BAWSI Events: Archive

• CyberRays Reunion a Huge Success!
• BAWSI Tailors After-School Fitness Program to Kids in Wheelchairs
• BAWSI Summer Fitness Program to launch at Domestic Violence Shelter
• Business Golf for Women Program
• BAWSI Girls honored in GoGirlGo! Team Graduations Held in June
• BAWSI Supports Women in Coaching at May 30th Conference
• GoGirlGo! Teams Basketball Scholarships

September 23, 2006

CyberRays Reunion a Huge Success!

On September 23, 2006, several of the former WUSA league champion CyberRays players and their friends and families reunited with former staff members and loyal fans for a wonderful evening at the Gordon Biersch Brewery in downtown San Jose. Over 200 people attended the event, which was hosted by the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative and sponsored by Gordon Biersch and the law firm of Rossi, Hamerslough, Reischl and Chuck.

Guests enjoyed an Octoberfest menu of sausages, mustards, sauerkraut, hot pretzels and potato salad as well as three varieties of beer. They were also treated to free tours of the brewery, videos of the CyberRays in action and a slide show of BAWSI's latest programs. Lucky raffle winners took home T-shirts signed by each of the players. Guests also took pleasure in looking through CyberRays memorabilia including banners, photos, uniforms, signed soccer balls, awards, and magazines featuring the players.

The evening was a spirited celebration of an important milestone for female athletes as well as BAWSI's continuing support of women and girls in sports. The enthusiastic crowd demonstrated their appreciation for these talented athletes as well as BAWSI's latest efforts with their applause and cheers. While old memories were shared, new ones were formed. During the evening, more than $15,000 was raised to support the work of the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative.

BAWSI is grateful to all who attended and made this event a memorable and meaningful one for all who were present.

Fall 2006

BAWSI Tailors After-School Fitness Program to Kids in Wheelchairs

This fall, BAWSI will begin an after-school fitness program specifically designed for kids with wheelchairs at a local elementary school. Based on the successful BAWSI Girls Teams, which use the GoGirlGo! curriculum provided by the Women's Sports Foundation, the program will consist of several fun and creative activities that will keep the kids moving their chairs for more than an hour. Activities will be suited for both manual and power chairs, and they will build wheelchair skills, mobility, upper body strength and independence. The children will also have opportunities to try different wheelchair sports such as basketball, tennis, track and field, roller hockey, football, and others.

Accomplished Bay Area wheelchair athletes will serve as coaches, including Paralympians and intercollegiate competitors. The coaches will share their expertise as well as their stories, inspiring the children to create big dreams for their futures. BAWSI hopes to expand this program to other elementary schools next year.

Summer 2006

BAWSI Summer Fitness Program to launch at Domestic Violence Shelter

BAWSI will expand its very successful BAWSI Girls fitness program, which uses the GoGirlGo! curriculum developed by the Women's Sports Foundation, to serve children at a local domestic violence shelter this summer. Once a week, BAWSI male and female athletes will lead boys and girls at the shelter through several fun activities designed to get them moving. The kids will learn about the benefits of exercise while playing new games along with old playground favorites. They will each receive a t-shirt, a pedometer and a journal to keep track of their daily steps, working toward a goal of 10,000 steps per day for optimum health.

BAWSI athletes will serve as motivational role models for the children, inspiring the confidence to dream of a future full of positive possibilities. Through this program, the children at the shelter will have strong, healthy, compassionate and caring athletes as role models to teach them about making wise choices throughout their lives.

June 6, 2006

Business Golf for Women Program

The reviews are in... and June 6th was a smashing success!

115 women from all over the Bay Area, including places as far away as Sonoma and Turlock, made their way to Poppy Ridge on a gorgeous early summer day for the "Business Golf for Women" program held at the course as part of the National Women's Golf Week. Many ladies have already asked Poppy Ridge Director of Sales Jan Ahlman, "When is the next program?"

Attendees ranging in golf expertise from beginner to low handicapper enjoyed a full-day program, co-hosted by the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative, comprised of educational sessions, golf clinics, a 9-hole scramble, and a networking reception. Over half of the attendees were sales professionals, while other attendees included bankers, attorneys and HR managers.

