Awards Day—Coming Soon! Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 3 p.m.

Las Campanas Compadres Awards Day

 

3:00 pm

Saturday, October 13^th 2012

Equestrian Center The Club at Las Campanas

 

 

Please join us for our annual awards day for students and volunteers. All of our students will be receiving individual awards.

 

Lynn Woodard has once again kindly offered to organize food and refreshments.

If you would like to bring something, please contact Lynn  at 984-1984

 

Fall 2011984

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Mini-Tri 2012 Photos and Results are on the LCC Website!

The Las Campanas Compadres Mini-Triathlon photos, and race results, are now posted on our website: www.lascampanascompadres.org.

To see the photos and get the link to  the individual and team results, click on the Events & Photos tab.

We look forward to seeing you all at next year’s Mini-Tri!

A Backward Glimpse at Benevolence

Throughout the year, in preparation for its one end-of-summer  fundraising event, LCC  makes  a heartfelt request to the community and beyond, for people to combine their resources and abilities to assist Las Campanas Compadres—a charity whose focus is to provide year-round therapeutic activities for people of all ages who have disabilities.

LCC’s annual Labor Day fundraising weekend is a prime example of the culmination of countless hours invested by many generous people working together and united by a loving and benevolent spirit.

The first weekend of September, 2012, Las Campanas Compadres’ year-long and multi-faceted plan unfurled. It’s focus was to coordinate one of the most successful annual fundraising events in its five-year history.

That special weekend arrived with radio interviews already broadcast, mini-tri volunteers rounded up, and Andie Talmadge and her team of “FIT FUNdamentals” organizers putting together the final details as operations control of the  Fourth Annual LCC Mini-triathlon. Anticipation was growing as the 130 online registrants for the mini-tri events were organized into team or individual participant status. The physical gates and road signs were trucked to the main site of the LCC 2012 Mini-triathlon.  Participant packets were prepared and snacks were purchased for race day. The Las Campanas Compadres concierge was busy confirming all reservations to seat LCC supporters at  red-checked covered tables for the Sunday evening pre-race pasta dinner.

On the evening of Sunday, September 2, the Torreon’s lovely mingling/dining space opened to an eye-pleasing view of the mountains and the Las Campanas golf course green.  The Pasta Party guests enjoyed one another’s company, the decor of the setting, and the perfect balminess of the evening.  Chef Andrew outdid himself with a scrumptious buffet offering a dual choice of pasta dishes, a snappy and flavorful broccoli, a mountainous fresh caesar salad; and not one, but two, delicious dessert finales: Mexican brownies and strawberries with zabaglione cream. After dinner, Lawrence Becerra  appropriately thanked sponsors and faithful supporters of LCC who have stood with the Becerras to keep the programs equipped, manned, and fully functional. LCC board member, George Collins’ outstanding image/music slide show played throughout the evening featuring LCC participants and volunteers. It tugged at hearts and aptly illustrated the positive impact of LCC’s efforts. Inspiring speeches by LCC participants, John (Mad Dog) Romero and Christian Woodard  expressed what the LCC programs mean to them,  and prompted tears and standing ovations to round out the celebratory evening.

As early as sunrise on Monday, September 3, organizers, volunteers, athletes, and friend-and-family cheerleaders gathered at the Las Campanas Pool and Tennis Club.  Swimmers, bicyclists, and runners lined up at volunteer-manned tables for check-in to receive their numbers, time-keeping ankle chips, and readied participant satchels which held sponsor-donated LCC-logoed caps, t-shirts, and water bottles.

Yellow-shirted volunteers were placed at their many posts throughout the Las Campanas property, along biking and running routes to maintain safety at the event.  The mini-tri athletes found their starting places as the 8 a.m. swim event began the Labor Day morning of competition and fun.

The enthusiasm of all those there to race for the LCC cause, or to cheer on the athletes, was heightened by Chad, the event’s professional announcer. High-energy background music added to the exhilarating atmosphere.  Smiles abounded and the excitement was palpable throughout the events as people took part or witnessed LCC’s Fourth Annual Mini-triathlon.

