—by Nicholas “Nicky Buttons” Downing

When I root, I root for the Timbers. A lot of the time, the rooting is done from home. I don't have a season ticket; I can't afford a ticket every time. I love my town, I love my team, I love the Timbers Army. I knew there were people in my exact situation I could enjoy these things I love with. I decided to get them together: let's watch a match. I had heard about and seen regional subgroups, but didn't know all the details. A long time ago some Eastside fans got together, watched some matches, made a scarf, and called it Eastern Bloc, never to be more than a few friends gathering to watch soccer. I simply just rehashed this concept. It was simple: if you live around the area and want to watch the match with some other fans in the area, come on down. Even if you don't live in the area, we'd love to have you. All we ask is you cheer as loud as you can.

After a few away days, more and more people started to show up, everyone being the fans this team deserves: loud, feverish, and, most importantly, loyal. This attitude spread over the entire group. We were there for each other, we were there for the community, we were there for the team. All of us, together, under the Timbers Army umbrella. Donating dues, buying charity scarves, volunteering with tifo, participation in the Heart Walk and Oregon Food Bank opportunities. Any chance of bettering the community was taken. When your ethics exceed limitations, you take matters into your own hands.

With more and more families in our community going hungry, we had to do something about it. No one should go without food. With all the things that Timbers Army takes care of, I thought hunger was far more important than large paintings or more soccer fields. Children need to eat. As a child whose family received food from a local bank, I took this very personally. I've made it to a point in my life where I can feed myself; it was time to use my resources and willpower to feed every family I possibly could.

An APB was put out to anyone coming to an Eastern Bloc viewing party, and it was only two words: bring food. People did, in a way I never thought would happen. Hundreds and hundreds of pounds of cans, pasta noodles, anything nonperishable, weighing down the trunks of our cars. Every match, more people came and brought more food. That's when the games really began.

Timbers Army: Covert Ops, the regional subgroup in the Seattle area, decided to get in on the action. A friendly wager was made with Eastern Bloc stating whichever group collected the most food by season's end would be declared the winner, with the failing side creating a celebratory two-stick display glorifying the victors. The Cold Food War was underway. As there are no rules in war, Eastern Bloc reached out for assistance, forming a pact. Almost all the regional subgroups in Oregon and Washington came out of the woodwork to aid the effort. Jefferson Reserves, Echo Squadron, Mt. Bachelor Brigade, Northern Alliance, Sunset Division, and Mid-Valley Platoon (MVP) stepped up. They collected food at their viewing parties, adding to the steadily increasing pound total being donated to hungry people. By mid-season, I was almost speechless by everyone going so far above and beyond. By this time communication with the Oregon Food Bank was consistent. They shared with us that a donation of only a few dollars could go much further than some cans of food.

A challenge coin was issued to anyone wanting to participate, a patch was made, and several generous donations collected more money than we'd ever thought. All for pure donation, money that would feed family after family. By the end of the season, from all groups combined, there were 3,263 pounds of food donated. Somehow the ragtag groups of Timbers Army gathered over a ton of food. With all monetary donations collected, a fellow Eastern Blochead suggested the company they worked for could double that, which they in fact did. A check was made out to Oregon Food Bank for $8,941. From a simple desire to gather to watch soccer came that much food, that much money, and that much human spirit.

Eastern Bloc is proud to be a regional subgroup supporting team, town, and TA. We would like to continue going above and beyond for all of the Timbers Army. We're all people, together in this community. We love soccer, we love to help people, we love to chant and cheer. Negativity holds no value here.

In 2016 the Timbers Army regional subgroups together fed more people than can fit in Providence Park, twice. Expect to see something even more remarkable in 2017.

Swear like we do.

This post is authored by Michelle DeFord.

I remember waking up on November 9th, and I was mad as hell. I had already scheduled an appointment with Taylor, the fundraising coordinator from IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization), the week before. During the month of December, I have previously tried to adopt a family or a cause; after asking Twitter for suggestions, a friend suggested IRCO. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. I was born and raised here. This is my hometown. I feel team, town, TA to my core, because it is my core. I love Portland so much, and I want other people to love Portland and know that Portland loves them as well, especially in the social climate that this election has made more visible.

