October 2005 - Notre Dame Club of El Paso

October 2005
Notre Dame Student Recruiting Visit The University of Notre Dame will send down Gil Martinez
from the Office of Admissions on Wednesday October 19. Loretto Academy will host the visit in room
201 at 6:30 PM. Very highly qualified and motivated high school juniors and seniors interested in Notre
Dame should attend. Alumni, parents, and family are also welcome. Get the word out to very well
qualified students.
Notre Dame Day of Service The Club is teaming up with the Center Against Family Violence (CAFV)
this year for the National Day of Service. The CAFV has over 120 victims of family violence at their
shelter now and more than 80 are kids. They are in dire need of the basic necessities. We will be
collecting primarily toiletries for the Center Against Family Violence. They need soap, toothpaste,
toothbrushes, diapers (specially size 5), shampoo, etc. Cash may be accepted too. We need 16
volunteers as a minimum to man 4 collection points from 9 AM to 12 PM during Notre Dame Day of
Service on October 22. Reporting time is 8:30 AM and plan on going to 12:30 PM to take care of all the
admin stuff. Our 4 locations are Jamocha's at Mesa and Kirby and the 3 Sam's Clubs. This is part of our
Irish Spring community service campaign. We are also coordinating with Loretto, Radford School, and
Cathedral to involve them in this drive. Any time you can volunteer and anything you can donate would
be most appreciated. Please contact Eric Salas ’98, our Club Young Alumni Coordinator, at
[email protected] or 915-525-1994, or Chris Avila ’01, our Club Vice President, at
[email protected] or 915-329-8975. This is a great way for the Club as a whole to provide
community service to worthy cause. Please be generous with your time, talent, and treasure.
Katrina Donation-The El Paso Club donated $500 to the University of Notre Dame Katrina Collection.
Fifty percent goes to Catholic Charities, 25 percent goes to CSC in Louisiana, and 25 percent goes to
Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) schools in the area. Thanks to everyone who donated money for
your generosity and assistance.
Irish Invade Sun Bowl The ND Club of El Paso loves the UTEP Miners and will be supporting them
by participating in their Homecoming day with a tailgate party. On October 22 in support of UTEP’s
homecoming, the club will be setting up an RV in the Schuster parking lot (east of I-10 Sun Bowl exit
and south of Schuster). You will be able to spot the tailgate by the Notre Dame flag waving in the wind.
A huge grill will be cooking up the all the hamburgers and hot dogs you can eat while three TVs will be
present for the BYU game watch. Club officers are selling tickets for $5, however patrons will have to
bring their own beer. Wear your Notre Dame Club of El Paso Spirit Shirt or any UTEP apparel in
support. Buy your tickets early so we can project the amount of food and drink to buy. You will need
the ticket stub as a verification at the tailgate. If you are unable to purchase a ticket before hand, please
RSVP with Jose Levario ’99, our Club Fund Raising Coordinator, at [email protected] or 915-2766512, Chris Avila ’01 at [email protected] or 915-329-8975, or Eric Salas ’98 at
[email protected] or 915-525-1994. If you would like to volunteer your assistance by cooking,
serving, or anything else, please let us know.
Football Game Watches The game watches will be held as listed below. Check with weekly e-mail for
changes. We will also have Notre Dame Club of El Paso shirts for sale as a club fund raiser. Thanks to
the young alumni for coordinating all of this.
2005 Schedule
ND Club of EP Game Watch
Day
Date
Opponent
Location
Address
Time
Sat
10/22/2005
BYU
Irish Invasion Tailgate
Schuster St RV parking lot
12:30 p.m.
Sat
11/05/2005
Tennessee
Downtown Sports Bar
317 Mills + Kansas
12:30 p.m.
Sat
11/12/2005
Navy
Downtown Sports Bar
317 Mills + Kansas
11:00 a.m.
Sat
11/19/2005
Syracuse
Downtown Sports Bar
317 Mills + Kansas
12:30 p.m.
