We’re Back . . . and Need You Now!

Louie the lancer needs your help!

The Immanuel Athletic Boosters (IAB) was formed over 10 years ago as means to engage friends and supporters of Immanuel High School in various effort to enhance Immanuel High School athletics.  For nearly all of those years, IAB has organized a service group to work the annual Country Jam event in Eau Claire, earning on average about $4000/year for those efforts.   The results of those earning efforts have allowed IAB to provide the following items to ILHS.

• Glass backboards for all the practice baskets in the gymnasium, new scoreboard system for the gymnasium, automated basketball shooting machine
• Material and labor for dugouts on the baseball field, chain link fencing for both the softball and baseball field, new electric service to the lower athletic field that will be able to power a future well pump, electricity to storage sheds, concession stand, and any other electrical demand
• Stage protection and wall mats in the gymnasium, IED in the gymnasium
• Baseball/softball field infield grooming machine, and numerous other smaller items.  

Our next big project is the drilling of a well, installation of a well pump, and irrigation system for both the softball and baseball fields.  As fees continue to rise to use public baseball fields in Eau Claire, the irrigation system would allow ILHS fields to be used for all home games at a considerable cost savings to ILHS.

So…what does this have to do with you?

IAB is always looking to expand its list of volunteers as opportunities are found to expand our ability to earn funds for ILHS.  Last year, the owner of Country Jam started the Blue Ox Bluegrass Music Festival in Eau Claire, and engaged IAB for a number of paid services.   This year the Blue Ox is again offering IAB first chance at a number of paid service positions.   Our earning potential for the 2-1/2 day event would be over $2000…if we can staff it.   

The days and hours for the Blue Ox event are:

• Thursday, June 9,  4:30 pm – 11:30 pm
• Friday, June 10,  10:30 am – 11:30 pm
• Saturday, June 11,  10:30 am – 11:30 pm

We are breaking the Friday and Saturday into a 1st shift between 10:30 am and 5:30 pm, and a 2nd shift from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm.   You can work one shift, both shifts, one day, or every day.  Every little bit helps!

The Blue Ox is a very low key event with total ticket sales estimates at 4500, compared to Country Jam which may have 25,000-30,000 per day.   The service work we provide can be done by almost anyone and always with other IAB partners.  

Folks who have participated in these past IAB efforts have found them to be extremely enjoyable, entertaining, and rewarding.  A fun time is had by all!!!

If you are interested to find out more about the IAB and its work efforts at Blue Ox, you can contact me, Tom Beekman via the following means.

Work Phone…715-836-4628

Cell Phone…715-579-4596

Email…thomas.beekman@dot.wi.gov

Louie the Lancer Thanks you!!

 

To All 2013 IAB Jammers

Another year in the books and a huge THANK YOU to each of you who made what I think is our 10^th year another huge success.   In my new role this year of being one of the JAM employees responsible to oversee worker groups, I can tell that having a group like ours makes it very easy for the JAM.   I also find out how other groups have tried to expand their numbers or had their numbers shrink, while at the same time our group continues to be asked to bring even more people each year.   That is a direct reflection on 10 years of dedication by each and every person who has worked on the IAB group.   We come there first to do the job we are being paid to do…and that stands out.

This year in my new job, I had to flag a person from another group and essentially terminate them because they didn’t understand that the worker wristband means you have a job to do, rather than a free way to get into the JAM.  End of story…you’re gone and you put your entire group at risk for future work.    I can say we’ve never had that issue within the IAB.

Quite a few folks ask how much of a hassle it is to get a full slate of 34 workers each year and express disappointment when they hear of cancellations and shifting numbers for our group as we work to fill out our worker list year.   However, I can assure you that it’s not a hassle.  What I see is 50-60 people who each year take days out of their lives to help ILHS, and who make extraordinary efforts to make each year a success.   Life happens and I always know that something will pop up, plans changes, and our numbers will shift.   Yet every time that happens and I wonder if perhaps we may end up short….new faces, names, and old veterans of past Jams step up and I find myself with extra names.

Last week when we had some cancellations just a few days before Jam, I had people offering to double shift, people recruiting friends, and a late email on Friday evening from folks in the Twin Cities ready to hop in a car on Friday to help us out if we were short.   Folks who had to cancel on one night offered to come on one of the other nights because they felt a commitment to our effort.   Wonderful and very heartwarming to see people’s response.

I think we may had a record number of new folks join us this year which is always exciting because after one Jam….we’re all veterans and our pool of expertise in Jamnification grows.  There is no way we can run this group however without the core of returning veteran Jammers who have done for 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and 10 straight years.

I know the JAM will be adding more numbers to the security force since they shorted the Saturday evening shift by 8-9 folks, and will be looking to boost that number next year.   Plus without the four folks we brought each day this year…we’d have been trouble trying to fill the most minimal spots for security.    So stay tuned to see if our numbers grow again next year.   I’m starting to take reservations already!!!!

Finally some ‘awards’….

• Last Man Standing Lifetime Achievement Award for never missing a single day since we started this group 10 years ago…Mark Franson.   He is the only one left and he retained that status this year by making every day.
• The Iron Man Award for most shifts in 2013 goes to Steve Sydow who worked a double shift on Thur and Friday, and another single shift on Saturday.
• Rookie Iron ManAwards for first year workers doing all three days, go to:

• Joe Naumann for working three days…Youth Division (i.e. under 30 years of age)
• Matt Schaser for working three days…Elder Division (i.e. over 40 years of age)
• Dave Rodebaugh for working three days..Elder Division

• Veteran Tough Person Awards for that core of returning folks who make our group hum by working three days and make it very easy and comfortable for new folks to join us because they have veterans all around them.

• Mike Bomber
• Dave Johannes
• Dan Johannes
• Mark Kranz
• Sue McDonald
• Mary Ryan
• Ron Ryan
• Pete Sydow

• Finally…If I Could You All A Big IAB Hug I Would Award

• Everyone else who took time out of their week to be a part of the IAB group and work the JAM.  Can’t thank you enough!

Thanks again!!!!  And, hopefully see you all next year!

Tom

P.S.  At this point, I plan on working for JAM again next year, and in that role I may have more ability to get things changed.    If any of you saw anything in your job that could be changed to make the Jam better, let me know and I’ll discuss with the Jam folks to see if we can’t make it happen.   I’ve already collected a few.

Tom Beekman, P.E.

WisDOT NW Region Systems Planning Chief

Eau Claire, WI  54701

Office (715) 836-4628

Cell (715) 579-4596

Lancer’s 2012-2013 Season Ends

The Lancer’s athletic activity for the past school year has finally come to a close. Three Lancers advanced to the state Track meet this weekend. It was  in held in LaCrosse . Our congratulations to the  Lancer athletes. The results:

Darin Lau 1st in 3200m. Caleb Oster 7th in same. Darin also was 6th in the 1600m.   Abi Bernthal 14th in 100m.”