Arcade Digital is proud to launch WWW.CFDBLAZE.COM

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by John Sostak

The CFD Blaze

The CFD Blaze are the Chicago Firefighter and Paramedics Football Team.  They play in the NPSFL, which is the National Public Safety Football League.  Arcade Digital is very happy to take their new site live.  Click here to experience the CFD Blaze.

Arcade focused on the user interface, and back-end functionality developing a very sophisticated content management system (CMS) and Wordpress blogging platform.  The site is an Arcade custom web design and user interface built open source with WP 2.9.  Although not completely populated, is still a fun site to visit.  Like the team, the website has a strong blue-color feel, and an intuitive navigation and user interface.

This site will be rich in media,  These guys are not only football players, but firefighters, so they have great media content and a fabulous story.   We wanted to make compelling galleries and video as accessible and easy to share as possible.

Marketing needs demand social media integration, and with compelling media, we can use social media websites and Internet sharing as a low cost marketing solution.  By using YouTube and Flickr, we have social media partners that also contribute to the reach of this first year football team.

The 2010 season will be the first year the Chicago Fire Department fields a team in the 14 year old NPSFL.  A 1st year not-for-profit is as; or more, challenging then a young entrepreneurial for-profit start up.  Arcade wants to make sure that the compelling message of the firefighters and paramedics that compete in the NPSFL is well spread online.

Each of the players, coaches and administrators in the NPSFL, and the CFD Blaze are volunteers.  No one involved in NPSFL Football receives a salary, and they play for charities.  The Chicago Fire Department charities include The Burn Camp, which is operated by the IFSA and has been renamed Camp I Am Me.  It is a summer camp for Illinois children that have been scarred, and is a place where these children can interact without feeling uncomfortable because of the injuries and scars they have sustained.

The CFD Blaze are also playing for the Gold Badge Society, and Ignite the Spirit.  Ignite the Spirit is a very high profile organization, responsible for the annual Chicago Firefighter Calendar as well as the annual Chicago Firefighter-Paramedic Ball.

The Blaze are playing their first official NPSFL Football game on April 10th in Chicago.  They CFD Blaze will be playing the seasoned CPD Enforcers.  The CPD Enforcers are the Chicago Police Department’s NPSFL team.  I am certain that from game one, this will be a fun rivalry.  They play each other in baseball every year, and it is a great game, held at Comiskey Park (US Cellular Field).  Keep track of the Blaze on their site.

Some modules that will be introduced on the Blaze site very soon will be the Blaze store, which will make posters and t-shirts available.  The current store link on the site is merely a redirect to the Ignite the Spirit website and store, which has a few Chicago Firefighter calenders remaining.

The Blaze site will also offer ticket sales.  They will play 2-4 Chicagoland area games annually, as well 2-3 road games.  Our online ticket process will make it easier to lock in game tickets.  The men are playing stadiums that will be crowded, so as family, friends and fans, we want to insure we are in the arena.  Online ticket sales also allows for more efficient Internet marketing, with clear conversion statistics, which benefits the club, and the charity.  To be able to clearly predict what a game or fundraiser will generate allows the CFD Blaze to more accurately sponsor charities in need of benefactors.

Arcade Digital is looking forward the CFD Blaze season, and I hope everyone who reads our blog commits to helping the newest team in the NPSFL and the Chicago Fire Department Charities.

Tags: CFD BLAZE, CPD Enforcers, flickr, football, Internet Marketing, NPSFL, social media, youtube

Arcade Introduces FF911.ORG, Social Media Network for Emergency Responders

Posted on February 21st, 2010 by John Sostak

People who know me, also know I’m a firefighter.  I like to think of myself as a taller version of Guy Kawasaki, an Internet marketing guru.  It sometimes is forgotten that the fire department is an important part of my life.

My wife is also a member of emergency services, she’s a pediatric nurse practitioner, and she works at Children’s.  Between our circles of friends and colleagues, we are emergency responder heavy.  So, we decided to launch a social network for emergency responders, FF911.ORG.

FF911 is in beta, and many more features will be added.  In the meantime, this is a great time to grab a screen name, and set up your account.  Please share your knowledge with our FF911 members.

The need for this network is to try and form a connection between emergency responders that work in the field together, but rarely communicate outside of the accident scene, or the emergency room.  FF911 is for police, fire, military, nurses, doctors, dispatchers, and anyone involved in emergency services.

FF911 is a way for us to share information, as well as influence public opinion.  Socially, we see a lot of people at their most vulnerable, on their worst day.  This comes with a responsibility, which we can expand online.  If we see a way to improve something, collectively, we can make it happen.  I am certain as the community grows, and evolves, forums will help us discover what we can do to improve our professions, and our patients needs.

FF911 is also a social media hub which we can exchange video and pictures, as well as department specific news.  Post events, like retirement parties and fundraisers.  If you have a chance, click here, and create a profile on FF911. Our goal is to become a social network and community that emergency responders can be proud of, as well as a source of information for all of us working in emergency services.

