Hello and thank you for taking some time to read our newsletter!  We have an exciting year ahead with unlimited possibilities.  President Obama stormed into the White House with his vigorous campaign proclaiming, “Change” and “Yes We Can.”  Well, I do not wish to assume our team’s stature is of his magnitude, but change is in the air for the Valkyries in 2009 and a yes, we can attitude may need to be adopted as we face the challenges “change” brings us.  Whether entering the new Women’s Premiership Rugby League this fall, maintaining our newly developed website, or creating more visibility within the rugby community, we are faced with many challenges.

I embrace the opportunity to lead and represent our vision as we forge new paths into the future.

All of us within the Valkyries organization have prepared and will be ready.  We have a strong and evolving executive board, the Oval, who will do their best to organize and lead this team into the changes of 2009.  We have Oval members leading committees who will help carry the load and complete necessary projects to keep our team moving forward.  We have amazing coaches who will guide and mentor us through challenges both on and off the field.  As I am sure you can see, our winter SAGM has brought about some changes within the Oval.  While Blaire Zummak steps over to take on the distinct role of Member Services and trying to expand her family with the hope of new child, I will take over the role of President.  If you are a Vintage Valk, active player, or social member of the team, you will be hearing much more from Blaire as she creates a fun and exciting ways to interact within our organization.

With that said, I am grateful and honored for my presidential appointment with this team.   I embrace the opportunity to lead and represent our vision as we forge new paths into the future.  It is humbling to witness the work and leadership displayed by presidents before me.  It is by their foresight, work ethic, and true grit, that we stand today to enter into the Women’s Premiership League as a formidable force that will not be ignored, forgotten, or overshadowed.  I hope we all can look inside of ourselves and accept the challenges before us.  We will succeed not only from what lies within us, but also from the foundation of strength that pushes from behind us.  We will come together with Valkyrie character: integrity, unity, strength, development, and respect.  It is this character that separates us from all others who wish to defeat us.   We will play with character, we will set a new standard, we will raise the bar: 

Yes, we will because we can.