July 1, 2009

July 2009

To all Sabres:

It is with great pride that I announce to you today the new officers and Board of Directors that will lead the Saint Brendan High Alumni Association (SBHAA) for the next year and beyond.  Effective July 1^st, 2009 our leadership will be as follows: President - Jose "Pepi" Diaz '98; Vice President - Angie Diaz Medina '00; and Treasurer – Mileny Martinez Kondorosi '98.  The Board of Directors will be Juan Aguerrebere '80 (Ex-oficio); Javi Borges '93 (President Emeritus); Ariel Bellumio '97; Ana de Armas '98 (Alumni Director); Sara Hekmat (President Emeritus); Rosa Llaguno '82 (President Emeritus); Rick Martinez '07 (Ex-oficio); Rick Seara '82; Tony Sena '97; Ray Vaughan '78; Robert Wood '82.  Working in conjunction with the Board as ex-oficio members will be Principal Brother Felix Elardo and the Student Body President & Vice President.  The new officers were nominated and approved by the Board of Directors of the SBHAA in conjunction with SBHAA by-laws. 

In conjunction with this announcement, I also wanted to take the opportunity to announce that after almost five years, I am stepping down as President of the Alumni Association that also governs the Father Dennehy Memorial Fund (FDMF).  However, I intend to remain on the Board as an active Director.

Looking back over the last five years, we have come a long way…but need to continue to go further.  Five years ago, the only alumni effort at St. Brendan was the FDMF scholarship which would raise money from alumni to fund students at St. Brendan who found themselves in urgent need.  Since then:

-          We have quadrupled the endowment in the FDMF and are averaging funding two students a year while still growing the fund. 

-          Five years ago there was no alumni association and Homecoming did not involve alumni actually "coming home" to take part in festivities. Last year we had over 300 alumni come back to campus for the Homecoming Basketball game, tailgate, and Sunday sports picnic.  Not to mention that most class reunions now include a mass and picnic on campus as part of their reunion weekend.

-          Alumni interactions with the students expanded with more alumni participating in Sabre Success Career Days; Presentations to classes and school clubs; Awarding two seniors each year with Alumni and Founders service awards; Student leadership retreats; and financially assisting student efforts directly; the Sabre Pride Campaign teaching students about the importance of giving back and being proud of the Sabre legacy by wearing "We are the Sabre Pride" shirts on campus.

-          SBHAA worked with the administration and faculty to host the first Golf Tournament in over eight years.  More than half the attendees were alumni and over $30,000 was raised for the School's endowment.

-          SBHAA launched a new interactive website where alumni can update their information directly into the updated contact database, improving the quality of contact information at the School.

-          We launched the Sabre Pride Campaign, an all encompassing effort to raise funds to endow the FDMF; support school special projects; and expand our Alumni efforts. 

This is just a snippet of the difference Alumni made over the last 5 years.  While much has been accomplished, much work remains.  The 2008-09 year was our best yet and it was the right time to transition new leadership to lead the way.  I cannot say enough about the new officers.  Jose Diaz has been Vice President of the SBHAA for three years and has worked diligently to expand our efforts.  I could think of no one better to take the reigns and lead us into the future.  Angie Diaz Medina has been on the Board for three years as well and has lead efforts to expand our communication, networking, and mentorship efforts.  Angie is passionate about what it means to be a Sabre and wants the students to see the success they can aspire to by bringing out the best in our alumni to give back.  Mileny Martinez Kondorosi has served as our Treasurer now for over two years and has done a phenomenal job leading the financial aspects of our organization.  Every donation given to the SBHAA can be assured its proper use in large part because of Mileny's leadership.  She is an outstanding Treasurer.  This team will ensure that this first transition of SBHAA leadership goes smoothly and pushes us to new heights.  I thank them deeply for having the courage and passion to lead and serve.

I also want to thank our current and past Board of Directors.  This small group joins together to give back to their alma mater every day.  Their leadership, dedication, and commitment is inspiring.  It has been an absolute honor to lead the Board over the years and one of the greatest experiences of my life to work with them.  I am happy to have the opportunity to continue to work alongside them now as a Director.

To the Faculty & Administration of St. Brendan High, THANK YOU!  Since my first day as a freshman, you have always welcomed Alumni back with open arms.  It is amazing to walk the halls and still see so many teachers that taught me teaching the students of today with the same fire.  It is also rewarding to see so many Alumni teachers continue to come back and give back every day, many of whom were students along with me.  Regardless of past failed attempts to launch alumni efforts, you believed in us and supported us.  For that I thank you.  A main tenet that we were all taught at St. Brendan High was to leave a place better than you found it and to see God every day in people and make a difference in their lives.  It was those teachings, your teachings, which inspire us to give back today years after we left.  We built this organization because of you, to give back and make sure that all Sabres have the opportunity to learn the same important lessons we did.

Thank you also to all the Sabre Alumni, students, parents, and friends that helped us over the years.  To the Alumni that gave us start up seed money when we first launched in 2005-06, the seeds you helped us plant have begun to bear fruit.

As the SBHAA heads into this new phase of its growth, I want to encourage all Sabres, but especially Alumni, to take a small portion of your life and dedicate it to service.  Whether donating your time or financial resources, calling a classmate on St. Brendan's behalf, speaking to a class about your story, or telling someone about us over facebook, every little bit you can do goes a long way.

In closing, this year two students finished their senior year because of our efforts.  In the end, there is no more rewarding feeling than to know our work had a hand in giving someone a gift that will never leave them.  That's what it means to be a Sabre after all.

We are the Sabre Pride!

Javi Borges '93

President Emeritus

St. Brendan High Alumni Association

Father Dennehy Memorial Fund

www.sabrepride.com