C.R.U. held our first ever Public Forum on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. The goal was to share our accomplishments, make our finances transparent and have an open discussion with the community.
Within this post you will find the slides that were presented at the meeting along with the information that was discussed. Enjoy!
SLIDE 1: WHO WE ARE
- Cedar Rapids Ultimate is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
- As a non-profit our goals must go back to our mission; to grow and develop the support of Ultimate in the Cedar Rapids metro area.
- Our Board Members for 2016 include:
- Anna Barton – Secretary
- Taylor Bergen – President
- Eric Hart – Vice President
- Chris Ryan – Treasurer
SLIDE 2: WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2015
In 2015 we…
- Hosted two Hat Tournaments, each with more than 40 participants
- Held our two week Youth Camp, including a Showcase Game
- Developed partnerships with CR Parks & Rec, YMCA and Breakmark Ultimate
- Increased pick up participation, began scrimmages
- Purchased new merchandise with our new logo!
SLIDE 3: 2015 FUNDRAISING TOTALS
- Our 2015 fundraising drive totaled more than $2,200 dollars thanks to 25 donors!
- This support is critical to the long-term success of our mission.
SLIDE 4: 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT
- We ended 2015 in a stronger financial position than we did in 2014.
- Merchandise was a high cost but is expected to return a profit before we need to purchase more.
- Insurance is a large expenses.
- We run Youth Camp at a loss to keep it accessible.
SLIDE 5: 2016 GOALS
- Youth Camp is in Play! Magazine this year. Participation is expected to increase.
- We will keep Youth Camp affordable for all kids.
- Increase participation at Hat Tournaments.
- Promote Ultimate at all levels by establishing a tiered pick up structure that encourages all types of players.
- Sponsor players who want to become certified coaches, who then can support local teams (both college and high school).
- Goal of raising $3,000 before June 20.
SLIDE 6: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
- Coaches: Coaches should be certified by USA Ultimate, and preferably certified in First Aid & CPR and concussion testing.
- Chaperones: Volunteers who help to encourage youth players and assist coaches with running the camp (do not need certifications)
- Community Champions: Community members who spread the good word of Ultimate at area events.
- Welcome Wagon: Players who take a leadership role at weekly pick up games by helping to create a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere.
SLIDE 7: OPEN DISCUSSION
There was a lot of wonderful discussion about the goals and mission of Cedar Rapids Ultimate and how we can best engage with the community. Below some of the topics that were discussed are summarized. If anything sparks your imagination as you read through this post, we encourage you to continue this discussion in the comments section. Thank you to all that participated in our Public Forum and keep in mind that this is not the end of the discussion.
- Promoting Ultimate
- Host more events that bring people together, including a “flagship event”
- Purchase a banner or flag with the CRU logo that can be used for large outdoor events
- Host event similar to Volley’s for Education (get corporations involved)
- Play or just throw in more visible and diverse locations
- Play during halftime of a Rampage or Titans game
- Focus on making sure marketing materials demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity and diversity (particularly encouraging female players)
- Developing the social aspects of the Ultimate community
- More social get togethers such as “Viewing Parties”
- Attendees shared how important is was to them that the community was welcoming!
- Youth Engagement
- Continue with Showcase Game at end of Youth Camp (last year players and parents were invited, youth got awards and pick up was moved to camp location so youth could watch adult game after camp, we also grilled!)
- Fundraising
- Use Kickstarter or a timed fundraising drive similar to what NPR does
- Remind people that we provide a free service
- Acknowledge donors publicly
- Gifts for donations at higher levels
- Get corporations involved (corporate teams, sponsors)
- Developing Ultimate
- CRU potentially hosting clinics or “chalkboard sessions” to teach specific skills
- Time allocated before scrimmages to teach new skills
- Blog posts can come from community members
