Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Hello Everyone,

I just sent all of you the south spring invoices which are due by March10th, 2012.  Please remit all payments to :

FRU

6250 PARKERS HAMMOCK

NAPLES, FLORIDA 34112

Thank you,

Lisa O’Donnell

FRU TReasurer

ALL:

Our Annual General Meeting was held in Vero Beach, Florida on January 29, 2012. After a quorum was established the meeting proceeded as scheduled and after all reports were approved we took a short break prior to setting the 2012 budget.

With a lively discussion and debate, the membership defined and agreed to reduce the overall dues structure to cover only the fixed and required expenses of the FRU.

The fixed and required expenses are Administration/Office, President Travel, Board Travel, USAR South Dues and Referee Game Fees.

There are two (2) very big and significant changes which I will explain.

The first and easiest change to explain is by an overwhelming majority vote, the membership voted to eliminate the third billing of the FRU “per player” fee and stop funding for all select side programs.

The second change was to assess a $25.00 game fee to each game played by each different group or entity that plays rugby in Florida. They are:
Senior Men
Senior Women
Collegiate Men
Collegiate Women
Conference Collegiate Men
Youth
With consultation, each entity assessed themselves an estimated number of games that they thought they would play during the 2012 season. By dividing the total teams in a group by the total cost of games, we established a new fixed cost of referee fees. The obvious difference is that this assessment drastically reduces the smaller groups overall dues.

The voice of the membership present was loud and clear and your new Dues Structure for 2012 will be as follows:
Senior Men 550 + 740 $ 1190 per year
Senior Men B side 550 + 340 $ 890 per year
Senior Women 550 + 425 $ 975 per year
Collegiate Men 550 + 650 $ 1200 per year
Collegiate Women 550 + 475 $ 1025 per year
Conference Collegiate Men 250 $ paid in full 2012
Youth 0 $ 0
The new billing cycle is as follows:
The billing for USAR South pass-thru dues will be sent out in February 2102 to be
paid within 30 days.
The billing for FRU dues will be sent out mid-August 2012 to be paid within 30
days.

** Some clarification to the per game assessments –

At year-end any referee game fees unused, will be carried over to the next year for that
group or entity; for an example: College women have been assessed (as a group) 24
games played for the year. If the group goes over this number, (24) they will be
immediately billed for the overage and if not paid immediately, be declared members not
in good standing. If the same group only plays 22 games, the $50 will be “held” or
carried over for the 2013 yearly assessment.

For those games labeled “Friendly” the standing current charges will apply which are the $25 per game, travel and the referee level certification fee.

For almost 40 years the Florida Rugby Union and its members have laid out a system of dues collection for a specific goal to foster and grow the sport of rugby. In the past there have been many events which have totally been supported by the members of the FRU. These events as it has turned out have been very significant for the growth of our sport. Sadly, there have also been moments of poor oversight and the results netted nothing.

I am in total support of any Florida Select Side Team

As a young man I struggled (financially) to play my beloved sport week in and week out with my home club, but constantly strived to become a rep player. In my day, my club dominated their domestic play and sought stiffer competition from abroad. When I became a member of the ERU and later the FRU select side, I was extremely proud to represent that team but also I really enjoyed playing with my former opponents. Our memories playing together will never leave us – they are the backbone and foundation that keeps us promoting and growing rugby – just ask some of your old players who were rep players.

I listened to our young administrative representatives and I completely understand from which direction their cry for less money comes from; but, I look back and remember that it was a great feeling playing select side for free without spending a fortune. Working hard during the year to get fit, competing in the trials and traveling to those trials took my money any everyone else’s too. For those of us who were selected, we will never forget the free travel together to be the best we could be and represent the Florida Rugby Union.

Finally, and came the last comment from one of our members -“Now that you have eliminated discretionary spending, how can you continue to support worthwhile programs to grow the sport?” “It doesn’t appear like you are able to.”

From the membership came “you will have to obtain local support.” This comment was repeated several more times.

If the membership years ago had eliminated discretionary spending, we would not now have youth rugby nor would we have college rugby as it stands today.

And more importantly, we have been approached by the Georgia Rugby Union to partner up and become a GU or GEOGRAPHICAL UNION. Looking through the criteria required by USAR to become a GU, Florida cannot possibly partner with anyone. To all administrators including the colleges and the youth, I would like to talk to all of you about the pathway rugby is taking in the United States in order to answer Georgia and to recant why discretionary spending is essential to the growth and future of rugby for all of you. Florida will be forced sooner or later to pay a USAR employee to administer day to day issues for all groups (Senior, College, and Youth) regardless of any FRU affiliation and if it does not happen in 2013 for sure it will happen in 2014.

Finally, it is extremely important that you call me and get current and real information regarding our future. Delays will only cost you more money in the end.

Franklyn Williams
President, FRU
305 793 4477

To All Senior Men’s Club Members Division II & Division III

Many club representatives have been calling to inquire about club standings in the USA National Club Championship.

