Willits Brings Special Olympics to Life

Perry Jenkins introduced Mike Willits as our speaker last week. Mike is marketing manager for Mutual of Enumclaw and has been closely involved with Special Olympics for the past ten years. This time he was working with the Asian group primarily as a translator for the team from Taiwan. What an adventure! He told us about the challenges in getting the S.O. up and running on short notice after Sarajevo had to cancel. The logistical issue s are mind numbing....100 countries, 50 languages.....State Department worried about defections....sponsorships backing out.....how to handle VIPs. And, it was a much bigger deal around the world than it was in the USA.....had lots of foreign press to accommodate. They hoped for 3500 blue and white scarves and ended up with 50,000.! Then Mike told his story of Miracle #983 - the deaf girl and the generous audiologist. And who was the most fun?? The Saudi's and the Jamaicans. Thanks, Perry, for bringing Mike to us. It was great!