Ta Da

This blog was created to keep us busy during the off season so I only get around to it maybe 2 or 3 times a year. And here we OVER 6 months since our last one so lets check in and see whats been happening with the crew cause its been awhile. 

We have SO much exciting news since the last time we blogged we have added another FOUR new chapters to rock the reaper crew style. Today we stand 11 chapters strong which includes the Hellyeah Originals (The Founding PA Chapter). Congratulations are in order and an introduction is needed as we patched over SAMCRO Oklahoma and its now SOAP Crew Oklahoma ... (https://www.facebook.com/groups/samcro.oklahoma/).
But wait there's more ... we are also now rockin' the reaper California, Missouri and London style:
SOAP Crew California (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPCrewCA/)
SOAP Crew Missouri (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPCrewMO/)
SOAP Crew London (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPCrewLondon/) 
Please be sure to stop by and join these fine groups as its an honor to have their Prez' with us rockin' our crew awesomeness!

And we aren't done yet cause there's more ... 2012 was HUGE for the crew and the accomplishments we had and made ... are you ready for it?! Well lets see in September soon after the Sons of Anarchy Season 5 premiere, we yes WE were acknowledged as a crew by Kurt Sutter (creator, writer and director) on his YouTube segment WTFSutter S5 Ep29 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXGaxipwHGg) because of a group of fans that came together to present Kurt with an award in which he so greatly deserved for the show and the family that he has brought together via a mutual love. Be sure to subscribe to Kurt's YouTube channel Sutterink/SOA (http://www.youtube.com/user/sutterinksoa) for the latest WTFSutter segments, Before the Anarchy and much more! 

One week later your Prez made her webcast radio debut with Ryan Bennett from Geek Revolution Radio (http://www.geekrevolutionradio.com/). I was a nervous wreck but enjoyed myself thoroughly as we had a great panel to join us to do Rockin' SOA Talk. If you missed it, you can still tune in (http://www.geekrevolutionradio.com/?p=1109). Be sure to follow Ryan on Twitter @GeekRevRadio.

Most recently (in 2013) we were welcomed by Crystal Hamaker to be on her webcast radio station MojoRadio (http://mojoradio.us/) as we hosted *Anniversary Anarchy* a special rendition of her weekly (tune in EVERY Sunday) show called "My Jaded Remedy" to celebrate TWO YEARS together. Again I was a nervous wreck and am still unsure of how these people do it. We had SUCH a blast it was truly all that I could have hoped for since so many of our crew members tuned in to chat with me, listen to some great SOA tunes and just showed their support for what it is we do together as a crew. If you missed it, you can still tune in however this one comes with a *WARNING* because Crystal's weekly show is normally three hours long BUT we had such a blast that we ran over so feel free to DOWNLOAD and LISTEN to the FULL SHOW. (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oltt7eu97bpwnrq/M7hFb3C_tO/Struck%20Gold%20Music_Sun%20Jan%2027%20165955%202013.mp3) We understand if you erase when done listening so please just ENJOY! And also don't forget to follow Crystal on Twitter @Struckgoldmusic ... 
So all of this being said I am sure you can tell we have been keeping VERY busy. I also would like to note that I felt it coming on in the last blog and did finally take a virtual vacay that was long overdue. I want to personally thank Kristen Zimmerman, Carrie Roman and so many others who put the time and effort into keeping the crew afloat as I took care of ME. Sometimes I get lost in what has been created because it has grown so big and I of course LOVE what I do. This includes these blogs which I really should get to more often but we keep active with birthdays, bumping, events, tweeting etc. so once again my apologies that I don't do this as I should to keep the crew more in the loop of things. Speaking of which and this will conclude this blog, we are currently hosting TWO virtual baby showers for honorary crew members to be born to Jennifer Billings and Alana Tennant. This has been a true blessing to the crew as we don't just take the time to celebrate YOU but the milestones in your life that keep the crew busy all year long #HELLYEAH

FYI

Everyday the crew seems to be becoming more and more like a real virtual MC (if there is such a thing) because CONGRATS are in order as we have a HUGE announcement:
We have patched over Sons of Anarchy Lincoln County as it's now SOAP Crew Kentucky (https://www.facebook.com/SOAPCrewKY) HELLYEAH
But wait that's not all ... we are now also rockin' the reaper
SOAP Crew West Virginia style (https://www.facebook.com/SOAPCrewWV)
SOAP Crew New York style (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPCrewNY/)
SOAP Crew Arizona style (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPCrewAZ/)
SOAP Crew Georgia style (https://www.facebook.com/SOAPCrewGA)

