PIHA Savannah Stingers

[rwshockey55]

Savannah Stingers

TRY OUT INFO:
WHEN: SEPT. 16th
TIME: 11-3
WHERE: SUPERGOOSE, SAVANNAH GA
COAST: $50 PER PERSON.. IF YOU BRING ONE (1) PERSON YOU GET 1/2 OFF IF YOU BRING TWO (2) PEOPLE YOU TRY-OUT FOR FREE
PLEASE CONTACT EJ ALLEY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND ABLE TO COME...912-704-4302

[sixpack]

What's Going On Here? This Tryout Was Supposed To Beawsome. I Heard That It Only Attracted Like Six Guys And Three Goalies. What Kind Of Team Will That Make. I Thought That They Would At Least Advertise On The Radio Or Something. Nobody Here In Savannah Has Heard Of This Team. And Now There Is Supossed To Be Another Tryout Next Month, But Yet There Has Been Nothing Advertised About It. Come On Ther Savannah Derby Devils Women's Roller Derby Team Advertises More Than This. What Needs To Happen In Savannah, And Beleive Me I Want It To Happen, Is That This Team Needs To Advertise, Let Everybody Know That You Are Here.

[SandeHockey17]

Sickpack,
EJ went with all the proper routes for getting the word out there. He just moved to Savannah about a month ago, so just like me when I moved to Charleston, it took time to get some response from people. Advertising as well costs money, and when you don't have a core of players yet, its hard to advertise through financial routes when theres no operating capital. Rather then slam his tryout, try to help him out, if I didnt have a core of people helping me, I'd be in the same boat. Theres plenty of time before the season, and I know EJ will pull it all together. Just give him some help, he's one person doing EVERYTHING!

[RichardGraham]

Hi Sixpack,

Please don't use title case; use sentence case. Your post was extremely hard to read. Thanks.

[minutemen]

Hey I know from experience it is tough to start a new organzation. I think EJ has it even tougher because he just moved to the area and does not know that many people. Also, like Chris said it is tough to advertise when you have no start off money. Give him a chance I am sure he will get it together. The season does not start until december and you most teams last season started after the new year for games.

[rwshockey55]

You are correct, the turn out was not the greatest or what was expected. There was a lot of players interested that did not show up, but since then the team has been contacted by a number of players that are interested in playing and a second try out is in the works. It will be post on IHC as soon as a date is booked. Like everyone else has said its very difficult to start programs like this especially in the south with limited funds. So I ask you to spread the word, thats the best advertisement. Keep a positive out look, there will be a team in Savannah and it will be a success.

[kcurtis]

Hey when you move to a new area and don't know anyone let alone any talented hockey players it is very hard to start something if you know the area you know the players and word gets out I know I have had only 2 or 3 people reply to my attempt at starting a team in Tennessee so getting something off the ground this year does not seem possible!

[RichardGraham]

Hey kcurtis,

At least you tried! Keep up the good fight.

[sixpack]

I have told everyone I know that has any intrest in hockey. Please post something about this team soon. It's getting late in the year and I would really like to be able to watch some top notch hockey.

[$$hockey$$]

OK, first, I have to ask, why is there always negativity when someone is trying to start something good? I thought I left that up North and was coming to the land of Southern Hospitality!!

1. To answer your comment about a handfull of players showing up- players called and confirmed their participation however they all could not make the Sept date which is why there is a second date. Also, Mr. Alley traveled to other parts of GA as well as TN and AL to accomodate interested players that were not available on either dates, to see them play.

2. People are scared, out right scared to jump in and join something that they are not directly involved in. Especially when money and travel are involved. Once one guy gets involved then they brings in someone and then another and then another. This is what is happening. With the Oct tryouts I am sure we will be staffing both a full Pro and full Minor team.

3. As far as NO advertising: Advertising is in stages. You advertise for your players where your taget base is located. That promotional issue has been done. It is not a lack of interest but yet a lack of commitment. Radio and Television do not enter the advertising picture until you have "Something" to advertise. The next step is to advertise the team when you have one.

4. As far as the Derby girls advertising, I'm sure they appreciate your free plug, however they have active sponsorship and are already established. They also had a team of "girls" working their butts off day in and day out running around doing what 2 people are doing in the Stingers Organization. As I have been told by one of their own who we have just recruited to our organization the Derby Girls went through the same rough stages of inception just like everyone else.

