PUBLISHED BY PRIDE CHEERLEADING ASSOCIATION |
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Rally! Season 2, Issue 8: November 2022 |
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November was a test of our emotional flexibility and resilience. The first weekend of November (Nov 5 - 6) was simultaneously the end of the #PCAPrideTour, with Palm Springs Pride hosted by @Cheer Los Angeles, and the beginning of the 365-day countdown to Gay Games 11. To close out the Pride Tour, a total of $2,046.33 was raised at Palm Springs Pride by PCA Member Teams Cheer LA, CHEER Seattle, and CHEER Tacoma, and guests from Sacramento Sirens Cheer Elite. Cheer LA will be donating a portion to Greater Palm Springs Pride and The Sanctuary Palm Springs. At the same time, in Guadalajara, MX, the Federation of Gay Games had its Annual General Assembly meeting and marked the one-year countdown ‘til Gay Games 11. Representatives from PCA, CHEER SF, and CHEER Seattle attended meetings, toured local sports venues, and networked with international leaders to prepare for the “Games that change the world!” November 13 - 19 was #TransgenderAwarenessWeek. For PCA, it started as a week of sharing stories to accelerate acceptance. We looked back to 2021, the deadliest year on record for transgender people, and celebrated 2022 being a record year for LGBTQ+ representation in office. The memories, stories, and advice from transgender members of PCA culminated in a message of hope: “#TDOR is forever, but transphobia doesn’t have to be.” Then, on Nov 20, 2022, on #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance, we learned of the devastating shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs in which five people, including two transgender individuals, lost their lives due to hate-motivated violence. PCA’s Equity and Inclusion Committee held space on Sunday, November 27th for all of PCA to participate in a Club Q Virtual Listening and Memorial Session. The purpose was to memorialize those who lost their lives and to express whatever needed to be expressed for collective healing and solidarity. Committee Co-Chair, Destiny of Cheer New York read a poem called "Pulse" written by author and Poet John Keene in 2021, and another poem called “Club Q” written by James Davis in 2020 about what the “Q” - and the club itself - stand for. Committee Co-Chair, Jayden of CHEER Colorado, attended the video call from the actual memorial site at Club Q. Saying each name aloud while Committee Secretary, Ken, from CHEER Philadelphia rang tingsha bells, Jayden placed flowers in front of each of the memorials, from all of PCA. We know we will smile and wave our flags again soon, but not without these memories driving us forward to cheer for change in our pursuit of a better world. |
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True Colors by Cheer Portland |
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Our Feature Team for November is Cheer Portland, Oregon’s first and ONLY adult, charitable cheerleading team. Cheer Portland is a home, a family, a safe space for LGBTQ+ and ally cheerleaders to raise funds, awareness, and spirits through inspiring performances and inclusive community outreach. This True Colors video takes you back to the founding days in 2018. Which iconic Portland spot provided the Cheer Portland color inspo? You might just have to fly there to find out! Or, watch the video! |
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Marketing: Officially approved by the PCA Board this month, it’s PCA’s Brand House! A Brand House is a reference tool that expresses and brings together the core pieces of a brand into one, easy-to-understand visual. A Brand House can modernize an org’s identity, connect the org’s work to a bigger purpose, get everyone on the same page, and help settle big decisions. For PCA, the exercise of creating the PCA Brand House took 18 months and involved input from public polls, internal soul-searching, task force teamwork, and a whole lot of dreamwork! The PCA Rebrand Team completed the Brand House in October at PCA Summit 2022. The image was sent through the PCA Equity and Inclusion Committee for feedback and then to the PCA Board for final approval. And here it is! Ever feel that what PCA does is difficult to put into words? Now you have the words! Events: PCA’s Registration is LIVE for the Sin City Classic: January 13 - 15, 2023. We can’t wait to support LGBTQ+ athletics, deliver vibrant performances, and carry out focused fundraising for local beneficiary Golden Rainbow. Register NOW on Eventbrite to participate with PCA during our multi-sport volunCHEERing bus tour on Saturday, compete or exhibition a routine at our Charitable Cheerleading competition Sunday, or DO IT ALL for a bundle-and-save discount! To maximize the PCA experience, plan to arrive in time for the Friday evening Welcome Party (5 - 9 pm) and stay through the Sunday night Brooklyn Bowl Closing Party (8 pm - 1 am). Learn more about the PCA events taking place during the Sin City Classic 2023 here on PCA’s website. And please take time to read PCA’s SCC 2023 COVID-19 Policy so you are prepared. We can’t have an Events section without reminding you to save the date for Gay Games 11 (Nov 3 - 11, 2023)! For the first time ever it’s hosted in two cities - Guadalajara and Hong Kong. Registration for GGGDL2023 is live! 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 Nov 12 email from the PCA Secretary. Education: The wait is over! The library of educational webinars that make up the second half of PCA *Virtual* Educational Summit 2022 is now 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. Governance: The PCA Board had its Annual Meeting in October, including an annual Election of Directors. The results of the election were reviewed and then ratified by the PCA Delegation. PCA is pleased to announce that three fantastic Directors Elect will begin their two-year terms in January 2023. Please join us in congratulating: |
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Remember the items YOU picked during our Fall Instagram poll? They’re in! Crewnecks, beanies, and other great winter warmies just hit the PCA ProShop by FSP Designs!. Order your merch NOW so you have it by the Sin City Classic in January. There will be a photoshoot and, rumor has it, a friendly Bed Pyramid contest in PCA LOGO GEAR! Remember, 10% goes back to PCA, to help us develop, support, and unite charitable cheerleading teams worldwide! |
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