Hello everyone! Chas, our webmaster extraordinaire, suggested that we start posting a blog on the fan club website to keep everyone involved and up-to-date with what's going on. I thought that was an excellent idea, so I'm trying my hand at writing our first blog post. Please bear with me!
First, I'd like to talk about the website. How does everyone like it so far? It's still a work in progress and I think it's coming along, but there are still improvements to be made. Chas is in the process of linking the Board members names to their fan club email addresses so that you can easily get a hold of any of us. Questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, anything!
I'd also like to see a photo gallery so people could upload their own Cyclones photos to share with all the fans. There are quite a bit of restrictions in the photos policy that the ECHL and the PHPA enforce, but there's nothing saying we can share our photos with each other. Please be reminded that you may not sell any photos taken of our players, opposing teams' players, etc. unless you are a league-approved licensed photographer.
What all would you guys like to see here at www.cyclonesfanclub.com? This is your website as much as ours. It's a fan site, so please contribute! We'd love to hear your ideas and see what we can do to fulfill it.
Next, project updates. Thanks to Kelli, we are well on our way to the final details on the Holiday party. It's going to be held in the Fellowship Hall at Fleming Road United Church of Christ in Finneytown on Sunday, December 12, 2010. Economic constraints have caused us to change locations this year, but fear not! The same great holiday cheer will be upon the Cyclones. Included in your ticket price will be dinner with the players, homemade desserts, Christmas treats for all the kids, an auction of the players special craft projects and maybe a visit from the jolly man himself! Please come by the fan club booth behind Section 117 at the next home game or contact us here at the website to make your reservation! You can pay at the fan club booth or directly to Sherry Chapman.
Hmm, what else. Oh yeah, the Charity Event! It worked out well last year and we definitely learned from our mistakes! Tweeking here and there and requiring more volunteer help to pull off an even better event this year! We are partnering once again with Hockey Players for Kids (HP4K) to help them raise funds for their awesome projects. Last year we raised $4,000 for HP4K! Please contact me here on the website, at lmbuch17@gmail.com or at 513-885-0307 if you would like to volunteer and help us make this event even more successful for Dustin and the boys.
Jamboree! I know, if you're like me, you're almost tired of hearing the word, "Jamboree". LOL But it really is a great weekend full of fun, food, learning, sharing and of course, hockey! The bad part is that the club that hosts the Jamboree has a lot of work to do before the fun can start. We've had a few meetings to design the t-shirt and logo, discuss ideas for fun events and learning experiences and come up with ideas for the raffle items and donations needed to make this even one of a kind! We're waiting on help from the Cyclones front office on a few things, but we are always looking for more help with ideas and legwork. Please let one of us know if you want to help or can provide a raffle item. We want to show all the league's booster clubs that Cincinnati is a great city and we know how to throw a good party!
Lastly, I'd like to take a minute to ask everyone to calm down, just a tad. Turn it down a notch. Step back, take a deep breath, and relax… Now doesn't that feel better? Awesome. I know the team is not off to a super great start this year. With all the changes that came in the off-season, a bit of that is to be expected. New coaching staff, new players through the revolving door on a weekly basis, new systems being put in place… It's hard to make all those things fit together right and make the conglomeration that is this organization into a TEAM. They're making it happen, believe me. Believe in your boys, believe in this organization, believe in your coaching staff, your team captains and your returning players. They've been there and done that. They know what to do, and they are trying to make that happen for YOU. Of course they want to put a winning effort out on the ice to win games, but without the fans there to watch it, what would be the point? They're working hard for you, so you have to work hard for them.
This season will be a challenge. It's not always going to be an automatic playoff spot and multiple Kelly Cups. The team doesn't require support only when they're winning. They need it even more when they're working hard and not finding the key to unlock the door that's blocking them from success. They need us to be there to keep them positive so they have the right attitude to put the pieces together. Anyone can be a hockey fan; I need you all to be Cyclones fans. Don't let all the hard work, heart and triumph of last year's team be forgotten, but don't doom this team with nay-saying because they aren't picking up where that team left off. Cheer for them because their sweater says Cincinnati Cyclones on the front; not because they are hockey players, but because they are your players, your team.
Lisa Buchman
Vice President
Cyclones Fan Club
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