A few of us met a couple of weeks ago to discuss how we move forward in the section. This meeting was not to exclude people but we needed to start with the leaders of the current ISG's so that we could get on the same page. Not everyone was able to make it. However I have been in contact with everyone since then and will continue to be. Below is an update that I sent to those invited to the meeting. We will be having more frequent meetings and we will be looking to involve more people. If you have an interest in taking a bigger role in the leadership of the section; please let me know. I will continue to post updates here so that everyone knows what is going on. Thanks Cauldron Update 2/1/11 I am going to make these updates a regular occurrence. It’s an easy way to keep everyone informed on whats happening. We have been working from a vision for the group as an army without generals, but many leaders. It will take 100 leaders to lead 2000. We are not pushing the idea of elections until the critical mass means they are necessary. When will that be? Hopefully sooner rather than later, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. With the season almost upon us, the most important thing is, well, we just get **** done. When the team comes home to the new stadium for the first time this year, I hope they are blown away by what we’ve made for them. The Cauldron’s purpose is to promote and support all of the groups that make up the section. Chicago Road Trip - March 26th Hotel and bus have been secured. Information can be found on Facebook and I will update BS when PayPal site is up. Site to submit PayPal payment for bus will be up as soon as possible. Meet The New Players Night - Monday, March 14th - We have decided that Quick’s BBQ will not offer us enough space for the event. We still want them to cater but I am currently working on an alternative facility that could accommodate the number of people we are expecting. TIFO - We need exact available dimensions as soon as possible from the team so we can plan some bigger displays this year. Keep thinking about something original and doable that we can do to involve the entire stadium for opening day. We have been informed that the team will be installing smoke machines to eliminate the need for smoke bombs. We can discuss how we would want them used. Website - We are finishing a teaser site for the new KCCauldron.com - this will allow us to capture emails for a distribution list, give people quick access to all groups’ social media links so you can start talking to your members. We will also have a page for the Chicago Road Trip, where people can pay online. In The News - Several events have occurred that helped spread the gospel of the Cauldron: First - there was #SpecialKCSnowmageddon. We were able to meet a lot of folks that I have never seen before but have been following what we do. We got some good press out of it as well even getting mentioned on Yahoo Sports. Second - #BoonBooRee t-shirt contest. This kind of fell in our laps. As you know Teal scored a PK, and the great call followed. I suggested a T-Shirt contest on Twitter, and was contacted by Sporting to partner on the idea. They will be donating $5 of each shirt sold to The Cauldron. This will help fund our operations going forward - seed money for road trips, tailgates, banners etc. Between the two events, we picked up over 200 FB group members and over 200 Twitter followers - important, as we can now directly contact these people in less than a minute. Finally, we had Cauldron Night at the Comets. The turnout was good; between 35 and 40 were there. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and the Comets players and owners were very happy to have us there. The free case of beer was just icing on the top. Craig Rocastle, Korede Aiyegbusi, Kevin Ellis, and other Wizards players were in attendance. I was contacted by Daniel Wiersema, founder of The Free Beer Movement, asking if we would do an interview for him for a series that he is producing entitled “Better Know a Supporters Group”. A few of us have been working on this, and it’s coming along nicely. All groups are represented, and as soon as it’s finalized, we will send a copy out to everyone to look over. Additionally I was contacted by Total Soccer Magazine they would like to feature us as their SG of the month. I am waiting to hear back as to what they are looking for but I would guess something similar to FBM. NEW IDEAS TO THINK ABOUT FIFA Tournament - I would like to make this happen. I don’t really have a plan for it other than to do it. I think it would be great to do it at Johnny’s, maybe on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday, which ever works better for them. We would need to come up with multiple PS3s, but I think that is do-able. We would also need them to agree to do it. I thought about doing it during the Meet The Players event; however, I think it would be a good chance to have another event on the schedule. Open to suggestions on this. Scarfs - The HS is almost out of the blue and white bar scarves. We will need to design a new scarf for this season. A few people have mentioned that having multiple scarves in more limited numbers might be good. Once the website is launched, the plan is to have the ability to be able to purchase any Cauldron merch through there, regardless of ISG, and point the funds to a specific account. Thinking we need something like a “Finally Home” scarf for sure. I am thinking we might do this along the same line as the Teal t-shirts. Open up the contest to everyone and pick out the best ones. That has always been the model in the past there has just been the same designers doing it on BS.
