Hello SCRFU Women et al.

I am writing to let all of you know that I will not be able to attend the upcoming AGM due to a work conference I am currently attending in Austin, TX.  Can I just say that the weather out here is not very fun...too hot and humid!!

I also wanted to write to let all of you know that I will be leaving Southern California this fall to persue graduate work at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.  I wanted to personally thank all of you for your support, encouragement, and, actually, doubt of my work while here in SoCal.  As I mentioned in the game summary I sent out over the listserv, I have been pushed beyond any coaching I ever thought I could experience.  Thanks to all of you I have been forced to hone, adjust, and better my coaching style to fit the needs of this territory.  It is very exciting to see the fruits of this labor come to bloom with 7 players being selected for USA camps, graduates of the U23 program staying in SoCal to work with club sides, assistant coaches continuing their coaching beyond the U23 program, and players experiencing the most enriching and positive ITT season to date.

It has been a long, hard road filled with many challenges I would not have faced in other territories.  I thank you for your support and ask you to support of the U23 program more so than ever before.  We have reached a point of taking this program to the next level again.  But, the U23 coaches need your help.  Please encourage your players to go to the camps, participate in scrimmages and tournaments, and trust in this coaching staff to enhance these players skills they will use in your club program.

I can't say enough of how proud I am of  wonderful these U23 women.  They work very hard on these trips and show professionalism along with potential.  They have left this 2005 ITT season making a promise to the Griffin team.  Please allow them to grow, learn, and keep this promise.

I must give a big thank you to all the coaches who have worked tirelessly by my side throughout these years:

Janet Flamming - currently coaching Minnesota U19 and playing for the Twin City Amazons

Stuart MacDonald - currently assistant coaching UCLA Women, playing football in Canada and rugby in Ireland.

Jenny Menke - currently assistant coaching Minnesota U19 and playing for Minnesota Valkyries

Danielle Miller  - currently playing in Seattle or Minnesota along with kicking butt with the USA WNT

Tam Breckenridge - currently resting and relaxing somewhere in Canada (lucky stiff)

Kathryn Nichol - currently coaching and playing 7's, playing for Coast Women, soon to be traveling around the Midwest to guest coach as much as I can get her to and will continue with the U23's!

Mary Swanstrom - currently resting after the ITT season and soon to be back on her feet coaching the Armada Men and hopefully continuing to work with U23 or giving someone a ride in her car.

Brad Torgan - currently attending the AGM and resting after a hectic week at ITT's taking care of everyone's needs and hopefully continuing to work with the U23's.

To Jason and the EC I say thank you for putting your faith in my leadership over these years.  Please put more faith into this program and, to be blunt, more money! (I know Jason, you've already heard me say that a hundred times :-) )  This IS the most successful ITT season to date with an unpresidented 7 women being chosen for USA.

To the club coaches thank you for seeing the forest from the trees.  You are reaping the rewards of these players graduating and coming to your programs.

To the college coaches thank you for challenging me.  I am a better coach because of it and this program is a better program because of it.  Listen to your players, they had a great time and can't wait to show you how much they love rugby.

With that said, I say take care, God Bless, and I will see you on the pitch!

Yours in Rugby always,

-Trie!