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  • 05/29/2019 12:00 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)

    —by Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson

    The game-day ticket exchange is our contribution to keeping match tickets available and reasonably priced for as many people as possible. It’s something I’m proud to be able to take part in as a 107IST member, and is near and dear to my heart. Donated tickets at the exchange not only give reasonably priced access to games, they also support 107IST efforts in mission-critical areas like tifo and community outreach. If you’re new to the ticket exchange, or if you have questions, hopefully this FAQ will help.

    What is the Game-Day Ticket Exchange?
    It’s a place you can go to buy, sell, or donate tickets at face value or less on the day of the match.

    Where is it?
    At the Timbers Army Fanladen, two blocks away from the stadium, 1633 SW Alder Street (at the corner of SW 17th and Alder).

    When is it?
    We almost always open the Fanladen for the game-day ticket exchange 3.5 hours before the scheduled start of a match, unless it’s a weekday match. Then it opens as soon as a volunteer can get off work and hustle to the Fanladen.

    How much are tickets?
    Face value or less. If you’re buying a donated ticket, the price will be the same as it would cost a season ticket holder for that ticket. The most common ticket people donate and buy is of course a TA/GA (general admission) ticket in the north end of the stadium. For 2019, that ticket will sell for $31 or less during the regular season in the game day ticket exchange.

    Note that the face value of tickets purchased as single game tickets is higher, and the price of so-called “premium” match single game tickets is higher still. But if you’re buying a donated TA/GA ticket or a TA/GA ticket from a season ticket holder, that ticket should cost you no more than $31 at the game day ticket exchange.

    Can I buy tickets from the game-day ticket exchange in advance of game day?
    No. There are other ways to get tickets before match day. If you know ahead of time that you want to attend a match, it’s always better to try other avenues first to secure your tickets, rather than trusting to the luck of the draw on game day. Hit up your circle of friends, check the Timbers Army Ticket Exchange on Facebook, post something on the #RCTID hashtag on Twitter (and check for responses regularly). And if you want more than one ticket, don’t be afraid to buy them one at a time as they become available. I know somebody who managed to acquire enough tickets for their entire wedding party that way.

    Can I email or phone in my request for tickets?
    No. Aside from the fact that the Fanladen doesn’t have a land line, the purpose of the ticket exchange is to provide last-minute, in-person opportunities to exchange tickets. You must actually show up and be present if you want to purchase a ticket from the exchange on game day.

    How do I donate a ticket?
    You can either drop off an extra ticket at the Fanladen or you can email extra tickets to ticketdonation@107ist.org. And yes, you can send them there straight from the SeatGeek app, or if you already have a PDF of the ticket you're donating you can send it to the same email address.

    I’ve used the game-day ticket exchange before, but it's been awhile. Anything else I need to know?
    Yes. We are keeping two important changes this year:
    (1) We’re limiting requests to four tickets per person.
    (2) we’re keeping track of whether the person requesting the ticket is a 107IST member.

    In the first case, we’re responding to a small number of people who have taken to using the ticket exchange not as an occasional last-minute ticket source but as their regular go-to for several tickets for themselves and a large group of friends. If you have a bunch of people who all know they want to attend the game, they can either use other methods to line up as many tickets as possible ahead of time from other sources; or at the very least they can show up on match day and wait at the game-day exchange like everybody else.

    In the second case, while we certainly want to facilitate reasonable ticket prices for all, we also recognize that the actual Fanladen space for the ticket exchange, as well as the computer, printer, Internet, and of course the game-day volunteers, are all there thanks to the 107 Independent Supporters Trust. Without member dollars and member volunteers, the game-day ticket exchange simply wouldn’t exist. We don’t know what demand for tickets will be this year, but if we need to give priority to the people who are making the ticket exchange possible, we will.

    I have a question/comment that you didn’t address. Who should I talk to?
    Feel free to leave additional questions in the comments below, or email sherrilynn.rawson@107ist.org

    See you on game day!

  • 05/22/2019 12:09 PM | Jennifer Ingraham (Administrator)

    A statement on behalf of the 107IST Board of Directors

    From the beginning, a core value of the Timbers Army, the Rose City Riveters, and the 107IST has been that we are unquestionably and vocally an anti-fascist and anti-racist organization. We have never — and will never — tolerate discrimination or bias for any reason. We believe in acceptance, understanding, inclusion, and love. You can read about our central beliefs in this blog post, which we posted after the MLS Code of Conduct was released. We firmly repeat: The fight for human rights is not a political one.