Sat
11/26/2005
Stanford
TBD
TBD
1:30 or 6 p.m.
Notre Dame - Michigan Game Watch Photos
Mike Bearce thanks Charlie Gomez ’98
Good food
Frankies full of fans
Mark Delgado ’02, ’04 and Valenzuelas
Guy in red shirt and Gomez clan
Mary Lou and Art Borrego who always wins the raffle
Wiersons and Barrazas galore
Jimmy Valenzuela wins raffle
3 nurses on hand for Geno Marquette ’55
Almanzas in green and Lucky Liz
Come on folks, look into the camera
Amanda ’00 and Amy ’01 counting Katrina cash
Young Alumni hard at serious work
High five ND wins
Notre Dame - Michigan State Game Watch Photos
Push-up kings and queen
Yvonne, Elizabeth, Chris ’01, Kristine ‘00
Do you sell Lotto tickets too?
Barraza, Almanza, Wierson Clan
The Renterias
Mark ’02, ’04, Liz, Eric ’98, friend, Alex
Loved the game but hated the overtime
Lucky Borregos
Local Alumni News Looks like a legal section. Judges David Guaderrama ’79 and Bonnie Rangel
’79 get down at the Vega Brothers concert at The Zone nightclub in downtown El Paso. Manny ’80 and
Maureen ’81 de la Rosa and David and Sandra Saucedo were at the Cathedral anniversary. Manny
received the Legacy Honoree recognition.
David
Bonnie
Maureen, Manny David + Sandra
Local News If you have any local news, please call it into 915-757-9395 and leave a message or e-mail
it to [email protected]. We have separate sections for alumni, young alumni, and
students, but we can’t do it without your occasional inputs. Thanks!
Club Coordinators We are looking to fill all coordinator positions by the end of this year and make this
a more active, involved, and exciting club. The open coordinator positions are Alumni Schools,
Community Service, Continuing Education, Diversity, MBA and Law, Membership, Monogram Club,
Senior Alumni, and Student Relations. You may volunteer for any of these positions at any time by
using the contact number or e-mail in the previous paragraph.
Young Alumni News Thanks to the effort of the Young Alumni, they have organized the following
three big events. These are not exclusively Young Alumni Events but The Notre Dame Family of El
Paso Events!!!!
1) Irish Invasion - Irish invade the Sun Bowl. Tailgating, Hi-Fiving and Enjoyment at the Tailgater.
Schuster Street RV parking lot. TV will be available for the ND v. BYU Game and other games.
2) Game watches every game. Check for location and time.
3) Christmas dance and party at Radford School December 30th.
If you have any questions about young alumni events, please don't hesitate to email your young alumni
coordinator, Eric Salas ‘98, [email protected].
Club Website The Notre Dame Club of El Paso’s website http://alumni.nd.edu/~ndc_elp is up and
running thanks to Chris Avila ’01, Armando Renteria, and Guillermo Rodriguez ’98.
Newest Members-David Guaderrama ’79 and Francisco Garcia ’82 are out newest club members.
Your club membership cards will be waiting for you at the next game watch.
Club Dues We really need to boost our paid membership. Please join us today and get your ND club of
El Paso membership card. Check out the special rates for senior and young alumni.
Family Membership
$25
Individual Membership
$15
Young Alumni (‘96-‘05)
$10
Senior Alumni (‘56 + earlier) $00
Clergy
$00
Please bring your dues to the next Club event or send them (make checks out to Notre Dame Club of El
Paso) to: Amy Sanchez ’01, Treasurer, Notre Dame Club of El Paso, 1554 Bengal, El Paso, TX 79935.
Notre Dame Club of El Paso Spirit Shirts The club is selling Navy blue t-shirts with our club logo on
the front and “GO IRISH” on the back as a fund raiser. Cost is $15 and will be available at all remaining
game watches. If there are any questions, please contact Jose Levario ’99, Club Fund Raising
Coordinator, at [email protected]. Check out the design.
