Midwest Updates - 12/20/12 . . .

[Territorial News]

To One and All:

 

     It's been a little over a month since I sent out my last 'Scores and more' newsletter for the Competitive Fall Season of MW Conferences and/or Leagues.  Now it's time to begin 'Midwest Updates', which may include a few scores, like from some of the Winter Venues coming up, http://www.midwestrugby.org/wintervenues.htm.

 

     First of all let me take the time to mention our collective pain and sorrow to those involved in the Sandy Hook Elementary School catastrophe . . . there are a few things you may want to do . . . 1) sign the Sympathy Card that's going around, http://tiny.cc/dslmpw . . . they have over 2 million signatures and still have 26 days left before they send the card . . . 2) send a card directly to 'Message of Condolence, PO Box 3700, Newtown, CT 06470' . . . you may have missed 'The Voice' last night with their tribute to all of those who died  . . . they sang part of 'Hallelujah', which was moving to say the least, and toward the end President Obama named all those that have moved on, http://tiny.cc/cxlmpw . . . one of the best, in my mind, version of the song was and still is song by Espen Lind, Askil Holm, Alejandro Fuentes, and Kurt Nilsen, and in that order, http://youtu.be/Qt2FWAbXinY . . . the song was written by an old-timer, Leonard Cohen . . . he did 86 different versions of the song before publishing it in 1984, and has sung it himself many times . . . he's 78 years old now and still going strong.  I'm an old military brat, and have no problems with guns being owned by individuals of sound mind, but I don't believe in the common person being allowed to own an assault rifle of any kind . . . heck, I learned 'how to' shot with an M1 military training rifle at the age of 9, and was a 'sharp shooter' by the time I reached Junior High School . . . you've got to know that killing someone is the only way to resolve the situation before you take that approach . . .  I was a member of the NRA at the age of 9, but I haven't kept up my membership 'cause I can't and won't go along with its take on letting the common person own an assault rifle without a rigorous background check, and a bunch of training, which in reality would make it much more difficult to own an assault rifle, and deter many from buying one due to the inconvenience . . . now, if we want to go back to the wild west days and let anyone carry a Colt on their hip, in plain site, well, that's a whole other situation that goes more along the lines of anarchy, a real case of 'may the best man win' scenario . . . I don't think it is a good idea for our current world, especially in the USA, but I have thought it would be a great way to reduce the population of the world, with gun fights on Main Street of almost every village, town, and city, and we'd get rid of a whole bunch of unstable types like perverts, wife beaters, and abusers just to name a few.  With all that said doesn't it seem like a Mental Health issue, and that we've missed the mark on that end by miles and miles?  Yes, I would say we have, and maybe something better will come out of the Sandy Hook Elementary School catastrophe . . . maybe!

 

     There's a USA Rugby Workshop coming up in Chicago on the 26th of January, 2013, to get Coaches Certified, http://tiny.cc/4jmmpw . . . it's a one day Workshop and only $90.00 . . . it's sponsored by the iYRA, http://www.iyra.org/, and is one of the 'new' Workshop Levels, i.e., Level 200, which is just above Level 100, which is for non-contact Coaching Certification, and which can be complete online right now, http://tiny.cc/ki3kpw.  The 'new' Levels of getting Certified start out with Level 100, and then go to Level 200, Level 300, and Level 400, which isn't quite in place yet, but will be sooner than later.  There is some 'grandfathering in', and if you are a Certified Coach already you will need to contact David McCann, dmc...@usarugby.org, 303-539-0300 x 110, or Chase Langdon, clan...@usarugby.org, 303-539-0300 x 131, to see where you fit in . . . or you can start on the USA Rugby Registration Instructions web page, http://tiny.cc/n2l8ow.

 

     So far I've got four Winter Wonderland Venues listed, http://www.midwestrugby.org/wintervenues.htm . . .

