Blaire Zummak, La Presidente

This is the first issue of the Voice of the Valkyries!  The purpose of this newsletter is to more efficiently and effectively communicate, have fun and stay connected!  There will also be a version going out to the Old Girls to help them stay in touch and reconnect with the team.  We are just getting started! We hope you find this informative and useful. If it isn’t, let us know how to make it better.  The editor/creator of this newsletter is Lena Gardner, all feedback and any submissions are always welcome.  Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . This newsletter has evolved since its inception, we hope to continue that process and strive for a cohesive source of information.  If you have any ideas about how to do this, please don’t hesitate to contact Lena.

Ms. Laura Lynn Gill, Social Committee Chair

The Valkyries Social Committee, in conjunction with the U of M Women’s team are honoring the 1988 National Team Champions and 30 years of women’s rugby in Minnesota at the 20 Year National Champ Anniversary Banquet to be held May 16th. The event will bring together past players from both teams to re-connect and celebrate the accomplishments of women’s rugby in the state. The U and the Valks have shared a long history together and we plan to highlight the past and honor the women who made it possible. More details and online registration can be found at www.gopherrugby.com  The Social Committee was also a part of the St. Patrick’s Day parade which served as a team fundraiser and provided community service exposure for the team. The other portion of those proceeds help fund scholarships through the Children with Diabetes Foundation to “Camp Needelpoint,” a summer camp for kids with juvenile diabetes in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  We are also “testing” bars to find a new sponsor bar that will be a great fit for the team in the coming years. With Pi as a back-up, we are interested in The American Sports Bar and Grill. They gave us many free pitchers at our social after the Amazons and the UofM matches earlier this spring and that was almost good enough for us.  Any suggestions for other bars? Email Laura Gill This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 612.850.5619

Bridget Marchesi, Treasurer Extraordinaire

If you were able to attend the SAGM, you saw the nitty gritty details of the budget and know that our club needed to and did make some changes.  One of those changes included the raising of player dues, a very rare occurrence in the history of the Valks.  But if that change is to be effective, YOU NEED TO PAY UP or SIGN UP (and then pay)!  Either pay your dues or sign up for a payment plan.  You can contact Blaire at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Bridget at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with questions about where to send your checks or how to make a contract.  For all of you who have already taken care to ensure the success and future of the team by being responsible and promptly paying your dues or making arrangements: THANK YOU!  TAKK!  GRACIAS!  Keep hope alive for the rest.

Great Simpson, Head of Hell Fundraising

One of our main money makers are DOMES!!! You really do need to sign up, if you haven’t already.  The listing of available dates can be found at the Google group website: http://groups.google.com/group/MNValkyries (subscription required).  The club doesn’t work without money, incoming money doesn’t appear without working domes…and domes don’t work without you!   Remember you don’t just complete your significant other (especially if you are single); you and only you can complete the Domes.  Thank you to all who have already signed up!  Other news from the fundraising committee: Lena has some fundraisers in the works with Jamba Juice and Noodles & Co. and she could use your help!!!  Both companies will donate 20% of their proceeds during two (or so) business hours on a specific date.  So let’s get it set up and get the word out, flood the store with people and reap the rewards!  Plus who doesn’t like Noodles or Jamba Juice?  Lastly, if you are part of the fundraising committee (or anyone really), feel free to join in at any time with ideas and actions…there is so much to do, so little time!

Hannah Stolba

Please be sure that Hannah has a copy of your DL, health insurance card, and proof of citizenship.  For specifics on all of the above please consult your Rookie Handbook which is also attached to this newsletter.  Also on the Google groups website is a contact list from Fall ’07 season should you need to contact anyone on the team, and an updated list is forthcoming.  Thank you, thank you.

