the rules of your sport, respect your opponents, and conduct yourself in such a manner that others will admire your attitude, no matter whether you win or lose.
 
Perseverance - Sports will challenge you mentally and physically.  Learn to give 100% despite difficulties and setbacks.  "Never, never, never give up."
 
Optimism - Sport is a journey.  Learn to enjoy the practice and preparation as much as you do the end result.  With the right outlook, you can enjoy striving to reach your goals and also continue to be involved in your sport throughout your life.
 
Respect - Always show respect for yourself, your teammates, your coaches, and your opponents.  Also admire and honor the history and traditions of your sport.
 
Teamwork - Work together toward a common goal.  Put the team ahead of yourself.  A single snowflake seems so fragile, but look what they can do when they stick together!
 
 
Other YSA Takeaways
 
Budget - $1MM.  We do a lot with a little.
 
Board - Includes people like Eric Heiden and Sharon Barkley...includes other individuals with Olympics backgrounds.
 
 
Scholarships - It costs upwards of $20K a year for a competitive kid to attend all the events.  YSA provides scholarships to meet travel needs when families cannot support.  YSA issued 170 scholarships in the last year.  The scholarship program contributes $50K plus per year to individual athletes.
 
Stein Eriksen Endowment - YSA oversees the $2MM endowment, the mission of which is to provide support to enable youth to participate, learn, compete, and excel in sports taking into consideration financial need, commitment and merit.
 
Grant program contributes $250K plus per year to teams.
 
Teams - AXIS Freeskiing, Figure Skating Club of Park City, Park City Freestyle, Park City Ice Miners Youth Hockey, Park City Ski Team, Park City Snowboard Team, Park City Speedskating, Summit Ski Team, UOP Clubs (G-Force Bobsled and Skeleton, FLY Freestyle, and Park City Nordic Ski Club), Wasatch Freestyle, and Wasatch Luge.
 
 
Q and A
 
LSDM - What about the kids who don't want to be competitive?
 
AP - We've had some success  - Get Out and Play Elementary School Program - but, we haven't hit the sweet spot there yet as much of our effort is dedicated to the competitive kids as they mature.  We agree that efforts need to be directed to all kids.  We are working on it.
 
 
LSDM - Fundraising?
 
AP - Always tough.  Our main fundraising event is Jans Winter Welcome. This year scheduled for 24 October 2015.  Last year we raised $325 from the Jans event.
 
We collaborate with other non profits - of which there are 80 in Park City.  We work with the Park City Foundation.
 
 
LSDM - Closing remark?
 
AP - You learn most from your failures.
 
 
Thank-you
 
LSDM thanks Aimee Preston for her remarks, her service to winter sports in Park City, and for the personal example she sets for the community.
 
 
La Societe Deux Magots (LSDM) is a non-partisan ROMEO (retired old men eating out) group which meets daily, at 7:00 AM at Wasatch Bagel in Park City, UT. LSDM members are the rightful intellectual heirs of a group of authors (Hemingway, Sartre, Camus, deBouvoir) who met daily at Cafe Deux Magots, in Paris, France in the 1930's.) 

Above: Mighty Morphin Power Ranger sighted at fuel stop in Daniel, Wyoming (US 189, US 191). 29 July 2015.

Was riding Bat Cycle seen at gas pump at rear of image, pillion, behind Bat Man.

Above: Dancers dance to music of Chad Freeman and Redline, from Phoenix. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson, WY. 29 July 2015.

Above: From left. The Bishop, Putnam, Brooklyn, Country Boy, MKsold, and TIMDT. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson, Wyoming. 29 July 2015.

With no cougars present to ask me for a dance (not an uncommon occurrence when I've been here guys only), TIMDT and Mwah (sic) took a couple of Texas Two Step turns.

Friends... and former boss in OZ in the '70's, Country Boy and wife MKsold, Greenwich, CT, were on a road trip with friends Putnam and Brooklyn starting in Rapid City, SD and ending in Park City, UT. TIMDT and Mwah (sic) rode the LT up to join them for dinner in Jackson at the Rusty Parrot, where we also spent the night. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar was icing on the cake for a Jackson Hole evening.

Addendum:


Thank you Steve and Ralph for the Goodman talk. One of the best guests yet. I particularly liked the distinction he made between the social and economic aspects of our free market system and our democratic political system. Got me to look at things on a completely different plane.

Nathans,
Massapeaqua, NY


The comments about the land owner closing the hiking trails make sense. The land owner is likely to be sued and the town will impose multiple regulations and fees.

Nathans, Massapeaqua, NY

 

A friend in Massachusetts owns a restaurant. It has always been ADA compliant. The town passed new standards at a town meeting at 8PM. My friend was served papers and a demand for compensation at 9AM the next morning for being non compliant. Fortunately a judge threw the suit out.

The Pope,
Siem Reap, Cambodia