The mission of the 107ist (107 Independent Supporters Trust) is to support soccer in and around Portland, Oregon, from the grassroots to the highest professional level. The 107ist is a member-based non-profit organization open to anyone (regardless of where they sit in the stadium) who loves soccer, the Timbers/Thorns, and Portland.

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We have always said that if you want to be Timbers Army then you already are… simply show up and cheer for the team. The same now goes for the Rose City Riveters. But you can become even more involved in supporting soccer in our community – by Join / Renew

The 107ist exists as a means to coordinate all the things that the Timbers Army and Rose City Riveters do. We promote playing the game we love through donations of time, funds and expertise to local soccer programs. We facilitate supporters culture through working with club management in resolving issues, creating the tifo displays you see in the stadium, and arranging travel to away matches. And we organize and contribute to our community through volunteer efforts and charitable contributions.

In addition to rallying volunteers for efforts such as the Operation Pitch Invasion, Oregon Food Bank, Friends of Trees, American Red Cross, Harper’s Playground, CPR Training, and Portland Public Schools; since 2010, the 107ist has also donated over $150,000 to build playgrounds and soccer fields in the Portland area and over $70,000 for uniforms, soccer equipment, soccer library books, etc. to local schools and charities. We continually raise funds for and manage the Gisele Currier Memorial Fund which assists local youth with fees associated with their clubs and tournaments.

When you register as a member of the 107ist you’ll receive:

• Members-only 107ist tote bag and 107ist sticker
• Nike Employee Store pass for the month of January 2015 (if you register by 12/25/2014)
• Timbers Army Topps Baseball card (first 3000 members only)
• A 2014 membership card which gives access to specials and discounts from local merchants
• Members-only access to away ticket sales and limited edition merchandise
• A weekly emailed newsletter informing you of all the current opportunities available to members
• The right to seek election to the 107ist Board of Directors
• Voting privileges on key issues and access to the online candidate’s forum to lend a voice in the annual board member elections (held early December each year.)

The 107ist is a registered non-profit organization in the state of Oregon, and has Federal 501c(7) status.

—by Andrew Brawley

Dear Timbers Front Office Staff,

It's a little after 10pm local time on Saturday, October 25th.

I don't want to even assume what kind of shape you're in right now, but I imagine it's close to what everyone else is feeling right now in Timbers land (if not, more so). Also, like the rest of us, I'm hoping there's at least some kind of consumable alcohol within reach (but not too much).

Anyway, I feel the timing of this week's events:

• The CCL loss / elimination in Honduras
• The rivals to the north winning the Supporters Shield
• Tonight's MLS playoff elimination

all occurring on the same week that this was announced:

THANK YOU Timbers Season Ticket Holders! Just reached 99% renewal rate (a new MLS record) for next yr. You’re absolutely incredible. #RCTID

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 23, 2014

calls for a bit of explanation. As one of the 99%'ers, I don't want you thinking you suddenly owe me something for how this season went. My investment as a season ticket holder doesn't justify that. However, I think I need some kind of open reassurance that you are taking the necessary steps toward improving in the future.

The Western Conference will only get tougher in 2015. The Timbers will have to improve year-over-year merely to match 2014's 6th place performance. An even greater amount of improvement will be needed to make the playoffs next year.

I don't need to know all the details around your improvement plan. However, I need to be reassured that you are willing to "eat your own dog food" here, because I'm starting to question why I keep eating it.

Take the weekend to decompress. We all need it. But for the sake of our sanity, please convince me that things will get better, because if this were a professional relationship, I'd start putting an RFP together.

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the TA.

The vote is in and it was LOUD and CLEAR. It shouldn't be a surprise given the play of the man this year. Diego Valeri has won the belt as the 2014 Timbers Army Supporters Player of the Year. El Maestro! Stick around post match win or lose for the presentation of the championship belt on the main capo stand.

Diego Valeri joins:

2011: Troy Perkins
2012: Diego Chara
2013: Will Johnson

It’s that time of year again. The nights are getting longer, colder, and wetter. As Oregonians, we have many ways of enjoying this weather and seeking comfort in its embrace. However, other Oregonians don’t have access to the same environs and could use our help.

