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February Events:
2.18.12 – 4:00-10:00pm
February Happy Hour and ECS South Sound Membership Drive
at The Office
DETAILS HERE
March Events:
3.2.12 – 4:00pm-Late
March Happy Hour and ECS Trophy Case Unveiling
at The Atlantic Crossing
DETAILS HERE
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Fellow ECSers,
Welcome to the Getting Involved issue!
The long cold winter of our discontent is almost at an end, with CONCACAF Champions League play starting for our beloved boys in Rave Green on 7 March, 2012. (You DID remember to get your tickets, right? No worries…we got you covered! But move quickly! We only have about 20 or so left…)
In this issue, to get you ready for the start of play, we're gonna tell you about a bunch of the ways you can get involved (or further involved) in ECS. Maybe you always wanted to get more involved, but wasn't sure how to get started, or even what kinds of opportunities might be available.
As you probably know, it takes thousands of volunteer hours each season to ensure that each and every one of you has the best possible match day experience. Without the help of you and your fellow members, there'd be no song cards or pins handed out, no capos leading our songs, and no ECS FC, to name just a few things run and supported by ECS members. In short, everything that ECS does is done, led, managed, and staffed by volunteers. Folks like YOU.
As we continue to grow, the amount of help we need to keep things running smoothly also grows. Read through this issue and see if there's anything here that seems like it might be of interest to you. Reach out to the folks in charge of those areas through email or private message, or visit the forum threads.
We need your participation to help ensure that ECS remains the loudest, proudest, and strongest supporter group in America.
To stay up to date on all the latest happenings,or if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or just want someone to yell at, come check us out on the forums!
As always, ECS thanks you all for the amazing support and participation, and we look forward to seeing you at Royal Brougham Park soon!
- The Emerald City Supporters
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For the 2012 season, we're expanding the Travel Monkey Army! We need people to do the following tasks:
Trip Planners – Work with CursedFrogurt to hash out trip details in the preparation phase. You'll be calling MLS ticket offices to make initial contacts and talk about trip plans, ticket pricing, etc. For some trips, you'll also assist with bus and hotel planning. NO TRAVEL REQUIRED
Away Leads – We'll need somebody to be the primary ECS point of contact on each away match day. You might have to help distribute tickets, meet with gameday operations/security personnel, and anything else to ensure that the ECS away experience is world-class. Obviously, this will be different folks depending on who attends which match, but if you plan to travel a lot we could use you. FOR THOSE WHO PLAN TO TRAVEL A LOT
Away Support Support – Hey, we're all Away Support, right? But sometimes the supporters need a little extra. This is for you if you don't really want to commit to much, but can pitch in to assist here and there. You'll likely be a Bus Captain for PDX & YVR trips, and asked to pitch in on any other away trips you make. FOR THOSE WHO PLAN TO TRAVEL A LITTLE
Naturally, all of these positions are volunteer, and the only compensation you get is the adoration and good will of the ECS Membership…but hey…what's better than that?! Ok, people will occasionally buy you beer…
How To Get Involved:
Contact Aaron Reed (CursedFrogurt) on the forums or
Visit the forums here or
Email: travel@weareecs.com
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Always wanted to get involved with ECS, but didn't know how? Want to meet awesome new folks? Wondered how the matchday pins get designed and made?
Now's your chance!
For the 2012 season, we're assembling a Pin Crew! We need people to do the following tasks:
Pin Designers – Work with Justicar to design pins in the necessary Template. You won't be designing every pin…and your pins will be designed in collaboration with the Pin Design Team (Don't worry…it's not as bad as it sounds.) If you just have an idea and don't want to design/create it yourself, you can mail your ideas directly to Justicar.
Pin Makers – Prior to and during the season meet on a semi-regular basis to create the tens of thousands of pins we hand out every year. You don't need to come to every session…and if you just want to come to one or two to help out, you're more than welcome! These Pinmaking sessions have not yet been scheduled. When we have a crew, we'll schedule the days. We need a lot of willing and able volunteers!
