The University of Louisville

The University of Louisville

 Alumni Club of

Southern California

2009 KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY

Saturday May 2^nd, 11:30 AM

You are invited to attend a Celebration of the 135^th running of the Kentucky Derby at the home of Dave and Tammy Radan.  We’ll have a Derby Party that will knock your hooves off - from Mint Juleps to an original Kentucky home cooked spread, including everything from burgoo and fried chicken to vegetarian fare.   Bring some extra cash to bet on your favorite and for the silent auction, but all you can eat and drink (hard or soft drinks - please don’t get sloppy! and please have a designated driver) and awesome company is all included in your amazingly inexpensive price of $35.  Young folks are welcome to roll on the cabin floor.

Where??

Tammy & Dave’s Mansion in the Hills

11262 Skyline Drive

North Tustin, CA 92705

(714) 731-1928

Directions: Take the 5 fwy to 55 fwy north (towards Pomona) exit 17th St. (Tustin).  Turn Right (East) and go a couple of miles to Newport Ave. and turn Left.  Go a couple of miles and turn Right on Cowan Heights Dr.  Turn Right on Skyline Dr. (1st right) and go about 1 1/2 mile.  Note: Use THESE directions; avoid mapquest or GPS directions that provide a Foothill Drive route.  Trust us, we live here!

To Reserve your Place . . .

 . . . Please make your $35 (Cheap!!) per person donation to the William G. Caldwell scholarship fund by April 25 (the sooner the better).  Make your check payable to

The UofL SoCal Alumni Club and mail it to:

Vern Meurer, Treasurer

908 North Malden Ave.

Fullerton, CA  92832 (714) 870-7524

Contact Joseph: socalcards@UofLsocalcards.com,  Vern:  vmeurer@sbcglobal.net or Tammy:  Tammyradan@aol.com for more information. 

Derby Party Questions and Answers

Or

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Socal Cards’ Derby Party, but Were Afraid to Ask

·        Who goes to this party?

Everybody!  UofL Grads from 1950 to 2009.  Friends, spouses and so on. Singles, couples, families, twenty-somethings, eighty-somethings.  Poets, artists, scientists, engineers, doctors, plumbers, pipe fitters.  Conformists, non-conformists, carnivores, vegetarians – you name it!  People from back home who are not UofL alums – for example folks from the state schools.  UK Alums come to our party (and UofL Alums go to theirs at Hollywood Park, too.).  All sorts of folks.

·        What if I don’t know anyone?  Will I still have fun?

Of course!  You know going in that you are going to be in the company of folks with whom you have a lot in common.  Louisville people are friendly!  You’ll mix right in.  You might even bump into someone who was in one of your classes.

·        Can I bring a group of non-Louisville friends?

Of course!  We like groups, and we like to meet people.  They are going to be in the company of the same friendly folks. 

·        How many people will be there?

Probably about 80-90.  We can hold a few more than that.

·        What Kind of Drinks?

We feature (duh) mint juleps.  There will also be beer, wine, and soda.  Thanks to our friends at Makers Mark, Brown-Forman and Bulleit, there will be a “gourmet” section for bourbon connoisseurs.   Since it’s Cinco de Mayo weekend, we will have a tequila (thanks again Brown-Forman) for margaritas.  

If you prefer your vodka (or anything else) bring it! . . . and the bartender will pour some soda or other SIMPLE mixer in it.  If you like those crazy foo-foo drinks, you can only have them if you want to bring them yourself or make them yourself (somewhere out of the way!)  But we’ll find some room on the kitchen counter for you if that’s what you want to do.   We’re cool that way.

·        How long is the party?

People begin arriving about 11:30, and the party continues until about an hour or so after The Derby (which runs about 2:30 or so, our time).  Food (home cooked by your fellow alums!) is served before the race, and the items are raffled after (and a brief and painless board meeting where you’ll vote for next year’s officers).  Then everybody takes all their winnings, and all their free stuff, and makes it safely home before dusk.

·        Do I need to be a dues-paying member to attend?

No.  If you received this invitation, you are welcome – bring some friends, too. 

·        Will I be asked for any type of donations, gifts?   Will I be collared to volunteer for or join anything?  Are there solicitations of any kind whatsoever?

Absolutely not!  We’re having a party! 

·        Are there any other fees at all?

None whatsoever, but you may want to bring some extra cash, if you have it, for the silent auction, the raffle, and to bet on your horse. 

·        Do I need reservations?

Well we sure would appreciate it – a lot of planning and hard work go into making this the most fun you’ll have all year.  There is a point at which we’ll have to call the place “full” – and if you just show up after that, we’d have to turn you away, but it’s not likely, really.  Tammy and Dave’s hizzy is huge – we’ll fit a lot of people! 

·        Is there a dress code?

Not much of one . . .  you may not be comfortable in torn jeans and t's, but we won’t kick you out.  I recommend "business casual" (slacks and collared shirt for men, slacks or casual dress for women) but some folks like to put on their Derby attire.  President Emeritus Bob Hoertz is quite dashing – and fits right in – in his shorts, golf shirt and UofL cap!

·        Who is NOT welcome?

Most everyone is welcome, with the exception of rude people, unkind people, haters, mean drunks, fighters, whiners, malcontents – and folks what ain’t got no couth.  On the other hand, social rogues and benevolent curmudgeons are encouraged to attend and will feel right at home.

·        Can I bring my kids?

Yes, of course you can.  We recommend that you leave the tiny toddlers at home unless you can really commit to 100% supervision 100% of the time, but grade schoolers and high schoolers have a great time.

·        I have a favorite dish I’d like to bring.  May I do so?

Sure – thanks!  But you MUST coordinate in advance.  Contact Tammy at the email address or phone number on the flyer.  Bear in mind, however, that you don’t have to bring anything – 99% of people do not.  Everything you need will be there waiting for you.

·        Are there all sorts of free goodies?

Yes, as a matter of fact.  Corporate sponsors and the school provide all sorts of neat little things that we give away for absolutely free!  Absolutely everyone leaves with an official Kentucky Derby mint julep glass – the same one they are getting at the track.   There are other various and sundry goodies that make you think of back home.

·        What sort of items are on the silent auction?

The silent auction features Maker’s Mark bourbon – along with some glassware, logo clothing and paraphernalia.  Thank you Makers Mark!!  Previous auctions have included Hadley Pottery, autographed footballs and basketballs, collectables of all kinds – one-time-only things that you cannot get anywhere else for any price.    We still aren’t sure of what else we’ll have.

·        So what does the raffle feature?

Caps, T-shirts, all sorts of UofL logo items, some Churchill Downs logo items and posters.  Collectors’ items.  There are a number of items.  Tickets are only a buck, and we’ll have over 50 winners by the time we’ve worn ourselves out by giving things away.  Everybody leaves with something!

·        May I volunteer to help?

       Yes!  Thank you!  Contact Tammy to get hooked up.