If you've ever been outside the Fanladen around 9pm, you've seen the queue of homeless youth waiting for the lottery to determine who will be the lucky 30 to have a warm bed, meal, shower, and access to laundry facilities that night and who will be left to fend for themselves on the streets. Run by Janus Youth Programs, the Porch Light Shelter is Portland’s only 30-bed crisis shelter for homeless youth ages 14 to 24 in need of immediate shelter as they work to secure permanent housing. While they shelter over 500 youth each year, they overflow their capacity every night.

Witnessing the lottery is a highly emotional event. The absolute joy of those selected and upon the selection of their friends is quickly balanced by the immensely weighted lows of those being turned away. When they can, staff will offer food and blankets to those on the losing end of the deal. These small gestures can make a huge difference in the emotional aftermath of the lottery which has had a tendency to get heated which has culminated in some regrettable instances.

As the nights have been getting colder you've probably been contemplating turning the heat on and assessing your blanket stash.   As you do so, think about which blankets you didn't use last year that you may be willing to part with. Maybe you have a coat or two you didn't even wear last year or, are ready for an upgrade. Bring your clean blankets and coats by the Fanladen pre-match Friday and we’ll add them to our donation to our upstairs neighbors.  They can make a world of difference in the life of a neighbor.

Each year Timbers fans to vote for the Supporters Player of the Year. The voting is now open for the 2014 Portland Timbers Supporters Player of the Year. This can be whomever you feel is the best player, most embedded in the community, or you feel who wears the badge with pride. There is no criteria other than what you feel is best. Voting is now open and the belt will be awarded following our match against Real Salt Lake on October 17th.

Follow the link embedded in this sentence to vote.

(voting is closed, results can be found here)

Complete results will be made public only once voting is over.
Votes are limited to 1 per IP address.
Voting will be closed the night of the 15th and announced on the 17th.

Past Winners
2011: Troy Perkins
2012: Diego Chara
2013: Will Johnson

—by Mike Coleman

The views expressed here are my own. They are not the views of the Timbers Army or the 107ist.

As most of you know, I’ve not been around the Timbers nearly as long as some of my friends. But that doesn’t mean my love of the club is any less than those who’ve been around since 2001 (or 1975). Sometimes I feel like I live and die by what the club does on the pitch. The Timbers Army are my family, and I know that this thing we have has literally saved lives.

My relationship with the TA and the Club is nothing to be trivialized or trifled with.

So the suggestion that I should, for one night, root for Fishing Village FC is not only ridiculous it’s insulting.

Some readers may say “Lighten up, Francis”.

From where I sit, those people don’t get it; feel free to go root for a club that plays on gridiron lines, and offers refunds to its customers. That's certainly your choice - but, it won't be mine.

Let’s leave logic out of this. Let’s forget that we were up by two goals in Toronto and lost 3-2. Let’s forget that we took 5 out of possible 24 points in the first two months of the season. Let’s forget that Fishing Village FC has put 8 goals in the back of the net in two visits to our park (and, let’s forget in one of those games we were up 4-2 late in the match).

Because, clearly those aren’t the reasons we’re teetering on the brink of elimination from the playoffs.

Take care of business on your own, and you never have to rely on anyone else to do it for you.

But, back to the point at hand: Our owner feels that we don’t have a sense of humor if we found his permission slip ridiculous.

I say this to him: It was ridiculous for our club to sink to that level. To give those scum to the north the satisfaction of seeing our club groveling at their feet.

Let me be completely clear on this: I will not, ever, root for those clowns running around in rave green with their flamethrower goal posts and marching bands.

Even if it means my club's season ends on 10/25.

Sometimes you have to sit with the consequences of your actions.

Do I want the team to make the playoffs? Sure. But, not if it means rooting for the one team I hate more than any other in all of sports.

In case that wasn’t clear enough for you, let me state it differently:

Fuck. ‘Em. All.

Gather together a group of 9 or 10 players and join the field of 32 teams that will be starting off the New Year on the right foot. On January 3rd and 4th the Timbers Army Football Club is once again taking over the courts at Rose City Futsal for the Winter Classic. The teams that joined in this past June had a blast and we think the Winter Classic, with its cooler climate, will be an even better time.

The Cause

Open Play Under the Lights for Everyone: Rose City Futsal has generously pledged 25% of the registration fees to help 107ist cover the cost of providing field rental and lights for the weekly evening open play hours during the Spring and Fall outdoor seasons at Buckman Field. These free open play hours are open to all, TAFC player or not. 107ist member or not. It’s all part of promoting the game we love.

