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RVA Food Bank wins again! Mason defeats VCU, Tech, Woos, and others…

THE CHALLENGE – The 2nd Annual Alumni Charity Challenge
Which Richmond area alumni chapter can donate the most canned goods at Hardywood on Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014, 5-8:30pm.

aacc2

THE 2014 CHALLENGERS

VCU Alumni**
Richmond James Madison (JMU) Alumni Association**
Richmond Hokies**
ODU Alumni Richmond Chapter**
Roanoke College**
@Richmond Hoos – UVaClub of Richmond (University of Virginia Alumni)**
Radford
Roanoke
VMI
Hampton Syndney
Longwood
Christopher Newport
William & Mary

** also participated in 2013

acc-cupTHE PRIZE – School name added to the Alumni Charity Challenge Cup (and bragging rights).

THE RESULT – Mason Alumni win the cup and bragging rights for the 2nd year in a row!

Champions: George Mason = 1+ TON
acc2014-results

masonrva-acc2014-2

8:30pm – RVA matches donations from NoVa!

If you missed the challenge we hope you will make the event next year! I know VCU, Tech, and UVA are taking notes (they all visited our tent and asked questions) so we are going to need all the help we can get to THREE-PEAT.

@MasonRVA would like to thank those who made it possible to win the Cup (sorry if we miss anyone)…

Brian Jones ’06 (NoVa – for challenging the alumni board to donate over 1,000 lbs of food)
The Alumni Association Board of Directors (NoVa)
The School of Business Alumni Chapter (NoVa)
Gerica Goodman ’12 (NoVa – the new best Alumni Rep ever @MasonAlumni – for driving down from Mason, bringing the tent and the swag, and working the tent)
Jen Shelton ’94 (NoVa)
Carol Swigart ’06 (NoVa)
Jason ’93 & Cathy Reis
Chris Clark-Talley (NoVa)
Anna Goltz (NoVa – the old best Alumni Rep ever for her Peanut Butter donation)

Elaine Gregory ’09 (RVA)
Kimmy Pollard (RVA)
Sabena Moretz (RVA)
Conaway Haskins III ’99 (RVA)
Kerri Chapman ’98 (RVA)

Richmond Brewery Tour

Alumni Charity Challenge 2014 – Brew Tour Raffle

Special thanks to…

Elaine Gregory ’09 – for her generous donation again this year that resulted in her winning the raffle for the 2nd year in a row! (prize: two tickets for an RVA Brewery Tour).

Tommy Miller and Richmond Brewery Tours for donating to the raffle.

Nicola (my wife) – for supporting me supporting Mason.

Next MasonRVA event will be the long anticipated RVA Brewery Tour. We expect to sell-out, so subscribers to the blog will get the first opportunity to sign-up!

With Mason Pride,

Rob ’88

Free RVA Brewery Tour!

rvabrewtour1 Pound = 1 Ticket Raffle

As if supporting Mason and the Richmond Community was not already good enough, now you have one more reason to come out for the Alumni Charity Challenge tomorrow night.

 

acc-cansPickup some canned goods on the way home tonight to bring to the Alumni Charity Challenge tomorrow (Wed, September 17th, 5:30 – 8:30)  @Hardywood Park for the Central Virginia Food Bank.

Deliver your canned goods to the Mason Alumni tent and enter the MasonRVA raffle for a chance to win two tickets for an RVA Brewery Tour.  You will get one raffle ticket for each pound of food you donate.

Bring your friends who graduated from other fine universities and encourage them to donate canned goods at the MasonRVA tent for a chance to win the raffle (and help Mason win the challenge)!

Last year the raffle helped us divert a few donations from VCU alumni and Mason Alum Elaine Gregory ’09 won.

Go Mason!

The MasonRVA Challenge

No ice bucket required – MasonRVA and the George Mason Alumni Board challenge Mason Alumni in the Greater Richmond Region to connect to your Alma Mater this week!

