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Emerald City Supporter's Organizational Structure For 2011
The Emerald City Supporters (ECS) are a supporters group comprised of over 2200 paying members that
faithfully support the Sounders home and away. We have multiple partner bars all over the Puget Sound
with subgroups spread throughout the country. We have one of the most active forums in Sounder
nation where heated and well-informed debates occur daily. We prepare small, personal, as well as
large stadium tifo to cheer on our boys. We have multiple media outlets that include a newsletter, a
website, a Facebook page, YouTube channel and a podcast. We are becoming an ever more tightly knit
community that focuses on the Sounders but also on our fellow members.
2011 will be a banner year for the Sounders and the ECS as it is the first Cascadia Darby year in MLS. This
is a whole new ball game. Look at 2009, 2010, and earlier years as preparation for this upcoming season
and those to come. This year has more meaning for us as supporters. It will define our group.
For the reasons above the ECS will need to be well prepared to face the many challenges ahead of
us and be organized and ready to capture the excitement of 2011. For this reason we have enacted a
restructuring that we believe will better serve all of you, our members. This new structure will allow
for more concise communication lines between those that organize the ECS and those that participate.
This is not an opportunity for some to be above anyone in anyway. The purpose of this change will likely
not affect most of you as you will continue to support and love the Sounders, but it will give most of
you a clearer picture of the behind the scenes of ECS and also show you a path within the organization
that you may want to take on as you grow with this group. Below is a description of the overall ECS
leadership and further below you can read the bios of each member of the leadership team.
The ECS leadership is comprised of a Board of Directors (BOD) and a leadership team divided into seven
sectors. The seven sectors are below (not ranked according to importance):
1. Gameday Operations
2. Tifo Creation
3. Travel
4. Website
5. Communications
6. ECS FC
7. Membership and Merchandising
The Board of Directors
The BOD has seven members: three co-presidents (Keith aka ssfcultra, Greg aka FuzzyForeigner, and
Sean aka Ultra666), one treasurer (Justin aka Drephe), one Secretary (Mark aka YukataNinja), and two
advisors to the board (Antti aka Finnfan and Eric aka ericgi). The mission of the BOD is to provide long
term longevity to the group and typically discusses matters that affect all members on a long-term basis.
The BOD is responsible for the more important and overarching decisions made by the ECS. All members
of the board with exception to the advisors are also involved in any one of the leadership sectors
discussed below.
1.Gameday Operations
Gameday Operations are the most important part of what the ECS does. After all we are here solely
to support the Sounders. Ultra666 oversees Gameday Operations and includes all things that the ECS
typically performs at pre-game, in-game, and post-game. Ultra666 has the last word on any events
regarding gameday operations and will delegate to a person of his choice should he not be present.
Gameday operations is subdivided into:
a.
March to the Match. BVB09Germany aka Christian is in charge of the March to the
Match from an ECS perspective. BVB09Germany will ensure that the ECS participate in
the march and will decide who capos the march. BVB09Germany will also be sensitive to
security concerns during the march and is responsible for any use of tifo during the
march. If you are interested in helping with the march to the match contact both
BVB09Germany and Ultra666.
b.
Tifo Crews. Size8 aka Rob will be leader of the tifo crews. Tifo crews are responsible for
ECS tifo to be securely displayed and executed on gameday, as well as, properly storing
the tifo after a game. Tifo crews are no joke and are sign of commitment to what we do
as you are required to enter the stadium 3 hours before the match and are responsible
for keeping an eye out for tifo before, during, and after a match. There are three tifo
crews-all currently full. However, if you are interested in being part of one contact Size8.
c.
Capos. We love our capos. They are our inspirational leaders on gameday home and
away. Capos lead our chants and keep us going. Due to their importance, they are hand-
picked individuals by Ultra666. Those picked typically are the ones that show great
dedication to the group and give their full 120 regardless of the match, the result, and
the conditions.
d.
