LEAGUE RAISES AWARENESS & GIVES SUPPORT TO LOCALS

by Grand Poobah, ARRG Bout Co-Announcer

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

Since its founding in late-2005, the Arch Rival Roller Girls have been proactive in giving back to the community that has supported them.

This directly leads to ARRG’s community outreach efforts that have raised awareness and donations for area non-for-profits the last six-plus years.

ARRG with St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley at "Hardee's Rise and Shine" event in February! Photo credit: Rob McLean, marylandheights.patch.com

Whether it’s selling charity raffle tickets or rolling up the sleeves and cleaning up the environment, the sweat equity invested by the league has always been well worth it.

League members and volunteers participate in various activities throughout the year as implemented by ARRG’s Charity Committee.  This can range from volunteering at a local animal shelter to serving meals to the homeless.

“We like to give all the girls the opportunity to contribute and give back,” says ARRG’s EnYa Nightmare, who serves as co-chair of the committee.  “We do this by setting up and supporting all sorts of different opportunities each month.  Everyone has a chance to find something that may interest them.”

“I think that the overriding philosophy of roller derby of ‘for the skater, by the skater’- that grass roots philosophy of helping yourself and helping your neighbor – is infused throughout all roller derby leagues,” adds ARRG’s Biohazard Betty, who serves on the league’s Board of Directors.  “That sense of community service has been with the Arch Rival Roller Girls since its inception.”

For some of the skaters within the league, this may be the first time that they have volunteered in their community before. But for some, it’s merely an extension of a life foundation already built.

ARRG at the 2011 Sports Trivia Championship that benefited St. Patrick's Center - Photo credit: St. Patrick's Center

“I have always been actively involved in volunteering,” says Nightmare.  “My place of employment has always provided several opportunities. They even provide a volunteer day off to encourage their staff to give back.”

Through her employer’s proactive approach, Nightmare personally has contributed by teaching financial education, participating in green sustainability planning expos, volunteering for Food Outreach and Big Brothers/Big Sisters events, as well as competing in numerous walks and runs locally.

“I thank them for exposing me to the opportunities within my community and have been able to incorporate several of the same events into ARRG,” she says.

One of the most challenging – yet most rewarding – outreach drives yearly involves the local non-for-profit that ARRG selects as its local season charity partner. In the last three years, these are the organizations that benefit from the charity raffle drawings that are held during ARRG bouts.

ARRG presents a check for over $3,000 to Youth In Need, the league's charity partner three seasons ago. Photo credit: Papa Lippy

In those drawings, derby fans buy raffle tickets that can win them prize baskets containing gift certificates and merchandise generously donated from local businesses, as well as ARRG merchandise and future event passes. 100% of the proceeds from the raffle drawings go directly to the charity partner.

The process of selecting a charity partner takes place well before the first raffle ticket is sold.

Months prior to the beginning of the local season, each member of the charity committee recommends an organization and presents background as to why that non-for-profit should be chosen.

“They basically sell the charity to us,” says Nightmare.  “During the presentation, they let us know if they have done work in the past with the potential charity, if they have a contact and what the estimated contributions will go to.”

The list of potentials is then whittled down to a mutually-agreed-upon five to seven finalists. The ARRG Board of Directors and charity committee members then vote on the non-for-profit that will be supported throughout the local season.

And that’s just the beginning.

“We really want to get to know our non-for-profits, their directors and board members,” says Nightmare. “We do this by taking field trips to their sites or participating in their established fundraiser events.”

Such is the case with this season’s charity partner, Safe Connections, the oldest and largest locally-founded agency serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the St. Louis region.

To show support, Nightmare and committee member Trajec Tory attended the group’s “Voices Ending Violence” event in Clayton last November.

For the duo, the stories and testimonials spoke volumes as to how beneficial Safe Connections has been to those affected.

“It was very touching and, honestly, sort of frightening,” recalls Nightmare. “It really opened my eyes more to the violence that is sometimes right in front of you and you just don’t know it.”

Later in the evening, conversation cultivated a relationship that inevitably benefited both league and non-for-profit. As a result, ARRG participated in a Safe Connections’ event one month later that raised $7,500. Conversely, supporters of Safe Connections attended derby bouts and events.

In the end, it becomes a win-win situation. Money is raised for Safe Connections and ARRG gains new fans.

And overall it cultivates a long-term relationship between two organizations that knew very little about each other prior to the partnership.

The successes of past efforts can be found with Girls Incorporated – a North St. Louis County-based non-for-profit that offers after-school educational and cultural programs for girls ages 5 to 18 – who was selected by the league as its charity partner for the 2010-11 local season.

“Our relationship came about because ARRG was looking for non-profit organizations,” says Girls Inc. Program Director Elaine Lee. “They found us on the web and thought that we would be a perfect match because we were an all-girls organization. At that point, neither organization knew about the other.”

But as the charity season progressed – and awareness was raised – both got to know each other very well.

At ARRG’s January 2011 event, the members of Girls, Inc. performed a step-dance routine as halftime entertainment. Sure, they had practiced the number – which incorporates cheerleading, military and drill team move sets with no musical accompaniment- numerous times within their North County facility and in front of smaller groups.

