LOCO Roller Derby http://locorollerderby.com/ is launched and open. We are getting 1 or 2 emails a day from new and former skaters that want to come out and try it and that want to join.

So far it's about half and half, new skaters that need to learn how to skate, and former skaters and derby skaters that want to get back in skating shape and learn to play roller derby.

Well, I was never a superstar skater, but I always knew the rules of roller derby and how to play it. I am technically able to perform most skating drills and movements that relate to roller derby for demo (other than bg air jumps), and I know how to teach and offer up modifications and different ways to perform those actions for body types that are not typical. I have faith that I can teach new people how to skate, and help organize the skaters and new skaters into drills. Besides that, we'll have an open policy where the skaters themselves can run practices as soon as they feel ready, without me. And I have 2 of the most encouraging, supportive, and all-inclusive skaters I know with me founding LOCO Roller Derby, that may not be All-Star roller derby players either, but who will be the most positive influence I can imagine on a group of women of mixed skill levels. Vansterdamn and Switch Hit her are just two awesome rollergirls that have not had that happy rollergirl moment and photo op - that I finally got last year with FCDG - and I want to help them get it!

While preparing for the new LOCO Roller Derby operations challenge, and trying to get my nutrition, skating and workout schedule to flow with the skate practice days lining up a little differently than before, I am dreaming up recycling and upcycling ways to present token awards for skill level testing, so I'm taking up a collection.

Do you want to help support Recreational Roller Derby, and LOCO Roller Derby to be more exact? I don't want to post up a PayPal link and ask for money, I don't even want you to travel and couch surf at my house to help me train people (though you can if you want to - and I'd love it - let' s talk) LOL. All I want to ask for is the lightest weight item off your skates - other than the laces. Old bearings. Do you have old bearings that sound like you are killing mice, rusted, no more good, that are slow, that you don't skate on anymore?

If so, gather them up and contact me for a shipping address and mail them to me. Your donation will give a new inductee into the world of roller derby (even though maybe a new skater, and in no hit rule set) a token of support and achievement award via upcycling.

In other news, we're looking at ways to promote LOCO Roller Derby. Any suggestions? We've got website, facebook group, twitter, it's been Dugg on Digg and we've invited all of our friends. What do you think of MySpace? Yahoo Groups? Sparkteams on Sparkpeople?

Should we spend money on ads in local papers/magazines, or local newsletters, do flyers and posters even work anymore? That's what I am thinking about today. Even though LOCO Roller Derby is non-profit and getting lots of members won't mean any money going into my or the board members' pockets, we do want to have a good number of skaters, so that we can scrimmage in the summer and pay for the spaces we rent, and all that jazz.

And let me give a kudos to the YMCA- Centre Branch here in London, ON. We are meeting with them next week, and trying the floor and booking our time, but the responses to all of our questions has been very positive!