Security. ECS security is led by Null78 aka Jason. Null78 leads a team of hand-selected
ECS members to ensure that our members enjoy the gameday experience and other ECS
events in a safe environment. ECS security is always working and they are behind the
scenes looking out for you so that you may give your full 90. If you are interested and
have a background in security contact Null78.
2. Tifo Creation
Tifo is the expression of the supporter. It sends a strong message to our boys on the field before games
and during games. There are two main types of tifo: personal/small tifo and large organized displays.
size8 leads tifo creation while Null78 is in charge of storage and transportation. Size8 is charge of
coordinating both types although all ECS members are encouraged to make their own personal tifo on
their own time. You can never have enough color in the Brougham End. Size8 coordinates tifo making
sessions for both sizes of projects. The large displays are typically designed by bouncing ideas off
members in the group and/or based on past history with the opposing club or our own club. Size8 is
then given the final design and is in charge of executing it. Execution includes: coordinating a place to
construct and paint tifo, purchasing of tifo making materials, coordination of ECS members to help make
tifo, and-most importantly-tifo execution on gameday. Size8 typically uses his tifo crew with additional
help for large displays. Size8 always needs help on these projects and Tifo Creation is typically the best
place to start getting more involved with the ECS-so feel free to contact him if you are interested. Null78
is in charge with tifo storage and Drephe is in charge of tifo archiving-so don't worry all your hard work
rarely goes to the dumpster!
3. Travel
The ECS is a group that strongly invites its members and non-members to travel to support the
Sounders away. Away travel solidifies the bond with the team and fellow supporters. Large away
travel contingents are made possible thanks to the ECS Travel team lead by CursedFrogurt aka Aaron.
CursedFrogurt is in charge of the travel monkeys to ensure that 1) you have tickets to the away match;
2) you have a cheap and accessible hotel for away matches; 3) you have transportation to the away
match; and 4) you have a great time supporting away from home. CursedFrogurt typically employs a
team of local ECS members but will also pool from transplants across the country. If you are interested
in helping, talk to CursedFrogurt and become an ECS travel monkey.
4. Website
The Website leadership sector relates to creating, maintaining, and supporting all things ECS
does through the internet. These are mainly the ECS website, forum, and store. But they also
include supporting others who need to use the website like the podcast, newsletter, and various
communications. The main software used is WordPress, phpBB, and Zencart. The main technologies
are PHP and MySQL. These tasks are accomplished by a web crew of four ECS members. If you are
interested in helping out or have a skill that could be useful to this aspect of what ECS does, talk to
Yukataninja.
5. Communications
Communications is an important component of the ECS that is overarching and touches each and every
member and the Sounder community. It is thanks to marketing that ECS will be able to get its message
across and continue to grow its ranks. ECS Communications is led by Arthur aka LiquidMJ and McKenzie
aka MMClark. The mission statement of ECS Communications is: "To market the brand of the Emerald
City Supporters and educate Sounders fans and members of supporters culture by utilizing all outlets of
communication and media." Communications is divided into six main categories:
a.
Newsletter. The ECS sends out a monthly newsletter to inform its members on all the
happenings of ECS. It's a medium to stay in touch with the ECS and to be used by ECS
leadership to inform its members of important events, news, and positions. Timm aka
Digitalwoodchuck administers the newsletter and is responsible for sending it out on
time and collecting content. Digitalwoodchuck always needs more content, so pm him
your ECS stories now! Greg aka Fuzzyforeigner is responsible for finding and acquiring
Newsletter sponsorship.
b.
Podcast. The ECS Podcast aka "The Sweatshop" is a staple in the ECS diet. We use it to
blow off steam, get our ideas across, interview sports and media personalities in the
world of soccer in the Puget Sound. As with the newsletter, the podcast is designed to
convey the ECS message. Null78 administers the Podcast.
c.
Street team. The street team is the organic marketing arm of the ECS. The street team
includes several ECS members that volunteer their time to meet non ECS members face
to face to discuss the group and our vision. It's a boot on the ground approach that
allows ECS members to meet potential new members on gameday and at ECS events.
