PUBLISHED BY PRIDE CHEERLEADING ASSOCIATION |
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Rally! Season 2, Issue 11: February 2023 |
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We left you hanging! While last month’s Rally! (the Sin City Classic 2023 Recap issue) was being written, PCA was still counting cash donations from the weekend. We extended the electronic donation period a few days beyond the weekend to continue the fundraising frenzy. Before the event, the PCA Board of Directors set a goal of raising $2,000, but - you guessed it - PCA SMASHED THAT GOAL! The efforts of 125 volunCHEERleaders from nine different teams and the generosity of the donors allowed PCA to make a $2,250 donation to Golden Rainbow and ensured that we can keep supporting this event for years to come. PCA’s partnership with Golden Rainbow has grown in so many ways. On the outside, our networks can see the cross-promotion - sharing the mic, sharing resources, and co-branded swag for our participants and fans! And on the inside, our hearts have become intertwined. Golden Rainbow’s Client Program Coordinator Darnell Duwyenie joined PCA after the event to celebrate the success. “From the bottom of my heart,” says Darnell, “ I am so thankful to be part of a family (PCA) that truly evokes strength and passion! The work you and all of the athletes commit to is remarkable and motivates my soul. I’m truly grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” |
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February 28th (well, actually February 29th, but this year we will have to celebrate on February 28th) is PCA’s 7th Birthday! Join us as we celebrate with a NEW VIDEO! “Herstory and History of the PCA Logo” is scheduled to premiere on February 28, 2023 at 12:00am Pacific. Follow PCA on YouTube. |
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February is Black History Month, an annual celebration and recognition of the achievements of Black Americans and African Americans. In the words of Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, 2021 ASALH National President, "No one should think that Black history is confined to the month of February." We agree, and expand: no one should think Black history is confined to the past! Contemporary people and events are becoming part of Black History, from politics to pop culture. "Institutional racism is a major reason why Black people and people of color remain in poverty and face barriers on the road to success. Highlighting the people who are breaking those barriers and reaching new heights of success is crucial to help remind the world of the impact that Black people can have in society, and can create further opportunities for them to succeed." (Khanyi Mlaba, globalcitizen.org). This month’s “Looking inward, speaking outward” social media campaign features our Black and African-American volunCHEERleaders. Category is: equity and access in sport. Click to learn what they had to say! |
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True Colors by CHEER Seattle |
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Marketing: PCA has been catching more of the public eye thanks to growing partnerships with Compete Sports Diversity Network and Stonewall Performance. Working closely with our partner Dirk Smith - an accomplished journalist, videographer, and editor with an academic background in sports psychology - we’re now able to deliver the PCA message from new perspectives. From his multi-angle videos of PCA performing as a whole (here), to his insightful editorials about our unique social enterprise (here), Dirk has allowed PCA to unlock a new level of publicity. What’s next? Get ready to get personal with Dirk’s next series, “Faces of PCA,” which highlights the stories of individual PCA athletes to learn more about how charitable cheerleading has shaped their lives and identities. Events: Gay Games 11 (Nov 3-11, 2023) will be hosted in two cities - Guadalajara and Hong Kong. Cheerleading will be in Guadalajara, and PCA encourages every volunCHEERleader to Register! Registration for GGGDL2023 can be found here! Registering early does have benefits, but PCA strongly encourages you to talk to your Delegate first for a heads-up about the technicalities of registration and roster management. Ask your Delegate to look for a February 14th or November 7th email from the PCA Secretary that includes a “PCA GGGDL 2023 Registration Guide.” Anyone from anywhere may register to participate in Cheerleading at Gay Games, which is a unique hybrid of “Culture” and “Sport.” Cheerleaders bring the fanfare and spirit that makes Gay Games a true cultural experience, but we also compete for medals as a sport! When you register, read closely about the categories of participation. “Exhibition Cheerleading” refers to all the things we do that aren’t competing, e.g., sideline cheering at sports, welcome greeting/stunting at Ceremonies, and non-competitive routines performed by All PCA or Your Whole Team. The All PCA routine will be performed at Opening Ceremonies and at our Cheerleading Competition and at other venues throughout the week if feasible. Your Whole Team routines can be performed non-competitively at the Cheerleading Competition (watch examples from CLA, CNY, CSF) and possibly other points throughout the week if feasible. The competition categories are Partner Stunt (Watch Playlist), Group Stunt (Watch Playlist) and Pom Dance (Watch Playlist). The world of judging and scoring competitive cheerleading has changed vastly since these videos from 2018. PCA is updating all competition policies and procedures and will post them as soon as possible. Education: ICYMI, or even if you didn’t miss it, the PCA *Virtual* Educational Summit asynchronous webinars are still available to all PCA volunCHEERleaders. Topics include: inclusive language, web accessibility, cheerleading with disabilities, financial statements, systems and paperwork strategies, social media content calendars, performance anxiety, social identity, public health, and Cheer ASL (American Sign Language). Access them via a private URL and password emailed to your Delegate last November. Governance: PCA Board Directors and Officers each serve two-year, staggered terms. Officer Terms turning over as we speak include PCA President and PCA Treasurer. The role of PCA President is limited to someone already on the Board, but the role of Treasurer can be filled by anyone who is qualified. Want to know more about the role of PCA Treasurer? Email info@pridecheerleading.org. |
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Go buy merch! The PCA ProShop by FSP Designs is always open! On every order, 10% goes back to PCA to help us advance charitable cheerleading worldwide! |
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