'High heels on killer wheels', Wollongong & Northern Leader / Kiama Independent / Lake Times

Thanks to Jenna Thompson!

WIRD Promo Video September 2009

Tricks to an amazingly successful WIRD Trivia Night 2009

WIRD Trivia 2009 was such a success that we are already discussing it as an annual event. All up we made just about $2000 profit, all of which will be getting funneled back into the league! We were all a bit freaked out in the lead-up but the night went awesome and I'm gonna share some of our tips with you.



As you can see, the first job was getting all those names on that Supporter's board! There was a lot of trawling, begging and cajoling for prizes, which we did pretty much before anything else. A fair chunk of the major supporters already knew one of us, but we still did a lot of chasing. Everyone in the league had a go at this job.



Getting set up took about 2 1/2 hours. One of our girls runs a decorating business so she jumped in and handled the decorations (with much help from some vollies). She had all the fabric bits and whatnot and just went at the place. Hot!





Our merch and baked goods table was a great success. The shirts, socks and stickers had all been whipped up over the few months before and the cakes took days of sweatshop labour (thanks Shelby!!).



Thankfully we also had a brilliant vollie step up to the technical challenge. Curly also schmoozed us together a promo video which will go up here soon. Technically, the night went off without a hitch. Even the drink being spilled on the mic cables while I stood there holding both mics went off without a hitch (cos of the cables being taped to the floor. Yay for guys with gaff tape.





As you can see, we had a pretty full house. We'd been a bit worried that WIRD girls would be bored but there was plenty to do for everyone all night!



Besides the cover charge, merch table and raffle, we tried out a couple of innovative money spinners which really seemed to work. Below is our paper plane comp ($1 per sheet of plane paper) which ran into several rounds. We also had an arm wrestling comp (which will be much more organised next time!), a roll your gold coin to the bottle of booze game, and a vase full of water with a lemon floating in it - if you could float a coin on top then WIRD would buy you a drink (WIRD brought no drinks!)





All in all it was a giant success and we are all looking forward to next year!

Like usual, if you'd like more detailed ideas or outlines of anything, feel free to drop me a line at wird.shena.nigans@gmail.com

'What is this Roller Derby?'

With WIRD's Trivia Night only seven days away preparations are in full swing. There are groups sweating away to get things sorted and my contribution right now is these shiny new informative doovies to scatter on tables.







As always, take what you need to help make your own league. :)

'Girls can't wait to skate', Illawarra Mercury

Thanks to Bree Fuller @ the Illawarra Mercury and Sylvia Liber for the pics

Successful first training at the Sports HUB

Marking out the track according to the WFTDA specifications and using a rope template which I whipped up after spotting one being used by SRDL. Not sure if ours conforms to their design as it was reverse engineered from a quick glance from a distance and some careful untangling of the WFTDA track plan. Our measurements have been converted to metric, though this isn't helping with us learning what 10 feet looks/feels like. Our track came out a bit dodgy last night and I suspect we need more practice.



The new venue was amazing! Staff were very helpful and it was great not having to worry about hitting walls or door handles. The new surface did play some havoc and our trainer took care to keep reminding us about how to handle the floor and which muscles to really push with to get traction. If nothing else, skating on plastic will drive home the mechanics of skating.

WIRD's First Grading

A few weeks ago one of our training committee put together a grading package for us. Drop Bear did a whole bunch of research and put together the following system based on some conversations she had with other trainers and other gradings she had looked at. We pretty much all passed 'Red' on the day and will be testing every two months or so.

RED STAR (beginner)
Fitness: 20 push ups and 20 sit-ups
Skills:

• T-stop, plough stop, and a turn around toe stop
• Single knee fall, a double, and a 4 point fall
  
• Able to be able to recover from a fall and keep going
  
• Jump while skating, hop from one foot to another while standing still- to each side, and forwards and backwards
• 5 minutes of continuous skating in correct stance, able to smoothly do cross overs in each direction

ORANGE STAR (intermediate)
Fitness: 30 push ups (20 of these on toes if possible) 50 sit ups and a 60 second body bridge (aka: plank).
SKILLS:

• 5 minutes of sprinting aiming for 30 laps of the track
• Snake pace line drill (pace line with an arm's length between skaters where the person at the back snakes between skaters and takes the lead)
  
• Do all falls and be back up and skating again within 3 seconds
  
• Fall big (like from a big hit in a bout) and be up and skating again in 3 seconds
  