Taylor showed me around the facility on NE Glisan one afternoon. We settled down into a room, and I had to ask, "How can we help?"

She explained to me that a lot of the families vary in size and ethnicity. She told me about a family of 25 from the Congo. She told me about a single mother of three from Afghanistan who wants to start a business as a basket weaver. I remember hearing all these stories and thinking that this was the perfect project for the Riveters and the TA. I have never had a bigger group of friends from all over the world than I do now as a 107ist. This seemed like an amazing organization to start a lasting relationship with.

Taylor went through the various drives they had previously had. The items the people mostly needed were items they could not buy with their state assistance. A lot of the time, this boils down to items like paper towels, soaps, shampoos, toilet paper, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and other personal items.

At the Green Weekend sale, between No Pity Originals and the Riveters Merch Crew, the 107ist was able to raise over $800 and a van full of donations, which were dropped off at the IRCO office the morning of December 5th.

After the Riveters and Timbers Army holiday parties, we had over $1,300 from raffles and various online donations. On December 18th, Rachel Harrison, Ray Terrill, Nate Moe, his wife Sarah, and their son, all headed to Costco to stock up on supplies. We managed to fill three flatbed carts and two large carts. After three loads back to the tifo warehouse and leaving Rachel at Costco (sorry Rachel), we managed to have a huge pile of goods to deliver to IRCO.

We had one more job we had to do.

Taylor had mentioned that a lot of the clients were African, and asked us to keep that in mind when buying hair supplies. I knew we had to go to MidK and pick up some proper hair stuff.

Ray, Rachel, and I really had no idea what kind of products we were looking for. The woman who helped us was awesome. She asked what we were looking for and we all were very upfront that we had no idea what to buy. She asked about the families, and I mentioned the one from the Congo. She told us her boyfriend was from the Congo, and she was happy to get to help us - she even stuffed my backpack full of free samples. She ended up picking out a lot of different things for us for all types of hair.

On Monday, December 19th, our delivery was much bigger than the first. We were able to fill a hallway with stuff purchased with donations and donated by 107IST. The staff helped us move the donations in to the building and sort things. It always felt silly yelling what we were collecting across the chilly tifo warehouse, or at the holiday parties, but seeing the look on the faces of the staff when they realized how much stuff we were delivering really made an impact on me. It's not silly, at all. These are items that these people really need, and they are so appreciative that we were giving all of this stuff to them.

You can still help. Boxes will be around until New Year's Eve, and are placed across Portland, at: Kells downtown, Café Town in the Lloyd Center Tower building, Rose City Futsal in Northeast Portland, the Fanladen during office hours, and donations are still being collected online at https://timbersarmy.org/107ist/donate - Make sure to select the IRCO Relief Fund.

Let's make our next donation even bigger.

In keeping with the 107 Independent Supporters Trust’s mission of supporting soccer from the grass roots to the highest professional level, our latest boost to local grass-roots soccer is a $12,500 donation this past week to Operation Pitch Invasion in support of their newest initiative, Project Blacktop.

Project Blacktop aims to put soccer in schoolyards alongside basketball, kickball, foursquare and hopscotch. With this initiative, now up and running in four Portland-area locations, OPI has created ways to build soccer spaces for kids at a scalable variety of prices and is preparing to share its knowledge and experience with fans throughout the nation to help them grow the game in their towns. Read the press release here.

We're delighted at the success of our sibling organization and proud of our role in its development. Did you know that:

• The 107IST created OPI as its first community initiative and launched the organization with seed money in 2010;
  
• 107IST members have taken up shovels and rakes at dozens of OPI volunteer days over seven years;
  
• The 107IST made the single biggest financial contribution — $50,000 — to Bless Field, OPI's first construction project;
  
• The 107IST is the principal sponsor of Project Blacktop;
  
• A portion of your 107IST annual membership fee goes to support OPI's various initiatives every single year. We are committed to providing the organization with $25,000 every two years, of which this month's donation is a part.
  

Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities with OPI through the 107IST in 2017! If you know of a location that could benefit from Project Blacktop, please contact OPI with details.

Congratulations to our four newest 107IST Board members: Ray Terrill, Stephan Lewis, Nick Brock, and Drew Picard. Their term starts January 1, 2017 and ends December 31, 2019.

Here's the breakdown of votes:

While we had a lower overall percentage of 107IST members voting in this election following the surge in membership we saw after the Cup win, the raw number of voters was up from previous years. Here's how that looked:

Sincere thanks again to all who ran this time. Also, thanks once again to the election committee, who did a fantastic job keeping all of this organized.

Onward!

Welcome Basket Donation Drive

What:

• Detergent

• Shampoo

• Soap

• Paper towels

• Toilet paper

• Dish soap

• $$$

Where/when:

• Fanladen
• • Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm or by appointment (sherrilynn.rawson@107ist.org)
• Kell's Irish Pub (112 SW 2nd Ave)
• • Starting 12/7 at 2pm
• Cafe Today Lloyd Tower (825 NE Multnomah St)
• • Starting 12/8
• TA holiday party
• • Sat 12/17 at Cider Riot, 7pm-midnight

Donate to IRCO: https://timbersarmy.org/107ist/donate (select “Community Outreach IRCO Relief Fund”)

---

Like many of you, I’ve been dismayed by the torrent of xenophobic rhetoric engulfing our politics. After the election, I found myself searching for a way that I could make a positive impact, to not just get dragged down into the abyss of social media and comments sections, and feel like I’m actually making a difference in someone’s life. I wanted to show these very real human beings that they are welcome and valued in this community and country.

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) was founded in Portland in 1976 and has been an integral part of the immigrant community in the 40 years since then, helping families adjust to their unfamiliar new surroundings, acclimate to the culture, and equip them with the life skills they need for success. I found many volunteer opportunities on their website but with a full-time day job and having never done something like this before, I thought that Saturday morning homework help would be a good place to start, get a feel for things, and maybe get more involved from there.

I met with some of the staff there and as you might imagine, it didn’t take long to start talking about soccer. His eyes lit up when I told him I was a season ticket holder. Naturally many of the kids play and love soccer, they have a team, and the girls want to start their own but need a coach (psst, that means you!). We talked of taking the kids to games and the TA coming to play with the kids (and I might have heard through the grapevine that a Timbers player wants to as well), sponsoring club dues, and finding them a place to play when the weather turns bad. The possibilities seem endless. I have visions of one of these kids donning the green and gold some day.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, our very own Michelle “Bella” DeFord had been talking to someone else at IRCO about doing a holiday “welcome basket” drive with basic household essentials that people cannot buy on public assistance. When Sheba learned of both our efforts, she connected us together like the good den mom that she is, and we will be collecting these items (or good old fashioned currency) at the Green Weekend sale this weekend and the TA holiday party on December 17th.

On Saturday, November 19th, Bella, Kyle “Caterjunes” Jones, and I went to IRCO to help the kids with their homework. We were all more than a little intimidated but each found a way to help. I dusted off my 20-year-old algebra skills (thanks in no small part to smartphones and Google), Bella helped a girl write an essay on Where the Wild Things Are, and Kyle helped another young woman write a college application essay (and shared a touching story about it on his Facebook page). It was an extremely rewarding experience and we plan to return - hopefully you can join us!

Before I really knew what I was doing, I filled out an application to become a one-on-one mentor. For only 10 hours a month over a year, you will be matched with a child based on shared mutual interests (gee, I wonder what that will be…) and you are there to serve as a friend and role model, plan activities together, help them with school, and just generally guide them into their new life. With no siblings or children and having never spent much time around kids, I don’t exactly know how to interact with or relate to them, but I hope that this will be a learning and growing experience not just for them, but for me as well. The need for mentors is great so please consider applying.

If you are interested in getting involved in any way, talk to me or Bella or just reach out to IRCO directly. Browse through their volunteer needs and find one that suits you, come help with homework or apply as a mentor, coach their girls’ soccer team, bring supplies to Green Weekend or the holiday party, or just give them some money. This is just the beginning; we look forward to a long relationship between IRCO and the TA. We are a stronger and better society when we are all in it together and they need you now more than ever.

