Author Archives: admin

So long, and thanks for being awesome!

I’ve been organizing Pokemon since 2001 and doing it as a hobby-business since about 2005. The players at SoCal events have many remarkable good qualities, aside from being Ace Trainers!  I think I’ve passed out some of these compliments before, but I want to highlight 3 of them in writing. These things may not be unique (except for your match slip superpowers) but they are actions that have made running tournaments joyful in the smooth events and possible when things have been rough.

The olders treat the youngers with friendliness and try to help them. This is something parents have remarked on over the years and parents are a tough audience (rightly so) when it comes to how people treat their children.This is not my doing, but you guys and gals have been great with the kids and its a pleasure to be around.

You rarely make me say things twice. You’ve taught me to be concise with announcements. This has worked because when I do have to say something, I usually don’t have to say it twice. Thanks for that, very much.

You reliably fill out your own match slips and run them yourselves. Back in the day this was rare, and I like to tease other organizers about it. You guys and gals from Junior to Senior to Master made it possible to have events that move along because we weren’t looking for you and your slip or having frequent corrections to sloppy slippage, as it were. It also let’s judges do judging, which is important to a fair event.

I’ve worked hard to learn as much as possible to make the events fair and fast, and hopefully this has gotten the organizer out of the way and let the events be fun. Thanks for being GREAT at SoCal events.

Pokemon.com records me as having run 285 events since 2006, Eventbrite says I’ve run 96 of them with online registration since 2011. I can remember doing my own web page with database backend for signups back before 2006, I think, for events in El Segundo. The Feb 2017 Anaheim Regional was the first regional event in the US, I think, to run with tickets direct to Round 1 pairings. It’s been fun to do some innovative things with organizing.

Much of the success we’ve had has been because of great staff. Beyond our great regional staff (pictured below), I’d like to shout out to judges/helpers Ivan P, John G, Migs, Leo, Marshall Renee, Danny, Chris J, Chris Bo (lol), & Jackie; hosts Marilyn & Beverly & Don & Brandon & Seth; Karl who taught me much about venue acquisition and working with store owners; of course, the last 4 years wouldn’t have been possible without amazing associate organizing of Marina.

All that is to thank you all and sum up before saying… Second City Gym is bowing out of the business of organizing.  It remains to be announced what organization will be doing SoCal Regionals, but two things are certain… it won’t be Second City Gym and you will have a Regional next season that will be great and fun. I will see you around as a judge and player. Thanks for all your support and best wishes for 2018 NAIC, Worlds and the 2019 season.

— Kim Cary, former Proprietor
Second City Gym

 

 

Pokémon Costa Mesa Regionals 2018 Team

Super many thanks to our amazing volunteer judge and operations teams – all who made a fun filled happen for our players at this event! In lieu of a team photo, Second City Gym is proud to present our team yearbook!

 

 

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Friday Team Meeting: Kim croaks something hoarsely to Tymon who tells team something else.