Sarah aka Minuburnsie leads up the ECS street team.
d.
Away Viewings. ECS away viewings are what put the ECS on the map in the early days of
our MLS existence. Away viewings are organized so that those of us that are going
through home match withdrawal can get together and watch the sounders, learn some
new chants, and drink copious amounts of Brougham Bitter. Ssfcultra leads up and
arranges all away viewings thanks to his years of friendship and partnership with our
partners. Also stay on the lookout for our ECS subgroup viewings around the Puget
Sound and US.
e.
Info Table. Yes! The stands are not the only presence of the ECS at Qwest field-we have a
highly visible information table as well-right behind section 122 on the concourse. The
info table is designed to capture the attention of Sounders fans on gameday. We use the
info table to get people informed about the ECS on a personal level and talk to hundreds
of people around the stadium about what we do, and most importantly why we do it.
Nisha aka The Cutter is in charge of the info table and is responsible to make sure it is
always well stocked with giveaways and manned with ECS members.
f.
Social Media. The ECS also has an extensive social media presence on Facebook,
YouTube, and Twitter. Information that is posted on these sites is coordinated by
communications to ensure a timely release of information from the ECS that is both
consistent and direct to our members. The best members are the informed ones.
MMClark is in charge of our social media and is in constant contact with others in ECS
leadership, ready to post news and updates from the group. It is MMClark's
responsibility to ensure that the official position of the ECS is communicated efficiently
throughout the social media websites.
6. ECS FC
We love the game and we play it. The ECS is in the process of growing its club: ECS Football Club. The
organization is somewhat informal, but ask those in charge (Brandon aka Skarpian with assistance from
Colin aka paintballinpunk, Sarah aka Miniburnsie, Egon aka Pedrazzini and Russ aka bulldog) and you
will see the ambition to become a multi-tiered organization with hundreds of supporters playing the
beautiful game regardless of age and gender.
The objective of ECS FC is "To provide a club where all ECS members of all skill levels have an
opportunity play football with their fellow supporters. To host an environment that promotes education
of, appreciation for, and a love of the game. Finally, to spread the knowledge of supporters culture
and the ideals of the ECS through our Club and players." If you are interested in helping out with
ECS FC please contact Skarpian. ECS FC currently has two outdoor teams competing in GSSL divisions
2B and 4 and two indoor teams-one at Starfire and one in Redmond with more teams on their way
(over 30, co-ed, etc) Skarpian is responsible for organizing the teams, assigning coaches, setting up
practices, obtaining jersey sponsors, etc. Think of him as our own Adrian Hanauer. Miniburnsie, bulldog,
Pedrazzini, and paintballinpunk all assist in practices and the day to day management tasks involved
with running a team.
7. Membership and Merchandising
Although the clothing and gear your wear does not make you a better supporter, it's nice to support the
sounders in ECS apparel. Membership and merchandising, led by Drephe, is the most work-intensive
sector within ECS but it is also the main source of revenue – revenue which allows us to travel away
in an organized manner, prepare impressive tifo, and help you get your hands on game tickets when
all other avenues are scarce. Drephe's responsibilities include management of the ECS database,
maintenance of ECS merchandising inventory, shipping of all articles bought on ECS store, management
of funds, management of a myriad of budgets across all sector's activities, and management of the
ECS membership tables. If you have cool merch ideas send them to Fuzzyforeigner who develops the
merchandise design under Drephe's supervision. If you are interested in helping out with selling ECS
memberships contact Drephe. |
Over the past year we have made many strides in ECS FC. What started out in the winter of 2008 as small team with barely enough players to field a team at times is now a Club with two Outdoor teams in GSSL and 2 Indoor teams at Arena Sports and Starfire. We have seen the most changes in this last year as we have made more a recruiting effort to get our ECS members more involved and give them a place to play football with likeminded supporters of the Sounders.
