On Friday, August 20, we “officially” unveiled the “Seneca Past and Present” alumni organization.  We had a great turnout of over 150 Alumni and friends at our tailgate party with Hotdogs and Drinks for all.  Our group was part of a 4500 person crowd (the largest in almost a decade) that watched our beloved Seneca Redhawks (Redskins) triumph over the Central Yellow Jackets 47-32. This was a big win over the #1 3-A team in the state, in what could be a great season for Seneca’s Football team.  (Seneca went on to defeat Southern last Friday night 48-21).

Back to Seneca Past and Present- A reminder that our hope in forming Seneca Past and Present is that by connecting with various Seneca alums, we will be able to do accomplish several goals:

 Form a true alumni association that spans classes

 Help reconnect the alumni (past) with the today's Seneca High School (present)

 Get involved with Seneca students of today via mentoring programs, etc.

 Help alumni understand the incredible need that is present at Seneca today (see examples below)

 Develop bonds across different classes that make up the 21,000 graduates

 Establish a charitable trust to assist in fund raising for the ongoing educational and extracurricular needs of the Seneca kids of today

Much has changed since your days as a Seneca student/athlete/scholar; funds for high school extracurricular activities have never been tighter:

•         2009 Senior Play cancelled for first time in 50 years!

•         Seneca still uses the same track from the 1970s

•         Same dated 1960s score boards in both gyms and on football field

•         Condemned bleachers on the football field need replacement in the next two year

•         Girls fields have no scoreboards and few, if any, bleacher

•          Poor training/conditioning facilities

•         Minimal furnished practice wear, footwear, safety equipment etc.

•         Outdated and heavily used game uniforms.

•         No working showers or towels

•          No supplemental diet programs . . . fruit, power shakes, lunch subsidies, etc.

•         Transportation difficulties in getting athletes, extracurricular participants to competitions

•         No band camp, band competitions, orchestra competitions, etc.

•         Highly outdated computer labs and backdated software.

•         24 instrument playing kids in band this year with no real uniforms

•         Band only attended home games (not enough money to pay for transportation to away events)

•         ROTC program constantly struggling for funding

As outlined above, what we are hoping to accomplish is to provide an equal playing field for today’s Seneca students.  At the same time, we want to instill the pride that consumed Seneca when you went to school there.

Many of you have been very generous in offering praise for our efforts and encouraging words of support.  For that we are grateful.  However, if you believe in our cause we need your help. 

Here is how:

1.    Tell your network of Seneca friends about what we are doing;

2.    Join our Facebook site Seneca Past and Present, Inc. and invite your friends;

4.    If you are a Louisville local, come to our meetings, help by being on a committee

Our next meeting is Monday September 13, 6:00PM at the Seneca.

Our next game presence is this Friday before and during the game (7:30 PM Kickoff) in the North End Zone, when we play The Fern Creek Tigers at Seneca.  Look for our white Alumni tent. We will have Alumni Gear for sale and would always be happy to sign up new members, tell you more about Seneca Past and Present or just reminisce about our Redskin Days. (No Hotdogs this game but we will have another Tailgate bash before too long!)

There is much good and rewarding work to do with Seneca Past and Present…and you might just have some fun, too!