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.

 

 

Mason Alumni parade participation cancelled today.

IMAG0352All dressed up and no where to go.

Here is the message from Student Government:

“Unfortunately due to the inclement weather expected in Saturday’s forecast we have decided to cancel this portion of the event.  We look forward to cheering on the George Mason University Ceremonial Corps as they represent the best of Mason Nation and celebrate the inauguration of Virginia’s next Governor.”

I hope to see everyone at the Mason Lobby Day and Legislative Reception.

Mason Alumni invited to march in Gubernatorial Inauguration Parade this Saturday w/ Doc Nix and the Fife & Drum team

Mason Fife & Drum

Mason Fife & Drum

Through the great work of GMU’s government relations team, we’ve been invited to march in Saturday’s gubernatorial inauguration parade. Doc Nix along with the fife & drum team will be part of the parade and they need some additional alumni decked out in green & gold to show our Mason spirit.

 

 

Doc Nix

Doc Nix

What: Gubernatorial Inauguration Parade
When: 11 AM this Saturday, Jan 11
Where: Meet near 7th & Grace Streets near Capitol in downtown Richmond. Look for Doc Nix. Parking** will likely be difficult so aim earlier rather than later.
Why: Show our Patriot Pride among Virginia Legislators
Note: Wear your Green & Gold!

Also, save-the-date for our Jan 29 Legislative Reception ahead of Mason Lobbies Day.  I will post more about Mason Lobbies Day and why you should not miss it this weekend.

Hope to see you this Saturday,

Rob

** I have a parking space in a deck near the Capitol and would be happy to meet you in Bon Air if you would like to ride with me downtown.