ABOUT US
On this page, we'll explain how RIBC supports the IceHogs and the sport of hockey through various committees. We work hard, we play hard, and it doesn't end when the season ends!
First of all, here's a brief glimpse of what RIBC has done in the past.
- Bake sales
- Christmas stockings for the team
- Helped purchase miscellaneous property for the team
- Helped with the MDA Telethon
- Parades
- Picnics
- American Cancer Society's Relay for Life
- Salvation Army bell ringing during the holidays
- Supply fruit for the locker room
- Moonlight Bowling fund-raiser
- Helped with the Kid's Castle at "On the Waterfront"
- Car washes
- Donut sales
- Mascot appearances
- Meals on Wheels through Lifescape
- Parties with the team
- Purchased a weight set and a ping pong table for the locker room
- Purchased an electronic dart board, PS2 & games for the locker room
- Retreats
- Supply food for away games
- Worked the beer tent at Rockford's On The Waterfront festival.
And more...
The Booster Club also administers the Sponsor-A-Hog program. For those meeting the specific qualifications, this program can be the most rewarding aspect of being an active club member. This program allows qualified members to become a host family to a specific player while here.
COMMITTEES
The Booster Club conducts its activities through the following committees:
HOSPITALITY
Chair, Rose Edler
The Hospitality Committee takes care of the needs of the players, and others as well. This involves everything from making Welcome Baskets for the players and providing food for the bus/locker room, to helping to provide household supplies to the players. Hospitality also sends cards and/or flowers on notable occasions.
The Committee is in need of volunteers to provide the following fruit for the team locker room during home games:
(Important: Contact Rose Edler if you want to help out with either food for the bus or for the locker room! If you do not have prior arrangements, your donations will not be accepted.)
1. Bananas - One bunch
2. Grapes
3. Raisins - 2 small size packages
4. Granola Bars - 3 boxes
5. Oranges - one bag of about 6 oranges, cut into quarters
The players like granola bars and bananas best. Not everyone eats that much between the periods. You don't have to leave every suggested item, but always leave the granola bars and bananas. Never take apples! This list is subject to change as more player preferences are known.
The following is a list of food the Committee provides for the team bus during road trips:
Fruit (any two for long trips or any one for overnight or day trips) - bananas, grapes (washed and in individual sandwich bags), or boxes of raisins.
Veggies (in individual sandwich bags; used for long trips) - Carrots, celery sticks.
Munchies - pretzels, popcorn divided into qt. size bags; granola bars (4 boxes of 8 count) placed in a plastic grocery bag.
Baked Goods (in a gallon ice cream bucket or gallon sized storage bag) - cookies, rice crispy treats, brownies.
Breakfast (for longer trips) - breakfast/cereal bars (4 boxes of 8 count) Flavors: strawberry, blueberry, apple, mixed fruit (these can be removed from the boxes and combined in gallon storage bags).
Also in the past some RIBC members, at their own expense, have treated the players to shrimp platters, cheesecake, beef sticks, power bars, jerky, and juice boxes/beverages.
Important:We always try to find food and packaged snacks that take up as little space as possible. The food has to fit on one seat as bus space is limited. They don't have the convenience of a trashcan, and too many wrappers or boxes are a clutter. Using a box is helpful to load the bus for the trip. Bag each item in a plastic grocery bag (example: bananas in one, grapes in another). Also, try to avoid foods that are sticky, too messy, or that spill easily.
A $20/day set limit is allowed. Anything above and beyond that cost, or beyond what's listed above, will be the individual's responsibility.
If you would like to help out your Rockford IceHogs by providing some of the above items, or if you have any questions, please contact Rose Edler. Again, donations that are not approved by Rose WILL NOT be accepted.
(Kris Long helps make welcome baskets for the players prior to the beginning of the season.)
PROPERTIES
Chair, Angela Maples
The Club helps the Management provide items for the player apartments while they are here during the season. The Club supplies many kitchen and household items but also tries to supply "specifis specialty items" that the player/roommates may request for their apartment. We do this by donation/purchase (new/used).
(After the season ends, Rose and Kelly take inventory of the properties which have been returned from the players.)
P.R./COMMUNICATIONS
Chair, Julia Broomfield
The PR & Communications Committee is responsible for the publication of the club newsletter, maintaining the operation of the club website, preparing and sending out appropriate announcements related to the booster club and club events, organizing all of the charity & community activities and assisting the IceHogs management with mascot & parade appearances throughout the Rockford and Stateline areas. This committee is also responsible for the club's Call Tree, which is a group of members that volunteer to get messages out quickly to the full membership if an emergency or priority topic needs to be addressed. We are always looking for new ideas with regards to new topics for the newsletter and community activities.
Some of the activities include, but are not limited to:
Young at Heart parade (Loves Park);
Heritage Days parade (Belvidere);
Fourth of July parade (Shirland);
Rockin' In The Rock City parade (Rock City);
Autumn on Parade (Oregon);
Old Settler's parade (Rockton);
Salvation Army bell ringing for the holidays (with the players);
Meals on Wheels program through Lifescape Community Services; Adopt-A-Road program
(Keith and Sarah participate in the Adopt-A-Road program)
FUND-RAISING
Chair, Julia Broomfield
The Fundraising Committee is responsible for overseeing and executing all methods of raising funds for the advancement of the club and the organization. This committee also works closely with the PR & Communications committee in organizing all of the club's charity & community activities and parade appearances that the club does throughout the Rockford and Stateline areas.
Some fundraising activities include, but are not limited to, merchandise, monthly raffle & baked goods sales, summer car washes, garage sales and decorated Christmas ornaments & Valentine's Day raffles (player involvement). Help is always needed to raise funds for the Club.
(Tricia and Theresa work a beer tent during Rockford's On The Waterfront festival.)
BOOSTER TABLE
Chair, Kelly Cummings
The Club has a table set up at each home game to sell fund-raising merchandise and 50/50 raffle tickets, which are available to all hockey fans (21 & older) for purchase and a chance of being that night's winner. Half of the money raised each night is given to the luckey ticket holder and the other half goes to the Club.
(Kelly and Julia sell merchandise and 50/50 raffle tockets at the Booster Club table during an IceHogs homegame.)
MEMBERSHIP
Chair, Michelle Oglesby
Membership Committee is responsible for the recruitment of new members for the club, organization & execution of all activities relating to the welcoming of new members to the club. This committee prepares and distributes the membership packets, membership cards and/or identification badges as required. This committee is also responsible for the Sue Shipman Honorary Membership Award.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Chair, Todd Kisner
The Special Events Committee is responsible for the planning & execution of all booster events involving the club, the Rockford IceHogs professional hockey team, management and owners. These events and activities include the Welcome Party at the beginning of the season, Holiday Party and Appreciation/Awards Dinner at the end of the season.
(Carrie and Kim at the Meet The Team party.)
ELECTION
Chair, Steve Leombruni
The Election Committee oversees all election activities of the Club. This involves reviewing the Club's By-Laws that govern the elections, reviewing nominees for the various offices, counting ballots, and announcing election results.
The Election Committee shall consist of two (2) members and shall appoint its own chairperson. Members of the Election Committee may not be candidates for office, or be present members of the Board of Directors. This committee shall be responsible for the September meeting, which shall be for elections only. This committee will be responsible for the printing and distribution of ballots, and final tabulation of all ballots per the bylaws.
(Steve conducts an election.)