• Skate for one minute and squat when the whistle goes while maintaining motion, ten second break, and then skate in a squat for another full minute

GREEN STAR (bout ready)
Fitness: 50 push ups, 100 sit ups and a 60 second body bridge and side bridges
SKILLS:

• 5 minutes of sprinting aiming for 30 laps of the track
• Double-snake pace line drill (not sure but suspect this means two people snaking through a pace line)
  
• 30 minute endurance pace line
• Do all falls, be up and skating in good form within 2 seconds (in line with new WFTDA Minimum Specs - Aug 2009)
  
• Fall big (like from a big hit in a bout) and be up and skating again in 2 seconds

Successful grant application

The Wollongong City Council cultural grant which we applied for back in late April was successful. WIRD have been given $1500 towards our 'Steel City/Skate City' event planned for the first quarter of 2010.

It was a bit of a shock as we had been informed we didn't get it and so when the envelope was opened at our Merch craft day I was in such a state of shocked awe that it took me a few minutes to realise this news equalled me having written a successful grant application. I then jumped around like some kind of loon.

Check us out.

Next up, sporting grants.

WIRD's 2009 Membership card

With offers of support flooding in, including offers of discounts to skaters, I decided it was time we had some proof of membership. Whipped these up and got them voted in - it was decided to print them on purple paper and go the whole hot laminating road from there.

We are also attempting to formulate a two-tiered member structure to cover social/associate members. I'll let you know how this progresses.

Recently our focus has come back to the Code of Conduct and so I tossed that little blurb on the back of the cards. I am also in the process of memorising the CoC.

Get your red hot Roller Derby on YouTube

Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby has made it to the (small) big screen!

Check out our channel WIRDVideos.

Realised about ten minutes after I uploaded our first clip that it really could have been WIRD TV and that would have been hot. Alas.

Shiny new venue

A new venue has become available and because we are non-profit we can get into this amazing space for just a little more than we are paying now. The Sports HUB at the University of Wollongong is three connected competition size netball courts with a mezanine level running all the way around the top. The floor is semi-sprung plastic and looks a little odd. It is square tiles of plastic with a thin seam between them.


I was a little wary that the plastic might be too slippery and so organised for Drop Bear to come along with me and try the floor out. It was amazing and great and not slippery at all. Takes a little longer than usual to stop and takes a bit more push. But as you can see slides are super easy.



And it marks up pretty easy and sounds a bit loud but the marks came off with the edge of our finger so should definitly shift with some wet tennis balls (thanks SRDL).



The whole league is booked in for a trial on Tuesday to make sure the stopping thing isn't a problem for anyone before we book in there for training sessions. It is a lot of fun to skate.

Certificate of Appreciation for donations

These will be going out to people and businesses who have supported WIRD's upcoming Trivia night. Spread that special derby style of lovin'.

Making executice committee meetings make sense

WIRD have an executive committee meeting coming up and I've been compiling some material so we can all have a stronger understanding of what our job is. Six months into our incorporation and the structure of the league is really starting to come together. Meetings are hectic, but I imagine this is typical.

Roles on WIRD's EC

President – Job is to provide leadership and a figure head, act as official representative, sign off on official and financial documents, report to EC and general meetings
Vice President – Support president to provide leadership, sign off on official and financial documents, act as president if president is indisposed
Secretary – Maintain records and correspondence, store official documents, hold official seal
Treasurer – Maintain finances, sign financial documents
Coordinators– Coordinate activities in their area (Newbie, Training, Merchandising, Fundraising, Media, Website) recruit assistance for their area from among the general members, report to EC and general meetings, prepare submissions for voting at meetings (a submission is a clear outline of your idea with prices and costings and enough information for the meeting to vote – if it is detailed it is best to get it to meeting attendees with time to look over it)


Meetings Etiquette

'Meeting etiquette is really just a matter of manners and common sense.
Here is the top 10:

1. Don't arrive late or leave early. Arrive on time (or early) and leave only when the meeting is finished.
2. Make a careful reading of all items well in advance of the meeting. Make note of the items you would like to speak to and what you plan to say.
3. Don't make personal attacks or rehash issues that have already been decided.Learn how to accept Board decisions graciously, even if your view has been overruled.
4. Stay away from discussions about irrelevant information and stick to the agenda.
5. Never agree to decisions or action you don't understand, always ask questions and insist on answers when you need clarification.
6. Do not ignore potential or current conflicts of interest that you think have arisen or may arise in the future. Take appropriate action to ensure you and your Board are protected from possible or real conflicts.
7. Don't speak without listening or interrupt people when they are talking and ensure you give the views of each Board member respect and consideration.
8. Never underrate the contribution you can make – attempt to make an active contribution to all debates and discussions.
9. You can't assume knowledge. Answer any questions meeting participants ask, even if they appear naive.
10. Do not discuss confidential or sensitive information outside of meeting and respect all confidences afforded to you in your role.
    