    The Independent Supporters Council and supporters groups around the world share these values, and we are aligned in working together to combat prejudice and oppression.

    As a vocal stance against fascism, we began displaying banners with the Iron Front logo in 2017 (although some also made appearances as far back as 2011 and the USL days before that). The Iron Front logo has stood as a symbol of the fight against persecution and fascism since World War II. Originally designed to symbolize the resistance against Nazi rise, it now stands primarily for the fight against all oppression. With the recent rise in targeted attacks against so many groups — LBTGQ+, immigrants, women, religious groups, and more — and the presence of fascists in our stadiums, this symbol represents our firm stance of combating hatred in soccer, our communities, and our world.

    We have been working with the Timbers/Thorns Front Office for several months on the Iron Front symbol — what it stands for and how important its meaning is in these times. The FO stands by our beliefs, and they have agreed that we may use the words anti-racism and anti-fascist in our displays.

    However, in conjunction with MLS, the FO has decided that this particular image is not to be used in any signage at Providence Park going forward, including Thorns and T2. What follows is a letter the 107IST board received last week, clarifying this policy.
    (Ed.: Small, clarifying additions are noted in brackets.)

    The 107IST is relaying the following message to our own supporters as well as fellow supporters groups in other cities.

    Take heed.

    Providence Park Iron Front Signage Policy

    107ist:

    Following last night’s meeting [May 14] we want to close the loop on the Iron Front dialogue with a clear written message you can share with the TA.

    Rule

    No Iron Front symbology will be allowed in Providence Park during Timbers, Thorns or T2 games. This rule includes any creative “work-arounds” like we saw in Vancouver this past Friday [May 10] and any Iron Front-based clearly organized displays that make a public statement. Due to the extensive dialogue on this issue and subsequent breaches of trust in Vancouver and in other media, We will be enforcing strict punishments for any violations of this rule out of the gate, starting with multi-game bans for violators.

    The question was asked last night “if its Iron Front now, what next?” The answer there is simple: any signage that’s political or fails to comply with the MLS Supporter Code of Conduct, which is now clearly spelled out. And while the Iron Front is not specifically cited in the Code of Conduct it is unequivocally prohibited by the league.

    Background Reasoning

    With the bottom-line regarding the Iron Front out of the way, here is some very important context behind the issue that everyone should understand:

    Even in the context of the new Supporter Code of Conduct guidelines, there is still a fair amount of local discretion teams can apply, something we personally fought very hard to ensure. The Timbers have always been the most lenient of any club in the league in allowing freedom of expression from its supporters. To that end we advocated very hard to the league to allow signs stating “Anti-Fascist” (the very spirit of the Iron Front prior to its antifia appropriation) would be acceptable and, furthermore, allowed the 107ist/TA to publicly communicate that to the ISC. The same applies to public denouncement of racism etc.

    The reasoning behind why the Iron Front symbol is unacceptable is as follows:

    • The Iron Front symbol has been clearly appropriated and linked to the antifa movement, and sometimes in a context of violence. There is no question that antifa and its current rise is why some in the TA suddenly have decided to use the Iron Front…if not why wouldn’t anti-fascist be ok?
    • Symbols of politics are exclusionary and antithetical to the inclusive TA and Timbers ethos
    • There are some added security concerns waving antifa symbols pose to all fans
    • We have received many complaints about the Iron Front from fans who are clearly anti-fascist but feel uncomfortable with antifa imagery in their sporting experience for all the reasons stated above

    We know better than anyone that the beautiful game can be a conduit for positive change in society. But we also fully agree that the Stadium should be a politics-free zone. Team, Town & TA. We believe that the end approach to the Iron Front and the dialogue that lead us there have been reasonable.

    We hope this clarifies the issue. As we often say, we won’t always agree but we will always be open, honest and respectful. We have rarely drawn lines in the sand. We have a track record of being cooperative and working with the TA on a variety of potentially divisive issues that together we have resolved in a positive and peaceful way. It is our sincere hope that this is another case of just that.

