ABOUT US
THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is YC?
YC was a social and networking group whose mission is to help enhance the relationships among intercollegiate athletics communications professionals via networking and social opportunities, culminating with an event during the CoSIDA Convention as a part of the NACDA & Affiliates Convention. YC has evolved from its roots to create the premiere, multi-organization networking event of convention week, the YC Charity Social, which brought together every NACDA affiliate group for an all-inclusive social gathering that raises money for a worthy charity.
How "young" must one be to be a part of YC?
There was no age limit on either end - in fact, we welcomed and encouraged folks everyone to find out what we were all about. As one of the YC motto goes ..."It’s all about ENTHUSIASM!"
What is the deal with the ducks?
Back in 1999 at CoSIDA in Orlando, a young, swashbuckling Chris Gonzales wanted to make a big marketing splash. As a promotional item, Gonzales bought 2,000 rubber ducks as giveaways, and they became an instant success. As YC was at the time in its formative years, we adopted these ducks as our symbol and mascot. The original SportsSystems ducks are now rare collectables.
How do I join YC?
Our Facebook group is still active but is mostly an archive.
What made YC so successful over the years?
The relationship building, friendship and professional contacts people made through YC helped many grow as people, both professionally and personally. One of the remarkable things that developed over the years was the friendships between people who would have had no contact through traditional professional channels.
What was the format of the YC Board?
The voting members of the board consisted of a President, members of the executive planning committee and at-large representatives. Also involved in the administration of YC was an advisory board who help support the events at the CoSIDA Convention each year.
What types of events did YC host?
YC grew from a small group of CoSIDA outsiders to focal point of the modern-day convention social calendar at the NACDA and Affiliates Convention.
At one point, YC ran three social events at every CoSIDA Convention. The week kicked off with an informal Meet & Greet, where you can catch up with old pals and meet some of the newcomers to the convention. The Signature Event - the showpiece of the week’s activities - was a theme party. The final event, Hair of the Duck, served as the backdrop for our Charity Raffle (with all proceeds going to CoSIDA's chosen local charity) and also for our annual awards presentation to cap another fantastic gathering of friends in the business.
While the origins of YC date back to the 1999 CoSIDA convention in Orlando, YC events started back in 2005 in the City of Brotherly Love. Love was far from everyone’s mind when YC hosted its inaugural Olympiad, a multi-bar, multi-"sport" event of four teams competing for supremacy in darts, pool, Golden Tee and trivia that took members through the winding streets of Philadelphia. A theme emerged from the competition, as the "Pirates" team emerged victorious. It was from that night that the pirate theme became so prominent in our group and resurfaced later in Tampa.
The following year, the decision was that YC should not be about competition - but rather, about the love. And so it came to pass that an Awesome ‘80s Prom was YC’s signature event in Nashville under the theme "A Second Chance at Your First Time." YC rented out Decades near the convention hotel, and nearly 200 YCers joined in the festivities. Of particular note were several members who got into the spirit and donned ‘80s gear, including at least one female who took it all the way and actually wore her original high school prom dress. Alas, she was beaten out for queen by a woman on roller skates (not making that up), while the king was a rockin’ metalhead who was business in the front (sock stuffed in his skin-tight pants) and party in the back (a spiky mullet).
In San Diego, YC made a attempt to get everyone "lei’d" and hosted a Luau at Buster’s Beach House, again just a short walk away from the hotel-as YC long ago noted, the key to any good event is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Once again the numbers shot up in terms of attendance, and a good time was had by all! The highlight of the evening came when Marlene Navor sealed her Miss Ducky candidacy by sharing her culture with us, performing a traditional Polynesian dance.
2008 saw YC celebrate Tampa’s pirate culture with a Gasparilla Gala at Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009 in San Antonio, "X on the Beach" was held at a Riverwalk establishment called Acapulco Sam’s, and the San Francisco "Summer of Love" in 2010 at the Triple Crown was a night that most won’t forget - particularly the staff!
Marco Island was YC's next stop in 2011 and the group went back to the beach theme with YC Shore. Needless to say, there were a lot fist pumping in Florida.
St. Louis in 2012 was the final year of the trifecta of events, capped with an Ultimate Tailgate party at Mike Shannon's next to Busch Stadium.
With the move to the NACDA Convention starting with 2013, the Hair of the Duck Charity Raffle evolved into the YC Charity Social (#YCCharitySocial) -- bringing in all of the NACDA affiliates in the first multi-organizational social event. The event was a rousing success, raising a total of $13,000 in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. The 2013 event was held Kitty O'Sheas Irish Pub and the 2014 and 2015 events were held at Sea Dog Brewing Co.
The 2016 event was big in Big D at Next Door Dallas with $4,676 raised to benefit Keeper of the Game. The 2017 event returned to its roots in Orlando and Sea Dog Brewing Co. and raised $4,750 benefiting Samaritan's Feet and Frontline Outreach. The 2018 event at McLoone's Pier House in National Harbor, Md. raised $2,374 for Martha's Table.
The 2019 event was the final one, closing out an amazing 20-year run for YC and capping off 15 years of hosting events across the country. The final #YCCharitySocial raised a single-event record $7,999 for Samaritan's Feet and Frontline Outreach.
In 11 years of hosting a charity event, YC raised $37,199 for eight different charities in seven different cities.
How many people participate in the events?
Over the years across the Meet & Greet, Signature Event and YC Charity Social (formerly Hair of the Duck Charity Raffle), YC regularly brought more than 25 percent of the total CoSIDA Convention attendees on an annual basis. With the outreach to the other groups under the NACDA Convention umbrella, attendance at the annual event grew year over year.