Here are just a few reasons this will be a great week to engage!

acc-cansServe our Community…

On Wednesday, September 17th, Mason Nation will defend our bragging rights in Richmond, Virginia (RVA) at the 2nd Annual Alumni Charity Challenge. The charity challenge is a great way to show your support for both RVA and Mason. Come out on Wednesday evening to see just how far our alumni board is willing to go to support local alumni chapters and the communities we serve. We hope you will stay and visit, but even if you only have time to stop by and drop off a donation, you will not be disappointed!  Go Mason! Beat VCU! and Tech and the Hoos…

Mason Fan

Energize your Mason Pride…

Still trying to decide what to do this weekend? It is never too late to decide to attend Alumni Weekend.

Alumni Weekend is a great opportunity to be inspired and you don’t have to attend the whole weekend to benefit.

Decide last minute to drive up to Fairfax to visit some old friends that got stuck up in NoVa and plan to take just a few hours to visit the campus for one of the following events:

Alumni WeekendThe State of the University
2 to 3 p.m.
Johnson Center, Third Floor, George’s Restaurant

Dr. Ángel Cabrera will discuss what’s ahead for Mason and how alumni can make a difference.   President Cabrera will be joined by Senior Vice President J.J. Davis, Provost David Wu, Athletic Director Brad Edwards and other university leaders.

Alumni Weekend Green and Gold Bash
Green and Gold Bash
When: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Fairfax Campus
Where: The Tent at the George Mason Statue, Johnson Center North Plaza
Cost: $15 early-bird pricing until 9/15 General Admission: $20
Additional $5 for Spirit Tasting (first 50 registrants get a whiskey fluted shot glass)

If you don’t do anything else for Alumni Weekend, this event is not to be missed. Whether your years at Mason were groovy, dynamite, far out, rad, cool, out of sight or totally awesome the Green and Gold Bash is the event for you. We’ve got lots in store, including a performance by The Green Machine, a spirited tasting presented by A. Smith Bowman Distillery, and mouthwatering cuisine paired with a selection of regional beers and wine served by Grafton Street Restaurant and Irish Pub. We’ll have caricature artists on hand to draw you at your best, and a photo booth to squeeze in and capture the moment. Don’t miss this opportunity to create more Mason memories.

Subscribe to MasonRVA.com and/or visit often for news and updates and anything and everything Mason and RVA.  Future upcoming MasonRVA events include:

If you have an idea for an event, would like to help with planning and/or take the lead on these or any other future events, send an email to Rob Walters BS ’88.

 

Beat VCU! and Tech and the Hoos and…

The official invitation to the Alumni Charity Challenge was sent to alumni today (see message below).
In addition to the information sent by the alumni office, MasonRVA would like to add…
  • We will have MasonRVA t-shirts at Hardywood for anyone that attends the challenge and brings a donation!
  • If you live in the Richmond area but cannot get downtown to drop off you donation, contact Rob Walters and he will try to arrange for pickup in your area on Monday or Tuesday night (Sep 15/16).  We are willing to go to Mechanicsville, Woodlake, Chester, Ashland, Powhatan, Goochland, and even the far West End if you will help us beat VCU!

From the alumni office in Fairfax…

MasonRVA is participating in the Annual Alumni Charity Challenge and we need your help! Last year we collected 1,091 lbs of canned goods to help benefit needy families in the Richmond area and wiped the floor with all of our rival schools in Virginia! This year we are hoping to make an even greater impact but we won’t be able to do it without you.

Join us at Hardywood on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 5 – 8:30 p.m. Alumni and friends of George Mason University who wish to contribute to—but cannot attend the Charity Challenge—may arrange to drop-off donations at the Alumni Relations Office on the Fairfax Campus (NoVA), located in Northern Neck 109 or the Office of State Government Relations in Richmond (RVA). Please contact Sabena Moretz or 804-786-2217 for the address and to let the office know to expect you. The Office of State Government Relations does not have a receptionist so we need to make sure that someone will be present to receive your donations.   Many thanks for your contributions.

If you have any questions regarding the Alumni Charity Challenge, please contact Rob Walters. Like us on Facebook and be sure to check MasonRVA.com often for the latest information on events and activities.

