NELSON, USA CLUB

What a great parade!  The Eagles players were amazed at the support from Richmond…. here are some photos of the event.

More photos on the shuttersport website here: http://www.shuttersport.co.nz/richmond-unites-welcome-eagles

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.

The main street parade is going to be really colourful and there has been a great response from the community to be involved. Nelson City and Motueka Regional Brass Band will lead the procession, and will be followed by the following performance groups: Tasman Blue Beat Marching, Sun City Rock n Rollers, Tasman Mako Cheerleaders, Sirens of Smash Roller Derby Girls, Tasman Line Dancers, and Henley primary school pupils.  Bringing up the rear will be a selection of classic American cars (Hosting members of the US Eagles, plus the US Ambassador and Mayor of Tasman and other VIP guests), Harley Davidson Bikes and a fleet of military vehicles.

Following the parade procession, a series of short performances, along with opening/welcoming speeches will take place at Sundial Square. The Nelson USA Club will be leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Star-Spangled Banner during the Sundial Square speeches between 12-1pm on Monday 26 September.  We are scheduled for 12.35pm.  It would be great to have everyone in their USA gear.  Adrienne has printed the song cards for everyone to use so they have the words.

The kids entertainment scheduled for the Richmond Mall is all on track, with superstar singers registered, and a couple of hundred hotdogs and warm fruit pies sourced from the local supermarket for the respective eating competitions.  It’s great to see kids faces light up and their imaginations run wild when informed of the proposed eating competitions – the adults don’t seem to share the same enthusiasm!

Parade participants are required to assemble at the vacant lot adjacent to the Richmond Mall from 11.00am onwards and are to report to Sally Wood on arrival.  Please do not arrive any later than 11.40am. The parade will commence at 12noon sharp.

• Here is a copy of the printed words for you to download to practice: Pledge Card
• Here is a copy of the music mp3 for you to download to practice: MP3 practice

It would be awesome to see some USA Club families at the Richmond Festival Roadshow on Monday morning (11 July). If you could come to the bottom of the Cathedral Steps inside the marquee by 8am – we will be finished at 9am.

Breakfast will be provided and the TVNZ segment will probably be filmed around 8.30am.

Message from Paul, organiser of Richmond Festival:

Rugby World Cup Roadshow

The official Rugby World Cup 2011 Nationwide Roadshow is touring NZ throughout July, and will be visiting Nelson on Monday 11 July from 6am – 9.30am. This is an opportunity for the people of our region to get a glimpse of what RWC 2011 is going to be like, and find out about the associated RWC events happening in the Nelson Tasman region. The Roadshow consists of an oversized RWC custom designed truck with the capacity to open out into a 72m sq exhibition style space designed and fitted out with exciting features and interactive facilities. In addition to the exhibition in the truck, there will be a marquee where we can promote and display what we have planned for the Richmond Festival.

TVNZ Breakfast

TVNZ will be following the tour around NZ and broadcasting live from 20 locations and covering the highlights of each location on Breakfast with Tamati Coffey. While there is no guarantee that the Richmond Festival event will be featured on Breakfast, the more visual, exciting and compelling our display is, the greater the likelihood it will be showcased. But, regardless of the TV coverage, the Roadshow will attract a large local audience, so it is an ideal opportunity to engage with the local market to make them aware of and excited about our event.

Proposal

We propose to throw a mini tailgate party as part of our exhibition display, and was wondering if members from the Nelson USA Club would like to be involved in this party? They would be encouraged to dress up in their colours, and show the public what a tailgate party is all about. We will provide a bbq breakfast, and a classic dodge ute (with tailgate) plus the associated Richmond Festival promotional information/signage etc. Please can you let me know if this is something your interested in being involved in, and if so likely numbers for catering purposes.

• What: RWC Roadshow Tailgate Party Exhibition
• When: Monday 11th July, 6.00-9.30am
• Where: Trafalgar Street Nelson (by Church Steps)