We've got eight capable folks running this time. You can:

• Visit the 107ist Elections page to read their bios;
  
• Come on out to Artists Repertory Theatre tomorrow (Sunday, November 13) from 6-8pm to listen to them answer questions or submit a question of your own; and/or
  
• Post questions for them in our online forums.
  

Voting will run from 11/28-12/5, so there's plenty of time between now and then to figure out who you want to vote for. There are four open positions this year which will all be filled by new people.

(Musical Accompaniment) 

To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends

To the LGB-T-Q and the B-L-M

To those of all faiths and races and origins

Come on and jump on ‘cause we’re about to begin

Human rights are not political, in fact they’re quite critical

To true “advanced nations” they are, unequivocal

We are the 107ist (Supporters Trust)

Long ago, all of this has been discussed

From the delicious burnt ends to the upper crust,

If we see rights violations, there will be disgust

Love conquers fear, love conquers hate

Spread the love, rise above, believe, ‘cause this can’t wait

Festering below the skin, the answer is simple

Not like tryin’ to understand “Pauli exclusionary principle”

Now that hate has reared its head, we’ll pop it like a pimple

White nationals, headin’ to the capital

They have a blank check for hate, and it is cashable

It’s time to be tactical

Don’t go on a sabbatical

It’s time to show up like the elephants of Hannibal

We’re standing by your side, no need to run and hide

You may be terrified, we’re like a mountainside

If we can all stand together, we will be amplified

From Celtic to Rayo, St Pauli to Inferno,

In the barrio and borough

Ultras Antifa, rising like a volcano

Our Pride is on the map, let’s be the blasting cap

We’ve shown racism the red, now use an arrowhead

Some say we’ve lost our edge, that’s why I take this pledge

Love conquers fear, love conquers hate

Spread the love, rise above, believe, ‘cause this can’t wait

They used to say the U.S. is a melting pot

But that discounts diversity, so ^that^ it’s not

That idea’s played out like a mix cassette

We’re more of a tossed salad, be the vinaigrette

Relationships and partnerships are the key

True scholarly debate can set us free

This requires all to be diligent to keep an open mind

But more and more people are willing to be blind

Open their eyes, criticize, and show dissent

Antifa’s established, no need to reinvent

The TA and the Riveters can be a force

We represent Rose City, let us set the course

Still got more rhymes than seeds in pomegranate

Oh, by the way, don’t forget about the planet.

We’re excited to launch a revamp of our website! Poke around and let us know what you think. You’ll note a lovely photo roll as well as usability improvements in membership signup, global search, events listing, partner listing, password reset, etc.

The most immediate change for you -  If you’re a current member, you’ll need to set a new password in order to sign in. We did not port over your password from the old site. Once you’re logged in, feel free to renew for 2017. If you’re not a current member, please consider joining!

The site will continue to provide - the content you’re accustomed to including forums, blog posts, information about away travel and upcoming events, and general information about who we are and what we do.

On the back end - the new platform will allow volunteers to more quickly, easily, and accurately manage your membership signup and mailing, event registration, partnership requests, e-newsletter signups, etc., all at a cost savings to the organization.

If you have any trouble with the site itself, please let us know in the Website Help forum. If you have questions about the membership/renewal process just email memberinfo@107ist.org. 

The 107ist board elections are coming soon, and all interested 107ist members are encouraged to run for office. As a board member, you can help shape everything from how we interact with the Timbers and Thorns front office, to organizing charitable drives, to inspiring new ways to get our merchandise into the hands of soccer fans.

Board members are asked to attend and participate in all scheduled board meetings (currently the second Tuesday of each month). Additionally, board members serve on subcommittees including tifo, travel, merch, finance, membership, game day operations, communications, and more. Board members also may be asked to assist with special events and other tasks as they arise. If elected, you can expect to spend a minimum of 15-20 hours per week on board-related tasks.