Thanks Sean -- you guys are doing well, pretty sure you are working on it but: Hop on the watch party train early so you can start plugging them nowish. It is not long till the season starts and that will be a good opportunity to meet people in smaller groups. When you guys are setting up the paypal think about maybe allowing people to make donations towards the Cauldron. I won't have the time to paint or make banners but I and I know others will probably be more than willing to help pay a bit towards them.
We are working on the watch parties I did not put anything about them in here because there is really nothing to say. Other than we will have them. I am working on a plan for donations. I have to find a couple of things out then we can launch that idea.
With the FIFA tourny, I can help out with bringing my PS3 and controllers. I don't have FIFA on it, Xbox instead, but I can still enlist my PS3 for service.
For the FIFA tourny, I think it would be fair to have a drawing with however many people we have, and then randomly assign teams. Keeps it quite fair, even if you get Stoke instead of Man U, you still have a great chance of winning. If we have less or more, we can move to a smaller league or add on another league. So many options.
This is a great idea. I'm sure we can make something happen either by latching on to the existing ones, or coming up w new time/places. Maybe we can get the team to work w/us again on one.
Also, we put together a little "under construction" site that has some info, including a paypal link to get on the bus. That link here - http://www.boonbooree.com/#!/chicago We'll start hitting this harder in the next week or two. If anyone has any ideas on how to get more people to Chicago, with fun ways to pimp it or build excitement, I'm all ears too.
Only allowing a person to play as the same team twice is a much much more fair and fun way to do it... If your good you can use a Fulham type team in the early rounds and save your Barcelona's for the final.
Finally got the permission I was looking for, all the Metropolitan Community College campuses are gonna let me put up anything I want on the ad boards. Just gotta find a way to print off some stuff for the Cauldron.
The site looks really good so far! If you guys are 10% done then that thing is going to be full of info and pretty freaking sweet.
Thanks for the hard work on the design. I'd love to have you do a scarf whenever you get some time. Think over some ideas. Sean mentioned Finally Home or something to that effect making a nice stadium opening scarf. We might have another contest, but we're planning to make multiple small run designs so we just need any good ideas we can get. Are you on twitter? Also, if you're free for lunch on Friday at 12:30 some of us are meeting up at Happy Gillis. Anyone is welcome.
Looking good man, just booked my bus ride with you guys. Whats the $4 cover for 'shipping' for? Covering the paypal fees etc?
Maybe, honestly I'm not sure. I haven't booked my spots yet, and Sean set up the Paypal side. If he doesn't see this I'll point him this way.
Hey Jeff, Was just thinking about how else to drum up buzz about the Chicago and US road trip. not to hype it too much, but the idea of a campaign to sweep the Eastern conference this year and gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs might get people thinking. This can be where we draw the line and take points on the road. Even a draw would be great. And since Fire are our first victims in the new stadium, we can start the sweep of them this year on their turf. The cost is what it is and folks will decide for their own reasons whether they go. With the double header of a US game vs Argentina, this would be prime for Sporting fans to mix with National fans. Have you contacted Dos Mundos or KSMO for some print/air time? I am a family man, so I would need to have the whole gang with me. Maybe even try to organize a multi-generational watch party. Not to take away from Johnny's, but to spread the enthusiasm. Anyway, you asked for ideas. Thanks for your work. Kent
Thanks. I'd love to take a crack at a scarf design. I think the contests are cool and are a great way to get people involved. I don't think I will campaign (i.e. nag my facebook friends) for my designs nearly as much in the future. And I'm not on twitter. Thanks for mentioning lunch, unfortunately I will be occupied at work during lunch tomorrow. I would definitely love to meet up with you guys sometime soon though.
Not to mention the First Kick trip to L.A. to watch Sporting KC take on Chivas USA in their first league match under the new name....somehow this trip keeps getting forgotten/ignored
Cernards- Johnny's has always let underage people in if you say you are there for the watch party. If that wasn't your point, then my apologies.
the distance reduces the interest. the cauldron seems to be focusing this one and as such is organizing travel and accommodation. Maybe I missed the both of those on the LA trip, kinda got an old school "we are going to this game, everyone is welcome, travel and where you stay is on your own but the tickets will be grouped together" kind of feel to it, know what I mean?. Feel free to promote as much as you want I don't think anybody would be opposed to it.
