Alamo Aggie | March/April 2023

2023 MUSTER

550 AGGIES ANSWERED “HERE.”

NOW HIRING AT AGGIE PARK

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OPEN POSITIONS.

HOWDY

FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Howdy,

March and April have been a busy couple of months for your San Antonio A&M Club staff and volunteers. Our scholarship fundraising efforts officially kicked off with the Aggie Park Golf Tournament in late March. Tournament Chair Don Preecs and his volunteers hosted a great event and got us well on our way to achieving our annual funding goal of $96k for scholarships. Scholarship Committee Chair Joe Rodriguez and his team identified eight Bexar County students to recommend to the Board of Directors for financial support from our club. All eight were unanimously approved by the Board of Directors at our last meeting. Join us at the Scholarship Luncheon on June 5 to welcome these newest members of the Aggie family.

In early April, we hosted Corps of Cadet members of Rudder’s Rangers at Aggie Park following the completion of their training at Camp Bullis. Competitive BBQ chef and club member Joe Rodriguez cooked over 300 hot dogs for the event and received a standing ovation from the Cadets. Also in April, we introduced the new “Howdy Hour” event for club members and guests. Look for more details in this edition of the Alamo Aggie. The San Antonio A&M Club marked the one-year anniversary of the rededication

of Aggie Park on April 21 at Aggie Muster. Guest speaker Brigadier General Joe Ramirez Jr., Vice President for Student Affairs, inspired a packed house with his presentation for this most sacred of Aggie traditions. Special thanks to the Aggie Women’s Club for hosting the reception following the event. On April 28, the San Antonio A&M Club fed members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Fish Drill Team, Ross Volunteer Company, Parsons Mounted Cavalry, and Aggie Band while they were in town to participate in the Battle of Flowers Parade. Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers, especially the San Antonio Aggie Moms’ Club, who provided over 900 desserts for our Cadets. Coach’s Night was held at Aggie Park for the first time in many years, and Coach Fisher did not disappoint with his comments on what to expect from our team as the Aggies kick off the season on September 2 against the New Mexico Lobos. More to come about this event in our next edition of the Alamo Aggie.

Looking forward, we will be hosting the San Antonio A&M Club night at the Missions game on July 3 and the Family BBQ at Aggie Park on August 5. Your San Antonio A&M Club is active and interested in connecting with current and former students and friends of Texas A&M. Volunteers are needed for all these events, and sign-ups can be found

Stay in the Know

Follow the San Antonio A&M Club on Social Media

on AggiePark.com under the individual event page or under the “Get Involved” tab. Look and see if there’s an event you might be interested in supporting with your time.

Thanks & Gig ’em, Becki Holmes ’82 President

Board of Directors 2023

PRESIDENT

Becki Holmes ‘82 president@aggiepark.com

VICE

PRESIDENT

Don Preecs ‘83 vicepresident@aggiepark.com

TREASURER

Lane Mitchell ‘79 treasurer@aggiepark.com

SECRETARY

Paula Schnettler ‘82 secretary@aggiepark.com

DIRECTORS

Chris Clements ‘79

David Gay ‘86

Whitney Schrader ‘08

Sandra Hoggard ‘87

Sybil Howell ‘82

Paige Petersen ‘15

Mitchell Byrum ‘17

Don Meyer ‘78

Austin Teske ‘18

YOUNG AGGIES COORDINATOR

Nicholas Simpson ‘19 youngaggies@aggiepark.com

EVENT SCHEDULE

June 2023

5 Monday Lunch, Scholarship Luncheon

8 Howdy Hour at Aggie Park

12 Monday Lunch, Herbert E. Pounds Jr., The Rescuers: Leave No Man Behind

19 Monday Lunch, Andy Everett, iHeart Radio Golf Show Host

22 Happy Hour at Burleson Yard Beer Garden

July 2023

3 No Monday Lunch, Fourth of July

3 Fourth of July at Wolff Stadium for the San Antonio Missions Game

10 Monday Lunch, Roel Lopez, Ph.D., Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute

17 Monday Lunch, Richard Oliver Jr. ‘81, City of San Antonio

ENDOWMENT UPDATE

Experience the joy of making a lasting impact on local students by going to AggiePark.com, where a single click on “Donate” can unlock the power of your endowment donation.

2023 MUSTER

ANSWERING “HERE” AT AGGIE PARK

On April 21, the renovated “Original” Aggie Park was filled with almost 550 Aggies who gathered to answer “Here!” for their comrades and hear from Brigadier General Joe Ramirez Jr. ‘79. Over 90 names were called and answered for during the ceremony. The event was a huge success, and we are grateful to all who attended.