          On the 5th of January there's the 'Got Your Back' 10s Tournament, http://www.midwestrugby.org/steelvalleygotyourback10s.htm . . . I've heard that Tournament is sold out, and that you'll need to contact the Tournament Director, William Burton, burton.w...@gmail.com, (C) 330-519-1874, to see if there's any openings left . . .

          On the 9th of February there's the 18th Annual Winterfest Sevens Tournament, http://www.midwestrugby.org/13buffalowinterfest7s.htm . . .

          On the 16th of February there's the 19th Annual Snowball 10s Tournament, http://www.midwestrugby.org/kalamazoosnowball10srt13.htm . . .

          And on the 9th of March there's the 10th Annual Whiskey 10s Tournament, http://www.midwestrugby.org/ssiwhiskey10s.13.htm

     If you know of some other winter Tournaments going on let me know and I'll get some information posted. 

     I've already got a few Spring Venues to update, like the 10th Annual Tournament of Champions, the 2nd Annual Patch the Pitch Pink Tournament, and two new ones, i.e., the Spring Fling 15s and the Michael T. Hartzell Rugby Classic . . . stay tuned for more information on Winter and Spring Venues, and make sure your Winter and/or Spring Tournaments are listed with me, Shawn McKinney, MTR...@gmail.com.

 

     I don't have a page done yet, but the University of Illinois Men's Rugby Club is looking for a Head Coach . . . the Club has made it to the Big Ten Rugby (BTU) Spring Playoff, http://www.facebook.com/#!/BTURugby, and they did that without a Coach . . . they need a Head Coach . . . contact Mike Waszkowski, was...@gmail.com, (C) 708-837-8787, right away if you are interested, or if you know of someone that might be interested in leading the Club's very competitive young men to a Championship.

 

     The Midwest AGM will be held on the 28th of January, 2013 . . . I still don't know where it will be held . . . I hope to have that information sooner than later 'cause this one will be very interesting when it comes to the Clubs that will stay in the Midwest, and those that will be in Collegiate Conferences only, with that lead coming directly from USA Rugby's 'new' Collegiate program . . . check with the web page for updates on the AGM, http://www.midwestrugby.org/12mwagmnotes.htm.

     Hey, the Midwest has a Facebook page, http://tiny.cc/xlmmpw . . . check it out, and become a 'Friend'.  On a side note, I'm still of the opinion that we, as a group, need to drop the word Football from our Club names, LAU names, Territory names, and Conference/League names . . . this country adopted Rugby, and you know what happens when something, or someone is adopted . . . the name is changed, and about the only country that still uses the word 'Football' in their country's name is England . . . New Zealand dropped it years ago, as has most countries including USA Rugby when it comes to promoting the game.

 

     I didn't get a notice on the Big 10 Women's 7s Tournament, and so I suggest you go to Rugby Magazines online 'Scores' page, http://tiny.cc/ss3kpw, to check it out.  It also has the USA Rugby Collegiate Men's and Women's 7s Tournaments results.

    

     I won't be getting more information out before Christmas, and so, even in these sober-minded times, Merry Christmas to all of you and your loved ones . . . I keep going back to one of my all time favorite songs by John Lennon, which is always appropriate . . . 'Imagine' . . .

 

Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only sky, imagine all the people living for today . . .
Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do, nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too . . . imagine all the people living life in peace . . .
You, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one . . . I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will be as one . . .
Imagine no possessions . . . I wonder if you can . . . No need for greed or hunger . . . A brotherhood of man . . . Imagine all the people sharing all the world . . .
You, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one . . . I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one . . .

 

     Keep on Ruckin' and enjoy . . .

 

Cheers,

Shawn

 

P.S.  Please keep sending me all your results, especially if you're a Referee to MTR...@gmail.com or TRN...@frontiernet.net, or text me at 618-780-0589 if you find it easier and faster.  Feel free to send me comments also to one of the e-mails I listed.  Join the Google Group I've set up for the sheer convenience of getting my newsletters out in a timely fashion, http://groups.google.com/group/MTRNews/about?hl=en, or, if you don't want to be part of a Google Group send me your e-mail address and I'll put you on my private list.