Despite our match versus Cowichan being cancelled, there is still a lot going on at JBAA this weekend.
A reminder to all that tomorrow is Bays’ BIG NIGHT, so join us at the JBAA Clubhouse for a fundraiser for James Bay Athletic Association Youth Development Program. Find out more and grab your tickets here. This is an important event! See below from the President re. how important it really is.
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“Let’s Make JBAA Great Again”
JBAA members and friends,
Not really a Trump fan but the message for us is perhaps a good one. Although, personally I think JBAA has always been great.
We have in "senior play" maintained a standard of commitment to training and improving as well as any amateur club can.
We are committed at all levels of the organization, to playing quality rugby but also building an inclusive organization.
This Saturday, JBAA is hosting it’s major fundraiser for youth rugby. Boys and Girls under the age of 19 playing at JBAA outnumber senior players at a 3 to 1 ratio. The funding required to run these youth programs far outreach the dues we gather. But it is JBAA’s belief the future of the club can only be maintained by expanding our youth base. Please help us to do that by attending Saturday night. Tickets are available at the door. There are still 50 seats available. $25 gets you an evening of fine Italian dining complete with red checkered table cloths, strolling accordionists and young wait staff dressed in black and white. My family will be there, will yours?
On Saturday night we also honour our oldest club member, Lewis Madley. Lew will be celebrating his 98th birthday. Lew has served the club in many roles. Lew became active at JBAA in the early 70’s , first as club secretary and then club president in 1980. Lewis was a long time member of the club executive. But Lew’s greatest gift to JBAA has been his role of “Club Historian.” As part of JBAA’s Centenary in 1986 Lew researched and wrote “JBAA: The First 100 Years.” This book has been a great resource for the club. Happy Birthday Lew, we look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
I used the word inclusive in my opening paragraph. One team that JBAA has been missing will hopefully happen next fall. JBAA is committed to running a Women’s program in 2020-21. Some place for our burgeoning female players to play. We will be hosting a series of meetings to gauge participation levels this spring. So, much more to come.
Again, i invite you all to join us Saturday night. Doors open at 5:30. Dinners service starts at 6:00 pm with several seatings available.
Huddy, Huddy,
John de Goede, JBAA President
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Despite the Cowichan cancellation, we have three games taking place at MacDonald Park this weekend: our Third Division team, led by Dave Ramsay and Jake de Goede, battles Comox at MacDonald Park tomorrow at 1245pm. And Both our u15s and our u19s are in action on Sunday. The u15s kickoff at 1pm; the u19s kickoff at 230pm.