    For almost 10 years the Timbers and the 107ist have had a tremendous mutually beneficial relationship. We recognize the 107ist are volunteers and are deeply grateful for your service and all that TA does in support of the club we all love.

    The 107IST board disagrees with this decision, but we felt it our duty to inform our members of this change. We will continue our work with the league and the Front Office on addressing the presence of hate in our stadiums and our communities.

  • 05/08/2019 4:55 PM | Sherrilynn Rawson (Administrator)

    The Timbers have an important away match in Vancouver this weekend — and with plenty on the line: the first chance to take Cascadia Cup points, a shot at maintaining some winning momentum, and an opportunity to rise above the red line. The Timbers Army will be in the stands in BC Place in full voice to cheer on the Boys in Green as they take on the Whitecaps, Cascadian rivals on the pitch.

    But some things are bigger than rivalry.

    In February, former Whitecaps women’s player, Ciara McCormack, posted a blog that detailed the horrific bullying and abuse of power that female athletes had to endure at the hands of a former Whitecaps coach. Since then, additional allegations of bullying, sexual misconduct, and racism (against another coach) have surfaced.

    The Whitecaps supporters groups, Southsiders and Curva Collective, have been working to hold the Whitecaps’ front office to the standard “Our all/Our honour” they claim as their slogan. They have called for a meeting between the former players and the Whitecaps ownership and a third-party investigation with results to be made public. They’ve also asked the Whitecaps to lift the restrictions on certain members of the press who have taken the lead on reporting on the story. These reporters have sometimes been excluded from Whitecaps' media availabilities.

    Bottom line: We support human rights, and we support our Cascadian rivals in their fight for safe environments for athletes. To that end, we are sharing this message from Southsiders and Curva Collective — and we encourage our supporters to participate in the walkout of the stadium at the 35th minute (34:00 on the clock) in solidarity.

    The Southsiders and Curva Collective are calling for #walkout35 on Friday. At the 35th minute, people who wish to show solidarity with the women who came forward with their stories of harassment and abuse, and protest the Whitecaps handling of the situation, are asked to leave their seats and make their way to the concourse. There, we encourage everyone to continue supporting their team and watch the game on the monitors for the remainder of the first half.

    Why are we protesting?

    • The desired meeting between the former players and Whitecaps ownership, without involvement of the Whitecaps executives, will not be happening as requested.

    • We disagree with the media strategy that the Whitecaps are using, and encourage them to openly answer questions from media

    • We hope to spotlight attention to #safeSport and supporting #safeSportAthletes

    For more information, see this timeline posted by the Southsiders.



  • 05/01/2019 8:53 PM | Jennifer Ingraham (Administrator)

    Timbers Army & Harper’s Playground: Radical Inclusion in Action

    — by Cody Goldberg

    I love this town. I love the beautiful game of soccer. I love our team. And I love being a part of the Timbers Army, where all of that comes together. It’s now my honor to put into words how all those things listed — and especially the Timbers Army — have embraced my life’s work: Harper’s Playground. This is a little long, but please bear with me. Here goes …

    Soccer was, in many ways, my first love. My father was my first coach of my first team, the Bobcats. Our jerseys were simple red with a white triangle at the neck. Some of my best friends today, nearly 41 years later, were on that team. I went on to play in high school and college, and I was pretty good. I never had a solid left foot, but I played with all my heart. The arthritis in my right knee suggests my playing days are done, but that’s okay. I love rooting for my team.

    In the summer of 1983, I moved to Portland. I started as a freshman at Lincoln High School and made the frosh/soph soccer team. My best friend on that team is still one of my closest pals. I recall watching his brother compete for the high school state championship in (then) Civic Stadium. Lincoln lost that night, but we knew it was cool to be there.

    I returned to that stadium for my first Timbers match somewhere around 2002. I loved that I could grab a drink and sit at field level in that cool beer garden area. The play was pretty good. I certainly remember the madman with the chainsaw who hung from the rafters. He seemed like a really cool dude. I also marveled at the fans in the North End. They looked dangerous.

    Why am I sharing all this? I’m racing to put this blog post together on a tight timeline, and this is the best way I know how to do it. It’s good, because this post is way past due, and the deadline is what I needed. Everything up until now is just an attempt to set the stage for what I really want to share about:

    Harper’s Playground is a force for good.
    The Timbers Army is a force for good.
    I’m so proud to be part of both.

