Happy Holidays!

It’s the time of year again to reflect back on all of the blessings we've had along with the challenges we have faced and give thanks to those who have helped us through. It is also the time to start looking at the year to come and set our expectations, goals, and plans to ensure we make the most of every moment.

It is with these thoughts in mind that we wanted to share with you a quick re-cap of 2011 from a Siena Rugby Alumni perspective. After this past spring’s alumni weekend, we surpassed the $250,000 mark of funds raised and over ten years of giving back to the Siena community! We continue to award two scholarships per year and provide Christmas presents to three families in need who otherwise would not be able to celebrate this blessed holiday season. It is hard to put into words the appreciation that these families show; it’s a special feeling to know you've had an impact on the lives of others. These are only two examples of our charitable endeavors that have changed lives.

While our Alumni efforts have certainly grown, the current players have also been hard at work in giving back to those in need, raising funds for Breast Cancer research and helping out those impacted by Hurricane Irene in the Town of Rotterdam.

As we look ahead to 2012, the planning for next year’s event is already underway so we'd like you to save the dates of May 4-5, 2012. You don't want to hear the stories old and new second-hand! In the meantime, we want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year! We will look forward to seeing you in May!

~ Your Rugby Alumni Planning Committee

2011 Siena Rugby Weekend Recap

It was another outstanding weekend for the Siena Rugby Alumni community! We had two sunny days that supported great golf and rugby. As many of you know, two sunny days represent 5% of all of the sunshine the Capital Region gets over the course of a year so we need to consider ourselves blessed! It must have been Father Kevin’s doing…

Thanks to Joe McCrudden, Tom Thornton, and Dave Feenan, the day of golf was incredibly successful! We would also like to thank our many supporters for their contributions. They helped us raise north of $13,000 that will continue to be used to support local causes in the memories of Michael and Terence. A shout out to Tom McGovern as well who has been providing Superbowl tickets for our raffle over the last several years. This has clearly been a highlight and a catalyst for fundraising. This year we dedicated the Par 3 hole for hitting the green to the Kellie Duggan Scholarship and, in doing so, raised $1,000! Please also consider supporting the Memorial Cruise this coming August 6th in NYC. Please visit the following link for more details and registration information: http://www.scwrfca.com/kellie-duggan-memorial-cruise.

Saturday’s festivities started out with our own Father Kevin Tortorelli saying Mass, followed by two classic rugby battles. The lady alumni played a solid game only to be conquered by a strong Siena squad with solid team speed. The men’s side saw a different take with the bigger alumni squarely controlling the pack and the game. The ageless wonder, Tom Harvey ’79, graced the field with his presence while rugby phenom, Tony Leva ‘90, excited the crowd with several spectacular plays off of set pieces. The alumni bested the young Siena team but it’s clear this group will be back to provide a greater challenge next year.

All in all, it was a great weekend for all involved and planning is already in the works for next year’s event. Mark your calendars for May 4-5, 2012! We are discussing a networking event for Siena’s junior and senior players, both men and women, on Thursday night, May 3rd. It is a great opportunity for us, as alumni, to give back and discuss career opportunities to help them prepare for the job market. More on this to come…

In the meantime, we hope you and your families have a great summer.

Your Rugby Planning Committee

PS: For those of you who did not attend or did and would like an extra wind shirt, please email Joe. This is a $100 value for the low, low price of $30 dollars (shipping included)