—by Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson

At noon on Saturday, January 14th, over 300 members and friends packed the Bagdad Theater for the 107ist Annual General Meeting. It was a chance to catch up with friends, buy some cool merchandise, pick up membership renewal packets, and hear about the past accomplishments and future direction of the 107 Independent Supporters Trust from the 107IST Board.

The afternoon started with a warm welcome from newly elected 107IST Board president, Scott Van Swearingen. Scott introduced the Board members who had joined the Board in the past year, including Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson, Bruce "Obi" Eaton, Matt Talley in absentia, Harper Morgan-Werner, and Lauren Prince. He highlighted some of the growth the 107IST has experienced, including over $400,000 in gross receipts for the year. Scott then proceeded to share some of the successful ventures of the 107IST, telling of the formation of the Timbers Army FC, a network of official Timbers Army teams that play in outdoor soccer leagues in the Portland metro area, and plans for its continued growth.

Fernando Machicado shared some of the successes we've had in game day operations, highlighting last year's tremendous successes in tifo, and that plans are in the works for impressive displays in the coming year.

Jeremy Wright highlighted our successes with travel to away games this year. He shared the incredible growth in our travel operations this year, including over $81,000 spent on tickets and buses, over 2,800 tickets sold, and 9 officially organized away matches. Jeremy also noted that we had TA representation in every away match this year, with the smallest number being at Dallas away and the largest number, not surprisingly, being at Seattle away. He shared a letter that the front office received from an Earthquakes fan following the organized trip to San Jose away this year that praised the Timbers Army as the future of soccer supporters in the US. Jeremy also shared some information regarding planning for organized away trips this year: we expect to have a higher seat allocation to Seattle away (same Cascadia travel rules will apply); we will travel to Vancover away; and other organized away trips to a variety of places, including but not limited to LA Galaxy, possibly Montreal (with a possible flight to the Northeast and a bus to Montreal); possibly New York and/or a combination New York/Toronto trip; a Colorado away trip; and an organized trip to at least one of the Salt Lake City away matches.

Garrett Dittfurth highlighted successes in communications, including the positive press that the Timbers Army received in both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times as well as local outlets. He addressed the challenges of both internal and external communication and shared that the Board has plans in place to address both.

Abram Goldman-Armstrong shared stories of the successes of sharing supporters culture with others through the fanzine the Whipsaw, noting that it has been cited in many places, even overseas. He then treated the crowd to a reading in German from a St. Pauli fanzine which praised the Timbers Army and its supporters. He noted the move to strengthen supporters groups in the United States, and shared that the 107IST is sponsoring a gathering of representatives supporters groups from most club in the MLS with representatives of supporters from all but three clubs have indicating their interest, as a means of being better able to speak to the league with one voice about issues that matter to supporters.

Rich Recker and Ben Dudley shared the successful kickoff of Advantage Centers Portland, which pairs coaching students in soccer with positive academic outreach, targeting youth who typically do not have successful academic outcomes. He thanked the Timbers Army and 107IST for the successful kickoff this year, and our involvement in the successful transformation of the blacktop at James John Elementary into a small soccer pitch. He shared AC Portland's plans for continued growth in building soccer pitches and working with youth, and thanked the 107IST for their support.

Shawn Levy shared the successes of Operation Pitch Invasion, including OPI's involvement in the aforementioned James John Elementary project as well as the field restoration at Ed Benedict Park. He also noted that Tom Dunmore, who runs the (unaffiliated) Pitch Invasion blog and is involved with supporters in Chicago, will also be selling a Pitch Invasion scarf and donating the profits to OPI.

Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson shared past successes in community outreach, noting that the 107IST was responsible for approximately $40,000 in charitable donations last year to projects including Harper's Playground; outfitting three local high schools' soccer teams (both boys' and girls' teams); scholarships for three local soccer athletes to attend National Team training camps, one of whom went on to score a goal for the U17 USMNT; AC Portland and OPI; and Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp. She also shared the ways in which 107IST members gave thousands of volunteer hours to organized events with Friends of the Trees, the Oregon Food Bank, OPI, AC Portland, and Sunday Parkways. She noted that the coming year will bring more opportunities for volunteering and for charitable efforts.

Scott shared the Board's vision for an increase in membership, and the Board took questions from members. Questions were wide ranging and included the serious (is there any sort of protest planned following the flare bans?--no; have you addressed a code of ethics?--yes; will you improve organization of volunteer communications?--yes), to the self-congratulatory (107IST--how awesome are you guys; just awesome or really awesome?--really awesome) to the wishful (what about West Side capos?--not at this time, no; will you be expanding the merch line to include more items?--yes, but judiciously) to the silly (will the movie be the Dangerfield classic, "Ladybugs?"--no).

After a break, members were treated to a free showing of the movie "Pelada." Over 140 members also picked up their renewal packets and pins, and many people took advantage of the opportunity to purchase much-loved Timbers Army merchandise as well. Huge thanks to the volunteers who staffed the back tables for materials pickup, as well as those who staffed the merch table and those who organized the event for the day. Here's to an even more successful 2012!