Front:
Back:
Mass and Communion Breakfast We are planning the annual mass and communion breakfast for the
morning of December 4th. Mark it down on your calendar. We try to get the whole club out to celebrate
mass on the Sunday closest to the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mass will be held at St Pius X on Geronimo and Clark across the freeway from Bassett Place. Breakfast
will be at Gerardo’s buffet on Montana and Geronimo.
SYR/Reunion Dance The young alumni are in the initial planning stages for a post Christmas
SYR/reunion. We plan to have it at Radford School on December 30th. Snacks and a DJ. Plan on
attending. Bring a gift for a needy child. Maybe we can follow the Spirit theme in our gifts. Stand by
for details.
Students Here’s a little note the Club received from a freshmen about orientation weekend:
“As Father John I. Jenkins gave his inaugural address this Friday, I couldn't help but feel as though he
was speaking directly to me. He talked about his new era for education and his new passions. He talked
about never being able to "dream too big." I thought I was dreaming too big when I applied to Notre
Dame last September (I actually started in July, thanks to my enthusiastic mother!). I never would have
thought a year ago that I would be here today, here in this new family that has so graciously opened up
its arms to me. I think that even though my parents were always so supportive of me throughout the
whole "college search" they must have felt some tinge of nervousness. They always covered it up pretty
well though. They always presented a unified front and I think that their amazing attitude was the one
thing that kept me sane during those months of waiting to hear back from the admissions office. Notre
Dame is a tough school to get into, and as I sit in my different classes, I look around and still wonder if
it was really me they meant to send that acceptance letter to. I am so thankful to my parents for pushing
me the four years of high school and all my life that ultimately led me to this wonderful new home. I
am so thankful for my brother and sisters for always making home a party. I am thankful for my coach
and my high school and my friends who have all shaped me into who I am today. But, I am already
thankful for the family that I have found here...The girls here in Lewis, the R.A.'s the Rector- all with
open arms and hearts to everyone have been nothing but welcoming to all who enter. The professors
have been so outreaching to all the students and have offered so much advice. I haven't even been able
to enter a building without someone welcoming me to the University and to the Notre Dame Family. I
know that being a part of this family is such a blessing. It is a blessing that will last a lifetime. God has
truly blessed me and everyone here with such an amazing opportunity for success. So as I walk by the
Grotto on my long walks across campus towards Lewis, I always stop and pray. I pray for my family in
El Paso, I pray for my friends back home, I pray for my new friends here and for all those in New
Orleans, I pray for a lot of things. But one of the things that I have found that has been dominating my
prayers lately, is that for my new family. I pray for my new Notre Dame family here, and for my new
Notre Dame family at home. So thank you El Paso Alumni Club- for being so welcoming and doing
such an amazing job at really showing me what Notre Dame is all about- Family.”
Sara-Ashley Hernandez, 431 Lewis Hall, Class of 2009
Sylvia Puente Named Among Nation’s Most Influential Hispanics
Sylvia Puente, director of the Metropolitan Chicago Initiative for the
University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies (ILS), is named
among Hispanic Business magazine’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics”
in the U.S. Other honorees featured in the October 2005 issue include
ABC News correspondent, Jim Avila; Manny Diaz, mayor of Miami;
actor/director Andy Garcia; “Desperate Housewives” actress Eva
Longoria; “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz; and Florida Sen.
Mel Martinez. “It is an honor to be selected,” Puente said, “especially
considering the many other accomplished individuals on the list. I am
blessed to have the opportunity to do work that I feel is my life's calling
and to have the support of wonderful colleagues at the Institute for Latino
Studies.” According to the magazine, the questions, concerns and points
of view of this year’s honorees have placed them at the forefront of
discussions on economic and public policy issues. The group
overwhelmingly named “access to education” the top issue of policy
concern and believes educators can do the best job of further empowering the U.S. Hispanic community.
