PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Florida Rugby Union
Message from the President
January 12, 2011
To All Members:
On January 29, 2011 members from 22 of our 35 members traveled to Orlando, Florida to attend the FRU Annual General Meeting. This meeting is held once a year to set up an operating budget, review important changes from USA Rugby, vote on new by-laws, institute new rules and regulations and vote for new FRU Board Members.
As your new President I am now dedicated to help improve our communication between players, referees and administrators. This we hope to accomplish with improving our website by providing easier access for obtaining up to date rules, regulations and resources to help run your clubs for efficiently.
I would also like to begin next year with putting a new line item in our budget which would be identified as a reserve account used to help a team who qualifies for the 16th place or better, help an individual with travel costs who has made am Eagle Camp or lend a club “seed money” for expenses related to a FRU or USA Rugby event.
To help with some of the day to day issues of running the FRU, I have asked Kerri O’Malley who is associated with Gainesville RFC if she was interested in helping to improve our Handbook. Kerri has accepted the offer and has been appointed to begin the task! Thank you Kerri!
One area of importance which needs immediate supervision is player behavior on and around the field.
For some time Mr. James Gladen has been our Disciplinary Chair and has done a very good job handling red card offenses, law interpretations and tracking player history. James moved out of Florida some time ago but had agreed to continue until the “new guard” was elected and in place. Thank you very much James for your devoted service to Florida Rugby.
I have asked Mr. Jason Nimark who at present is a Florida Referee, if he was interested in accepting an appointed position with the FRU as the Disciplinary Chair. Jason has graciously accepted the position and has prior experience as a disciplinary chair in the Arizona Rugby Union. Please welcome Jason to the FRU Board!
With a relatively new administration, there is a period of time needed to update information on our website. It is extremely important that every club President to email to me personally all of his or her club contacts. This would include coach, VPs, Match Secretary, Treasurer or any other voted or appointed positions. Also please send a link to your clubs website. This information will be formatted and placed in the website. Failure to comply within a reasonable time to be determined by the board may place a club “not in good standing” making it impossible to play rugby.
This is the first step needed to assure compliance with IRB, USA Rugby, USAR South and FRU rules, regulations and law changes throughout the season.
Lastly Jessica Hammer who has been our webmaster in prior years has also accepted her role again as webmaster with the understanding that we as users will actually use the new and improved site and help her with requests to better the site. Thanks “Juice”.!
There are many more topics which are in the pipeline to address in the coming months but with everyone’s help and cooperation I expect to see a smooth transition into 7’s season and into the Fall.
Please address any and all emails to me at fmw09@att.net and / or call me at 305- 793 -4477.
Please look for the other board members contact info on our website.
Regards,
Franklyn Williams
