[Leftcoast]

I attended Guardsmen lunches in the 90s.  I don't know how attendance stacked up in the event's heyday but even in the 90s the luncheon was already a majority Low APR U Alum event - probably 70% old Blues.  The Stanford Band made a brief appearance and a very frustrated Ty His Royal Ungratefulness mumbled a few words.  Two Stanford players were more eloquent, thank goodness, and had some friendly banter with their Low APR U counterparts.

The lunch itself was OK.  The format felt dated, not really "fresh" or contemporary in content and scope and despite attempts to reach out to younger alumni the Old Blues lived up to their adjective.  Most attendees wore suits and I was underdressed in a sports coat and tie.  Whoops - wish my host for that first lunch had warned me.  I enjoyed it for what it was but I'm not really surprised it's fallen on hard times.  It did not become a must attend event for me and a mid-day lunch in SF is out of reach for most Silicon Valley alums so I haven't attended since the 90s.

The pumped up Low APR U outrage doesn't move me especially when they pull out the charity angle.  I believe the Guardsmen do great things but this event can't be its biggest earner when the speaker's fee eats up all of the earnings. 

There is value to events that bring together both alumni groups.  There's value to reminding us of our similarities alongside the sports rivalries.  There's value to shared tradition.  It's not clear to me this event was bringing home those values anymore.

[Leftcoast]

I attended Guardsmen lunches in the 90s.  I don't know how attendance stacked up in the event's heyday but even in the 90s the luncheon was already a majority Low APR U Alum event - probably 70% old Blues.  The Stanford Band made a brief appearance and a very frustrated Ty His Royal Ungratefulness mumbled a few words.  Two Stanford players were more eloquent, thank goodness, and had some friendly banter with their Low APR U counterparts.

The lunch itself was OK.  The format felt dated, not really "fresh" or contemporary in content and scope and despite attempts to reach out to younger alumni the Old Blues lived up to their adjective.  Most attendees wore suits and I was underdressed in a sports coat and tie.  Whoops - wish my host for that first lunch had warned me.  I enjoyed it for what it was but I'm not really surprised it's fallen on hard times.  It did not become a must attend event for me and a mid-day lunch in SF is out of reach for most Silicon Valley alums so I haven't attended since the 90s.

The pumped up Low APR U outrage doesn't move me especially when they pull out the charity angle.  I believe the Guardsmen do great things but this event can't be its biggest earner when the speaker's fee eats up all of the earnings. 

There is value to events that bring together both alumni groups.  There's value to reminding us of our similarities alongside the sports rivalries.  There's value to shared tradition.  It's not clear to me this event was bringing home those values anymore.