Sigma Chi Baseball

Eugene, OR

26 June 2006 to 7 August 2006

PROLOGUE: "Each student and instructor is involved in a shared learning experience, but all students and instructors are also lodged in idiosyncratic local environments that shape their experiences and indirectly shape the experience of everyone else."

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The first element of this proposal -- which we have called HOME RUN -- is simple and straightforward. We seek a partnership with the Bank of America to help us field six baseball teams in Oregon next summer. The players will be high school juniors and seniors playing American Legion baseball IN leagues that have been operating in the state for many decades.

Each team will play about 50 games. The plan calls for two teams in the Portland area and one team in Salem, Eugene, Roseburg and Medford. On their hats and on the chest of their jersey will be the name Sigma Chi.

While the kids will be out to win games and improve personal performance, and while their coaches will be out to teach them the intricacies of the game, the most important mission is to promote the cornerstones of Sigma Chi: Friendship, Justice and Learning.

The cost to field the six teams next summer is approximately $30,000.

The ultimate vision for HOME RUN is to have hundreds of teams all over the nation, bonded -- and managed -- by the 230 Chapters of the Fraternity and the 200,000 Alumni who support it. All alone, this (pilot project to field six teams) is worthy of Bank of America funding.

But it is the second element that is, ultimately, the most exciting.

We call this element FANS -- short for a combination of broadcasting, webcasting, podcasting, mobcasting, fancasting, coachcasting, teamcasting, fundcasting. The cost to put FANS to work is approximately $25,000. The belief is that successful application of FANS, combined with good summer-time management, combined with the resources of those involved in American Legion baseball will make these activities self-sustaining.

THE MISSION OF FANS

The mission of FANS is to bring together in a single "package" the application of exciting new tools that will enable small teams and small organizations to attract large audiences and happy sponsors. The tools are already available and have proven themselves in a variety of applications. Used properly, there is little question these tools can become a powerful engine -- to raise funds, help coaches, track performance, evaluate results, reach large audiences, create excitement.

SPECIFIC GOALS OF FANS: To provide FANS to the "front office" managers of the six teams in a way that is easy for them to use and affordable for them to operate; to provide virtual and physical teaching, learning and training classes during both summer and winter; to outreach to others with like minded interests; to train Sigma Chi undergraduate so they can affordably expand the reach and impact of their Chapter; to do the same for corporate sponsors who can see that FANS can be useful in their own operations.

WHY SHOULD THE BofA BE INTERESTED?

It's unnecessary to state the obvious, so we will only lightly touch on it. College-bound students --and especially their parents -- make for ideal bank customers. We can help the Bank make the "right" connections ....some of which will be of a "lifetime" nature. Not only would the Bank's indicia be on the uniforms, scorecards, hand outs, ball park signage, we would also affix BofA graphics on every Web page; additionally, every audio stream would have an appropriate messages as developed in partnership with the Bank; so too would our videos.

WHY ELSE SHOULD THE BANK BE INTERESTED?

One element not mentioned is that well trained and highly motived Sigma Chi undergraduates would be available to assist in marketing of the Bank's summer "baseball" activities. (including the Em's, here in Eugene.) We believe that many of these individuals, upon graduation, would make fine BofA employees. (See Section for more details.)

HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE?

About fielding six teams next summer? Our confidence stems from: The American Legion network, its history, coaches, infrastructure; the considerable experience (and lessons learned) by way of the Sigma Chi Challenger Team we fielded in the summer of '05 <http://www.eugenechallengers.com/Sigma_home.htm>; because of the deep commitment of those with a long record of success at Swede Johnson Stadium in Eugene <http://www.eugenechallengers.com/swede_johnson_stadium.htm>; and because of strong Sigma Chi support throughout the nation. Not to mention the resources of the Bank of America.

These are powerful ingredients for likely success.

About FANS? The good news is that there is no new technology we need to develop. More good news is that the technology is already well proven and familiar to those who are part of this proposal. The bad news is that nobody's ever put FANS to work for small teams on very, very tight budgets. This is no "can of corn". But we're pretty sure we can take what others have already done and apply it in ways that will make it work for small organizations with thin wallets.

So...what else gives us confidence?

In the last ten years the Internet has gone from Wright Brothers to Lindbergh -- with a good many landings in Paris. All those landings were made because determined visionaries used technology in highly innovative ways. Many of the vehicles they designed were developed inside small garages -- and tested in their own back yards.

What's also notable is that the winners never strayed very far from long established business practices that made for profitable outcomes.

We will do likewise.

Contact and Property Information

Contact

Mr. John Hibbs, Director

Sigma Chi Fraternity

1440 East 19 Avenue

Eugene, OR 97403

Phone: 541.343.9389

hibbs@oregonsigs.org

http://www.oregonsigs.org

Opportunity Overview

Attendance / Viewers: 100,000

Frequency: Seasonal

Geographic Range: National

Budget: $50K-$99K

Years in Existence: 30

The cost to field the six teams playing in Oregon next summer is approximately $30,000. (See Attachment _____)

The ultimate vision is to have hundreds of teams all over the nation, bonded -- and managed -- by the 230 Chapters of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and the 200,000 Alumni who support it. All alone, this (pilot project to field six teams) is worthy of Bank of America sponsorship.

Description of Audience

Age

20% 12-17

30% 18-24

10% 25-34

30% 35-54

Gender

Male 50%

Female 50%

Race

10% African-American

70% White

Highest Level of Education

20% less than high school

40% high school

35% college graduate

How Far does Audience Travel to Visit / Attend / Participate in the Opportunity?

95% 0-10 miles

Household Income

20% 0K- 50K

50% 51K- 74K

20% 75K-124K

10% 125K-199K

Sponsor Benefits

Current Sponsors

Sigma Chi Fraternity provides non-alcoholic beverages since 1855

Sponsor Benefits

General

Official product / service designation

Use of marks and logos

Photography / footage rights

Media / Signage

Local television

Local radio

Local print

OOH (Out-of-House) / Billboard

On-Site signage (TV visible)

On-Site signage (non-TV visible)

Internet

Hospitality / Unique Access

Hospitality and client entertainment

Use of venue for sponsor functions

Promotional Opportunities

On-site promotions

Inclusion of Bank of America logo on all collateral materials

Inclusion of Bank of America logo on all public relations materials

Opportunity for Bank of America associates to volunteer at event

Opportunity for Bank of America to participate in event / property community outreach

Opportunity for Bank of America to participate in event/property multi-cultural programs

Opportunity for Bank of America executives to participate in event (e.g., welcome remarks)

Event Analysis

The following pre- and post-event analysis that would be capable of performing include:

Pre-Event surveying

On-Site Surveying

Exit Surveying

Photographs and Attachments

Description

Additional Information

I. INTRODUCTION - THE HOME RUN ELEMENT

We seek a partnership with the Bank of America to help us field six baseball teams in Oregon next summer. The players will be high school juniors and seniors playing American Legion baseball. They will play inside well organized leagues that have been operating for decades. Each team will play about 50 games, half in their home city and half on the road.

THE FANS ELEMENT

We call this element FANS -- short for a combination of conventional broadcasting, webcasting, podcasting, mobcasting, cellcasting, fancasting, coachcasting, teamcasting and fundcasting.

Logo and Images