Calling all Gators!
My name is Bud Clarke. I’m the president of the Gator Club of Historic St. Augustine. Because of Covid and some other issues, you haven’t heard much recently from your Gator Club, but that is about to change. The board of directors and I have committed to re-engage with our members and invigorate the alumni experience in St. Johns and Flagler Counties.
We’re starting off with International Gator Day whose purpose is to encourage Gator Clubs around the world to give back on a single day by participating in local community projects. It is scheduled this year for May 20. Our Club is planning a beach cleanup in the vicinity of the A Street beach access in St. Augustine Beach after which we will gather at the Beachcomber Restaurant located at the east end of A Street. More details about this will be forthcoming.
All Gators, friends of Gators and families are encouraged to join in this project. It’s a great way to enjoy a day with your family, meet and network with other Gators and benefit our community. For planning purposes, we need to have a good idea of how many people will attend. Please respond to this email indicating your intent to participate and the number of participants. Further details will be circulated as the time grows closer. I encourage all St. Johns and Flagler County Gators to get involved so that we can kick off this new beginning with a successful venture.
We are in the planning stages for several other events this summer and will be arranging watch parties for football this fall as well as a lineup of speakers on sports and other topics including faculty presentations. Stay tuned. Also, we will be populating our Facebook page with notices of future events and other useful information, including International Gator Day details, so be sure to check it periodically.
At this time, we are looking to add up to 4 more board members including a Young Alumni Coordinator (age 35 or younger) whose function is to increase participation by younger alumni and apprise the board of issues of particular importance to them. Anyone interested in joining the board as a member at large or as a Young Alumni Coordinator, please so indicate in your response to this email and tell us a little about yourself.
If you loved your time as a student at the University of Florida and feel pride in what the University has become even if you did not attend, participating in Gator Club activities with fellow alumni is the best way to keep the bond strong and the fire burning, re-connect with old friends and make new ones. I hope to hear from each one of you. You can reach out at saintaugustinegatorclub@gmail.com or post here!
Best regards and Go Gators!
Bud Clarke