Following the ceremony, Aggies socialized and shared a meal provided by the Aggie Women’s Club. It was another beautiful Aggie Muster.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the attendees, the volunteers, and the Aggie Park staff who worked tirelessly to make this event possible. Your dedication and hard work are greatly appreciated.

Gig ’em, Don Preecs ‘83 Muster Chairman

FEED THE BAND

FEEDING OVER 500 CADETS

On Friday morning April 28, the San Antonio A&M Club brought its Mission Statement to life for the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, by providing a meal for over 500 Cadets. The “feeding” took place after the Battle of Flowers Parade, in which the Cadets participated. The event displayed one of the things that the San Antonio A&M Club does best, and that’s support

event memorable for the Cadets AND the volunteers.

visiting main campus groups to the Alamo City. The event’s success would not have been possible without the volunteers and the contributions of the San Antonio Aggie Moms’ Club, who all came together to make this

Year after year, 500+ Cadets—including the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Fish Drill Team, Ross Volunteer Company, Parsons Mounted Cavalry, and Aggie Band— have been a part of the Battle of Flowers Parade. Since 1998, they have been treated to “great chow” provided by the club, hopefully enough to last them on their trip back to College Station. The Troopers of Parsons Mounted Cavalry were treated to breakfast tacos before the parade, while the other Cadets enjoyed BBQ after the parade. The funds for the event were raised through the sale of our FIESTA medals, which the club quickly sold out of. After the Cadets finished their BBQ plates, two Yell Leaders got up on stage and put on a Yell Practice! What better way to end the event and get all the volunteers fired up! And just prior to the Cadets heading back to CS, we solidified the camaraderie by singing the Aggie War Hymn together! The event wrapped up in record time, to

get the Cadets headed back home so they could get ready to finish the year with Final Review the next day in College Station.

Behind the scenes, an incredible group of “The 12th Hand” volunteers worked tirelessly to make this event possible. The San Antonio Aggie Moms’ Club, in particular, deserves a special mention for their remarkable contribution of over 900 desserts. Their dedication and passion for supporting the Cadets was evident in every sweet treat they provided.

San Antonio A&M Club takes immense pride in its role as a host club for the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. We cherish the opportunity to welcome these dedicated individuals who exemplify discipline, honor, and selfless service. This event serves as a testament to the strong bond between our club and the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, highlighting the values and principles that both hold dear. Thanks to all who helped!

Ride on!

Bob Sims’ 79 Feed the Band Chair

FEED THE RANGERS

WHAT IS THE HOT DOG EXERCISE?

In April, approximately 110 Texas A&M Army ROTC Cadets and members of Rudder’s Rangers Company conducted a Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Camp Bullis, north of San Antonio. Upon conclusion, they stopped by Aggie Park, where the San Antonio A&M Club fed them and hosted a “Hot dog Exercise.” The term “hot dog exercise” originates from Ranger School, where the Ranger candidates complete a 10-day field training phase eating nothing but prepackaged Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) and are given two hot dogs, a soda, and a bag of chips. This first real food is such a relief. Special thanks to Joe Rodriguez for smoking the hot dogs.

Rudder’s Rangers Company provides highly motivated ROTC Cadets an opportunity to further develop leadership through small unit tactics, patrolling,

and adventure training. The training vehicle used to develop the qualities of leadership, aggressiveness, and the ability to think clearly in stressful situations will be combat patrolling and other similar training as prescribed by the commander. Specifically, the organization prepares its members for the U.S. Army’s Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger, and Officer Basic Schools.

Gig ’em, Bill Hill ’84 Event Chair

Making Aggie Dreams Possible

If you know someone who is buying or selling, we would be honored to assist them. Contact me today!

www.theschradergroup.com

AGGIE GOLF CLASSIC

RAISES $14,000 AND FUNDS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Aggie Golf Classic held on March 31 at Canyon Springs Country Club proved to be another remarkable success for the San Antonio A&M Club. With 128 enthusiastic golfers in attendance, the event featured exciting new additions such as electronic scoring on each golf cart, ensuring a streamlined experience for participants and allowing for the timely announcement of winners. The combined efforts of club volunteers and generous contributions from various sponsors resulted in a total of $14,000

raised, enabling the funding of one of the eight annual scholarships. WHOOP!

The success of the event can be attributed to the tireless work of dedicated volunteers, committee members, and Aggie Park Staff who went above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience for all. We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Robert Lozano, Robert Adair, and Chris Clements for their efforts and collaboration with the Aggie Park Staff in organizing a truly memorable occasion.

Additionally, the event would not have been possible without the support of generous sponsors, Prestige ER, RPM Insurance, Anne Marie’s Catering, Rebecca Creek, Central Catholic Alumni Association, Napa of Boerne, and CC Creations who treating our golfers to an outstanding goodie bag. We thank each of you for your invaluable contributions. Your sponsorship not only helped make the event possible but also played a vital role in maximizing the impact of the fundraising efforts.