The Venue

Rose City Futsal (5010 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97213) is a premium facility centrally located on the east side of Portland right off of I-84. Two artificial turf courts and one large hard surface court serve the matches. Enjoy a pint ($1 off for 107ist members) and a meal with the family as you all watch the replay of your match on one of the many flat screens in Clive’s Pub directly above the playing floor or visit the newly opened Far Post Soccer Supply store on site. You’ll love this well established Timber’s Army partner business.

The Format

This family fun style tournament event will be held on January 3rd and 4th (Saturday and Sunday). You’ll get a minimum of 4 games in for the low price of $35/player. No player’s card needed. No commitment to a season. Open to members and non members, Mens, Womens and Coed teams will all be scheduled. Your team will play twice on Saturday (either in the morning or the afternoon) and twice on Sunday with the possibility of an additional Championship bracket match on Sunday afternoon.

There will be a BBQ, a special Tourney Shirt for sale, fundraising kegs, a 107ist Membership Table and the Winter Classic Trophy will be there waiting to have the name of the winning team from each competitive bracket added to it. There will also be a new non-competition bracket exclusively devoted to teams and individuals as an intro to futsal and will be a great fit for those that just want some good fun on the weekend.

The Process

• This will be on a first come first served basis, so jump on it quick. Once the 32 team spots are gone, that’s it.
• Forming a Team? All you need to do is get 9 or 10 players together (names and emails) and identify a team contact leader and team name (don’t worry, we’ll do all the work for the team leader) and contact Tyler Segal at tyler@factorynorth.com
• Already play for an outdoor or futsal team and want to join with them for the tourney? Then just ask your team manager for the paypal link for your team (they will be provided shortly) or have your manager contact William Packwood at william.packwood@107ist.org
• Are you without a team or just want to sign up and have some laid back fun? We’ll sort you, no problem. Simply use the individual link to pay here: No Team Payment Link and then email Justin Warber at justwarber@gmail.com with your desired skill level.
• Registration is $35/player and ENDS ON 12/28.  Hurry!

Portland, OR., Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, WA. — Ahead of Friday’s Cascadia Cup match between the Sounders and the Whitecaps, the Emerald City Supporters, Timbers Army, and Vancouver Southsiders are pleased to announce we have reached an agreement with Major League Soccer in regards to the Cascadia Cup Trademark and its use around all MLS matches concerning the three Cascadian teams. The agreement was reached after a productive negotiation between the league and the Cascadia Cup Council (CCC) representatives, and the three supporter groups are pleased with the end result of the agreement.

The Cascadia Cup Council is encouraged by the fact that Major League Soccer recognizes the importance of the supporter-owned Cascadia Cup for the growth of soccer in the Cascadia Region. This agreement ensures that the Cascadia Cup will remain a supporter-owned cup.

About the Cascadia Cup Council: The Cascadia Cup Council is a recognized non-profit entrusted with the management of the Cascadia Cup. The Council is made up of one representative from each of the three founding Cascadia Cup supporters groups. For the 2014 season those individuals were Jeremy Wright – Timbers Army, Greg Mockos – Emerald City Supporters, Brett Bird – Vancouver Southsiders.

—by Garrett Dittforth

I was alerted by a Timbers Army friend at the Oregon Cultural Trust about a contest they're running this week. Sadly I didn't see the email until today so we're one day down. Here's the deal. Our culture makes up a pretty decent part of what makes Oregon great. Here's the idea. You just use your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account to post a picture you took at a game, making tifo, of tifo, fixing a field with OPI, volunteering with the TA at the Food Bank of Oregon, at the Bless Field opening or maybe the Harper's Playground opening. Anything about our culture that you think makes Oregon great. It's up to you. Just make sure you use the hashtag #thisisculture

Make sure to check out the daily prizes below. You might be keenly interested on the October 8th prize that I have highlighted in bold font below.

It's time to celebrate Oregon’s culture!

As part of the 2014 Days of Culture campaign, we are inviting you to post snapshots on social media Oct. 1-8 that illustrate your cultural experiences -- anything from a good meal or a concert experience to a backwoods hike or a family event. The possibilities are endless as culture is all about who we are, what we do and how we experience life!

