Beehive isn’t a baby anymore, we’re a toddler! Woot!
As a community organization the best part of growing up is getting bigger. We couldn’t be happier that we are growing and we owe it to YOU! Without your constant support we’d probably never have made it past those first few seasons. For that we’ll always be grateful. The world is a great place with Beehive in it but it’s an even better place with the people of Beehive in it.
As we grow our operation necessarily gets a bit more complicated. Herding 100 cats is one task while herding 500 or 1,000 cats is quite another. We’ve gotten glimpses of this at WingFEST and in our first ever 250+ person league this past summer. To be honest while we loved it, it also scared the shit out of us. There was more to do and within each to do, more oddball one off complexities. The whole process gave us a lot of appreciation for the people who plan elections, music festivals and Super Bowls. They are not fucking around.
In a few areas of Beehivedom we can’t afford to anymore either…Please take a look at the specific ways we need to evolve Beehive Nation this coming year to help us grow while keeping the leagues fun and personable for everyone who plays in them…
1)League Registration Fees. For all leagues in 2014 we’ll use the same prices and price periods. We really want everyone to sign up early so they can save money and we can save a lot of time preparing. Consequently the “Early Bird Price” will always be $50 and will always last from the league’s creation (16 weeks before the start date) to 4 weeks before the league start date. Between 4 weeks out and 2 weeks out the registration fee will be “Regular Price” of $60. Within 2 weeks we’ll charge a “Late Registration Price” of $70. Those last two weeks are super hectic for us so we’re giving everyone a real incentive to register early with $20 savings. This also helps captains coordinate as they’re aware of their rosters much earlier.
In the past we’ve honored your “Early Bird” price even if you didn’t pay until the 5th week of the season. That’s gotta change because on many levels it doesn’t make sense. To get the “Early Bird” price you must pay during the Early Bird period. Same goes for “Regular Price.” We’ll make sure to remind you via email if you’re price is about to go up.
2)Non-Payment of League Fees. In the past we’ve had one of the most lenient payment policies in the history of this great nation. Moving forward we need to tighten the belt a touch. Starting in January 2014 we will require that everyone pay before the second week of games’s start. If you haven’t paid by then we will not permit you to take the field that day and will ask for your t-shirt back.
3)Game Dress Code. Another place we’ve been pretty lenient is wearing league provided t-shirts during games. With a larger number of people we have to change that. Starting with Dodgeball in 2014 we will require that every player wear their shirt during games. If you don’t wear your shirt, you can’t play that week.
Additionally, if a team needs to use a substitute during the regular season (none are allowed in the playoffs) we need that sub to get a shirt from whoever their subbing for. No exceptions. If the sub they use is on another team that person may wear the Beehive t-shirt of their native team.
4)T-Shirt Orders. Managing our growing inventory of t-shirts is, to be blunt, a bitch. I have extra XL’s stuffed into every corner of my garage. This is largely the result of ordering shirts so late that they are barely done in time for the league to start. We can’t sustain that approach any longer. Each season we’ll order shirts 2 weeks before gameplay and give them to your team captain at the captains meeting a week before the games. If you’re not signed up within 2 weeks of the games we cannot guarantee that you’ll get the right size shirt. To guarantee you get the right shirt sign up 4+ week in advance…and save money!
I think that’s all the potty training we’ll be looking to accomplish in 2014. We’re definitely excited for what we’ll be able to do when we reach first grade but if we can’t learn to use the toilet first it ain’t gunna matter much.
Again, thanks for all your support!
-Your Pals @ BeehiveSports!