Pin Distribution – We hand out over a thousand pins each and every match day. This requires someone who's willing to attend every match this season (MLS, CONCACAF, AND USOC! You can miss a match or two if you have to…) and be able and willing to be at Fuel no later than TWO HOURS before the match (at least one hour before the March to the Match.) You'll also need to be willing to hand out pins at halftime around the Supporter Section. We're trying to find ONE dedicated person to do this job. It's a great way to meet and make friends with ECS members and other fans. We're looking for some consistency in this position this year, so folks know who to look for! Are you that person?
Naturally, all of these positions are volunteer, and the only compensation you get is the adoration and good will of the ECS Membership…but hey…what's better than that?!
How To Get Involved:
Contact Glenn White (Justicar) on the forums or
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The Street Teams provide song cards and information to interested people during the march to the match, as well as the Stadium and the Supporters Section pre-match, and at the half.
This is a great way to get involved with ECS with a relatively small time commitment, and helps us spread supporter culture in Seattle!
Street Team Member – Hands out song cards and information cards to interested people during the march to the match, and in the stadium before first kick, and at the half. Because we'll need people for every match, MLS, CONCACAF Champions League, and US Open Cup we could use a lot of help here!
How To Get Involved:
Contact Glenn White (Justicar) on the forums or
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As you probably know, ECS sends out a monthly newsletter and a reminder prior to each Sounders FC match, home or away.
As one of the primary methods of keeping our membership up to date with events and information, ECS needs writers and editors to continue to create stories and provide information to ECS members and friends, and deployment specialists to help get the communications out in a timely manner.
Writers – We're always looking for content and interesting articles, but we also write articles from provided details (such as away trip schedules and so on.) We can't have too many contributors! In addition to looking for submissions, we need two or three staff writers to craft articles and assemble the reminders.
Editors – We need two or three editors to help edit our articles, ensuring that there's no misspellings and that there's consistency in tone and style.
Deployment Team – We could use two or three deployment specialists to create and send the newsletters and reminders. No HTML skill is required, although it's useful.
How To Get Involved:
Contact Glenn White (Justicar) on the forums or
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ECS FC's Objective:
To provide a club where all ECS members of all skill levels have an opportunity to play football with their fellow supporters. To host an environment that promotes education of, appreciation for, and a love of the game. Finally, our goal is to spread the knowledge of supporters' culture and the ideals of the ECS through our Club and players.
Always wanted to learn to play? Been looking for a group to play with regularly? Or just looking for some exercise? ECS FC provides the opportunity for people of all levels of experience to enjoy playing soccer, whether you've never kicked a ball before, or you've been to open tryouts for MLS!
ECS FC participates in several rec leagues, sponsors and runs an academy, and is now forming a bar league! In addition to players, ECS FC could use referees, managers, coaches, and support and administration folks!
How To Get Involved:
Contact Brandon Lynch (Skarpian) on the forums or
Email: ecsfc@weareecs.com
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Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money for the supporters is made. ECS the T-shirt. ECS the lunchbox. ECS the coloring book. ECS… the flamethrower! Kids love it.
Here is where we need help:
Membership/Merch Table – The retail hell of ECS. Just kidding, if you ever wanted to try your hand in retail without having to deal with complaining customers, here is your chance. Meet a ton of ECS members new and old and up-sell them on ECS trinkets!
This year we are going to be selling directly in Royal Brougham Park (CenturyLink Field) behind 122 where the Info Table currently resides. Credit Card only, probably on an iPad 2 or some type of Tablet device. If we get enough people you should only have to work once every 3 games or so.
We also sell merchandise at a handful of non-gameday ECS events, and will use a cash box & paper forms when the technology isn't ready or working.
Shipping – If you are on the Eastside (Kirkland/Bellevue/Redmond) and are willing to pick up gear from Drephe's house and ship it in your free time let us know.
Treasurer – Not looking for a replacement quite yet, but we're searching for people who can take this over in the future. We use Quickbooks and bank with Wellsfargo & Paypal. You'd need to be a highly detailed person with hints of OCD. Experience in non-profit financial matters a plus.