    And this is some history of our partnership and mutual quest for radical inclusion…

    Harper was born in June of 2005. The birth was super complicated, and we ended up in the hospital for a long time. Genetic doctors told us Harper would never walk or talk in her lifetime. We told them to go suck an egg.

    Harper took her first steps at four. Walking for the very first time in our neighborhood park, she got stuck in those wood chips that surround typical playgrounds. My wife said, “We should do something about that!” So we started the Harper’s Playground project, and we set out to design and build a different kind of playground. It was a three-year journey that involved a lot of insane hard work and even more insane luck.

    One of the luckiest strokes of luck was when that madman I’d seen hanging from the rafters with his chainsaw took note of our little playground plan. He suggested we receive some money recently raised through the sales of a very special scarf. $3,500! The Army were immediately all on board. I visited the 107IST board at a meeting — and then another special scarf design with “Harper’s Playground” was approved. Jim and I would often sell several box loads outside the stadium before a match. Then Jim would wrap 30 or 40 around his neck just before kickoff and sell them inside the stadium, right there in the North End. I made a lot of new friends while standing for those 90 minutes, and we wound up raising another $25,000 for Harper’s Playground.

    When the 107IST board found out we still had a lot to raise with a little time to do it, they organized the very first Art Takeover to benefit our little playground project. Another $40,000! When we needed volunteers to help us tear down the old playground, who do you think supplied the muscle? Yup.

    What is now our first of many playgrounds opened on November 3, 2012. Many of the Timbers faithful were there to celebrate with us that day. We thought the playground would be popular with everyone — inclusive spaces usually are. The love for the space we helped create was way beyond our wildest dreams. There is most certainly a special kind of magic in a place where everyone feels invited to be there. I think most of you reading this get that. This is why this bond is so meaningful to me: Harper’s Playground and the Timbers Army are completely aligned. It feels perfect to me.

    In January of 2014, Harper’s Playground became my full-time gig. Our vision was to build more playgrounds — and it’s going well. We also give lots and lots of advice and support to others attempting to build something similar to what we did. We’re thinking BIG. We want to someday celebrate that all play areas around the world are built just like ours. When the world is filled with inclusive playgrounds, it will be a much better world. That’s the world I want to leave behind for both of my daughters.

    The first project we took on as a partnership is “Owen’s Playground.” We worked with Owen’s parents, and they built a playground in honor of their dear Owen, who had recently passed. His spirit is alive in that beautiful playground. It’s won design awards and is, more importantly, the most popular playground for miles. We also settled in a plan to partner on four more playgrounds for Portland: one per quadrant. Our playground at Gateway Discovery Park opened in August of 2018. It’s amazing. Again the Army helped us. So honored and thankful!

    Now, we’re gearing up to celebrate number three here in this wonderful city. This one is cool: It’s located less than one mile from that stadium I mentioned earlier. Many of you likely will be walking past it on your way to matches. You should build a little time in your regular game day schedule to walk by. It’s located at Couch Park, on NW 19 and Hoyt.

    You should also definitely plan to come celebrate with us for the big ribbon-cutting ceremony! It’s this Saturday, May 4 at 1 p.m.

    I could thank everyone in the Army who has been so supportive all these years. If I don't thank Scott, Nando, Patch, and Sheba, however, I’ll feel terrible. (I still kind of do cause there are many other people to thank, but you know who you are!)

    We love the team, town, and Timbers Army. I know I do. The Timbers and their Army are a big part of what I love about this place. It’s very humbling to know that Harper’s Playground is starting to be seen the same way. They support one another. That’s what it’s all about.

    Respectfully,

    G Cody QJ Goldberg
    Harper’s Playground Executive Director / Harper & Lennon’s Dad
    107IST Member / Chair of the Community Outreach Committee

  • 03/08/2019 2:39 PM | Sherrilynn Rawson (Administrator)

    We appreciate Commissioner Don Garber's attempt to clarify his remarks from the past weekend, and we look forward to continuing the conversation. We do, however, need to set the record straight:

    The Timbers Army did not come to MLS and ask for “permission to hang ‘Refugees Welcome’ signs in the stadium.” The rail banner mentioned was painted by a supporter in our midst, carried in, and hung without incident (other than a lot of positive responses in the stands and online). The Timbers Army and Rose City Riveters, through 107IST, have a strong working relationship with the Timbers and Thorns front office. We don't always agree, but we have a healthy respect for each other and pretty clear lines of communication. For the Commissioner to imply that somehow we run to MLS to seek approval for every display of support, no matter how small, is misleading.