• There are four open positions in this election.
• Elected terms will run from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019.
• You must submit your intention to be a candidate by 11:59pm on Saturday, November 12, 2016 to get onto the ballot.
• It is highly recommended that you attend the in-person candidate forum on Sunday, November 13, from 6-8pm at Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison.
• After the live forum, you will also be expected to answer questions from members in the candidate forums on timbersarmy.org through the end of the election period.
• Election dates will be November 28 to December 5.

The application form and 107ist bylaws are provided below. Please read both documents very carefully before deciding to run for office so you understand what is required.

Remember, completed applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on Saturday, November 12, 2016 to qualify as a candidate.

Please send any questions or feedback to elections@timbersarmy.org.

• Application form
• Bylaws

—by Robert W. Cross

"But this wasn't a talent issue." - Portland Timbers Owner & CEO Merritt Paulson

The Timbers' owner also noted that missing the playoffs was "not acceptable" and mentioned complacency and lack of leadership during his annual season ending appearance on Timbers in 30. Nothing was too notable to me except his statement above, "but this wasn't a talent issue."

I wholly disagree.

What equals 24 wins, 25 losses, 16 ties and a -10 goal differential?

That is the Portland Timbers' record in MLS during 2015 and 2016 aside from the Cup run. The Mighty PTFC switched to a 4-3-3 on the road in Game 32 against RSL and never were to lose again over 9 matches. This included winning our first MLS Cup in Columbus against the Crew. I remember; I was there.

The Timbers' championship was a by-product of good fortune (precipitated by Will Johnson's injury which afforded Coach Caleb Porter an opportunity to gamble with the 4-3-3), good form, and pluck: think Double Post, Steve Clark's miscue in Columbus, and the non-call for offside on Rodney Wallace's goal. The ball is round and the star was and forever will be ours.

Diego Valeri, Fanendo Adi, and who else exactly?

Adi (16) and Valeri (14) combined for 30 of PTFC's 48 goals this season. That is 63% of the team's total production. The third highest goal scorer was #5Million with 3 goals. After that, Darlington Nagbe and a myriad of others with one lone tally apiece.

The Timbers attack was predictable and largely easy to defend. Clog the middle, let us operate on the flanks, and watch us either try to force the ball through the center of the pitch or send crosses to no one in the box. Poor wing play and production was a common facet of our offensive struggles in both 2015 and 2016.

The 2016 Portland Timbers conceded 53 goals.

This was the worst in the Western Conference. Is there any member of PTFC's back line that you think is a lock to come back next year? Both starting fullbacks have their faults, whether it is Vytas struggling in space 1v1 or Alvas Powell's forays up the flank rarely leading to anything in the final third. Steven Taylor was not effective in his late season audition with Liam Ridgewell, who has a serious issue to address off the pitch this offseason.

Will it be a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 in the midfield?

The midfield was the strength of the Timbers in the MLS Cup run. Diego Chara, remarkably, manned the single pivot; Darlington Nagbe flourished; and the Maestro was the Maestro. Jack Jewsbury has retired, Ben Zemanski is oft injured, and a past strength of the Timbers is a real question mark right now.

What of Nagbe? Darlington's function and utility cannot be taken for granted, but this is an uniquely talented player who has scored 7 goals in 99 regular and postseason matches for PTFC the past 3 seasons. PTFC needs to drop the 4-2-3-1 if Nagbe is to remain. We cannot forsake production from an attacking player that far up the field, especially with Adi on his way out the door.

Is there talent to support the senior club elsewhere in the organization?

The Timbers signed their first Homegrown Player (Marco Farfan) from our Academy earlier this year. Much has been made of recent youthful acquisitions for T2, but our USL side offered scant support in MLS matches this past season. Do the names Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Schillo Tshuma, Nick Besler, or Ben Polk ring a bell? These are the Timbers' recent selections in the MLS SuperDraft. None have a made an impact with the senior club. There is no question that PTFC has made a concerted effort to improve in regard to the Academy, T2, and scouting. We will need more personnel support from inside our organization to be successful in MLS in the coming years.

Do the Timbers have a talent issue?

I think they do. What do you think?