It has been an absolute honor to patch over Kentucky and watch all of these pages/groups rally together and become a part of the SOAP Crew family! Please stop by and "like" their pages or join their groups as each of their Prez' is bringing you a sense of what made us grow so big in the first place by being them! And lest not forget that we had already previously been rockin' two of our own chapters: 
SOAP Crew Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/SOAPCrewMA) and
SOAP Crew North Carolina (https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapncc/). So since the last time we blogged we have grown 5 chapters and we keep our *fingers crossed* that our family continues to grow into what we have made it representing all that we know and can be as true dedicated Sons of Anarchy fans!
My stomach has butterflies looking at what WE did to bring this crew together, its scary some days and other days it's so nerve wrecking I wanna throw my hands up and say WTH was I thinking?! I was recently asked if I was planning on running away (NO I am not...) but I don't doubt that there may come a day where I'm gonna fly off the handle cause we lost another member or cause I'm working my ass off. I wait patiently with a hope and a prayer that this doesn't happen cause I LOVE my crew and I don't wanna go a day without it but I do need a vacation and I KNOW this isn't gonna happen cause THIS is why we are where we are ... period.

So much has been happening so fast that NOW is the time before Season 5 starts on Tuesday September 4th, 2012 according to Kurt Sutter's blog (http://sutterink.blogspot.com/) HELLYEAH! Be sure to check out the crews event Sons of Anarchy Season 5 Premiere (https://www.facebook.com/events/278429685549941/) Join, share and invite your friends/family cause you don't wanna miss out!
Also take a look at these fine celebrity fan pages who have sought the crews help to spread the word:
Dreaming of Brown Sugar (SOA) (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dreaming-of-Brown-Sugar-SOA/358747447521651)
The Real Paul Vasquez (https://www.facebook.com/TheRealPaulVasquez)
Burton Perez (https://www.facebook.com/ActorBurtonPerez)
It's been said that we are quickly becoming some sort of entity and that scares the shit out of me but at the end of the day I sit in shock and awe at what WE have created, I sit and tell myself it can't be happening but it is and I personally have YOU to thank!
We are the HELLYEAH Originals...
Come join us on Facebook: Sons of Anarchy Pennsylvania Chapter (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPcrew/)
"Like" the SOAP Crew  (https://www.facebook.com/theSOAPcrew)
and don't forget you can also follow the crew on twitter @theSOAPcrew (https://twitter.com/theSOAPcrew)

Did You Know?!

Did you know that I havent forgot about my awesome crew? Did you think that I had? Please remember that the blog is a back up to ideas and things to fill in some of the blanks as we rock our time together so NEVER think that I forgot about YOU (yes YOU!) And on that note: did you know that we had an awesome celebration for our 1 year anniversary together?! I am still in shock that it has been a year already BUT the bigger shock is asking DID YOU KNOW?!.........

That one year ago on April 14, 2011 we rocked our very first Helping Support Kurt Sutter event? Oh my, I remember reading the article that inspired this event via BuzzFocus (http://www.buzzfocus.com/2011/04/09/showrunner-kurt-sutter-sets-social-networking-goals-for-sons-of-anarchy-season-4/) and wondering what it was that I could do to help him achieve his social networking goal. I guess I figured it out but more amazingly I got the support of YOU and many other Sons of Anarchy fans who now once a month on the 14th Help Support Kurt Sutter AND we even were acknowledged by Kurt himself thanking us for creating this event! WOW it doesnt get any better than that! 

Here we are one year later and Kurt has achieved as of this date: (April 4, 2012) 111,494 followers on Twitter @sutterink ... thus proving how awesome he truly is!!! And SutterInk (https://www.facebook.com/pages/SutterInk/233280133388699) on Facebook continues to grow as he stands 41,868 "likes" strong! Our support for him continues each and every month and this month we have renamed the event to Sutterbration (https://www.facebook.com/events/297791210292017/) ...because the crew wants to acknowledge the awesomeness of this milestone with a celebration. Soooo please invite your friends/family and join us at the Sons of Anarchy Pennsylvania Chapter (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPcrew/) as we will be supporting Kurt discussing Sons of Anarchy Season 3 and taking the crazy bus to Sutterland as we gear up waiting for Season 5 which by the way...

Did you know that Season 5 is headed back to your TV screens? That is right folks tune in cause the crew has one more rockin' event for you to check out the Sons of Anarchy Season 5 Premiere (https://www.facebook.com/events/278429685549941/). According to Kurt's blog (http://sutterink.blogspot.com/) our fav show is returning on Tuesday September 4, 2012 @10pm on FX! This of course is bringing joy to viewers everywhere! Now that you know what has been happening with the crew and that one year later we are truly thankful to have you as a part of it *take your bow* and stay tuned for more! 

Here we are...