    We appreciate that the Commissioner does not want to get the league “into a position where we have to determine what is political and what is not.” We absolutely agree. We would refer the commissioner to our response to the Fan Code of Conduct, which states in part:

    "We have strong reservations about the simple inclusion of the word ‘political’ in the Code of Conduct without greater clarification. As a supporters group, we have always abstained from party politics, have never endorsed a candidate for office, and have yet to endorse or oppose any specific ballot measures. That said, some of our messaging and actions related to human rights have been characterized myopically as ‘political.’ We have always maintained that human rights are not political, and yet, we actively participate in activities that can be potentially construed as political depending on what definition is used.”


    Finally, we want to reiterate our strong support for the league’s stance against racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and sexism as expressed in the newly released Fan Code of Conduct. In our response, we also recommend that MLS:

    “...expand the wording of the MLS Code of Conduct to reflect Section 2 of FIFA’s Human Rights Policy to include indigenous peoples; national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; children; disabled people; and migrant workers and their families. Likewise, we hope that the identified risks of Discrimination and Security outlined in Section 5 can be a more transparent part of MLS procedures. Pursuant to Pillar III of FIFA’s Human Rights Approach, we hope that MLS will protect other human rights defenders and engage with a ‘wide range of stakeholders, including potentially affected groups and individuals and their legitimate representatives, on a regular basis’ in the spirit of Pillar IV.”


    We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the league. In the meantime, we will continue to stand up for human rights — in the stands and in the streets.



  • 03/02/2019 9:41 AM | Jennifer Ingraham (Administrator)

    A statement on behalf of the 107IST Board of Directors

    First of all, we would like to acknowledge our respect for the stance MLS has taken against racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and sexism in the newly released Fan Code of Conduct. Our hope is that this represents more than lip service to FIFA’s Code of Conduct and Human Rights Policy. These are issues that need to be taken seriously, as global football has been plagued with their perpetuation. The 107IST’s long-standing stance against intolerance is well documented, and is something we gratefully share with our front office. In fact, there are numerous examples over the years of relationships that we have built in our community that have been adopted and grown through our teams’ Stand Together program.

    A large part of the work we do in our community is using soccer as a tool to inspire confidence and hope, especially with at-risk youth. As we build relationships with organizations working directly with our neighbors who are most susceptible to the above acts of hate, we need to be able to help them meet their needs. More and more, those are based on fears within their populations.

    We have strong reservations about the simple inclusion of the word “political” in the Code of Conduct without greater clarification. As a supporters group, we have always abstained from party politics, have never endorsed a candidate for office, and have yet to endorse or oppose any specific ballot measures. That said, some of our messaging and actions related to human rights have been characterized myopically as “political.” We have always maintained that human rights are not political, and yet, we actively participate in activities that can be potentially construed as political depending on what definition is used.

    Supporters culture goes well beyond the boundaries of our domestic leagues. We have always aligned with other supporters groups throughout the world that stand against hate and intolerance. We are fortunate that the hatred and violence in many foreign leagues is not a part of the game here to nearly the same extent, and that we and many other local supporters groups strive to create a welcoming environment to all members of our communities. By no means does this mean that our communities here are immune to similar sentiments, but we have a real potential to be a beacon of hope — not only to our neighbors, but to players wanting to relocate from those environments in favor of ones that espouse an ethos rooted in the honoring of the fundamental human rights of all people.

    As the impact of the refugee crisis of the last couple years spread through the West, many like-minded supporters groups created displays reading, “Refugees Welcome” — and we were no exception. Some front offices took issue with this stance, refusing entry and/or removing the banners. It’s worth noting that more than hanging a banner, we took the opportunity to grow our relationship with organizations working in the community with refugees. Our closest relationship in this regard is with Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), who we worked with to donate more than ten thousand dollars worth of supplies for welcome baskets, worked to get soccer gear and playing time for youth with a partner futsal facility, and had members volunteering to help kids with their schoolwork. Later, when FC St Pauli (a group that shares our ethos) visited this last year for a friendly match, we worked with our front office to donate the match proceeds to IRCO and brought a bunch of the kids out for the event. Good times.