USA Rugby South is running this competition and has your standings on their website. Please go to www.usarugbysouth.com, look to the left side and press men, look for men’s clubs, and press division II or division III to see where your club stands.

Should you have any questions, please direct them to Brad Davis, the VP of Men’s rugby.
Office 813 977 3424
Cell 813 527 4111

ALL:

Our Annual General Meeting was held in Vero Beach, Florida on January 29, 2012. After a quorum was established the meeting proceeded as scheduled and after all reports were approved we took a short break prior to setting the 2012 budget.

With a lively discussion and debate, the membership defined and agreed to reduce the overall dues structure to cover only the fixed and required expenses of the FRU.

The fixed and required expenses are Administration/Office, President Travel, Board Travel, USAR South Dues and Referee Game Fees.

There are two (2) very big and significant changes which I will explain.

The first and easiest change to explain is by an overwhelming majority vote, the membership voted to eliminate the third billing of the FRU “per player” fee and stop funding for all select side programs.

The second change was to assess a $25.00 game fee to each game played by each different group or entity that plays rugby in Florida. They are:
Senior Men
Senior Women
Collegiate Men
Collegiate Women
Conference Collegiate Men
Youth
With consultation, each entity assessed themselves an estimated number of games that they thought they would play during the 2012 season. By dividing the total teams in a group by the total cost of games, we established a new fixed cost of referee fees. The obvious difference is that this assessment drastically reduces the smaller groups overall dues.

The voice of the membership present was loud and clear and your new Dues Structure for 2012 will be as follows:
Senior Men 550 + 740 $ 1190 per year
Senior Men B side 550 + 340 $ 890 per year
Senior Women 550 + 425 $ 975 per year
Collegiate Men 550 + 650 $ 1200 per year
Collegiate Women 550 + 475 $ 1025 per year
Conference Collegiate Men 250 $ paid in full 2012
Youth 0 $ 0
The new billing cycle is as follows:
The billing for USAR South pass-thru dues will be sent out in February 2102 to be
paid within 30 days.
The billing for FRU dues will be sent out mid-August 2012 to be paid within 30
days.

** Some clarification to the per game assessments –

At year-end any referee game fees unused, will be carried over to the next year for that
group or entity; for an example: College women have been assessed (as a group) 24
games played for the year. If the group goes over this number, (24) they will be
immediately billed for the overage and if not paid immediately, be declared
members not in good standing. If the same group only plays 22 games, the $50 will
be “held” or carried over for the 2013 yearly assessment.

For those games labeled “Friendly” the standing current charges will apply which are the $25 per game, travel and the referee level certification fee.

For almost 40 years the Florida Rugby Union and its members have laid out a system of dues collection for a specific goal to foster and grow the sport of rugby. In the past there have been many events which have totally been supported by the members of the FRU. These events as it has turned out have been very significant for the growth of our sport. Sadly, there have also been moments of poor oversight and the results netted nothing.

I am in total support of any Florida Select Side Team

As a young man I struggled (financially) to play my beloved sport week in and week out with my home club, but constantly strived to become a rep player. In my day, my club dominated their domestic play and sought stiffer competition from abroad. When I became a member of the ERU and later the FRU select side, I was extremely proud to represent that team but also I really enjoyed playing with my former opponents. Our memories playing together will never leave us – they are the backbone and foundation that keeps us promoting and growing rugby – just ask some of your old players who were rep players.

I listened to our young administrative representatives and I completely understand from which direction their cry for less money comes from; but, I look back and remember that it was a great feeling playing select side for free without spending a fortune. Working hard during the year to get fit, competing in the trials and traveling to those trials took my money any everyone else’s too. For those of us who were selected, we will never forget the free travel together to be the best we could be and represent the Florida Rugby Union.

Finally, and came the last comment from one of our members -“Now that you have eliminated discretionary spending, how can you continue to support worthwhile programs to grow the sport?” “It doesn’t appear like you are able to.”

From the membership came “you will have to obtain local support.” This comment was repeated several more times.

If the membership years ago had eliminated discretionary spending, we would not now have youth rugby nor would we have college rugby as it stands today.

And more importantly, we have been approached by the Georgia Rugby Union to partner up and become a GU or GEOGRAPHICAL UNION. Looking through the criteria required by USAR to become a GU, Florida cannot possibly partner with anyone. To all administrators including the colleges and the youth, I would like to talk to all of you about the pathway rugby is taking in the United States in order to answer Georgia and to recant why discretionary spending is essential to the growth and future of rugby for all of you. Florida will be forced sooner or later to pay a USAR employee to administer day to day issues for all groups (Senior, College, and Youth) regardless of any FRU affiliation and if it does not happen in 2013 for sure it will happen in 2014.

Finally, it is extremely important that you call me and get current and real information regarding our future. Delays will only cost you more money in the end.

Franklyn Williams
President, FRU
305 793 4477

The 2012 Game Management Guidelines are now available to download on the USAR website.

Go to:  www.usarugby.org

Officiate the Game (make sure you are on the main page and not the R&L page; sometimes it defaults to the R&L page)

2012  Game Management Guidelines