Web Developer – We're always trying to create apps for back-end tasks like membership, shipping, money collection, data auditing and enhancing the website. You wanna help? Knowledge in the following is a plus: php – mysql – wordpress – phpbb – zencart – constant contact API – UI design – Graphics
How To Get Involved:
Contact Justin Adair (Drephe) on the forums or
Email: shop@weareecs.com
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Marketing requires a lot of work over the season, and it takes the help of our members to keep it going. Let us know if you'd like to get involved for the 2012 season.
Event Coordinators – We're looking for people to take over most of the event planning duties. Marketing plans for several of them throughout the season including the monthly happy hours, block parties, end of season parties and whatever else that comes up. This does require a bit of time commitment and an ability to meet deadlines.
Information Table – You may have seen the ECS info tables inside the stadium. We are always looking to add more people to this team. Sounders fans come up to the table to ask about ECS and what supporters are all about. It's a great way to spread the culture that we all hold dear. With the expansion of the supporters section for 2012, this will continue to be a vital operation for ECS.
Photography – Are you a photographer who loves to capture the many great moments of ECS? We are always looking to add to our team.
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February Happy Hour and South Sound ECS Membership Drive
Saturday, 18 February, 2012 at The Office
Be sure to renew your membership before the start of the new season online or at one of our membership drives! Hosted by the ASG, BHM & 253D, our ECS Monthly Happy Hour for February is moving down south to Tacoma. This year's South Sound ECS Membership Drive will be at the Office Bar & Grill on Pacific. There will be a membership table to signup/renew & our subgroups will be selling their gear so come out to get your membership kits, meet new people or just get a temporary fix from your off-season blues.
The Office Bar & Grill
Saturday, Feb. 18th
4pm~10pm
813 Pacific Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98402
Drink & Food Specials
To receive these specials, just show your ECS membership card.
$3 Brougham Bitters
$3 Draft IPA
$5 Jameson shots
Half off appetizers
About the ECS Monthly Happy Hours
Many have asked, "What's the best way to get involved in ECS and really get to know the members?" Matchday is usually the worst time as most of us are busy fulfilling differing roles for ECS operations (tifo, capo, street team, etc.). That's why we've created the monthly happy hours for people to come out when most of our members are really able to relax and have a drink away from the chaos. Everyone is invited to join whether you're an ECS member or not!
We encourage anyone who wants to meet new people, find out how you can get more involved, or just have a pint with friends to join us. This is the perfect opportunity to really get to know some of the leadership and members in a very casual environment, as well as let them get to know you. Feel free to come by yourself or with other friends who might be interested in the ECS and Sounders. The happy hours will rotate every month.
More details are available on the ECS Website HERE!
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March Happy Hour and Trophy Case Unveiling
Friday, 2 March, 2012 at Atlantic Crossing
It's time for the Cascadia Cup to have a fitting home for all Sounders fans to enjoy in public. For March, we're going to be placing the Cascadia Cup in its rightful home with a new trophy case at the Atlantic Crossing and have no plans for it to vacate anytime soon. So come out have a pint, and see the Cascadia Cup and his new home. This event is 21+ only.
The Atlantic Crossing
Friday, March 2nd
4pm~Late
6508 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
About the ECS Monthly Happy Hours
Many have asked, "What's the best way to get involved in ECS and really get to know the members?" Matchday is usually the worst time as most of us are busy fulfilling differing roles for ECS operations (tifo, capo, street team, etc.). That is why we have created the monthly happy hours for people to come out when most of our members are really able to relax and have a drink away from the chaos. Everyone is invited to join whether you are an ECS member or not!
We encourage anyone who wants to meet new people, find out how you can get more involved, or just have a pint with friends to join us. This is the perfect opportunity to really get to know some of the leadership and other members in a very casual environment, as well as let them get to know you. Feel free to come by yourself or with other friends who might be interested in the ECS and Sounders. The happy hours will rotate every month.
More details will be made available on the ECS Website HERE!
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"An artist in my eyes, is someone who can lighten up a dark room. I have never and will never find difference between the pass from Pele to Carlos Alberto in the final of the World Cup in 1970 and the poetry of the young Rimbaud, who stretches cords from steeple to steeple and garlands from window to window. There is in each of these human manifestations an expression of beauty which touches us and gives us a feeling of eternity."
Humbly submitted for your information and entertainment, and not necessarily in that order,
Emerald City Supporters
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