Taking the plunge

Special Olympics fundraiser won gold by turning blue

Rhona Meislik of Whitefish received a golden award by getting paid to turn blue in support of Special Olympics Montana.

She proudly displays her reward for raising the most money at the annual Penguin Plunge into the frigid water of Whitefish Lake.

'It's the 'golden plunger,'" she said, laughing as she held up the plaque. "I love that name - I had to have it."

Meislik gathered $3,975 and her team topped $6,000 to help support Special Olympics Montana.

The organization's winter games begin today with opening ceremonies and a parade at 4 p.m. in Depot Park in Whitefish.

Special Olympics events scheduled Monday and Tuesday at Whitefish Mountain Resort include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and beginner alpine snowboarding.

For the first time this year, Special Olympics Montana added advanced slalom and advanced giant slalom, plus there will be floor-hockey team competition at The Wave. Meislik encourages people to experience the competition firsthand.

"It's heart-warming to watch," she said. "Everybody cheers everyone else on. There's a nice feeling of friendship."

Meislik first got involved in the Penguin Plunge benefit in 2001 when some friends invited her to join their team. She said she had a great time and felt good about giving back with time and money to Special Olympics Montana.

"I've always felt we've been very lucky - I feel I'm a very fortunate person," she said.

Meislik and her husband Jerry, an ophthamologist at Glacier Eye Clinic, began coming to Big Mountain in 1994.

They moved here full time from Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2000 to take advantage of the many outdoor opportunities.

"We're both skiers, snowshoers and hikers," she said. "We absolutely love it here."

Among her many community contributions, Meislik was elected and has served on the board for Big Mountain Fire District. She also helped set up a nonprofit organization to raise money for the department.

After getting her feet wet the first year in the Penguin Plunge, Meislik formed her own team to plunge for Special Olympics Montana as well as hike up Big Mountain in the summer to raise money for Flathead Industries.

She successfully recruited friends - but not her husband - to strip down to swimsuits and water shoes, then jump into the 34-degree water of Whitefish Lake.

"Just one crazy person to a family," Jerry joked.

He participates by photographing the team, dubbed Meislik's Monkeys, holding hands and wearing monkey-festooned headbands as they jump off the ice and race to the shore - transformed into blue Smurfs - then jump into a hot tub.

A pizza lunch and awards ceremony wraps up the fun.

Meislik described the experience as almost addictive.

"It's a shock - it's definitely invigorating," she said. "It's just such a good cause and everyone has a good time."

For her dip this year, Meislik set a goal of taking home the gold plunger award for raising the most money. She got started in December contacting friends and co-workers at Base Lodge Rental to join her team.

She also set up a Web site offered for Special Olympics Montana fundraisers through firstgiving.com and e-mailed her network of friends asking for sponsors. Using the secure site makes it easy for people to donate and relieves the pressure of in person solicitation.

On her page, she told her friends that she officially qualified as a penguin this year by visiting Antarctica, and made a special plea.

"The Special Olympics is a great cause and I only lost out on raising the most money individually last year by $15, so I am going for a record this year."

It worked, with donations ranging from $15 to hundreds of dollars. She said that most people agree to donate as long as she doesn't ask them to go through the hole in the ice.

Others leap at the chance to become Penguin Plungers by raising at least $100 each. About 260 people participated on Feb. 7.

Meislik's Monkeys numbered 14 members this year, with the last-minute addition of Wounded Warrior Project guest Noah Galloway, his friend and two sponsors.

Galloway, who lost his left arm and leg in Iraq, removed his prosthesis, hopped off the ice and then to shore.

"He had a great time," Meislik said. "He was so enthusiastic."

Other teammates felt the same. She said half her team has promised to go jump in the lake again next year.

Meislik welcomes competition for the golden plunger bragging rights. She said this is the kind of event for which almost everyone is willing to give at least a few dollars.

It's not as easy to get people to raise $100 to jump into freezing water. But, according to Meislik, more people mean more fun.

"Just ask your friends if they'll jump with you," she said. "They'll either tell you you're crazy or they'll do it."

Although the Penguin Plunge is over, Meislik's Web page remains open through May 7 for contributions to Special Olympics Montana at firstgiving.com/rhonameislik.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.

Special Olympics Montana's 2009 State Winter Games begin this afternoon and continue through Tuesday in Whitefish.

The opening ceremonies and Parade of Athletes will be held in downtown Whitefish at Depot Park on Sunday starting at 4 p.m.

Competition will be Monday and Tuesday at Whitefish Mountain Resort, plus a new event, floor hockey, will be at The Wave on Monday.

Ski competition concludes at 3 p.m. Tuesday; awards ceremonies will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Base Lodge at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Most activities are centered around the Base Lodge and Chair 6.

Special Olympics athletes also will be treated to a team banquet, carnival and dance on Monday night.

A complete schedule of events is available at http://www.somt.org/mt_wg/schedule.html