YC was a social and networking group whose mission is to help enhance the relationships among intercollegiate athletics communications professionals via networking and social opportunities, culminating with an event during the CoSIDA Convention as a part of the NACDA & Affiliates Convention. YC has evolved from its roots to create the premiere, multi-organization networking event of convention week, the YC Charity Social, which brought together every NACDA affiliate group for an all-inclusive social gathering that raises money for a worthy charity.
How "young" must one be to be a part of YC?
There was no age limit on either end - in fact, we welcomed and encouraged folks everyone to find out what we were all about. As one of the YC motto goes ..."It’s all about ENTHUSIASM!"
What is the deal with the ducks?
Back in 1999 at CoSIDA in Orlando, a young, swashbuckling Chris Gonzales wanted to make a big marketing splash. As a promotional item, Gonzales bought 2,000 rubber ducks as giveaways, and they became an instant success. As YC was at the time in its formative years, we adopted these ducks as our symbol and mascot. The original SportsSystems ducks are now rare collectables.
How do I join YC?
Our Facebook group is still active but is mostly an archive.
What made YC so successful over the years?
The relationship building, friendship and professional contacts people made through YC helped many grow as people, both professionally and personally. One of the remarkable things that developed over the years was the friendships between people who would have had no contact through traditional professional channels.
What was the format of the YC Board?
The voting members of the board consisted of a President, members of the executive planning committee and at-large representatives. Also involved in the administration of YC was an advisory board who help support the events at the CoSIDA Convention each year.
What types of events did YC host?
YC grew from a small group of CoSIDA outsiders to focal point of the modern-day convention social calendar at the NACDA and Affiliates Convention.
At one point, YC ran three social events at every CoSIDA Convention. The week kicked off with an informal Meet & Greet, where you can catch up with old pals and meet some of the newcomers to the convention. The Signature Event - the showpiece of the week’s activities - was a theme party. The final event, Hair of the Duck, served as the backdrop for our Charity Raffle (with all proceeds going to CoSIDA's chosen local charity) and also for our annual awards presentation to cap another fantastic gathering of friends in the business.
While the origins of YC date back to the 1999 CoSIDA convention in Orlando, YC events started back in 2005 in the City of Brotherly Love. Love was far from everyone’s mind when YC hosted its inaugural Olympiad, a multi-bar, multi-"sport" event of four teams competing for supremacy in darts, pool, Golden Tee and trivia that took members through the winding streets of Philadelphia. A theme emerged from the competition, as the "Pirates" team emerged victorious. It was from that night that the pirate theme became so prominent in our group and resurfaced later in Tampa.
The following year, the decision was that YC should not be about competition - but rather, about the love. And so it came to pass that an Awesome ‘80s Prom was YC’s signature event in Nashville under the theme "A Second Chance at Your First Time." YC rented out Decades near the convention hotel, and nearly 200 YCers joined in the festivities. Of particular note were several members who got into the spirit and donned ‘80s gear, including at least one female who took it all the way and actually wore her original high school prom dress. Alas, she was beaten out for queen by a woman on roller skates (not making that up), while the king was a rockin’ metalhead who was business in the front (sock stuffed in his skin-tight pants) and party in the back (a spiky mullet).
In San Diego, YC made a attempt to get everyone "lei’d" and hosted a Luau at Buster’s Beach House, again just a short walk away from the hotel-as YC long ago noted, the key to any good event is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Once again the numbers shot up in terms of attendance, and a good time was had by all! The highlight of the evening came when Marlene Navor sealed her Miss Ducky candidacy by sharing her culture with us, performing a traditional Polynesian dance.
2008 saw YC celebrate Tampa’s pirate culture with a Gasparilla Gala at Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009 in San Antonio, "X on the Beach" was held at a Riverwalk establishment called Acapulco Sam’s, and the San Francisco "Summer of Love" in 2010 at the Triple Crown was a night that most won’t forget - particularly the staff!
Marco Island was YC's next stop in 2011 and the group went back to the beach theme with YC Shore. Needless to say, there were a lot fist pumping in Florida.
St. Louis in 2012 was the final year of the trifecta of events, capped with an Ultimate Tailgate party at Mike Shannon's next to Busch Stadium.
With the move to the NACDA Convention starting with 2013, the Hair of the Duck Charity Raffle evolved into the YC Charity Social (#YCCharitySocial) -- bringing in all of the NACDA affiliates in the first multi-organizational social event. The event was a rousing success, raising a total of $13,000 in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. The 2013 event was held Kitty O'Sheas Irish Pub and the 2014 and 2015 events were held at Sea Dog Brewing Co.
The 2016 event was big in Big D at Next Door Dallas with $4,676 raised to benefit Keeper of the Game. The 2017 event returned to its roots in Orlando and Sea Dog Brewing Co. and raised $4,750 benefiting Samaritan's Feet and Frontline Outreach. The 2018 event at McLoone's Pier House in National Harbor, Md. raised $2,374 for Martha's Table.
The 2019 event was the final one, closing out an amazing 20-year run for YC and capping off 15 years of hosting events across the country. The final #YCCharitySocial raised a single-event record $7,999 for Samaritan's Feet and Frontline Outreach.
In 11 years of hosting a charity event, YC raised $37,199 for eight different charities in seven different cities.
How many people participate in the events?
Over the years across the Meet & Greet, Signature Event and YC Charity Social (formerly Hair of the Duck Charity Raffle), YC regularly brought more than 25 percent of the total CoSIDA Convention attendees on an annual basis. With the outreach to the other groups under the NACDA Convention umbrella, attendance at the annual event grew year over year.