Featured guest speakers presented the educational sessions. Author Suzanne Woo's topic was "On Course for Business"; Elaine Henderson of Henderson Communications Consulting & Associates presented tips on business golf etiquette and courtesy; and Gary Hernbroth, president of Training for Winners, delivered help for developing business relationships and properly using golf as a sales tool. Tina Anguish represented the Northern California Golf Association and covered the benefits of joining the NCGA and establishing a golf handicap.

After lunch, attendees had the option to participate in a golf clinic or hit the course for a 9-hole scramble. The golf clinic attracted 60 ladies who learned from the experts: Eric Jones, the 2003 Long Drive Champion, Shannon Sweeney, the former Head Golf Professional at Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach, and Rebecka Heinmert, former San Jose State University golfer, who took the group through a series of demonstrations on driving off the tee, chipping, and putting. The 9-hole scramble was a fun event that offered some games and contests on the tee.

Everyone re-joined at the Poppy Ridge clubhouse for a networking reception and vendor fair, featuring 4 local wineries who offered the ladies a refreshing finish to a great day. Many winning ladies went home with raffle prizes that were graciously donated by sponsors. Another winner was the American Heart Association, which received a donation of $1,000.00 from Poppy Ridge. Plans are already underway for next year's program. Says Poppy Ridge general manager Bob Higgins, "It was exciting to see the energy and enthusiasm from all participants... a great way to celebrate Women's Golf Week and introduce business professionals to the game of golf".

June 2006

BAWSI Girls honored in GoGirlGo! Team Graduations Held in June

"GoGirlGo!" was yelled in unison as 490 BAWSI Girls at eight sites in San Jose and Santa Clara celebrated the end of their 8-week after-school fitness program with a graduation ceremony in June. Family members and school principals proudly watched and cheered as each girl received her certificate of achievement and shouted out the number of steps recorded on her pedometer and how she felt, such as "I feel strong" or "I feel beautiful." The girls then received congratulatory high-fives from all their coaches, who happily signed the certificates to commemorate the girls' accomplishments. After parents, coaches, and team leaders were thanked and applauded, the girls were encouraged to continue using their pedometers and writing in their journals throughout the summer. Teams will resume in the fall at the same eight South Bay sites.

May 30, 2006

BAWSI Supports Women in Coaching at May 30th Conference

On Tuesday, May 30, 2006, Stanford's Center on Ethics, in cooperation with BAWSI and Stanford Athletics, presented "Work, Family, Excellence, and the Female Coach." This one day conference was designed to draw attention to and address issues facing the declining percentages of women in coaching.

Over 40 participants from the Bay Area and beyond, including those representing youth teams, college athletic departments in all divisions, and non-profit sports organizations, convened at the Fisher Conference Center on Stanford campus for a day of professional development and encouragement. Sessions on negotiation principles and time management / task organization were presented by respected speakers in each field. Participants also heard from a panel of Division I head coaches on their experiences and strategies for combining parenthood and coaching, as well as an all-star slate of female student-athletes from some of the nation's most honored programs speaking on ways in which those programs grew and maintained traditions of excellence.

Deborah Rhode, the Director of Stanford's Center on Ethics, also presented findings of the Survey of Coaches of Women's Athletics, which detailed attitudes toward the current status and implementation of Title IX, as well as current trends related to gender, family, experience, and outlook among collegiate coaches (almost 500 respondents).

BAWSI's Marlene Bjornsrud moderated a concluding participant discussion on ways to foster growth among the numbers of female coaches, as well as ways to network and provide more effective support amongst those already in the profession.

For more information on future events for coaches, please check back to www.bawsi.org in the coming months. For a complete list of speakers and topics at the conference, please go to http://ethics.stanford.edu/workfamily.htm.

Spring 2006

GoGirlGo! Teams Basketball Scholarships

Ten hard-working BAWSI Girls who participated on GoGirlGo! Teams this spring received scholarships to attend basketball camps at three local universities this summer. Six girls from Shirakawa Elementary will be hooping it up with the Spartans of San Jose State University. Two girls from Pomeroy Elementary will be playing with the superstars at Stanford University. Two girls from San Antonio Elementary will be learning from the mighty Broncos of Santa Clara University. To qualify for the scholarship, the girls wrote winning essays about why they wanted to attend the basketball camps. Congratulations to our scholarship winners!