Welcome to the latest edition of the “C-Club Connection,” a periodic update available on the new C-Club Web site as well as via e-mail through the C-Club Athletics Newsletter to keep you informed of C-Club initiatives, Hall of Fame activities, special projects and Board meeting summaries throughout the year.


RECENT BOARD MEETING

The last C-Club Board of Directors meeting for 2008 was held on Saturday, November 22, at 10 a.m. in the Hall of Fame Room.  The first board meeting in 2009 will be held on Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m., also in the Hall of Fame Room.


HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

Seven new members were inducted into the Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 25, 2008.  They included: James McGuidwin '63, Lloyd Mott '65, Thomas LaPuma '66, Paul Fernandes '67, Thomas Rogan '67, Leslie Schall White '70 and Joan Schockow '85.

Their day started at the C-Club Business Meeting where they were introduced to the Board of Directors, followed by a buffet lunch.  At halftime of the Cortland-William Patterson football game, the new inductees were introduced and honored on the football field.  The evening induction ceremony took place in the Corey Union Function Room with over 200 in attendance.

The C-Club would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to Hall of Fame members, alumni, faculty members and friends of SUNY Cortland Athletics for sponsoring over 75 student-athletes and coaches to attend the dinner and experience an evening dedicated to Cortland's rich athletic history and tradition.

Informal receptions were held at the Lynne Parks '68 Alumni House on Friday night and after the induction ceremony on Saturday night. The C-Club plans to host these events annually for returning Hall of Fame members and their guests.


CLASSIC TEAMS REUNION - THE UNDEFEATED 1988 FOOTBALL TEAM

The C-Club kept its streak of successful Classic Teams Reunions alive with its Nov. 15 celebration of the 1988 Red Dragon football team—the only unbeaten, untied regular-season gridiron squad in Cortland history and the first to earn an NCAA playoff berth.

More than 45 team members, coaches, managers and athletic trainers reunited around the 50th Cortaca Jug game played at SUNY Cortland's Stadium Complex. Their day began with a pre-game tailgate party at Cortland resident and 1988 team captain Steve Woodard's '90 house. The group was transported to the stadium where they greeted the current Cortland football players on the field.

At halftime, the 1988 team gathered at midfield and was recognized for its accomplishments before the 10,000-plus fans at the sellout contest. That evening, they took part in an emotional trek down memory lane at a banquet in the Corey Union Function Room.

SUNY Cortland President Erik Bitterbaum and Head Football Coach Dan MacNeill '79 spoke at the banquet. Also speaking were Athletics Director Emeritus and C-Club Hall of Famer Lee Roberts, who traveled from Florida, and former 1988 assistant coach Craig Cheplick. Team captains Jim Carter '89, Bob Keith '90 and Tom Schmandt '89, along with Rich Keefer '89, shared funny stories and paid a lasting tribute to their teammates and coaches. Dennis Kayser, who coached the 1988 squad, capped the evening with personal reflections of every returning player and coach.

At evening's end, Kayser called the returnees up to the stage where he presented each with a commemorative plaque donated by the C-Club. A team photo was taken to mark the special occasion.

The reunion marked a lot of hard work by many individuals. The C-Club extends special thanks to Erin Boylan and the rest of the Alumni Affairs Office staff, Public Relations Director and C-Club Hall of Fame member Peter Koryzno, Sports Information Director Fran Elia and Athletics Director Joan Sitterly for their efforts in making the event one that the 1988 team members will remember the rest of their lives.


HALL OF FAME—NOMINATION FORMS

Hall of Fame nomination forms for 2009 consideration must be submitted by January 15, 2009.  For information on the Hall of Fame nomination process, visit the C-Club Web Site by going to www.cortlandreddragons.com and clicking on the C-Club logo on the left or call the SUNY Cortland Athletics Department at 607-753-4953.


WEB SITE—C-CLUB SHOPPING MALL

The C-Club encourages your support and use of the C-Club Web Site and Newsletter to keep informed of C-Club activities and Cortland Athletics.

The C-Club Online Shopping Mall is an easy way to financially support SUNY Cortland Athletics.  A link to the site is available on the C-Club Web Site or can be accessed directly at http://cclub.givingtrain.com.  The Mall consists of more than 300 stores and features sales, coupons and other deals.  Every purchase made via a link on this site helps support Cortland Athletics.


2009 C-CLUB RECEPTIONS

C-Club receptions will be held on the following dates:

1. Friday, January 30th—Women' Basketball—6 p.m.— HOF room

2. Saturday, February 7th—Women's Ice Hockey—3 p.m.— HOF room

3. Saturday, April 4th—Men's Lacrosse—Stadium

Light refreshments will be provided for parents, alumni and C-Club members to meet and socialize.


THE C-CLUB ENDOWMENT FOR CORTLAND ATHLETICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The C-Club Endowment is in its initial stages for providing a significant avenue for leaving a legacy in support of the C-Club mission of perpetuating the C-Club Hall of Fame, preserving the rich athletic history of the college and supporting Cortland athletics.  Five C-Club members have already committed to the “Hall of Champions” donor level of $5000.00 or more over a five year period.  Our overall goal is $500,000 of current and estate or other planned gifts. Gifts both great and small to the C-Club Endowment are very much appreciated.  We urge every C-Club member to continue to support the C-Club operating fund as you have done in the past.

The Cortland College Foundation will be meeting with C-Club members to discuss the vision and mission statement and goals of the Endowment.  All those contributing at the $5,000 level and above will have their name on a plaque in the Hall of Champions opposite the Hall of Fame Wall as well as in the Hall of Fame Room.  Their names will also appear annually in the Hall of Fame dinner banquet program and the C-Club Athletic Awards Banquet program, held in May for more than 500 student-athletes and coaches.

The Board of Directors hopes you will consider learning more about contributing to the C-Club Endowment either through your lifetime or through your estate.  Please contact Peter VanderWoude, Manager, Planned Gifts at 607-758-5309 or vanderwoudep@cortland.edu.


Your generosity, suggestions and recommendations are always appreciated.  Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with your concerns.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jim Codispoti '63
(914) 967-7614
jcody45@optonline.net

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