With Patriot Pride,
Rob Walters ‘88
MasonRVA Club Leader

Alumni Charity Challenge Training!

masonFTCMasonRVA will be attending the Hardywood Food Truck Court this Thursday (Aug 14) to begin training for the 2nd Annual Alumni Charity Challenge hosted by VCU at Hardywood on September 17.

MasonRVA contributed over 1000 lbs of food to last year’s #alumnicharitychallenge (thanks to a little help from our friends in Northern Virginia) and won bragging rights.  We expect alumni chapters from rival universities to bring their “A game” this year, so we need everyone to plan to attend this year’s challenge to win again.

The food truck court is a family oriented event, so bring the family, a few lawn chairs, and enjoy some great food and drink.  Look for the MasonRVA tent to join follow Mason alumni, grab some free swag (we still have some MasonRVA t-shirts and koozies), and begin training for the challenge.  We will meet briefly at 6:30 to discuss strategy and share ideas!

See you Thursday!

Rob.

 

 

 

Richmond Summer Send-Off 2014

summer-sendoff

If you have not received your invitation for the Summer Send-Off, consider yourself invited. This event will be a great event to meet fellow alumni and students from RVA, as well as, to pick up a free MasonRVA t-shirt whether you have one already or not.

RSVP for the 2014 Richmond Summer Send-Off Party for incoming freshmen!Alumni, current students, friends, and incoming Mason freshmen and their families from the area are welcome to attend. This is a great opportunity for alumni and students to share stories about their Mason experience while incoming freshmen can also get to know some of their classmates from the area before they set foot on campus.

Join us in celebrating Mason’s newest class!
Contact Information
Primary Contact

Gerica Goodman
Date & Location
Date: August 01, 2014
Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Location: Byrd Park-Shield Lake Shelter

600 S. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220

If you have any additional questions, please contact Gerica Goodman, ggoodman@gmu.edu.

Upcoming MasonRVA events…

Second Thursday Happy Hour
Thu, Aug 14, 2014 5-7pm Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Been way too long since the last Second Thursday.

 

Alumni Charity Challenge
Wed, Sep 17, 2014 5-8:30pm Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
MasonRVA won the first challenge last year so we expect VCU to bring their “A” game this year, so we will need everyone to get involved to keep our bragging rights!
Redskins Training Camp
July/August 2014
Anyone interested?
RVA Brewery Tour
October 2014
RVA is now home to 7 craft breweries in the city and that does not include nearby breweries in Ashland, Goochland, etc. There has been interest in a tour so October seems to be an appropriate month. Like to get some help planning this so let me know if you would like to help.

Rob.

 

MasonRVA Bracket Challenge & March Happy Hour

MASONRVA BRACKET CHALLENGEmasonrva-logo-2.pngPrintable-Blank-NCAA-Tournament-Bracket-Interbasket

You can never fill out enough brackets for March Madness and you know you still time to fill out one more before 11AM!  Click on the link below, create a cbssports.com account (if you do not already have one), enter the passcode (gomason), and fill out your bracket!

http://masonrva.mayhem.cbssports.com/e?ttag=BPM14_paste_cbsinv

passcode: gomason

Winner will receive a free MasonRVA T-shirt and $25 will be donated to your favorite Mason interest in your name.

MARCH HAPPY HOUR (tonight! – 03/20/2014)

If you subscribed to the blog and do not have your MasonRVA t-shirt yet, tonight is your first opportunity in RVA to pick up your t-shirt at a MasonRVA event.  We will host our 2nd Thursdays Happy Hour (on the 3rd Thursday due to the A10 Tournament) at Toast tonight from 5:30 – 7:00pm.  If you plan to join us, please “join” the event on Facebook or reply to the post and we will save you a seat.


View Larger Map

https://www.facebook.com/events/630621820326781/

 

 

 

Free MasonRVA T-Shirt

masonrva-t-shirtThere are three (3) ways to get your free MasonRVA T-Shirt*:

1. Be a Mason student from the Richmond Metro area attending George Mason University for the 2014 Spring semester and visit the MasonRVA table in the Patriot Center before the Richmond vs. Mason Men’s Basketball game on Wednesday, February 26th.  Show proof you live in the Richmond Metro area and we will give you a t-shirt to wear to the game to show your support of both Mason and RVA!

