NRAA President’s Monthly Meeting Notes 9/9/25

Hall of Fame/ With You Dinner Planning and Engagement Strategies

Pat highlighted the record interest in the upcoming HoF/ With You dinner, noting that ticket sales are still ongoing. He praised Joseph Buenavista for his extensive efforts in organizing the event and invited attendees to contribute their thoughts. The discussion also touched on logistical challenges and the need for collaboration among the planning team. Devin Smiley confirmed that there would be a lot of Elegant Violence Navy Rugby paraphernalia/swag for sale throughout the cocktail hour, ceremony and dinner.

Hall of Fame Update and Ceremony Logistics

Rob Sinram shared details about the Hall of Fame ceremony, indicating that he is coordinating with inductees and planning to display information on the stadium score board backdrop. The ceremony will include six inductees, with player selectees Ashley Klopp and Jack McAuliffe unable to attend. The logistics for the event were also discussed, including the new location at the Class Ring northwest facility.

Wayfinding and HoF/ With You Dinner Update

Pat emphasized the importance of “wayfinding” and confirmed that a map will be sent out to guide attendees. Joseph Buenavista noted that they are tracking USNA TAD personnel to facilitate crowd movement and mentioned that signage will be placed near the foyer to direct people effectively. He also indicated that both rugby team captains from the previous year are available to assist.

Event Planning and Logistics for With You Dinner

Joseph Buenavista detailed the logistics for the dinner, including check-in procedures and the flow of guests between different areas. He noted the Fire Marshal's capacity limit of 333 people, which may require overflow arrangements as he already has 335 sold tickets and expects more. The event will feature a dynamic program with key speakers and special recognition’s, including the 30th anniversary of the Women's Navy Rugby Program.

Plans for celebrating the Women’s Rugby Team 30-Year Anniversary at the With You Dinner

Pat highlighted the growing interest in legacy gifts and emphasized the need for increased engagement ahead of the dinner and the 30-year anniversary celebration. Ashley Sullivan and Shannon Kelly confirmed that the celebration video project is progressing well, with interviews scheduled and a pre-look planned. Pat also mentioned the agenda for the dinner, which will include remarks from the captains of the women's and men's teams. He also commented that the planned silent auction for fun raising was not in full swing due to lack of volunteers but that he had had some canvases printed of USNA Rugby logos and he felt they would be well received.

Men’s Rugby Season Update and Field Conditions

Coach Gavin Hickie reported that the season is off to a good start, with the men's team achieving a notable victory against Royal Navy Rugby Union (he mentioned that the first time that Royal Navy came over to play the Mids lost 77-0) and a thorough victory over Queens University. He highlighted the challenges posed by the T-period imposed in the daily brigade schedule, which has impacted practice times. He also mentioned ongoing issues with the scheduling games due to the split between National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) and College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) not allowing competition between teams regulated by the seperate governing bodies. Despite these challenges, the teams are performing well, and preparations for the upcoming match against Mary Washington are underway. He also talked about the resurfacing of the Prusmack fields with a type of grass which did not take well and will have to be resurfaced.

Women's Team Update

Devin Smiley reported, for Coach Murph McCarthy, that the women's team has had a strong start to the season, with a record of one win and one loss. He emphasized the positive leadership and culture within the team, as well as their competitive efforts in recent games. He added that the team played a better game against power house Dartmouth than the score indicated. The team is preparing for challenging upcoming matches, including one against perennial power Lindenwood.

Alumni Match Planning: Upcoming Social and Match Events

Marty Migliori outlined plans for the annual spring Army-Navy Alumni match and social gathering (“We were able to meet with the Army board and we decided on March 28th at Stans Farm again. That should be the week before playoffs start. So that should be a good week. Right now, we're looking at a tour of the capital on Friday. Match and a social on Saturday, and then going to Arlington Cemetary again on Sunday. That's a tentative schedule right now. There will be more coming”). He invited all members to participate regardless of their skill level. The conversation included light-hearted banter about the nature of the game and the importance of self-preservation. Marty also talked about organizing a Capitol tour and potentially involving some rugby playing congressmen in the game. Pat highlighted the need for early preparation for the sale of team jerseys and acknowledged Marty’s long time contributions, especially the inclusion of Arlington, which holds significance for many team members. Pat also noted the challenges of last-minute planning and expressed appreciation for Marty’s patience and dedication.

Championship Game Dates and Upcoming Events

Pat acknowledged the commitment of regular participants and shared that the championship game dates have been set, noting a change in the schedule with no two-week break between the semifinal and final. He also mentioned the upcoming Board of Directors meeting and expressed appreciation for the support from meeting attendees.