Western Suburbs Annual
Business Meeting Report
11/20/01 – The Firehouse Grill, Fairfax, VA
Present at meeting
(in no special order): Watkins, Steve Lough, Travis Tull, Trip, Jim Cleary,
Kermit, Cookie, Neil Devaney, Rossi, Lumberjack, Fred Bardot, Podo, Kramer,
Princess, Elvis, Shakes, Corry, Greg Mull, Crazy Eddie, Jesse, Aki and yours
truly, Brigham. 22 in all – not a real good turnout. But… I figure with the end
of the season people are well and truly burned out with rugby. Either that or
they trust us a lot.
After schmoozing
at the bar for awhile we went upstairs to the Red Room (redrum! redrum!) and
began. The following topics were discussed:
Financial Report: In Rover’s absence, I read off the
financial report, which he prepared. In short, in 2001 we collected $11,579 in
dues, $1,440 in donations, $8,852 in fundraising and apparel sales produced
$1,250. Our total income was $15,950. Last year we spent $6,896 on socials –
that’s a lot of beer. Total expenses were $15,835. The net income was a whopping
$115. Lumberjack quickly pointed out that that’s a positive number. We
currently have $3,520 in two bank accounts.
Spring Schedule: Geez, who knows? Frankly, the amount of
information coming out of MARFU/PRU about Division III competition has been
underwhelming and, when it’s available, confusing. We don’t know when or where
the Reds playoffs are, or who we’re playing. [Note: Since the meeting, upon asking, we have been told that the Division III playoffs are on the 27th and 28th of April.] We do know we’re involved in a
Division II playoff on 4/20/02 in Norfolk, and that the City of Derry RFC from
Ireland are supposed to be playing us in early April, but that’s about it.
There seemed to be a general desire not to travel up to Pennsylvania late in
the season to get our butts kicked.
Banquet: Via Internet survey, the membership expressed a desire for
two parties. Sure, sez the officers present who have to put these things
together, that’s fine, but they’re a pain. So… if you count the recent
all-night party at Lumberjack’s, plus a banquet in maybe late January/early
February, that’s two. There was a general desire to have something like we had
last time, but with more chairs and tables. We shall alert the banquet
committee, who have yet to be told they’re it.
Fields: We talked about the availability for fields in spring season
(February at Dunn Loring with lights and generators, March in the Dustbin,
April and May back at Dunn Loring). Steve Lough said he’d investigate possibly
getting a lit field in Herndon.
Start of Practice: By general assent, Saturday, 9 February,
2002. Tripi will begin Camp Xtreme on 2 January. (Izzat xtreme enuf for ya?)
Recruitment Social: By general assent, let’s have one in late
January, at Phillip’s, on a Thursday night to take advantage of $1.50
Guinnesses. Get ‘em liquored up and Shanghai ‘em into the scrum.
Off-Season Weekly Socials: If you want to gather somewhere, gather at
Phillip’s at 8 PM on Thursday nights.
Off-Season Saturday Fun Runs: Kelly Watkins
is the sponsor of this, to be held on Saturdays at 8 AM (sharp) at Van Dyke
Park (not Dunn Loring).
Off-Season Sunday Football: Pat
“Special” Clark is the sponsor of this, to be held on Sundays at 11 AM at
Van Dyke Park.
Old Boys: I mentioned that 2002 represents the 10th
anniversary of the Suburbs Old Boys (SOB’s) – maybe we ought to do
commemorative jerseys. Kosmo decried the generally motley appearance of the
SOB’s at last Sunday’s match, and suggested we get a team set of jerseys for
the SOB’s. Mike “Princess” Clark has offered to be the jersey manager if this
happens.
A New Tournament: In an e-mail, one fellow from Severn River
suggested a spring season Tri-Nations-like three way tournament between them,
us and Rocky Gorge, with the winning club retaining a trophy cup that all three
clubs will kick in to purchase. (Given the three clubs in question, one wag at
the meeting promptly named it “the Animosity Cup.”) In a follow up e-mail a
fellow from Severn River suggested that this spring is too early to pursue
this, and we agree, seeing as how we have to plan carefully for two sets of
playoffs. But... the suggestion has been made. As Yul Brynner said in “the Ten
Commandments,” So Let It Be Written, So Let It Be Done. (Maybe.)
Trophy: Speaking of trophy cups, when I mentioned that we will not be getting one from MARFU or PRU,
there was some justified booing and hissing.
Referee Training: The refs society, PRU and MARFU are
twisting the club’s arms to produce more refs. So… Kevin “El Jefe” Corry will
attend refresher training, and Podo and Fred Bardot offered to be trained.
Buzz, call your office and get in touch with these guys.
Grass: Tripi wants to get some guys together and sow some grass on
the Dunn Loring pitch (playing rugby on bare, hard dirt is a little too xtreme,
I guess). The club grass expert, Crazy Eddie, was consulted, and he advised
that we plant grass after the last frost. He also recommended flushing whatever
you don’t want the cops to find down the toilet.
I was kidding
about that last part.
Youth club: Podo mentioned that a new youth rugby club
is starting up in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and that he could use some help. If interested,
contact Podo.
Coaches: Presently, we have no less than four new gentlemen who have
expressed interest in doing some coaching for WSRFC. To spare them the ordeal
of seeing their names in print in this forum and being speculated upon, I will
not mention who they are. However, it is questionable which ones are interested
in being a head coach. (This, by the way, is in addition to four gents who have
expressed interest in being associate coaches or are currently coaches of some
kind.) Clearly, the officers have to do some off-season contacting to find out
who is serious/plausible/reasonable and sort this out.
Officer Elections: Paul Jenkins, Mike Kramer and Elvis have
offered to run for a full year in 2002 as president, vice president and match
secretary. Rover would like to be released as treasurer after doing the taxes
in April. I will need to be replaced as secretary in May, when the season is
over. After this was explained, Kelly Watkins moved that we accept the current
line-up as is, as was described. This was seconded, and that’s that.
Best-of’s: I then handed out the ballots and the
members present voted on “superlatives,” or the best of’s. I have tallied these
and have the results. (This year was unique in that Ed Gafney didn’t appear as
the a-side forward of the year.) However, Lumberjack and I would like to get a better representation of votes for the "best-of's" than we could at the meeting. This being the case, if you DID NOT vote for these awards at the meeting, please send me your selections by e-mail. Deadline for submissions is 3 PM, Wednesday, November 28th. The categories are:
Best Forward A
I will be obtaining the plaques for presentation at the banquet. I will warn you now, I will not be buying you guys bottles of Schlitz.
Best Back A
Best Forward B
Best Back B
Best Forward C
Best Back C
Most Valuable Player
Most Improved
After I was handed
the ballots the meeting was, de facto, ended. And so, another gross perversion
of the democratic process has been accomplished by the Western Suburbs Rugby
Football Club, Inc.
Trip’s photos from
this epic event may be viewed here.
I remain your
dedicated servant, sort of,
Wes “Brigham”
Clark