2. Subscribe to the MasonRVA blog to reserve your free t-shirt and attend a MasonRVA event in the next three (3) months to pickup it up.

3. Donate $25 or more online to any Mason Fund between Feb 15 – Mar 15, 2014 and email proof of your donation with your mailing address to: freetshirt@masonrva.com.  We will ship your free t-shirt to your mailing address in 2-3 weeks.

The supply of free t-shirts is very limited, so don’t wait too long to donate, subscribe, or visit the MasonRVA table at the Patriot Center on Wednesday night.

* Limit one (1) per individual.

Top 10 Reasons to go to the A10 Championship in Brooklyn

Mason Nation goes to Brooklyn

Top 10 Reasons Mason Alumni should go to the A10 Championship in Brooklyn

A10 MBB Championship

A10 MBB Championship

The Mason Nation traveling well to the 2014 A10 Men’s Basketball Championship in our first year in the A10 is a great opportunity for Mason Nation to display on a big stage, in arguably the greatest city in the world, that our university is more than just one of the nation’s top up and coming universities.  It will show we care.

Unfortunately, expecting to make a run in the tournament may not be one of top 10 reasons to go this year.

As of the date of this posting, our team is still “undefeating” in the A10, so why go?

Jalen Jankins

Jalen Jankins

#10 – Junior’s Cheesecake and 200 Fifth Restaurant & Sports Bar (Mason Nation HQ) in Brooklyn.

#9 – Increase visibility with out-of-state students by being in Brooklyn when (if) Jalen Jankins receives the A10 Rookie of the Year award in his hometown.

#8 – We will not have to play VCU in Richmond.

Freedom Tower

One World Trade Center
(formally the building known as the Freedom Tower)

#7 – Enhance the Mason brand both regionally and nationally by showing that Mason Alumni know how to eat New York Style Pizza properly.

#6 – Expand Mason Nation, build community, network, make new friends, see a show on Broadway with your new friends, and visit the Freedom Tower together.

#5 – See the “real” New York City as the guests of NYC area alumni, not tourists.

#4 – Attend events with the #1 Most Entertaining Pep Band in College Basketball

Mason Patriot

Mason Patriot

#3 – Demonstrate pride in your alma mater on the Today Show wearing a Mason Patriot Hat and face paint.

#2 – Excuse to party in New York City

#1 – Don’t stop believin’

See you in New York March 12 – 16!  It’s the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day so you will have plenty of green (and gold) to wear if you decide to stay for the parade on Monday.

 

Mason Lobbies Day 2014 & Legislative Reception

To: Mason Alumni
From: Rob Walters, B.S. Computer Science 1988
Subject: Legislative Reception & Mason Lobbies Day

Mason Lobbies 2013

Mason Lobbies 2013

I would like encourage all Mason Alumni to take advantage of a rare opportunity to network with fellow alumni, serve your alma mater, participate in the state political process, and mentor current Mason students who will serve and represent us in the future.  All in one day!

Last year I participated in the first Mason Lobbies Day and I had no expectations.  I figured I would show up for all little while, meet a few alumni and go back to work.

Four hours later, I had:

  • talked to our new University President – Dr. Ángel C Cabrera,
  • met State Assembly and Senate members who are also Mason Alum including Democratic Party Chair Charniele Herring (B.A. Economics)
  • led a small group of alumni and students to meet with our local state representatives in their offices,
  • shook hands with the Governor,
  • witnessed a session of the General Assembly,
  • and met and talked to alumni and current students over lunch in the General Assembly Building.

This year,  the Alumni Association is sponsoring a reception the night before Mason Lobbies Day, so even if you cannot take time off work to participate at the State Capitol, the reception is a great opportunity for you to meet university leadership and fellow alumni in Richmond (and you don’t have to drive to Northern Virginia to do it).

Date/Time
Date – 01/29/2014
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Location
2113 Bistro

Don’t miss it!  I look forward to meeting you.

Rob.