The Hourglass
December 21, 2003
A Publication of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club
Click Here for Back Issues of The Hourglass
Holiday Season Greetings to One and All.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Many thanks to Jan and Tony Johnson for hosting this year's Annual General Meeting on Sunday, November 23. Sixteen club members and their lovely ladies descended on the Johnsons for a very sociable afternoon. The food and spirit were of great abundance and highest quality. The business meeting was mercifully short.
The Club elected the entire incumbent slate of officers to another term in office. It was noted during discussions that this in not a reflection on the unwillingness of others to step in - on the contrary, a number of players expressed interest in serving in the future. Rather, it was a reflection of the broad support enjoyed by the current executive group under the leadership of president Tony Johnson. The club is looking forward to its 25th season and agrees that continuity of leadership will help us guarantee a successful silver jubilee. Fred Seeger emoted, "Where can I have this much fun for $200 a year?" Tony commented:
"I would like take this time to thank all of you, members of the ever extending Grey family, for what has been a very rewarding and enjoyable year. Once again, we continue with our efforts to put forth a very competent and credible masters rugby club and the completion of another undefeated fall season is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every individual of this organization. You can never truly understand how pleasing it is to sit back and reflect on the accomplishments of the past year when it seemed like only yesterday we were just beginning to plan and organize the 2002 Annual Awards Banquet. I speak for the rest of the Executive Committee - your Captain, Ed Carr; Vice Captain, John Kerr; Treasurer, Gary Tamburri; Corresponding Secretary, Dean Jorgensen; Social Secretaries, Jon Leone and Tom Flynn; and especially, our Match Secretary, Mike Guzzio - when I say that we have really stepped up this year and have solidified our place as an outstanding rugby club on the field, a great social organization, and a closely knit family of many remarkable individuals. I want to thank the Committee members for their dedication and hard work that has helped make the past year so successful. It has been a real pleasure working with each and every one of you and I look forward to more enjoyable evenings and afternoons as we move into another year."
2003 SEASON AWARDS BANQUET
We will kick off our 25th season with our traditional Annual Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held on Super Bowl Saturday, January 31, at the Waverley Tavern in Cheshire. Save the date. Details will follow.
AWARDS BALLOT
It's time to cast your mind back one more time to the successes of the fall campaign and cast your ballot for the 2003 season awards. Cut and paste your ballot (below) into an e-mail and send it to Dean at greylock5@prodigy.net.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CGRFC Fall 2003 Awards Ballot
MVP - Forwards ___________________________
MVP - Backs _____________________________
Rugger Hugger Award ______________________
John Falatyn Freight Train Award _____________
Founders' Award ___________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The "Falatyn Freight Train Award" is given to that individual whose performance, both on and off the pitch, best represents the hard-charging competitive spirit and love of the brotherhood of rugby that was so amply exemplified by John. Recent recipients include Freddy Seeger, Bob Casey, Mike Guzzio (TWICE!), and Louie Casciaro.
The "Founders' Award" is presented on behalf of the founding members of the Grey to the club member whose year-in and year-out dedication to the club has fostered its present strength and helped to insure its continued success. Recent recipients include Guz, "Thurston" Jorgensen, Jimmy Facey, Tom Flynn, and Larry Larocque.
2004 SCHEDULE
Mike Guzzio has already started filling in our fixture card for the spring season. Below are the dates when we are and are not playing, so go ahead and start filling in the new 2004 calendar that sits in the pile on the table next to your fridge.
April 3 On April 10 Off (Easter weekend) April 17 Morris (away) April 24 On May 1 Off May 8 On May 15 On May 22 On May 29 Off (Memorial Day weekend) June 5 Franconia (20th Old Man Festival)
Depending what Guz is able to do with the above dates, we might even start a week earlier on March 27.
25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
With the election of the 2004 club officers, we have embarked on our 25th season as a masters rugby club. (A reminder that there is a brief history of how it all got started on our web site at www.cgrfc.org/History.htm.) At its first meeting last Thursday, the Executive Committee decided that we would have a special silver jubilee celebration in September or October of the coming year. The committee came up with a number of ideas and now asks for your opinion. How would you like to celebrate this major milestone? Here are some ideas to spark your thinking:
1) A game versus a President's XV (made up of a side of players from throughout the northeast who have been regular opponents and friends of the Grey) followed by a formal banquet 2) A game against one of our regular opponents, followed by a Family Day picnic at the pitch 3) A golf tournament on one of our "off" weekends, followed by grand drink-up at The Old Dublin or a local function hall 4) A regular Saturday game in which we invite all past Grey players to turn out (perhaps in conjunction with a Family Day); a golf outing for past and present players on the following Sunday morning; and a Sunday afternoon drink-up 5) Something else altogether
Strap on the thinking cap and send your comments to Tony at johnsaw@nu.com.
25th ANNIVERSARY HISTORY BOOK
To help mark the occasion, Tom Flynn has volunteered to assemble and edit a yearbook-style volume of the history of the Grey. So start rummaging around the attic for old photos, tour brochures, back issues of The Hourglass (back in the old days when it was distributed by snail mail), or whatever else you can find. Label the stuff and bring it with you to the Awards Banquet or send it off to Tom at PO Box 503, Wallingford, CT 06492 (he'll take good care of it and send it back when he's done with it). Also, if you have any personal recollections, please send them to Tom at TFF3@snet.net. The book will be distributed at the fall celebration.
JAMMERS
Bud Harvey, Coach of the Connecticut Jammers, has again challenged us to a game of wheelchair rugby. This has become an annual tradition and a great day out. Stand by for details, which will be sent out right after the holidays.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Another Grey tradition is our annual support of the Connecticut Special Olympics Winter Games. Again this year we will lend our assistance as timers, starters, and escorts. Save the weekend of February 28-29. Tony Johnson, who has organized the club's efforts in the past, has been named by official sponsor Northeast Utilities as General Chairman of this year's winter games. So let's turn out in numbers to support Tony, the athletes, and a great cause.
MANCHESTER ROAD RACE
Seen pounding the streets of downtown Manchester at this Thanksgiving's Manchester Road Race were our own Rooster, Chicky, John "I Have a Name" Kerr, and Thurston Jorgensen. The weather was terrific, resulting in record times all around (Dean finished before noon). Thanks as always to the Berlin Strollers - Bootsy, Dave Berube, and all the rest - who host a very pleasant little tailgate party every year and never turn away a thirsty Grey.
