Dog House Dojo

Plunge! Plunge! Plunge!

The Plunge consists of over 2500 participants and nearly twice that many supporters cheering on the brave and the cold.

The Polar Bear Plunge Seaside is the largest single day fundraising effort that benefits Special Olympics New Jersey. Participants are asked to raise money to take a mid-winter Plunge into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean. All proceeds collected by Plungers benefit Special Olympics athletes and help foster the Special Olympics New Jersey mission.
From its humble beginnings in 1992 of just 85 participants, to the waves of over 2,500 Plungers who make the dive for Special Olympics New Jersey today, the success of this event has helped more than 17,000 athletes train and compete free-of-charge, year-round in 22 Olympic-type sports.

THE MISSION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY
is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing 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.

THE MISSION OF GOLD’S GYM KARATE CLUB
is to make the Polar Plunge the most fun event possible, in order to gain the interest of as many participants as possible, to raise a lot of money in support of the Special Olympics.

Gold’s Gym Karate Club friends and members consider the Plunge to be the most stimulating event of the year. Our plunge group consisted of 20 plungers and raised nearly $6,000 for the February 2008 plunge. We arrange hotel rooms at the Aztec Hotel where the plunge originates and have a hotel suite with food and beverages. This feel good event is a real camaraderie builder amongst our friends and members and below is some of what they have to say:

“If a few minutes in the freezing ocean and a heck of a party can help provide a special needs child with a life time of happiness, I am there!” - Tim Moore, 6 year plunger

“Could not imagine a year going by that I did not plunge into the freezing Atlantic for the aspiring athletes of Special Olympics.” - Ron Coughlin, 7 year Plunger.

“It warms our hearts to do this for those who can and will and those who are no longer with us.. .and thankfully it warms our hearts ’cause we are freezing our butts off “! - Dr Jill Sheeley, 12 year plunger

“Certainly the most invigorating event of the year, if I could only remember being there.” - Bob Cassidy, 7 year Plunger

“A great opportunity to raise money and awareness for sonj.org, gather with friends for some fun, and bravely face the cold waters.” - Frank Sconzo, 5 year plunger

“Always a memorable moving experience. ” - Marcy Yousefinejad-Shrage 5 year plunger

Gold’s Gym has provided excellent support in recruiting plungers and we look forward to an even bigger turn-out in 2009. So, come on and take the Plunge!

Your Truly,

Golds Gym Karate Club
Plunge Coordinators
Tim Moore and Jill Sheeley

Matt Cassidy’s Unit mailed a thank you card to those individuals who contributed toward their Christmas gifts that Bob Cassidy organized, purchased and shipped for the holiday. You can see their signatures in the picture of the card.

Let’s celebrate the names of the soldiers in his unit below… After all this time, through Christmas, through the New Year, through Easter, and now during Spring, they are still away from their families, serving us and our country in Iraq. God bless them!

Sgt Van
Cpl Kelly
Cpl Acosta
Cpl Hayden
Cpl Richardson
Cpl Cassidy
Lcpl Gonzolas
Lcpl Whatton
Lcpl Canterburry
Lcapl Reeves
Lcpl Kennedy
Lcpl Stover

Happy New Year!

Be sure to add these events to your 2008 calendar:

Jan 18 - 21 Boys will be Boys Ski weekend, Poconos
Feb 5 - 9 Winter Special Training, Gold’s Gym
Feb 23 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, Seaside, New Jersey

Just got a call from Matt this morning. The troops received the 12 gift boxes that we sent 12/6.

They are all so happy and grateful for not only the gifts but the support it shows. As a very proud Dad I would like to thank all those who have contributed with both their generosity and prayers.

One of the troops requested a hammock. That seemed a bit strange to me. I asked myself where the heck would you hang a hammock. When I asked Matt he laughed and told me it is hanging inside their vehicle (25 ton truck) and when they are out on operations he sleeps in it. Now they all want one. How funny is that.