5. We could really use help with Federal Paperwork for Non Profit filing, Insurance secretary, Medical Documents keeper, advertisement, sponsorship, bank trustee, contract signing, PIHA rules and regulations committee, Penalty assessment committee Game Day Sponsorship, Game Day giveaway (which need to be solicited), Game day program, ticket printing, Game day table sales, Game day bench coach, Game day water boy, Game day refreshment sales, Game Day set up and clean up, Announcer, score keeper, equipment purchasing, washing of uniforms, running to the post office, making phone calls, writing thank you letters, sending out sponsorship letters, meeting with potential sponsorship so we don't have to miss class or work during the day, contract negotions with the rink, players and sponsors, calender person.,.

I am sure EJ and I would be willing to give up a some of these and few more jobs that WE are doing to make this team a success in Savannah. SOOOO if you have any time on your hands that you can positively offer to help this team succeed please feel free to email me directly at [email protected] or call 912-704-2587. I can put you to work immediatley after the drug screening and criminal history background check. Your help would be much appreciated. By the way this is all volunteer work, only pay check is the pure enjoyment of the game.

Rita Brownlee
Savannah Stingers

[rolla420]

Rita-

Are you really gonna do a drug screen and background check on a volunteer in your organization? Or was that just a joke?

Seems to me that if I were starting an organization I would be happy to get all of the free help that I could get without imposing on people's civil liberties.

Just a thought...........

[sixpack]

Wow this team is great. I have never lived in a town where the home team doesn't play any home games. That's great marketing. And now I here lets practice at the park. Ya, Whata professional organization, the other teams in this leauge are ten times what this team/joke is. I cannot beleive that this leauge let you in with what ever plan you had. You suck, and from the talk I here around town, you have killed any chance of any type of hockey being successful here in savannah. So, thanks for not thinking things through. we really didn't want hockey here anyway, eventhought its the best game there is.
thanks buddy

[Phantom305]

Wow! Tell them how you really feel.

[Josh Noullet]

Sixpack, I've read through a lot of the posts that you've made on the forums, this one included. All of them have been very negative.

I suppose it is very easy to come onto a forum and hide behind a fake name (yes, my real name is "Josh Noullet" and I don't mind saying the things that I type) and say a bunch of negative things without offering a single drop of useful advice, a single idea for improvement, or really anything helpful or worth reading at all.

It's fine to feel like you do. But, just coming on and posting a third grade level temper tantrum really doesn't solve/fix anything, nor does it help improve the game that you love so much in Savannah, GA.

I suppose I'll address your point, even though it wasn't made very well.

The Savannah Stingers are an expansion team. So, there are going to be a few bumps along the way. Yes, the team is having trouble with the home schedule, due to the rink giving the owners a hard time and not wanting to put any dates in stone. So, perhaps you can take some of that excitement and energy and march down to the rink and fix that all up for the team, thereby keeping the best game in town longer.

The team does not have to practice in the park. However, the indoor home rink is a shared rink and the day the team wanted to have practice, the rink was in use by an indoor soccer league. What's unprofessional about wanting to hold a practice when the home rink is in use?

The Savannah Stingers pro team is, admittedly, 0-4 on the season. Not too impressive. However, the team is showing signs of improvement and is starting to work better as a team. In fact, had the Pirates not scored a flurry of goals at the end of the second game, the score would've been really close in game two of the Stingers/Pirates contest. And, the minor team has won a game, lost a game, and then lost two in overtime. Really not bad at all. The minor team could very easily be 3-1 right now.

So, feel free to come back on the forums and stomp your feet and grit your teeth some more. Or, you could also go out on a limb and post something that is actually helpful and useful.

And, as you say, "thanks buddy."

[rwshockey55]

Sixpack,

Why does the Savannah Stingers situation bother you so much?? Its like you take the whole thing personal... Who are you? Like Josh said you come on here and have nothing but negative to say. Its like Savannah is suppose to be a city flurishing with hockey, its not thats why 80% of our players come from other places than Savannah. If the Savannah Stingers bother you so much and hockey in Savannah in general, get in your car and move and complain somewhere else. I see on the post where you play yourself, have we seen you before or are you to big of an ankle bender to play only at the local out door park as you say??