Gentlemen

I hope this message finds you all well.

Preparations for Cape Storm Rugby's 2010 season are underway. I wanted to give you a preview of what to expect in the coming weeks and months.

First, we will be kicking off our first major fundraiser in early November. Ambitious goals on the pitch necessitate ambitious off-field efforts, including raising the money needed to be a first-class club. Equipment - including new balls, goalpost pads, a set of second-side jerseys and a scrum sled - are among our priorities. Beyond the immediate needs, we hope to be able to offer scholarships to graduating players and possibly take the club on rugby tour overseas in the relatively near future.

Toward those ends, we will be asking all players and coaches to participate in selling Aromalight Candles during the two-week period between Nov. 2 and Nov. 16. We've run this fundraiser before with our previous U-19 Rugby club and had great success. Any woman you know - mother, aunt, grandmother, girlfriend, wife, etc. - is an excellent potential client. These candles are made by a family-run business out of Kentucky using clean-burning, American-produced, soy wax  They will be shipped before Christmas, which makes them great gifts, so use that as a selling point.

Order forms will be here within the next two weeks. LCMR students can come get them from me in Room C-6. Guys from other schools will get them in the mail. Everyone will receive a large envelope to return their order forms and money (please don't mail cash! Call/text/e-mail me to arrange pick-up).

At the same time we will be distributing order forms for the Cape Storm Rugby windbreakers that we discussed last season. Any player who sells a minimum of $150 worth of candles will automatically have his windbreaker paid for. However, please don't just shoot for the bare minimum. The more we raise, the more our club can do. Windbreakers should arrive before the new year - just in time to wear them around and recruit new players as we begin training for the season.

Other club functions are in the planning stages that I am excited to tell you about, so stay tuned. In the meantime, don't neglect your mind or body. Keep them both tuned and ready. This Storm has only just begun to take shape ...

Cheers,
Coach Badger