Gig ’em, Don Preecs ’83 Vice President

HOWDY HOUR

OUR NEWEST TRADITION

The inaugural San Antonio A&M Club Howdy Hour took place on April 12 at Aggie Park, attracting a crowd of over 40 attendees who gathered to hear a presentation from Brandon Neff ‘99. The Howdy Hour introduces a fresh program that allows both members and non-members who are unable to attend the Monday Lunch to experience it at a more convenient time in the evening. Our diverse audience was comprised of veteran Monday Lunch attendees, Young Aggies, individuals who had never been to a Monday Lunch before, and some new faces. It marked a splendid beginning for a new tradition at Aggie Park. Mark your calendars for our upcoming Howdy Hours on June 8 and September 7. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to see even more of you there!

Gig ’em, Don Preecs ’83 Vice President

SOUPY’S BIRTHDAY

CELEBRATING

101 YEARS OF LIFE

As the club’s most long-standing member, Harold “Soupy” A. Reich ’45 commemorated his remarkable 101st birthday in April. His loyalty to the club and his continued active involvement and support of our organization serve as a shining example for all San Antonio Aggies. Happy Birthday and Gig ’em, Soupy!

AGGIE MOMS’ CLUB

Howdy, Aggies!

On April 4, we hosted guest speaker Mr. Vince Woo ’80, who shared his experiences in the Navy, the Defense Investigative Service, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. He also gave us a few tips on personal protection. We especially loved seeing all his photos of his time spent protecting former presidents. Also at this

in the success of both of these events. For me personally, the best moments of Family Weekend were meeting six of our club’s scholarship recipients. I was delighted to represent our club during the Aggie

do and why we work so hard to raise money for scholarships.

On April 28, we supported the San Antonio A&M Club with cookies and brownies for Cadets at the annual Feed the Band event. That was a sight to see!

meeting, we presented Mrs. Rachel de la Garza with an honorary lifetime membership for her many years of service to our club.

Aggie Moms were also busy planning and executing our two largest fundraisers of the year. Our Boots and Bling Gala on March 25 was a huge success and a lot of fun! A few weeks later, we participated in the giant Federation of Aggie Moms Boutique that takes place annually during Family Weekend in April at A&M. Sales were booming at our booth for both days of the boutique. The hard work and tireless dedication of LoGina Vinceslio and Nicole Goddard were instrumental

Ring ceremony of our Aggie Ring Scholarship recipient, a junior Corps of Cadets member who has her sights set on becoming an Air Force pilot. I also attended a luncheon given by the Texas A&M Foundation where I met the five recipients of our Endowed Opportunity Awards. One is a Marketing major who is set to graduate soon, three are Engineering majors, and one is an Animal Science major who is looking to vet school in the future. All six of these fine young Aggies remind us of why we do what we

Finally, on May 2, we wrapped up our year by recognizing our amazing May graduates, installing our wonderful new board members, and celebrating a successful year in the life of the San Antonio Aggie Moms’ Club!

Gig ’em, Virginia McCleskey ’88 President, 2022-2023

San Antonio Aggie Moms’ Club samomspresident@aggienetwork.com

AGGIE WOMEN’S CLUB

Howdy!

The Aggie Women’s Club is still busy supporting the San Antonio A&M Club by having slices of pies at Monday Lunches and helping with additional fundraising events.

Also, please save the date for our next scholarship fundraiser on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Aggie Park. Lastly, we’d like to welcome our newest officers for 2023-2024:

President: Deborah Castro

1st VP, Membership: Donna Hill

2nd VPs, Day Programs: Lisa De Leon & Kathleen Graham

3rd VP, Fundraiser: Deborah Castro

4th VP, Fundraiser Co-Chair: AdrienneKing

5th VPs, Evening Programs: Judy Hardy&CarolynMcDuff

Corresponding Secretary: Vivian

Coleman

Recording Secretary: Donna Hill

Treasurer: Sandra Deitchle

Parliamentarian: Sandra

Deitchle(ImmediatePast President)

If you are interested, or know someone who is interested in our club, please contact Donna Hill at dchill1025@att.net or at 210-241-6719.

Sandy Deitchle

President, Aggie Women’s Club

© Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC.

