Number Seven

I was sitting at my desk here in the Red Stars annex contemplating the last seven months. It was that long ago that I walked into our former office downtown and got asked by GM Marcia McDermott why I applied for an internship when I have a master's degree. My simple answer was that "I don't get called back when I apply for anything else". I'd like to think in hindsight she appreciated my direct response, as I began my internship with the Red Stars the next morning at an IWSL coaches' meeting.

Seven months later, at 7:00pm, here writing my 7th official blog, I am contemplating all that has happened and how far we have come. I was lucky enough to experience the earlier days this year of 'Chicago Pro Women's Soccer' and worked through the ride as we asked potential fans what name they liked the best, developed an online newsletter, experienced the days of each new staff hire, rolled out the logo and name, and really started launching ourselves wholeheartedly into the community. Now I am an Operations Manager & Account Executive. Life in the annex is exciting, it's intense, and it is ALWAYS. That is the best way I can put it. The ideas come when you least expect them to... when you are at a festival, when you see something on tv, when you are driving, in the middle of a conversation with a friend... I think we have all become fully immersed in some ways with this work that we do. It is a passion, certainly. And it is an ongoing creative process. No idea is too silly, too far-fetched, too difficult... not for this group. We all bring ideas all the time and we talk about them and we implement the things we can. We stretch ourselves out and talk to as many people as we can. Kait (Sawyer) and I had a conversation the other day about how we wear our Red Stars t-shirts to events even when it's not necessary, because we know the importance of grassroots marketing. I've given away the Red Stars buttons and pins from my backpack too many times to count, and continually replace it until somebody else sees it and sparks another conversation.

This has all become a part of my daily life. It is too natural for me to even notice anymore. I've learned that in order to be successful doing this you have to believe in the product you are promoting, and that is certainly of no concern for me. Soccer has always been an enjoyable part of my life (except for all those beep tests I had to run, there was nothing enjoyable about those except when I was done). I believe in women's professional soccer in this country and I believe in the effects it is going to have on inspiring youth players and on the passionate fans that it will ignite. That is why we spend late nights in the Annex. And that is why we get up and go to board meetings in the suburbs at 7:30am on Saturdays, and then to club picnics and social gatherings, and then to club fundraisers in the evening. It is tiring, but we believe in it.

This week is like Christmas for me. It's been a long time waiting to find out which national team players are going to be Red Stars. We have waited patiently. And I, just like the rest of the fans, do not know at this time on Monday night, who is going to be putting on the Red Stars jersey. I do hope for their sake they look nice in light blue though. And I'm fully aware that the world changes tomorrow. Everything changes tomorrow. But it will be business as usual for the Red Stars. We will continue to work towards our season ticket goals: we just passed 500 tonight, that's 500 more than the day I started. And we will continue to add fans into our database: we passed 4000 this weekend, I began work on it in March with just my own email address.
And to those 3 players, you can bet the Red Stars staff, fans and Local 134 supporters will be welcoming you without reserve to this, the best of cities, the city of Chicago. And we will continue to work relentlessly, day in and day out, just as we have the last 7 months because we believe in this and have the same dreams you do for this league and its future.

So I will continue to re-pin buttons to my backpack, and wear out my now-faded Red Stars t-shirts, and engage in conversations with strangers... because I've secretly had a motto: "One by one". Because I believe every person I meet is a potential fan, so I will continue to put the utmost effort into each person, one at a time, and continue to spread the message. Because we are all WPS. And there's no turning back now.