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Famous Chris of Grand Rapids
The ND Club of Grand Rapids continues to strive toward a tradition of
service to our local alumni, family, and friends in Notre Dame. Under the
leadership of Butch Steffes, vice-president; Tim Clark, treasurer; Don
Passenger, secretary; and me as president, we have been active in a variety of
events, activities, and service throughout the year. Starting with last fall’s
Student Sendoff, hosted by Gary and Sue Milligan at their home, we had over 75
attendees welcome our largest freshmen class ever (19), meet other
upper-classmen and help them and their parents get the inside tips on getting
ready for school. Our joint participation in this years Crying Towel, chaired by
Bob Nolan with help from Chris Duba was another
success with over 200 attendees between ND, UM and MSU alumni clubs of GR
helping to kick off another football season with good food, refreshments and
lots of laughs. Our young alumni have been busy getting the word out on several
camaraderie events including a social hour after work downtown GR, attendance to
the Summer Shakespeare festival on campus, attendance as a group to the Pitt
football game, Insight Bowl game watch, and the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Eve
Night. Special thanks to Kate Nagengast, Dana Magnuson and Andrew Blum for all
their energy. Our annual Club Mass was held at St. Anthony’s Jan. 9. Thanks to
Don Passenger for helping to get the word out on this. Angel VanGorp organized
another successful community service effort with over 16 ND students coming into
GR’s Heartside District over Christmas break for two days to help with a variety
of activities with local agencies, food shelters, and ministries. In March of
this year, we elected our new officers and board for the next two years with
Butch Steffes taking over as president for me in June, Jim Kirkwood, vice
president, Tim Clark, treasurer and Don Passenger, secretary. Please keep all of
them in mind and wish them the best for all they do in helping our club. Plans
for this years UND Night, golf/scholarship invitational, and Baseball Bash are
already in full swing. Scott Malpass, University chief financial and investment
officer will be our campus representative for UND Night sometime in May. Patty
Schrand and Kevin McDermott are organizing another great event. Newly hired
offensive coordinator for the Fightin’ Irish Football staff, Mike Haywood, will
be our special guest for our 22nd annual ND golf and scholarship invitational
this year on Monday, June 6 at The Highlands Country Club (GR Elks Lodge). We
are excited to be able to offer everyone a great value with a entry fee of only
$125 per person for lunch, golf, cart, driving range, dinner, silent and live
auctions and lots of great golf events and fun. Contact me at 616-890-1370 for
more details and to sign up. This years Baseball Bash game between ND’s and UM’s
varsity teams will be Wed., May 11th, 7pm. Last year almost 4,000 satisfied fans
came out for the game. We are especially looking for sponsors of little league,
middle, and high school teams with $100 donation. Please join us and help out by
contacting Butch Steffes at
BUTCH_STEFFES@alticor.com for any questions and information on sponsors or
program advertising. Our Hesburgh Lecture Series featured the Dr. Kwan Kim’s
“Can We Narrow the Global Poverty Gap?” This lecture had over 200 attendees.
Thanks to Butch Steffes on making this happen. If you are new to the Grand
Rapids Holland area and want to join our club and get involved in any way,
please contact me at 616-890-1370 or
bob.belmonte@rfbi.com. Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 19, at 11:30 a.m.
at Swift Printing Co. on Bridge St., just west of US 131. Everyone is welcome to
attend and meet and socialize afterwards at lunch. — Bob Belmonte
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