Matt said it is getting very cold and they are all so grateful they all got Body Armour long underwear and hoods.

I will be posting the gifts that were sent and the names of the contributors soon.

Thank you again for all the support.
Bob Cassidy

This year we are celebrating soldiers in Iraq who have literally given up their lives to serve their country. In particular, we raised funds to contribute Christmas gifts to a unit of 12 men. This is unit 20071, in which Bob Cassidy’s son Matt serves.

The list of troops in Matt’s unit are listed below. Please take a minute to read through their names. Even though you don’t know them personally, take a moment to think about them and their families who won’t see each other this holiday season, or for many months after.

Even better, if you have the time send a letter or card to them. Here is the mailing address:

<NAME>
2^nd AA BN D CO
UNIT 73580
FPO AE 09509-3580

You can even save a stamp by using motomail. Try it for free: http://www.motomail.us
Motomail is an online mailing service that will deliver your mail to Marines, Army and Navy personnel, for free. The letters are delivered quickly since they are printed overseas and mailed from that location.
This service is great for soldiers who have sporadic access to email and telephone.
I already have an account (registration is free) and checked that Matt’s Unit is listed as a destination.

Thanks for taking the time this season to support our soldiers serving our country in Iraq.

The location for the May 5 Shotokan Karate-Do Tournament has been set:
Montville Middle School Gymnasium
800 Old Colchester Rd, Oakdale CT

Details can be foud here:
http://jkany.org/files/2007SpringChampAnnouncement.doc

All tournament forms and fees must be received by Wednesday, May 2, 2007.

Send to: Robert Jacobs
411 Westford Hill Rd.
Ashford, CT 06278
Work phone: (860) 295-9524
Home phone: (860) 429-7067
E-mail: uconnjka@charter.net

Costs:
Individual:
- Black/Brown Belt Adult - 1 event $20; 2 events $30
- White/Green Belt Adult - 1 event $15; 2 events $20
- Under 18 (any rank) - 1 event $15; 2 events $20
Team:
- Any rank or age - $30 per team event

Accomodations:
All hotels are about 15 minutes from Tournament.
Relax Inn & Suites:
380 Bayonet Street, New London CT 06320.
860-443-3440.
Holiday Inn:
Frontage Road, New London CT 06320.
860-442-0631.
Spring Hill Suites:
401 N. Frontage Road, Waterford CT 06385.
860-439-0151.

Click here: PHILADELPHIA - 2007 Breast Cancer 3-Day  

Karate family and friends: it’s not too early to think about saving lives.  I have registered for the third year in a row to captain the traffic and security team. Please consider signing on as a walker or crew, as for me, I have never regretted any of the time I have spent in this worthwhile endeavor…

Ron

Need a break from your day? See how many of these questions you can get right. I got a number of them correct. Note: These are not trick questions. They are straight questions with straight answers.

I’ll post the answers sometime soon (to keep from spoiling the fun). If you’d like them right away, send an email to admin@doghousedojo.com.

1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.

2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?

3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?

4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?

5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn’t been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?

6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters “dw” and they are all common words. Name two of them.

7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?

8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.

9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter “S.”

Upcoming event - Extreme Challenge 75 - Fearless Fighters - Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighting at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ.

From the site: Fri. March 23 @ 7:30pm

Come and check out Professional Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighting at the Sovereign Bank Arena!
The event features over 15 matches including some of the top professional and amateur mixed martial arts athletes in the Mid Atlantic region such as UFC and Combat in the Cage Veteran Sherman Pemdergarst, up and coming Heavyweight Jon Murphy, Tim Carpenter, and a rematch between John Doyle and Brendan Barrett.
Extreme Challenge 75 is brought to you by GHK Promotions.

The Spring 2007 JKA-SKdI New England Tournament will be May 5, 2007. The location is not yet set.
Watch the JKA New York website for news as the date draws near: http://jkany.org/files/2007_calendar3.pdf