Official Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club Takes Wing
A number of die-hard Thrashers fans have put their heads together, joined efforts and launched The Official Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club…a club, “founded by fans and will be run & operated by fans”. Among those at the heart of this fine endeavor are Lisa Lewis and Rose Mikalonis of The Thrashers 411, Sean Grace Garguilo of Blueland Roar & current Thrashers 7th Man Award winner, Stan Hauseman who is affiliated with the Recreational Adult Hockey League and Sally Cersosimo…who has also been honored with the 7th man award, (or would that be 7th “fan”).
Thrashers fans infiltrate RCB Center last January. The OATFC will look to coordinate more road trip like this (Photo by Stacy Garguilo)
Lisa has told me that the official launch of the fan club will be on June 26th during the NHL Entry Draft Party…however they are currently accepting members now. She’s very excited about the response and has been pleased with the number of supporters that have enrolled so far.
I asked her to tell me exactly what was behind the whole concept of The Official Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club. “The concept of starting a fan club back when the season first started”, Lewis replied, “Myself and Rose were talking about the new ‘Become One In Blueland’ slogan and at the time I had read all of the fans comments about the slogan having no meaning to them. One fan’s comment stood out out to me and it kept replaying in my head over and over… “How can we become one when we do not even feel like we are a part of the team?”"
And what would Lisa like to see happen as a result of the fan club?
“Our hockey club was one of the few in the league and the only one in the Southeast Division that did not have a fan club and as young as our franchise is, bringing the fan base together in a club that everyone can be a part of building seemed to be the right choice”, Lisa told me. “A fan club would bring together fans to be able to socialize and get to know each other and build a stronger bond. In turn, they would also be a part of the team and allowing a little more interaction withthe players, coaches and other Thrashers personnel. Bringing all of these aspects together would make not only the fans feel a stronger connection withthe team but [also allows the team] to build a stronger bond with their fans on a different level, hence ‘Becoming One In Blueland”".
And when did this idea move from “concept” phase to “action” phase?
“Several of us die hardstalked about getting something like this together to rally the fans to get behind the team and the fan club emerged. The huge road trip to Carolina was a real defining trip for many of us involved in forming the start up of the club. If 151 of us fans can drown out an opposing teams fans in their arena, imagine what Philips would sound like full of the home team fans all rallying behind the team. It would be intimidating and a force to be reckoned with. This fan club was started by fans and will be run and operated by the fans. Every member will have a voice in the club and their voice will be heard. All of us together as fans will build it. We want to see it grow strong into the hundreds. We also want it to be a club where every fan of any age will enjoy being a part of”.
The OATFC wants to bring together supporters of the Atlanta Thrashers inside and outside of Philips Arena (Photo by Stacy Garguilo)
She wrapped up her remarks by saying, “2009-2010 season marks the 10th anniversary of the franchise here and what better way to bring it in as fans? The team is getting stronger and we as fans are becoming stronger”.
In a recent interview with Ben Wright of the Blueland Blog, Sean Garguilo discussed some of his thoughts about the project he’s been so instrumental in getting off the ground.
“I’d like to see it grow to be hundreds of fans,” said Garguilo. ”The biggest thing to me is to help make Thrashers’ fans more of a force, and bring everyone together. The team should be good next year and that will make it a lot easier. It should help us strengthen the fan base and bring fans together. I like the idea of going on road trips. We’ve done that independently and it’s been fun. It’s nice to see 150 blue jerseys in another arena. I also like the idea of road game viewing parties. They’re great social events and they help fans get to know each other better”.
One possible spot is TJs on Holcomb Bridge Road, a perfect place for such viewing parties. Last season, Tim and Mark Ecclestone were nothing short of great when they worked with me to set up such outings and they have told me they would like to have us all back for more next season.
But there’s more to it than just meeting and hangin’ out with like-minded fans.
“There’s also a charity aspect to it”, Sean commented. “If we get to a reasonable size we should be able to do some good with it, whether it’s helping out the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation or the Dan Snyder Foundation.”
Residents of Thrasherville mingle with a Carolina native (Photo by Stacy Garguilo)
I wondered if the fan club intended to interact with the fan clubs of other NHL teams…especially with some of our southeast rivals…and Sean told me, “We have been interacting with other fan clubs while trying to get off the ground. We have spoken extensively to the Carolina booster club. They have been very helpful sharing their experiences and giving us suggestions”.