Participating is easy! Just capture a cultural moment and post it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #thisisculture. The goal is to digitally showcase a range of cultural experiences from around the state. Everyone who posts will be eligible to win a daily prize. Prizes include:

Wednesday, October 1: Gift Certificate for a weekend stay at the Lodge at Kah-Nee-Ta

Thursday, October 2: Gift Package from the Portland Trail Blazers

Friday, October 3: Tickets to the Oregon Symphony and lodging in Portland

Saturday, October 4: Gift Certificate for an overnight stay at the historic Balch Hotel

Sunday, October 5: Free admission to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and lodging in Newport

Monday, October 6: Lunch, winery tour, and special tasting for four at the Sokol Blosser Winery in Dayton

Tuesday, October 7: Tickets to performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Wednesday, October 8: A Certificate for a 2014 Portland Timbers Team Signed Jersey

Traditionally a weeklong celebration of events and activities presented by Oregon’s 1,300 cultural organizations, coalitions and tribes, Days of Culture commemorates the Oct. 8 anniversary of the Cultural Trust. The decision to expand the 2014 celebration to feature individual experiences came from a desire to demonstrate how interwoven our culture is with everyday life.

Days of Culture also launches the Trust’s fundraising season. As you know, those who gave or give a 2014 donation to one of Oregon’s designated 1,300 cultural nonprofits are eligible for a tax credit if they make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust. Giving to the Trust is easy, and annually provides over a million dollars to cultural programming across our great state! Cultural funding for you, from you!

We are counting on you to help us make the 2014 Days of Culture celebration the best and most inclusive ever! Get those cameras ready.

For many years, the merchandise sold by members of the Timbers Army has given us a way to show our pride in our club while elevating what our club brings to the community. The profits earned have gone not into a person’s or corporation’s bank account but back into our community. By community, I mean both our game day operations and our charitable efforts. Merchandise pays for smoke, paint, fabric, drums, trumpets, and has also made our community outreach activities like Operation Pitch Invasion, Harper’s Playground, and the Jefferson HS Field renovation possible. All that is not possible without our merch sales

By profits, we’re talking about around a third of the sale price, or $5 from a $15 T-shirt. The rest of the $15 example goes to the cost of goods and the printing of the design. The artist who creates the design donates their work. The people stocking, selling, and tracking the merchandise all donate their time. This model is how we are able to do such amazing work in the stadium and in our community.

Think of what the TA has done over the last decade. Most of that was made possible in part by our merch sales, whether by No Pity Originals or by countless others who have designed and sold merch individually and donated those profits either to our game day activities or to a charity.

So, you have a great idea for merch to be sold to the TA? Awesome. If it’s good, it will sell. If it’s bad, you’ll learn. But please sell it while honoring the traditions that have made the TA the force that we are today. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does the profit ($ earned after purchase of blank and printing) go back into the Timbers Army’s game day work or charitable work? If not, please consider changing that. When you keep profits made off of the TA for yourself, you lessen the amount of good the TA $ can do in our community or for our club. You’re an artist who deserves to be paid for their work? Well, OK, but other artists donate their work to make all that we do possible. What would happen if they all took the attitude of needing to be paid? Most of the good things you see the TA doing would cease to exist. Smoke? Tifo? Soccer pitches? Yes, that all goes away. Please consider making your profits elsewhere and using your Timbers love to benefit our community and TA support. It's not personal. Truly. Yes YOU may be a great person with good intentions but for every you, there is some Merch pirate intent on making a TA mouse pad and charging $25 for it.

2. Are you violating any trademarks? The FO/MLS owns Timbers, Thorns and any and all forms of their crest starting in 1975. If you use these things, you’re putting yourself at legal risk that’s probably not worth it. It also puts stress on the rest of the TA as it provokes stricter attention from their attorneys. No Pity, Axes and Rose, No Pity Originals, TA Crest, Cascadia Cup are owned by the 107ist on behalf of the Timbers Army. The 107ist protects these so that they can be used to benefit our club and community exclusively, rather than to line the pockets of anyone who wants to make a buck off of your passion.

Creative ideas from individuals are what make the Timbers Army a vibrant and interesting place to be. They’re also what allow us to do the amazing work that we do both inside and outside of the stadium. We ask that you honor this and use your brilliant ideas to uphold the traditions we hold dear. If you want to sell merch individually and not connect it to the 107ist, no problem! Just please honor the same traditions the 107ist does. They are what has made and will make the TA possible.