Tags: Emergency Responders, FF911.ORG, Internet Marketing, social media

Save March 5th, CFD Blaze Fundraiser at Murphy’s Bleachers in Wrigleyville

Posted on February 16th, 2010 by John Sostak

The CNA building in Chicago paying tribute to the CFD, Chicago Fire Department

The motto of the Chicago Fire department is “We’re there when you need us”. We don’t just say that motto, we believe it. Our charities need us, but we can’t support them without your help.

The Blaze, the CFD football team is hosting a fundraiser at Murphy’s Bleacher Bar, in Wrigleyville, Chicago, March 5th.  Tickets are $30.00 and include all domestic beers, drinks, wine and appetizers.

Parking is included, but no need to drive. Murphy’s is conveniently located one block from the Addison Red Line stop.

Get excited, we will not only have booze, and friends, but you can WIN cool prizes! Raffle tickets will be available for a chance to win (among other items) a 40″ flat-screen TV and four rooftop tickets to a Cubs game.  I am certain it won’t take a lot of arm twisting to get a split the pot raffle going.

We will have CFD Blaze t-shirt’s for sale. Show off your team spirit!  Buy a few shirts for yourself, and your friends and family.

The Blaze’ first game is April 7th against the Chicago Police Department. Purchase space in the ad book.  Real estate is going fats, and this is a great way to reach a lot of police, firefighters and family members of City of Chicago employees.

Murphy’s Bleachers March 5, 7-10pm
3653 N. Sheffield
(Parking Included)
Conveniently located one block from the Red Line (Addison stop)

Proceeds from the evening will go to support several amazing organizations including The Gold Badge Society, Ignite the Spirit and The Illinois Burn Foundation.

Tags: CFD, CFD BLAZE, Charity

IFSA changes the name of the Burn Camp to Camp I Am Me.

Posted on January 5th, 2010 by John Sostak

Brittany and Ray at Burn Camp on Visitor's Day

No other IFSA program has received greater attention from the fire service, medical community, general public and the media than has the summer camp for burned children. Burn Camp provides the setting for burn survivors to share their common experiences while being able to play and not feel self conscious about their scars. The benefits to the campers — physical, psychological, and emotional — have been enough to inspire a long list of eager volunteers and contributors.

A recent IFSA Executive Board decision was unanimously approved to create a name for Burn Camp. Burn Camp will now be referred to as Camp “I Am Me”.

This decision was made after a discussion with a young burn survivor at last year’s camp. This camper commented that she was uncomfortable walking around with a tee shirt that stated Burn Camp on it. She further explained how one of the nice things about coming to the IFSA camp was being able to just be a kid, not a burn victim. This was the only time that kids like her were able to blend in and forget about the burn injuries.

It is also the intent of the IFSA to allow kids to be kids. It’s an opportunity for them to spend time with other children and adults that are just like them. It is always interesting to see the children show up on the first day of camp with their long sleeve shirts and long pants, even though it’s 90 degrees in the shade. As the week goes on, you can see the campers wearing shorts, tee shirts, and swimming suits. This is one of the most obvious signs that camp is allowing kids to be just another kid. For one week a year they don’t have to worry about people starring or being different.

Well, it took this young camper’s comments for us to realize that we were inadvertently placing label on the children that we were working hard to erase. So last year we asked campers to think of a name for camp. We had several of the typical camp names like Camp Friendship, Camp Courage, etc. Molly Schaller, a camper came up with the name “I Am Me.” This turned out to be the unanimous decision.

Camp “I Am Me” describes what we want the camp experience to be; a place where children can come and be themselves. Of course it will take many of us several years to get used to saying Camp “I Am Me.” We will still have to refer to IFSA Burn Camp for people that won’t identify with the new name. When it comes to t-shirts and any other printed materials, it will have the new name.

To learn more about Camp I Am Me, and the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, visit IFSA.org.

The picture above is Brittany Bosca.  Brittany lives in Chicago and has a snow cone benefit each year that raises money for the burn camp.  Click here to visit Brittany’s site.  Thank you Brittany.

Tags: burn camp

Mahoney’s Pub on Friday Night

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by John Sostak

CFD Blaze Players Play Football, Put out Fires, & Sing Karaoke

We had a great time at Mahoney’s Pub on Friday, these pictures were taken around closing time.  Check them out on Picasa.

The evening went great, thanks to a wonderful sports bar, Mahoney’s Pub.  Mahoney’s is in Chicago on Ogden and Racine, and the place is awesome to watch games at.  This night is was great to close too.  Everyone there had a wonderful time.

The guy closing the bar noticed my goofy mustache.  All the men in my firehouse, on my shift, have grown mustaches for the holidays.  I am not sure why, but it is a team building exercise and a conversation starter.  Meg, who works with us at Engine 56 has said we seem more interesting with mustaches, and has offered to grow her armpit hair, to be part of the team.  I have been told I look like a creepy gym teacher and should be wearing tight coaches shorts, a golf shirt, and a whistle to complete the look.

The door man closing the bar pointed out my mustache, and gave me an extra second to complete my beer.  When I finished, I said I lost a bet, and he responded “you’re family is gonna love your holiday pictures, Buddy.”  Very insightful.  Joy hates my mustache.

Tags: CFD BLAZE, Joy