Ladies: if you can fit in a few hours of TV watching, yet have trouble working Martha’s work outs into your schedule, if you spend too much time on Facebook, or daydreaming about having money someday (I should have covered everyone by now) then you have 1-2 hours a week to donate to the team, to help our club make progress towards our goals and fulfilling our mission.  Find out what committee you are on and get busy!  Let’s help out our Oval members so they aren’t working into the time that they should be using to sleep and build stronger muscles.  Every little bit helps!  Even if you are only willing to give 30 minutes, contact your committee chair and ask for something to do.  If you are not on a committee, pick one! Everyone should be able to donate their skills/talents somewhere.  We should all be thinking about fundraising ideas (even if all you have is an idea, share it with someone (ideally someone on that committee) and hopefully they’ll be able to start some legwork if you can’t/are unwilling).  Everyone can think about what they can personally do to recruit new team members and to retain the teammates we already know and love! We can make this club more efficient, productive and less stressful for team members, club members, and the Oval alike but we need your help and we all need to do the work together.

Kendra Stritch

This weekend there is a game! This weekend’s schedule was emailed out on Wednesday, April 30^th.  But if you missed it: we are meeting at 8:45AM both Saturday and Sunday.  Game times for Sat. are: 10:00 vs. Amazons, 11:15 vs. Menagerie, 2:00 UW-River Falls, and Sunday: 10:00 vs. U of M.  And the Championship match @12:00!  The fields are in Eagan at the Diffley and Lexington Pitch, 4201 Lexington Ave. S.  Look for directions on email or use our website to get you to the tournament site for a map!

Gabe Fidelman, Member Services and Recruitment

The Member Services committee has been busy making new rookies feel welcome and reaching out to prospective players. Trie has organized the big sister program, ensuring all newbies have someone to turn to in their times of need. Additionally Trie and Libby (among others) have been distributing fliers around the metro area with the Valkyries. Hertel has updated the rookie packets and general Valkyries handbooks.  She also compiled a list of all Spring college events. Garnet has been coordinating high school Spring Clinics (If you are interested in helping at one contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Garnet also presented the top seeded University of Minnesota-Duluth women’s team with a donation, helping to support their first ever trip to nationals.  If you have any comments, concerns, or want to know how to get involved contact Gabe Fidelman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (612) 423-5642.

OH BABY!  The biggest (or at least most exciting!) news of course is the highly anticipated arrival of baby Joey.  Jane, Heather, and Sam are all eagerly awaiting his arrival into our world.  Any day now!  Of course we also want to wish Barb a Happy Birthday!  Half a century mark! And she still scares the crap out of most of us…Martha sure does keep herself busy between her CSA, work, coaching senior Midwest side and the U of M…she must have the energy because of doing her diligent physical training programs (that she generously shares with us) all those years.

And that means opportunities to play sevens and touch.  So far we are tentatively planning to begin touch on Thursday nights starting June 5th at the Como and 280 fields.  We are also planning on attending Lake Front (in Milwaukee) on the weekend of June 28th and MN 7’s on the weekend of July 12th (in the Twin Cities).  Christy Ringgenberg is our organizer for summer sevens and touch.  Please email her with your interest at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Based on interest and commitment, there may be more opportunities to play at some different tournaments.  Also keep in your radar more info coming about Mustang Ranch! Woo-hoo! (Don’t know what it is? Girl, you betta ask somebody!) This year backs will learn how to be a hooker too…

We are very privileged to have and honored to call six Women’s National Team Elite Squad members our own!  There were six MN Valkyries invited and who attended the WNT Positional Camp including: Front Row player Libby Berg, Flanker Angela ‘ATB’ Heifort, 8/Flanker Jillion Potter, Scrumhalf Katy Hertel, Fullback/Wing Desiree Markovich, and Outside Center Kristy Lear.  Flanker Kristin “Ham” Zdanczewicz competed internationally with the national team in England this past fall along with Jillion Potter (rookie transplant-to-be from New Mexico).  Ham is nursing a bum knee and we wish her a speedy recovery!  Also be sure to wish a successful send off to the captain of the WNT Sevens Squad Christy Ringgenberg, who leaves us in a few weeks to compete in Amsterdam!  We commend our teammates for their hard work and dedication.  As a true eagle’s nest never stops growing, neither does ours!  There are more Valks who compete at the regional levels and are working hard toward gaining (and several have received) attention from the national team.  We can all help support our teammates in their journeys as fierce international and national competitors.

Thank you Meredith for this contribution to liven and lighten up in all of our busy lives! Also for your entertainment and viewing pleasure (from Ms. Meredith) check out these links on Youtube:

Human Tetris:
 

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A Whole New World:
 

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