Harold Christiansen

RonaldReaganHighSchool

Troy Friesenhahn

Tom C. Clark High School

Abigail Hernandez

WinstonChurchillHighSchool

Haley Hibbetts

SandraDayO’ConnorHighSchool

Josie Johnson

EastCentralHighSchool

Thomas Porter

AntonianCollegePreparatory

Andres Sanchez

TheAtonementCatholicAcademy

Emma Segura

AntonianCollegePreparatory

YOUNG AGGIES

OF SAN ANTONIO

The Young Aggies enjoyed a remarkable run in both March and April, with a series of successful events that brought our members together. Our February happy hour saw an impressive turnout, with a fantastic mix of familiar faces and enthusiastic newcomers joining our club. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to connect and engage with fellow Aggies.

Building upon that success, our April happy hour at the Wild Barley on Broadway exceeded all expectations, attracting an even larger crowd of Aggies and creating an electrifying atmosphere. The Aggie-owned establishment provided the perfect backdrop for us to celebrate our Aggie spirit and camaraderie.

Additionally, we participated in Howdy Hour, featuring a captivating speaker, former head Yell Leader Brandon Neff. The event drew a considerable crowd, and Brandon’s inspiring words left a lasting impact on all attendees. It was a true testament to the engaging and influential speakers we strive to bring to our gatherings.

As we eagerly look ahead, our June Happy Hour promises to be another exceptional event on June 22 at Burleson Yard Beer Garden. Also, stay tuned on Facebook and AggiePark.com for more information regarding our annual GuadaWhoop river float. We can’t wait to see everyone there as we create more memorable experiences and strengthen our Young Aggie community.

Gig ’em, Nicholas Simpson ’18 Young Aggies Coordinator

NOW HIRING

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Aggie ParkEvent Center

The Director of Operations will be the lead staff position for the San Antonio A&M Club and Foundation. Primary duties will be to focus on club strategic development, membership growth, and the value of membership in the SAAMC. In addition, the Director of Operations will be tasked to recommend improvements and enhancements to Aggie Park. The position will also oversee the operational functions of the club/foundation and staff requirements needed to conduct club and foundation business.

1. Primary point of contact for the Association of Former Students, the Twelfth Man Foundation, Texas A&M University Foundation, and any other TAMU affiliated groups.

2. Assist BOD in developing and implementing a strategic planning process that can be conducted annually.

3. Follow and enforce Aggie Park Policies and Procedures Ops manual approved by the Board of Director (BOD).

4. Conduct an annual BOD workshop to review the operational policies of the club, foundation, and committees and educate new BOD members on duties and responsibilities.

5. Light bookkeeping duties such as processing a receipt will be required. Other bookkeeping tasks may be required for monthly delivery of club/foundation/park activity (bills incurred, etc.) to third-party vendors.

6. Prepare an annual outreach campaign to encourage additional membership to the SAAMC and prepare value statement of member benefits.

7. Personally acknowledge dues and donations to the club and foundation in a timely manner.

8. Attend BOD and Executive Committee meetings. Attend committee meetings as needed.

9. Maintain open communications with BOD and committee members.

10. Oversee fundraising activities and committees.

11. Oversee facilities committee.

12. Provide quarterly communication with members to let them know what is happening with the club and foundation.

13. Secure sponsorships, donations, and silent/live auctions items for events.

EVENT COORDINATOR

The Event Coordinator will assist customers to plan and execute events as well as assist to maintain the facilities of Aggie Park. The person that fills this role shall provide outstanding customer service, be an enthusiastic professional, and be able to build relationships with internal and external customers.

1. Work with customers, event staff, and porters to book rental events at Aggie Park and oversee the success of the events.

2. Provide information and site visit tours for parties interested in renting Aggie Park.

3. Create and revise table and chair layouts for each event using provided planning software.

4. Work with the janitorial crew to ensure the facility is clean, organized, and prepared accordingly for events.

5. Propose new ideas to improve the event planning and implementation process.

6. Coordinate and set up weekly San Antonio A&M Club “Monday Lunch” event.

7. Assist San Antonio A&M Club and Foundation committees with event services.

8. Provide monthly report to Executive Director concerning facility rental activity and facility operations.

9. Light bookkeeping duties such as invoicing customers and making bank deposits.

10. Coordinate bus transportation to College Station for Texas A&M home football games. 11. Take inventory of Aggie Park equipment prior to rental client departure.

12. Lock the facility at conclusion of event .

EVENT PORTER

Several openings are available for the position of part-time Event Porter to provide facility services for after-hours Aggie Park Event Center rental clients. Responsibilities include:

1. Open the facility and ensure proper setup for rental client per approved layout.

2. Provide supervision and support to rental client during event.

3. Ensure supplies are adequately stocked throughout event.

4. Serve as point of contact for event security.

5. Provide audiovisual system support.

6. Take inventory of Aggie Park equipment prior to rental client departure.

7. Lock the facility at conclusion of event.

For more information and to apply, please email us at executivedirector@aggiepark.com.