Girls Incorporated step-dances at a January 2011 ARRG event. Photo credit: Papa Lippy

Little did they know they were going to do the same in front of 1,000 derby fans, a high majority of which had little knowledge of the group or the dance.

“The girls were very nervous and excited at the same time,” says Lee. “Performing at the ARRG bout was the first experience that the girls had with this kind of event.”

If the group of five hadn’t felt big before, here was their chance to do it with style. After all, the organization’s mission is “to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold.”

“Being in the middle of the floor with the audience surrounding them hyped them up and made them seem bigger than they were,” Lee says.

It was a perfect match – a group of young women who were raising aspirations and reaching potential performing for a league that embraces empowerment, independence and assertiveness.

And all 1,000 in attendance immediately knew that they witnessing something special. The dancers executed flawlessly…and a standing ovation immediately followed.

Girls Inc. wows the crowd. Photo credit: Papa Lippy

“When we sat down after performing, the audience around us congratulated us on a job well done,” Lee reflects. “Even as we were going to the (center’s) bus, the girls received compliments.   People wanted the girls to show them a move or two.”

“We also realized that this was probably the first time that this audience experienced stepping,” she adds.  “We thought that this was a great way to merge two completely different forms of entertainment.”

Girls, Inc. performed again later that June and afterwards was presented with a check for over $2,600, which the non-for-profit used for operational and programming costs.

“In order for all girls to be successful in our vision, we need finances to achieve those goals,” says Girls Inc. Program Specialist Gail Sharpe. “We need teachers that can use their creativeness and autonomy to teach our girls the essential and trendy skills.  To achieve this, we need materials that can enhance the lessons and bring out a spark in them.”

“The money (raised) transformed some classes from ‘better to best.’”

And perhaps the most beneficial lesson learned was the interpersonal relationships that will last a lifetime.

“Our overall experience with the Arch Rival Roller Girls was amazing,” says Lee. “We got a chance to enter a world that we would not have otherwise been introduced.”

ARRG "adopts a highway" for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The future appears bright – and potentially clean – for ARRG’s community outreach efforts. A new undertaking for the league this year is a two-year contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation’s  “Adopt-A-Highway” program.

“With the help of (ARRG Rookie Rival) Trajec Tory, we have recently adopted a highway,” says Nightmare of the stretch of real estate at I-55 and Germania Road. “Our job is to make Missouri roads cleaner and more attractive for commuters.  I’ve always been interested in anything supporting sustainability and our environment.  We only have one planet (for now), let’s take care of it!”

ARRG and the St. Chux Derby Chix participated at last September's "Stop, Drop & Roller Derby" event, where proceeds went to the West County EMS & FPD. Photo Credit: Lynn Terry

Also scheduled in the future is participation in an event for Tenth Life Cat Rescue and visits to Stray Rescue and Food Outreach.

The overall experience can go way beyond a skater’s tenure with the Arch Rival Roller Girls.

“My end goal is that after they leave ARRG, they are able to take the knowledge of how and where they can volunteer and keep contributing to their community in a way that suits them,” says Nightmare.  ”There’s tons of ways to give back!”

To find out more about the Arch Rival Roller Girls’ charitable efforts, click on the CHARITY tab at the top of the page.

COMING UP TOMORROW AT 8 AM FOR ARRG’s “30n30″: Getting the word out by any means necessary. In a city that’s home to three major sports franchises and a healthy collegiate following, spreading the good gospel of flat-track roller derby is a bit of a challenge. From television appearances to printed publications and social media, the league implements the same “do it yourself” attitude to promote the sport. On Friday, we look at ARRG’s publicity efforts.

ARRG’s “30n30″ is a daily feature that examines different aspects of the Arch Rival Roller Girls – St. Louis’ first female flat-track roller derby franchise. In this section every morning at 8 AM for the entire month of April, a new feature will be presented.

Other installments of ARRG’s “30n30″: PRE-SERIES SET-UP (1) EVOLUTION (2) THE DREAM TO PLAY AT CHAIFETZ (3) LOCAL SEASON RECAP (4) ARRG ALL-STARS (5) SAINT LUNACHIX (6) ROOKIE RIVALS (7) REFEREES & NSOs (8) PRE-BOUT RITUALS (9) POST-BOUT RITUALS (10) GUERILLA UNCAGED – NO MINORS (11) ARRG VS. MEMPHIS PREVIEW

We are excited to announce that the Arch Rival Roller Girls All Stars of Saint Louis, MO will be teaching a skate clinic on May 12, 2012.

This will be geared to leagues that can learn from our 7 years of growth that has lead to three trips to WFTDA regional tournaments and a DNN top 25 ranking.

Everything from basic skating skills to advanced team strategy will be taught by the likes of Mighty Mighty Boston, May Require Stitches, Mayor Francis Slayer and Chewblocka. Skaters of all skill levels are welcome. This is a rare opportunity to learn from veteran skaters and to meet new skaters around the region.

This special event will take place on May 12th from 12:30-7:30pm at the Skatium (120 Catalan St., St. Louis, Missouri 63111) with snacks provided.

Any questions? Please contact us.

Please note: this is a separate event from the Monday night New Skater Clinics being held to prepare potentials for the upcoming ARRG try-outs.