Puente, who earned her master’s degree in public policy studies from the University of Chicago, has
spent her career conducting community research and analyzing public policy in an effort to build strong
Latino communities. Before joining the ILS, she served as New Community Initiatives director for The
Resurrection Project, an organization that promotes healthy communities through education and
community development in Chicago. Puente also served for eight years as director of research, public
policy and advocacy for the Latino Institute of Chicago, which strives to develop links between Latino
communities. In that role, she oversaw development of 90 publications on immigration, workforce
development and education. In 2003 Puente, who was introduced by her mother to a life of social
activism at age 13, was one of 25 Chicago-area women named a Pioneer for Social Justice.The
Metropolitan Chicago Initiative (http://www.nd.edu/~latino/units/mci.htm) strives to enhance vibrant
and socially just communities by developing policy relevant research, cultivating partnerships and
expanding knowledge of Latinos in Chicago.
Border Issues Seminar Dinner Every first weekend or so of January the Club hosts a dinner for Notre
Dame students participating in the Border Issues Seminar. More information on this club event will be
posted soon.
Freshmen Orientation Weekend Here’s what another parent had to say: “I myself was not able to take
my daughter to school, but my husband did and he said it was just an awesome orientation. This was his
first trip to Notre Dame and he was just in awe about the whole weekend. We are so proud of our
daughter, just as I know the rest of you are very proud of your sons and daughters. Thank God for ND.”
3 New Books Tell Tales Of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame is often a hot topic on
bookshelves, and this fall is no exception with at least three new volumes
hitting stores. The University’s most recent former president, Rev.
Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., has written a book of legends and memories
that he has gathered during his more than four decades of residence on
campus. “Monk’s Notre Dame,” (184 pages, University of Notre Dame
Press, $15) life includes humor, nostalgia and keen perspectives on
campus life. Monk, using the nickname he has carried for most of his
life, also includes tributes to many of his brother priests of the
Congregation of Holy Cross, including his predecessor, Rev. Theodore
M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. Monk, who completed 18 years as president on
June 30, 2005, wrote that he felt “I had a responsibility to share with
others the many tales passed on to me” during his years at Notre Dame.
He also felt he had valuable insights into individuals, such as Father
Hesburgh who had played significant roles in the history of the place.
The topics are as diverse as remembering Junior Parent Weekends,
winning the national championship in women’s basketball in 2001, and a
funny story about bringing a student to the health center late one night, and not being recognized as
president of the University, an episode that bothered him not at all but brought a profuse letter of
apology from a health center official the following day.
“The Spirit of Notre Dame” by Jim Langford and Jeremy Langford, father and son, with
foreward by Regis Philbin, (280 pages, Doubleday, $21.95) is a compilation of contemplations and
theories, some previously published but most of them original to this book, concerning the nature,
origins and characteristics of the force embodied in the book’s title. A diverse group, ranging from
University presidents to legendary Notre Dame intellectuals to rank and file alums, describe their
affections for the place and attempt to articulate something about its essential characters. There are
some nice glimpses of Notre Dame history included as well. Both Langfords are alums, as are many
others in their extended family. Jim was a longtime director of the University of Notre Dame Press and
Jeremy is executive editor of religious studies for Rowman & Littlefield publishers and its Catholic
imprint, Sheed & Ward. At the last game watch Amanda Rodriguez ’00 our only copy.
Finally, there is “Touchdown Jesus: Faith and Fandom at Notre Dame” by Scott Eden (208
pages, Simon and Schuster, $23) which will arrive at bookstores in October. The author is a 1997
graduate of Notre Dame and a free lance writer, living in Chicago. The book encompasses two major
themes, the passion that many Americans have for Notre Dame football, whether they attended the
school or not, and a history of the recent struggles of the team, including the controversial firing of
Coach Tyrone Willingham in November 2004. We have 3 copies for game watch raffles.
Provide the Notre Dame Club of El Paso with your e-mail address and count yourself
among the 280 local members who are benefiting from monthly electronic newsletters, weekly game
watch reminders and results, as well as a bevy of Notre Dame specific news. Contact us at 915-7579395 or [email protected].
Notre Dame Club of El Paso
4441 General Maloney Circle
El Paso, TX 79924