    Because members of our Latinx community have been targeted, we hung a banner reading, “Hoy Por Ti Mañana Por Mi.” At the same time, we gathered thousands of pounds of beans, rice, and cooking oil to be the backbone of a food donation to migrant farmworker families, provided space and volunteers to sort pallets of coats for those who decided to grow roots in our area, and donated hundreds of soccer balls and equipment to the children in these families.

    As we’ve seen incidents of hate grow again in our community in recent years, we not only Show Racism the Red Card, we’re actively involved in Portland United Against Hate (PUAH), a coalition of now 67 community-facing organizations committed to providing resources and trainings, tracking incidents, working in unison with local government, and coordinating a rapid response to incidents through the organizations best equipped to respond within any targeted community.

    Our Pride displays are always something we put a lot of energy into, and you’ll never miss the Pride flags as a ubiquitous expression of our support and acceptance of our LGBTQ+ community members. At the same time, we raise thousands of dollars every year for programs working with homeless youth that identify as LGBTQ+. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a large rise in attacks against this population in our city in recent weeks, have been an active part of the PUAH response, and are currently working on other ways of addressing this urgent, life-threatening issue.

    These are all just a few examples of the political engagement necessary to address intolerance as we work together as a community, as a city, as we do what we call, Spread the Love. We continually choose to avail ourselves in this regard because it is an integral part of who we are as a group. Within FIFA’s Human Rights Policy, we feel these actions puts us in the category of “human rights defenders.” We recommend that MLS expand the wording of the MLS Code of Conduct to reflect Section 2 of FIFA’s Human Rights Policy to include indigenous peoples; national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; children; disabled people; and migrant workers and their families. Likewise, we hope that the identified risks of Discrimination and Security outlined in Section 5 can be a more transparent part of MLS procedures. Pursuant to Pillar III of FIFA’s Human Rights Approach, we hope that MLS will protect other human rights defenders and engage with a “wide range of stakeholders, including potentially affected groups and individuals and their legitimate representatives, on a regular basis” in the spirit of Pillar IV.

    Lastly, we would like to clarify our use of an Iron Front banner, which has been described as being political in nature when it, in fact, is a symbol for all of the above. A little history: The Iron Front was formed in pre-WWII Germany in response to the growing abuses and subjugation of fellow community members, specifically from the rising Nazi Party. The three arrows represent the group’s resistance to a return to monarchy, the pull toward communism, and above all, the rise of fascism in favor of the established constitutional, representative democracy that afforded the opportunity to work together for the betterment of all. They worked to bring other groups together in defense of their neighbors, but were ultimately disbanded by the Nazis as a described paramilitary group literally fighting for the lives of their neighbors as hope was being lost. Many were murdered. Others were sent to concentration camps. Some that made it through this time became members of the resistance. After the war, some were able to work toward ensuring that the truth was told in order to keep these acts from repeating. The three arrows of the Iron Front is still a symbol of this continual effort. Partially designed originally to be used as graffiti to cover symbols like the swastika, current experts on the subject of combating hate know that it’s not as effective to cover hate graffiti with paint as it is to hide it with a message of love, hope, acceptance, and togetherness. This is what the three arrows of the Iron Front mean today.

    The three arrow symbol of the Iron Front is used by many of the like-minded supporters groups throughout the world that share our ethos, and has been for decades. Domestically, it gained prominence in response to the growth of hate groups in the 1980s and '90s as a rallying cry for organizations, local governments, and businesses to come together to combat these groups. Here locally, the police refused to acknowledge the existence of hate groups until a critical mass had been established to combat them, which has included our citizens, civic leaders, and businesses. Our ethos against intolerance was born out of this struggle, and we maintain the importance of continuing to recognize the existence of hate in our communities as well as the need to work together to address it. In keeping with the distinction between politics and human rights, this symbol falls squarely into the latter.