He continued, “I’d like to invite the local clubs to games at Philips, especially Carolina, Nashville, Tampa and Florida. Conversely, I’d like to work with our local government on a law that bans anyone wearing a Sabres jersey from being within a mile of Philips arena”.
A most excellent idea indeed.
So, if you’re looking to hang out and interact with fellow Thrashers fans and take your fanhood to a different level, The Official Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club would be worth looking into.
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70 comments Add your comment
Rawhide
April 23rd, 2009
4:07 pm
Brendan – Put me down for 10:00 am Monday morning April 27 when Gainey gets the boot in Montreal.
Brit
April 23rd, 2009
4:23 pm
NASCAR Dave why don’t you read this… http://www.atlantathrashersfans.org/About_The_Fan_Club.html
Sean Grace
April 23rd, 2009
4:39 pm
Did someone just call me disgusting vermin and trailer trash? Hey Cheryl, I work 60 hours a week as a Sales Manager, live in the poor part of Dunwoody and cut my grass every week. Besides being a fairly loud fella during games I am pretty reserved and I think fairly respectable. You have no idea who you are referring to. Lisa was a little more politically correct than I am going to be. Shame on you! I’m not a Nasty Nester but these folks are my friends. For the most part they are the most passionate, devoted fans we have in Blueland. Have a few choice words fueled by a few adult beverages been uttered from above in the past? Sure they have but these are great fans, real fans, and they are part of US. That’s what we are trying to do, get US together.
Please be informed, or at least read the article, before you spew ignorant crap all over an effort that is meant to unite the Thrasher fan base. Now I want an apology Cheryl. If you can take the time to anonymously vomit your bile in this forum, why don’t you now (wo)man up and admit the err of your ways.
I guess the old adage is true – no good deed goes unpunished.
Also:
All the money not used for Club functions goes to charity – thus the .ORG. At first it will be the Dan Snyder and Atlanta Thrashers Foundation
Lisa and I are just getting this effort off the ground. In about a week, over a dozen Chairpeople and Board Members will be announced. This club is run by the fans who come from all corners, have different backgrounds and sit in different sections. A couple may even sit in the dreaded Nasty Nest. I can assure you they will conduct themselves in a manner that is appropriate. We want kids in the club. We want doctors and sanitation workers. We need college students and construction workers. This is who we are. Everyone is welcomed who wears a blue jersey.
Your Loyal Servant,
Sean
Kaija
April 23rd, 2009
5:33 pm
I for one am excited to here this is coming to Atlanta. It seems that these two care lots about the future of this team and the players. I will be joining as soon as possible. Paypal makes paying for things like this so easier from further away!
NASCAR Dave
April 23rd, 2009
6:05 pm
Like I said, I (AMONG MANY OTHERS), would have done it for FREE…
NASCAR Dave
April 23rd, 2009
6:06 pm
Moving along, SOMEBODY needs to start the FIRE WADDELL “Fan Club” (Sic)
Kaija
April 23rd, 2009
6:37 pm
If they are not getting paid and money is going to help others, how is this no free? All money for charity means no profits. It means everyone is helping others while helping support a team.
Kaija
April 23rd, 2009
6:41 pm
I do not understand the problem.
NASCAR Dave
April 23rd, 2009
6:49 pm
There’s not a problem. They chose to charge for membership, and I would have chose not to. It’s really that simple. Ask them why the feel the need to charge. I have no clue. Unless they are planning on buying everyone tickets for road games, I don’t see how “Road Trips” can be associated with “costs”.
NASCAR Dave
April 23rd, 2009
6:51 pm
Hey Kaija, also, why couldn’t they just ask people who want to join to donate to their favorite charity, INSTEAD of charging membership???
Wouldn’t that solve both issues, WITH some accountability involved???
Kaija
April 23rd, 2009
7:00 pm
I understand what you say now. But too, Lisa said what money goes to. When you plan event at somewhere, you need to make sure you will have a place to go, so you must pay before event happens. Maybe with roadtrip you all travel together. Bus or plane = costs?
Too, if everyone has a say, maybe we pick a charity for the money? Maybe pick new each month to spread money around? That way, everyone can help pick where money goes.
Lisa Lewis ATFC
April 23rd, 2009
7:12 pm
NASCAR Dave I can argue down every point you make. The membership dues goes toward all non-profit license which is required by law for collecting and monies going to charity. Operating cost do go toward road trips & merchandise you cannot get anywhere else and are not free either way. Road Trips are considered a cost when you look at the fact we are going to use charter buses for some of these road trips making it less of a cost for everyone who goes on the trip.
