2011 Faded Red Rugby Annual Report
With the New Year upon us, we at Faded Red realize that a newsletter about the state of rugby at Cornell University is long overdue. The degree of involvement and commitment for each person reading this note varies considerably, but the fact that all of you have continued to support our rugby programs speaks volumes about the dedication and strength that Cornell Rugby has fostered in all of us.
Over the past two years, a small group of recent alumni decided it was time to take leadership of a previously stagnant Faded Red. After a hugely successful fundraising effort helped build our new rugby field, which opened for use in 2005, our alumni organization had a significant drop-off in activity. Although the Cornell teams remained successful on the field, we lacked an active and productive alumni organization. We have set out to fix that problem.
We’ve since rebuilt the board of directors with young and enthusiastic members, rewritten our by-laws, revamped our website, strengthened our PR and marketing, worked to develop a comprehensive alumni database, and started numerous new fundraising and social activities. Faded Red is now becoming the alumni organization that Cornell Rugby, with a long history of success, deserves. More importantly, we are becoming the alumni organization that Cornell Rugby now needs to continue being competitive in an ever-more complex rugby world. With the first Cornell men’s rugby game recorded in 1879, and a continuously active team since 1938, we remain one of the longest-standing American rugby programs. We hold a special place in rugby history – one that will be reflected in an upcoming book chronicling the history of rugby in the U.S. For over 130 years, Cornell Rugby has persevered while other programs failed and it is high time that we alumni ensure the program remains vital for the next 130 years and beyond.
I am proud to be a part of Cornell Rugby, and to be a part of building on an already rich tradition. But, I am even more excited to see so many others joining us in this effort. To those of you who have provided time, money and support over the last two years, thank you! And to those of you who are ready to help, welcome! There’s always more to do, and we’re always open to suggestions. So please reach out, and let us know what you think and how you can help.
Bleed Red,
Avi Giladi
President, Faded Red