When the last runners crossed the finish line, LCC students were given medals for taking part in the swimming, biking or running events. Beautifully crafted awards were given to top-scoring mini-tri teams and best-time individuals. Several gathered to eat together at the end-of-event picnic lunch.  Picnickers enjoyed grilled  hot dogs and hamburgers discussing the morning events and the bright future of LCC programs, while listening to background Flamenco music on the grassy area beyond the outdoor pool.

Many thanks go out to all of you who gave of yourselves and contributed in any one of several ways to make the Labor Day Mini-Tri weekend such a success.  It is your contributions of energy, talents, time, and financial support throughout the year which keep the no-fee Las Campanas Compadres riding and swimming programs available to people with special needs in the Santa Fe community.

Mini-Tri 2012—Thanks from Lawrence and Suzanna

Dear Athletes and Volunteers,

Our 4^th Annual Mini Tri was a great success this year thanks to the hard work and dedication of our board, volunteers, The Club at Las Campanas staff, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. We trust you had a great time and that you will sign up again for next year’s event.

Our event raises money for our charity, Las Campanas Compadres, Inc. LCC offers free riding and swimming lessons for people with special needs. Since inception we have underwritten over 3,500 lessons and are on track to underwrite approximately 1,200 per year. Please go to our website http://lascampanascompadres.org/to learn more about us and how you can help.

This year we had 130 mini tri participants, up from 120 last year. We used a professional organizer, FIT FUNdamentals, to organize the event and they did a great job. We also had an announcer, Chad, who kept the energy level high all morning by conducting interviews with participants and volunteers alike. The atmosphere can only be described as high energy, and we think a good time was had by all.

There were 11 special needs teams this year, up from three last year. Suzanna and I want to especially thank David Loan, General Manager; Andrew Nichols, Executive Chef; Tony Blankenship, Sous Chef; Jason Epstein, Director of Golf Operations; Tom Egelhoff, Director of Agronomy; and Todd Shaw, Fitness and Tennis Director, for pairing up with one of our students and giving them the chance to participate in the race. This is a big deal for them and can only be accomplished if you have people less concerned about winning and more concerned about giving. That being said, congratulations to Jason and his team “The Goof Balls” for coming in second place in the special needs team category with a time of 1:09:14.

Suzanna and I also want to especially thank all of this year’s volunteers. An event of this size is not possible unless a lot of people work together with a singular purpose in mind. They did a tremendous job and were the reason the event went off without a hitch. Many of them stated the day at 5:30 AM and their energy and enthusiasm never flagged. We can only hope that you all step up to the plate again next year.

Congratulation to this year’s overall winners in the following categories. Their names will be inscribed on this year’s trophy that was generously crafted and donated by our very own Rosa Silbert. Look for it at the Hacienda. Individual and team times can be found by going to http://www.chasing3.com/lcctriresults/

Category                                               Name                                   Time

 

Overall Male                                         Scott Valdez                          56:02

Overall Female                                     Laura Sullivan                      1:10:52

Overall Veteran                                    Matthew Hall                          59:46

Overall Junior                                       Ethan Melvin                          59:31

Overall Team                                        Merrill Lynch                         52.52

Overall COED Team                            Team D’Alfonso                  1:01:01

Overall Special Needs Team                 Team Santi                          1:05:40

Once again, thank you to all of our participants and we hope to see you again next year.

Kind Regards,

Lawrence & Suzanna Becerra

Founders, Las Campanas Compadres, Inc.

Intentions, Actions, Results…

Labor Day Weekend has arrived!

The blogging today takes place looking forward to the very special Las Campanas Compadres Sunday evening “Pasta Dinner” and to the Monday Morning Labor Day “Mini-Triathlon”.   So much behind-the-scenes energy and a great deal of effort have been expended to make the events a success and keep LCC’s programs going strong.

Many thanks to the  Becerras,

Santiago and Mimi having fun

the event coordinators, the volunteers, and to the supporters of the 2012 annual LCC fundraising events for what has already happened to reach LCC’s commitments and to meet the financial needs to allow the programs to continue.

Why fund raise for LCC?  Why volunteer for LCC?  Why financially support a group that benefits the disabled in the Santa Fe community with free, fun-filled therapeutic horse-back riding and swimming lessons?

When you do, you create the kind of smiles that simply have no price.

Come out to the weekend events to see how you can make a difference and enrich the lives of some special people.

For details go to the Las Campanas Compadres website: http://lascampanascompadres.org/