Read more.


And in moments of doubt we fall back on the safety net of the:

Executive Committee Members’ Code of Behaviour

1. Involve members in the planning, leadership, evaluation and decision making related to Roller Derby.
2. Ensure that equal opportunities for participation in sports are made available to all members, regardless of ability, size, shape, disability or ethnic origin.
3. Ensure that equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate to the ability level of participating members.
4. Ensure that adequate supervision is provided by qualified and competent coaches and officials capable of developing appropriate positive behaviour and skill technique.
5. Avoid allowing events to become primarily spectator entertainment. Focus more on the needs of the participants rather than the enjoyment of the spectators. To focus on ‘sport over spectacle’.
6. Distribute and enforce the Code of Behaviour regarding players, officials, spectators, coaches and the media.
7. Encourage Members to realise their potential and athletic abilities.
   

'Whip It' movie cross-promotion organised

After a quick discussion about the movie it was suggested we might tap into the potential publicity of this movie. We approached the independant Gala Cinema at Warrawong and they are very excited about doing some cross promotion around October when it is realeased.

Amazing how Drew Barrymore knew we were gonna be starting our first season around then.

WIRD Trivia posters and flyers

'Group get skates on', Wollongong Northern Leader

Much thanks to Jenna Buchanan at the Wollongong Norther Leader.

Also available here.

Oak Flats Skating rink too much of a success

Following onto WIRD's amazing word-of-mouth and social networking advertisement of the Oak Flat Rink, tonight's first session was so dramatically successful that by the time we arrived twenty minutes after opening they were at capacity. Myself and a few of the other WIRD girls alternatively pleaded, begged and cajoled but were unable to get in the door. Luckily a handful of us got there early and handed out flyers.



Can you feel our pain? Make it worse and check out the Oak Flats Roller Skating Rink!

WIRD Media release

Who wouldn’t want to play Roller Derby? Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby is welcoming experienced skaters now.

Since their first skate in February 2009 the Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby girls have been training hard to bring this radical sport to life in Wollongong. WIRD, as they’re known for short, have been hitting carparks and bike paths preparing themselves to be the biggest thing in Wollongong roller skating history.

Wollongong is no stranger to skate sports. This region has produced state and national skate champions across a range of disciplines. Now we are home to the fastest and toughest league of skaters who are preparing to compete in the hottest and meanest all-girl sport ever – Roller Derby!

Roller Derby is sixty minutes of brutal competitive athleticism, where two teams of roller skaters battle it out for points, glory and adoration. Modern Roller Derby embraces excitement and spectacle as players frock up, slip on pseudonyms and revel in the freedom of eight wheels and truckloads of safety gear. A global body sets the rules of the games, referees enforce them, and tricky skaters pay the price for breaking them with a trip to the penalty box. Roller derby has taken the world by storm and WIRD will be representing Wollongong as the NSW and Australian competitions pick up. They expect to be holding public bouts by the end of the year.

The WIRD ladies sweat and grunt it out for a few sessions a week, pushing themselves to the limits to become Wollongong’s Derby girls. Building team work, healthy athleticism, empowerment and safety for all participants is core to WIRD’s mission and training focuses on endurance and agility.

Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby currently has fourteen skaters, but would like to have more. WIRD are looking for experienced skaters to join our ranks and are welcoming anyone who can skate safely, stop and turn. Male skaters are also encouraged to join up as referees and officials. If you’ve been itching to get your skates on again then drop them a line at wird.freshmeat@gmail.com and catch the Roller Derby virus.

Photo shoot with Martin Lucic

After Martin worked out that the only way to get a good group shot was either make it an action one or risk yelling at a bunch of derby girls we all got on fine.

Asked to be Door B**ch for SRDL

Have been specifically asked to handle the door at the upcoming SRDL Grand Final.

May have done a better job than even I realised.