Our effort is to bring fans of the Thrashers together. I have been in the ranks of running businesses for over 20 years on both the profit and non-profit side and they do not run for free. We as the fans who help run this do not make a penny it goes toward the help of the community. Let’s say for an example you lose your job and your family is in desperate need of food or assistance for survival. You seek help everywhere else and cannot get help. Now if you had already been a member before times hit tough, you could go to the fan club and ask for grant assistance. It is the membership dues that will help aid the effort in helping.
Unfortunately you think with a one track mind and just want to argue a point just to hear yourself argue. You sound like someone I know who goes by lalalafontaine.
Hockey Biltong
April 24th, 2009
2:20 am
ATFC dont stop. Grass roots politics is very much the same. Lots of armchair quarterbacks. You will get your support and the rest will fall into place. No need to try to convince people who aren’t interested anyways. If they were they would be doing it themselves.
But you beat them to it.
huzzah, huzzah.
B. Thenet
April 24th, 2009
10:38 am
Look, when a team is as bad historically as this one is….I don’t think you can afford to be picky about who is in the fan club.
Can you imagine how few would be in it if they excluded the bitter, angry, and meanspirited ones
That being said, it is tough enough being a fan of this team without having to pay dues for the honor…
BLitz
April 24th, 2009
2:17 pm
If no one is getting paid and the money is going to charity, why is there a need for a fee? Can’t we just donate directly to the Dan Snyder foundation instead of using a middle man? If you say that the fee is for road trips, shouldn’t you charge for those road trips directly to the fans as they go on them? Figure out the costs of the tickets, the bus and whatever else, divide it by the number of people going, and then charge that directly to those who attend. Problem solved.
Don’t force people to pay a membership fee that goes towards a road trip that they may or may not attend. Is there an audit done as to how much this road trip costs? This seems way too shady. And if this is truly a 501c, you can’t demand a fee, you can only ask for a donation. So the fee is optional based on whether you want to donate or not. Or is that little fact being swept under the rug?
NASCAR Dave
April 24th, 2009
2:24 pm
Exactly people!!! Think about what you read on their site… That’s all I was saying…
Brit
April 24th, 2009
2:45 pm
BLitz you need to do your business homework before you start spewing off twisted wordage from what they said. I took a shot at looking around the other teams clubs and they charge a lot more and you get a lot less.
NASCAR Dave didn’t I just school you yesterday for running your mouth before you read the facts? You hold zero credit on this subject since you jumped all over them and didn’t even read jack so shutup.
Lisa Lewis ATFC
April 24th, 2009
2:55 pm
BLitz under the 501c laws we are required to keep ledgers in which we are doing and as stated on the website it clearly says these books along with receipts will be available to any and every member that wishes to see them. If an audit is done, we will have no issues.
Please by all means go check out the rules and statues of the 501c Non-Profit laws and the regulations set forth by the State, Federal, County, City & the IRS in which we have done.
No one is forced to pay dues except if you wish to join. It is as simple as that. I even pay them. These do not go to just road trips like it is stated many posts above if you had bothered to read them or the site itself.
Brit thank you for your comments and your email. It is refreshing to talk with someone who does not hide behind an anonymous posting.
j
April 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
Ben….. Shut Up…
BLitz
April 24th, 2009
4:15 pm
Brit my question isn’t in regards to what other teams pay, it is a question as to WHY the Thrashers NON PROFIT should have to pay at all. If the money is going to charity then we should just give directly to the charity, not to a middle man where we have no idea how much of it actually makes it to the charity. If it is for road trips, that should be charged directly to the people going on the road trip, not forcing all the non-attending members to pay for others (unless this is a Socialist group who feels that the wealth should be spread). If it is for merchandise, why should I have to pay for merchandise if I don’t want it or pay for other members to wear the merchandise you are getting? Shouldn’t that be charged to each individual member who wants the merchandise? Or again are the masses being forced to pay for what only a select few may receive?
It appears that there is no reason whatsoever to have membership fees at all. It seems you can easily get 100 people to join (given that you had roughly 150 on your road trip). At about $20/member that’s $2,000. You can’t tell me it costs way more than $2,000 to set up a 501c. Now if you get 1,000 people to join (which should be attainable) how exactly are you going to spend $20,000? Charge for the events, the merchandise, etc. on an individual basis, don’t set up a fund where we all have to wonder how the money is being spent and have to call for an audit.