    We look forward to continuing a dialog on all of this as the MLS Code of Conduct and other coordinated efforts between the league, its front office, and supporters move toward what could be a truly unique model for other leagues to follow.

  • 02/20/2019 8:13 PM | Jennifer Ingraham (Administrator)

    Thanks to everyone who came out to the Mission Theater for the 2019 107IST Annual General Meeting! Big thanks to the Mission for hosting us again this year.

    After a bit of mingling, and some introductions, each committee shared their accomplishments from the previous season, plans for the current season, and current volunteer needs. As we’ve done in previous years, we then divided up into two sets of two breakout sessions. This year’s sessions covered how better to hear our lesser-represented communities, how to improve volunteerism and communication, organizing more events, and improving match day participation. A lot of great input! The board will be reviewing all your input very soon and making improvements.

    For those who weren’t able to attend or who would like to look through the slides again, you can view the slides and notes in the member forums. [Note that some financial data has been removed, but it is available to members by arrangement with the treasurer.]

    And, for those of you who are repping in our RSGs, look for more information very soon on an AGM just for you.

    We are working on formal committee volunteer forms. If you know something you’d to help with, though, please let us know via our Volunteer Opt-In Page.

    Here's to another great year.


  • 02/11/2019 4:22 PM | Jennifer Ingraham (Administrator)

    [From the editor: Before we begin, do you need Tucson tix? If so, contact Xavier Vasquez, from FC Tucson's FO. He is offering us tickets for nearly half price: $11.64 each.]

    So you’re going to Tucson

    — by John Holden

    Perhaps it’s the light drizzle of snow. Perhaps it’s the need for sun. Perhaps you’re tired of watching Liverpool slowly blow it and want to watch some real friendly football. But whatever the case, you went ahead and booked this season’s best away day: Tucson, Arizona.

    Scoff if you must. Tucson is one of the most underrated, forgotten cities in the country. They tried to lure the Oakland Raiders to Arizona Stadium for next season, which made several national sportswriters look at Tucson and say, “Tucson? Oh, right.” When I moved to Portland, I loved it because I thought it was a slightly more walkable Tucson with better weather. (How times have changed.)

    If you’re going, you’re visiting the United States’ first and only UNESCO culinary heritage city, a city surrounded on both sides by national parks, and a city known for its bicycle routes. Here’re some tips from a former Tucsonian (who worked his remaining Tucson network to make sure you’re getting the best info).

    Why the Timbers are here

    (Scroll down if you want food instead of a quick backstory.) Tucson was home to Major League Baseball spring training until 2010. Phoenix had a county fund to build new spring training ballparks after almost losing baseball entirely to Florida in the early 1990s, but Tucson lacked a similar county fund. After the Diamondbacks and Rockies left, the county turned the old White Sox practice fields into soccer pitches. The soccer stadium isn’t much — it has only one fixed stand — but the Timbers are playing there, dammit.

    Where to stay

    You’re probably AirBnBing, but there are several nice golf resorts scattered around town. If you’re hoteling, though, pick the Arizona Inn. It opened in 1930, a project of Arizona’s first congresswoman, and is upscale, centrally located, and quaintly historical.

    Where to eat

    Let’s start at the top: Sonoran food. El Charro Café is the old legend; it’s the oldest family-operated Mexican restaurant in the U.S., and you absolutely cannot go wrong with the sun-dried beef. You also have Mi Nidito, which hosted Bill Clinton. You’ve got Cafe Poca Cosa, where the menu gets switched up twice a day. But you’ve also got holes-in-the-wall, like Anita Street Market, only open for lunch in a hard-to-find location, and which makes fantastic beef burritos.

    You’ve got restaurants dedicated to raspados, the snow cone of the Southwest. (I don’t have a favorite spot here, but be on the lookout.) Tamales from Tucson Tamale Company. Sonoran hot dogs from El Güero Canelo. If you’re looking for something garlicky that hasn’t been on the food network, Ruiz Hot-Dogs. And Boca Tacos just generally.

    Tucson cuisine isn’t limited to Mexican food, though. If you need a quick sandwich, eegee’s is known for their eponymous fruit slushes. Baggin’s is a local chain that gives you a cookie with each sandwich, and Beyond Bread is a bakery with a number of fresh options. Blue Willow has a delicious and healthy menu. It’s also the only city outside New Mexico not named El Paso with a Blake’s Lotaburger location. Obon Sushi also comes highly recommended.

