Greetings & Welcome – march 5th 2007
Welcome to the Quad City Steamwheelers Fan Club Live Wire Free e-Newsletter.
You are receiving this because you either joined the fan club voluntarily or you became a member through a new program initiative
we have worked out with the Steamwheelers ownership group. Mike Bawden has purchased a fan club membership for every
season ticket holder that renewed by their deadline. This initiative will do several things for you as a valued season
ticket holder.
It will improve team communications with season ticket holders by leveraging
the services that the fan club has been providing its’ members for the last two years.
It will provide great opportunities
for you to experience Steamwheelers Football on a closer and more personal level than before.
It will increase the value
of being a season ticket holder.
It will keep you in the know about the team with special features and announcements through
the Live Wire e-Newsletter service and through a Fan Club Members website.
It will inform you on special team events and
all fan club functions. Many events are free and/or private for fan club members. See our online 2007 Calendar
for a full listing of events.
The Live Wire is sent out whenever news and/or pertinent information about
the team or the fan club take’s place. As a result, there is often times privileged information that is released
in the Live Wires and we ask that you honor a Code of Ethics in managing such information (posted on members’ website).
The Website:
You probably have heard about or visited SteamwheelerFans.com, the official
fan site of the Quad City Steamwheelers. A special section of the website has been allocated for the fan club.
Simply go to http://www.steamwheelerfans.com and select Fan Club Members under the MEMBERS heading at the top. You will need credentials
to log into the website. Once you login, you will not have to login again unless you close your browser(s). Those
same credentials will be used to access the Chat Room for private chat sessions for fan club members.
To Access Website and/or Chat Room, Use The Following:
Username – win
Password – streak
If we post photos on the main site, there will be more posted on the members’
site. Other exclusive material and articles will be published for members only. We also archive all Live Wire
e-Newsletters on the member’s site as well as publish monthly accounting statements and all newsletters. Accounting
reports will commence when the season starts. Take a tour and enjoy!
Your Membership:
The Steamwheelers Fan Club has come a long way and was resurrected following
the 2004 season. This is our third season. We had 71 members in 2005, 78 members in 2006, and now have over 650
members with a goal of 800 in sight for 2007. As a fan club member, you are eligible for a free email account from SteamwheelerFans.com.
If you would like one, simply email us at sf.staff@steamwheelerfans.com and request an email account. You can access this email account online or POP3 into it.
We will be having a membership packet pick-up day this coming Sunday, March
11th at the Moline Holiday Inn starting at 12:00 noon in conjunction with the Steamwheelers University and Season Kickoff
Banquet. We’ll also have our own session for all fans at the Steamwheelers University called SFC-101. In
this session, we’ll share with you all of the upcoming events and other membership benefits as well as solicit your
feedback on what you would like from your fan club as well as answer questions. The Steamwheelers Fan Club is a chartered
member of the af2 National Fan Club where we have helped other teams develop their own fan organizations and provide input
into league policy on how to support our players and coaches. This will be an informative session. If you want
to attend the Steamwheelers University and/or the Season Kickoff Banquet, see the website for more information or Click Here
to purchase your tickets online.
Monday’s are an important day for fan club members throughout the season.
Every Monday night the fan club has something going on at Penguins Comedy Club in downtown Davenport. One a month, we’ll
have a fan club members meeting. The other Monday’s Coach Ponder will join us and talk shop as he breaks down
the previous weekend’s game on film in what we call our Fan Film Sessions. Penguins is closed on Monday’s
but they are opening the place up for us exclusively and providing a burger basket with drink for only $4.00 per person.
This is a great savings and hope you join us on Monday’s. Purchase is not required to attend but at the same time,
it’s not a bad economic deal if you’re hungry.
Fan Club Leadership Team:
We have positions within the fan club and are always looking for fans who want
to help. More information on this will be shared next Sunday at the Steamwheelers University & Season Kickoff Banquet.
Gary Stibolt – President
Will Long – Vice President / Director (Membership Services)
Kris Leatherman – Secretary
Amanda Long – Treasurer
Caroline Bawden – Comptroller
Cory Schroeder – Director (Media Relations/website)
Other Directorships Available
Road Trips:
We have partnered up with the Steamwheelers and have reserved 100 tickets and
two motor coach busses to Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Green Bay, and Louisville. These four road trips are same day travel
itineraries. All busses will depart from the new Northwest Davenport Applebee’s restaurant on Kimberly Road.
Those who go will receive a free meal from Applebee’s off of their promotional menu that we have worked out with them.
The Cincinnati and Louisville game trips will be early departures. Therefore, Applebee’s has agreed to open their
doors exclusively for us and cook a breakfast entrée. Again, it is free to anyone that goes. Fan Club Members
will save $25 on all road trips over non-members. We have a registration form online. Costs are still being determined
but we are accepting $50 deposits. Information is online and more will be shared next Sunday at Steamwheelers University.
The first trip is coming up fast and we are pre-booking that trip now (Cincinnati Jungle Kats – March 31). We
hope you join us on the road. By The Way – ArenaCup is August 25th and we are also planning a trip to the game.
Rumor from some of my af2 sources tell me it is going to be in Bossier City, LA. but no final agreement has been reached as
of Friday. The league is to announce it officially prior to the season starting so we’ll see.
The Team:
Coach Ponder has a dynamic coaching staff and has played the recruiting game
very smart. We have such a great roster lined up that the guys we end up cutting will be starting somewhere else.
The players will be trickling into town throughout the week. They are to report on Friday where they will have their
meeting and will then be issued gear. They will be staying at the Moline Holiday Inn this season. There will be
Training Camp Coverage everyday on SteamwheelerFans.com.
Tulsa Talons Coming To Town:
The Steamwheelers will practice head-to-head with the Tulsa Talons and scrimmage
against them on Monday and Tuesday at the Bubble (OS Sports Complex) on North Brady Street in Davenport, March 19th and 20th
at 7:30 AM both days with a 2-hour scrimmage on Tuesday the 20th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. This is a team ticketed
event - $5 general admission.
Preseason Game Vs. Green Bay:
Pizza Bowl III is going to be held at The MARK of the Quad Cities with Happy
Joe’s as the presenting sponsor on Sunday, March 25th. Kickoff is at 3:15 PM. All proceeds from the game
go to the Happy Joe’s Foundation for Special Needs Children. Tickets are $5 per person (general admission seating)
and can be purchased at all Happy Joe’s locations starting March 8th. Happy Joe’s is the only place you
can purchase these tickets. The team is also coordinating a special fan Meet-n-Greet to mingle with the Green Bay Blizzard
fans coming down and to meet former NFL and Green Bay Packer lineman, Brian Noble. Brian Noble owns the Blizzard franchise.
Pick-A-Seat Event:
Now I realize you have your seats already picked out but I’ve been asked
to see if we had about six or so fans who would like to assist other fans in serving as Team Ambassadors and answer questions,
share insight about the game action on the field for fans who want to know what the game is like and what is where, etc. as
they choose their season tickets in this Pick-A-Seat event. This starts at 12;00 noon on March 25th prior to the preseason
game against Green Bay. If you would like to assist, contact Glen Kass at the Steamwheelers Office – (563) 324-4888.
There is so much more to share with you so do check the website, email, and
newsletters as we hope you enjoy your fan club membership and your overall Steamwheelers experience. This is going to
be an exciting season of football with more to do than just attend eight games. We hope you are up for the ride!
Go ‘Wheelers!
Gary Stibolt, President
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Quad City Steamwheelers Fan Club
2827 Greenway Drive - Bettendorf, IA 52722
Cell: (563) 650-3089
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