Dearest WRCAA ladies,

We had a BLAST at the first two monthly Wine Down Wednesday events in January and February! We are happy that we have a standing monthly event to attend that will be hosted in various locales in the DC Metro area. We are planning a few Wine Down Fridays over the Summer/Fall as well, so don't worry if you can't make Wednesdays work for now. Our goal is to have as many of us connect throughout the year at these networking events. We are also planning two fun springtime events, a Kidville party for the tots and a Spa Day for us ladies!

Our "inaugural" event in Washington, D.C., at the trendy wine bar Vinoteca kicked things off with a bang....literally. Despite a pretty rough thunderstorm, we had about 10 ladies spanning 4 decades of Washington Redskins Cheerleaders in attendance. We caught up over delicious wines and appetizers and discussed the upcoming Super Bowl weekend with high hopes for our own 'Skins next year! The second event took place this past Wednesday evening at popular wine spot Grapeseed in Bethesda, MD., and brought out some new faces to this event. One alumni member mentioned she rarely got to attend events because they are never in Bethesda and she was thrilled to hear about this one! We toasted our years on the sidelines and swapped stories of our "cheer" days. It's always great to catch up with old friends and connect with new ones, especially when we share such a fun common thread...of pom poms that is! ;)

We hope to see you at the next Wine Down event tentatively scheduled for March 27th in Virginia. Details to come...

Cheers!

WRCAA Social Committee
Carin, Melody, Denyse, Chastity, and Tequia

Our dear Doris Snyder (62--66), first Director of the Redskinettes, passed away on December 18, 2012.  

Doris was selected to be the first Director of the Redskinettes by Joel Margolis, Producer of the Redskins show staff in 1962.  Prior to her tenure with the Redskins, Doris served as the head majorette/choreographer of the Baltimore Colts show staff from 1947 to 1962.  Upon acceptance of her new position, Doris made the first of many important decisions, which would shape the future of the Redskinettes...the appointment of the first Assistant Directors, Ann Bittenbender and Mary Lu Bucci.  Contacts were made throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area as potential candidates for the Redskinettes squad.  By April 1962, all candidates had been auditioned and selected, and after endless hours of rehearsals conducted by Snyder, Bittenbender, and Bucci, the Redskinettes were ready to say "HAIL Lo" to the Washington fans.

The original Redskinettes uniform was commissioned by Doris, who worked closely with a New York firm that submitted the winning design. Doris spent many long hours and made numerous trips to New York City to oversee this work...even to the extent of examining the beading that was done by hand on each costume...to assure that the work proceeded on schedule.

After many fittings and re-fittings  the uniforms were ready for the grand entrance on September 30, 1962.  And so it began, and continues today, the announcement that has become the hallmark of every home pre-game show:

"Ladies and gentlemen...Presenting the world famous Redskins Marching Band and the equally famous Redskinettes!" or as they are now known The First Ladies of Football!