    If you’re not going the raspados route, The Screamery puts Salt and Straw to shame (even though it since opened a Phoenix location. Bastards.).

    You’re reading a Timbers Army blog, so you probably also want to drink. Ten 55 Brewing comes recommended. Club Congress is a cool downtown hotel bar, and La Cocina has a nice patio if the weather’s cooperating.

    You also have Fourth Avenue if you want to party with college students. Hub restaurant is downtown and has a bar with outdoor patio and ice cream. Hardcore Mariners fans will want to genuflect to The Hut, where former relief pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen tended bar before becoming a major league pitcher.

    Also note: There’s not much to drink around the stadium itself. There is, sources say, a new In ‘n Out location, but — as noted above — you can do better than that.

    For a recent list of amazing restaurants and breweries, check out this comprehensive article. You won’t be disappointed.

    What to do

    There’s Saguaro National Park West and Saguaro National Park East. The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is at the West Park and contains a ton of information about the desert habitat. East Park has a smaller visitor center but contains a loop road called “Cactus Forest Drive.” I recommend either. You will see a ton of saguaro cacti. Sabino Canyon is in the Catalinas north of town and contains a tram-bus thing up the canyon. There’s lots of good hiking in both of these spots.

    The Presidio San Augstín del Tucson Museum recreates the Tucson Presidio as it would have appeared in 1775. (That’s not a typo on the date.)

    Old Tucson Studios is where many Western movies have been filmed, including Little House on the Prairie.

    Bookmans is the local Powell’s. It doesn’t have a four-story building downtown, but is still worth a stop if you’re into used books.

    You can probably get University of Arizona basketball tickets relatively cheaply now that the team is under federal investigation. As a college town, there’s also a decent music scene, so I recommend checking local listings.

    The newly barbed wire border fence is an hour south.

    In the event you’re heading down to Tucson, I hope you have a fantastic time and enjoy the preseason!

  • 12/11/2018 1:57 PM | Michelle DeFord (Administrator)

    Get Stuck In
    informal -- to start doing something enthusiastically
    -- Cambridge Dictionary


    ~*~*~

    Thank you, Devlyn.

    Had it not been for your enthusiastic conversations about the Timbers, I wouldn't have found a team I'm passionate about, or a community I care about so much.

    I wouldn't be stuck in.

    We all have a story of how we got stuck in. I’ll tell you mine. I was doing a few podcasts on a local internet radio station -- one about dating and one about knitting. One of my co-hosts would always come in and talk about the Timbers, about the games and about the players. And it would always end with, “I think you should come with me sometime.” 

    Sure. 

    One day, I gave in and went. I remember the crowd, I remember the people ... I absolutely do not remember the game. I spent the rest of the season in section 107, row N. I got to be there for the Sunflower Goal. I met Bright Dike in front of the apartment complex we recorded our podcasts from. But I didn't quite realize what I had gotten myself into. 

    The first time I went to Seattle for an away game on a bus ... We hiked up those awful ramps. We sang our hearts out for the full 90. And I had never had someone yell such awful things at me from outside our section. 

    It was terrible and amazing. That's when I realized I was stuck in.



    A little over a year ago, I tweeted something about thanking whoever brought you here. The response was amazing. Everyone had a story for why they’re here, how *they* got stuck in. So I decided I wanted to try to document that. 



    Interested in coming out? Fill out this form here and I will be in touch.

  • 12/10/2018 8:15 PM | Anonymous
    Congratulations to the winners of this year's elections: Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson, Maggie Williams, and Joshua Lucas. Their term starts January 1, 2019 and ends December 31, 2021.

    Here's the breakdown of votes:



    Here's the breakdown of how many eligible members voted this year compared with years past:

    Term Starting Year # Voted   % Voted
     2019  1219 of 5104
     24%
     2018  909 of 4883  19%
     2017 1135 of 5292  21%
     2016  1087 of 3731  29%
     2015
     824 of 4052  20%
     2014  979 of 3467  28%

    Sincere thanks to all who ran. Also, thanks once again to the entire election committee for organizing.

    For more information about the 107IST elections, see our elections page.

    Onward!


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