NELSON, USA CLUB

Monday Marching
Please meet at the top parking lot of the Richmond Mall carpark (where the staff park) at 11.30am on Monday so we are ready to join the parade at 12 noon.  I have made a big banner for a couple of us to hold as we march down Queen Street in our red/white/blue.

If you need a quick costume, the $2-style discount shops have big flags for $5 and just wear it like a cape.  After the parade, we will jump up on stage at Sundial Square to say the Pledge and sing the Anthem with our banner in front of us as a group.  Here is a link to download the MP3 soundtrack of that performance so you can have a quick practice… you don’t need to sing well – just lip-sync!

I really appreciate you making the effort to join in with the Nelson, USA Club to march in this event with some of the Eagles players – it’s a one-in-a-lifetime activity for us, I’m sure!  I have invited ANY American in town for the game to come and join us in the parade – so please pass on this information to anyone you meet!

Tuesday GAME DAY!
I have just received a special invitation for any club member going to the USA game at Trafalgar Park to join the US Ambassador’s pre-game tailgate party in support of the USA Eagles prior to their Rugby World Cup match against Italy.  However, I need to present them with a list of names by Monday morning so they know exactly who is attending.  Please email me the names of your family/friends (children included) so I can pass these on.  The party will take place at a venue on Bridge Street in Nelson between 4.30pm-6pm and the kick-off at Trafalgar Park is at 7.30pm.  I’ll send additional details when I’ve compiled the list.

The hosts of the party are the Ambassador of the United States of America David Huebner and his spouse Dr. Duane McWaine.  The invitation has been presented from Shauna Mendez whom you may remember from the breakfast we hosted when she was in town from Wellington. Very exciting to meet the Ambassador – lucky us (bring a camera)!

Other Activities
Don’t forget to support club member Anthony Holder’s Sevens Tournament all day on Sunday at Jubilee Park – complementing the on field rugby action will be an evening of entertainment, featuring a prize giving, presentations, live music, cultural items and exhibitions. All this along with a traditional kiwi BBQ with local wines and craft beers.

There are activities in the Richmond Mall during Monday afternoon (including Poppy singing in the American Idol competition at 3.30pm).  A midday parade down Queen Street complete with classic American hotrods, cheerleaders and marching bands, paves the way for an afternoon of family entertainment, competitions and exhibitions in the Richmond Mall. As the sun sets, a Sundial Square evening of dancing, fine foods and mingling will unfold with a quintessential kiwi picnic featuring the best of local fare.

The Tailgating Party at the Richmond Fairgrounds is from 2pm on Tuesday before the game.  This free family event includes an afternoon full of interactive activities, with classic kiwi games immersed with American Tailgate traditions, live music, performances, tasty regional cuisine and boutique beverages.  There is time to have some fun in Richmond before heading in to the Ambassador’s party and then the Eagles game itself!

Here are some links for more information:

• http://www.itson.co.nz/2011/2490-tasman-7s-invitational
• http://itson.co.nz/2011/2488-stars-n-stripes-block-party
• http://itson.co.nz/2011/2489-all-star-tailgate-party

THANK YOU

THANKS to those club members who came to have their photo taken with the Corvette for the Leader…
The Eagles players are training at Saxton Field over the next 4 evenings – they arrive in town today and you can go down to watch them – not sure about the details though.  Good try last night boys – you played with a lot of heart and we’ll be there supporting you when the same thing happens on Tuesday night!

The Nelson, USA Club welcomes all our American friends to town while the Eagles are playing.  If you’d like to meet some of the Nelson, USA Club families living here, please join us for the Main Street Parade at the Stars & Stripes Block Party at noon on Monday 26 September.

The Nelson USA Club will also be leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Star-Spangled Banner during the Sundial Square speeches after the parade in which several of the USA Eagles players will participate.

Our club was formed to celebrate holidays specific to the United States that commemorate historical events or encourage a common national memory for children living in Nelson Bays region with American citizenship. We hope to familiarize our American children with national symbols to develop pride and respect for them as well as building national unity and interest in their cultural background.

We celebrate holidays during the year with get-togethers for Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July and have a current membership of 56 families living in the Nelson region. There are no fees or requirements; just an informal email networking group and Facebook page to share information when something of interest is happening in Nelson. We welcome new members and invite any USA citizen currently in Nelson to come and march in the parade with us.

If you are an American and would like to march with the club ‘like us’ on Facebook or join the club or call Adrienne on 544-2088 or 021.480.212.

If you’re visiting Nelson from the USA; wear something red, white and blue and meet us at the marshalling area of the Richmond Mall carpark by 11.30am on Monday 26 September for a special welcome to town.

During the welcoming ceremony on the 4th, the Eagles were taken out in a Waka – a traditional Māori canoe:

http://usrugbynz.com/2011/09/08/the-eagles-in-the-waka/