I wanna take the time to wish everyone in the crew a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR... I am sure like many we are ALL shocked that it is 2012 already and that means so much to each of us in its own way! For some of us it means another year ahead for some of us it means another journey together for some of us it means a resolution to stick to but no matter how you dice it...it is low and behold 2012!
As the time flies by it is hard to keep track of all we have accomplished whether in our own lives or just here in the crew and I can tell you I try my damnedest every day to make sure you are in the know with whatever Kurt Sutter ( @sutterink ) might be tweeting about or just to say HI and how are you to those who havent forgotten about the crew during Sons of Anarchy's off season!  But that is why I have created those darn DOC's on our Facebook crew ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPcrew/ ) created our Twitter crew (https://twitter.com/#!/theSOAPcrew) and started this blog...so that YOU always have a clue!

So let me clue you in...one year ago on January 24th, 2011 I was encouraged to start something to share and show my love for Sons of Anarchy and knowing that there are so many Facebook groups around I took to what I know and started the Pennsylvania Chapter. If you take a peek you will see that in our very description I was utterly enthused that PA was being repped by SOA and even more pleased that it was I who would be rockin' it with thee most awesome people around! What I didnt know is what the hell I was doing...I have no connections to any of the SOA cast/crew besides following them on Twitter or being friends with them on Facebook. And this was going to make my job the hardest job in the world...and yet today it seems to be what comes most easy to me.
I share what I can and WE as a crew rock birthdays, events, snacks, support, links you name it and its being shared with 400+ people on FB ( we also have a page as well as the group on FB ... (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-SOAP-Crew/187806584583180 ) which rocks 500+ awesome crew members! And on Twitter we are currently holding steady at 1800 followers (*fingers crossed* that we keep growing) #HELLYEAH! I cannot thank you each enough for the support you have shown as I fumble my way through some days trying to think of something to say or do to make it seem like I actually do have a clue! And here we are one year later and I promise you I still havent a clue but thanks to you I am figuring it out day by day and we are doing it TOGETHER!
*TAKE A BOW*
We have so much planned for the year ahead some surprises up our sleeve that surely should keep all members of our crew planted and wanting more and as we anxiously await we are announcing some of our biggest news yet...
According to Kurt's blog ( http://sutterink.blogspot.com/ ) the show that brought us together (SONS OF ANARCHY) is returning for their Season 5 premiere on Tuesday September 4, 2012 @10pm on FX so be sure to check our largest event ever in crew history (https://www.facebook.com/events/278429685549941/)

THE SOAP CREW is standing strong with TWO chapters SOAP CREW MASSACHUSETTS (https://www.facebook.com/pages/SOAP-Crew-Massachusetts/218646358167572) and SOAP CREW NORTH CAROLINA (https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapncc/) and holding on to hope to keep growing as a family! #HELLYEAH

The Show Must Go On....and then some

If you havent heard the exciting news and its not new news but Sons of Anarchy has been signed for another season which means comes this last episode of Season 4 (airing Tuesday December 6th, 2011 at 10pm on FX Networks) we will now be awaiting the so worth it SEASON 5 (#HELLYEAH) And with that in mind it means that our patience will wear thin trying to hold on for another 9 months before Kurt Sutter makes us pull out more hairs...but again SO worth it!!! That being said only 2 people have ever asked me what will happen with the crew once Sons of Anarchy has come to an end and that is a great question...I know it got me thinking?!?!
So lets see if I can answer it for those who like to inquire because even though only one of those 2 people might actually see this blog the same kind of question was approached in our Facebook crew because of my mentioning not creating an event for the Season 4 Finale. It was a personal choice not to do so because I would like to keep our events on a positive note and it just seems sad to have to remind everyone that our favorite show is getting ready to close curtain and prepare for another season (did I mention in 9 months from now? see how painful that is...)

My knowledge is this I personally would like to keep the crew up and running after Sons of Anarchy finally wraps up for good and no this is not my wish...my wish is that THE SHOW MUST GO ON for forever but I have to imagine even Kurt may think that might be a bit much...then again I could be wrong! We have very successful events that keep people in the know...as per our continuing support for Kurt and all he does...and whatever his next venture might be. The kicker is he might not do it right away whether a book a movie or another series whether a spin-off or something else talented he has plotting in that genius mind of his and so that will cost us some members both on Facebook and Twitter. I am willing to make that sacrifice because for those that stay it will be a place to remind us how we became friends/family in the first place. A place to say I have had a bad day even if not to put it out there publicly because your spouse/parent/sibling may not understand. A place to post music and get feedback or whatever it is that you need but it will be a place to still be YOU!
Tonight two of our Facebook members took the time to thank our VP our Junior VP and me for all we do...I wish someday that my crew will realize I was encouraged to do this...to rock SOA my way to stop clogging up my wall with the info I was so eager to learn and put out there for others to see! I did this but not without YOU...yes YOU whoever happens to be reading this blog and YOU are the ones that WE need to thank! Did I think it was weird the first time I posted breakfast for the crew or wished someone a HAPPY BIRTHDAY...by far YES! And I can even tell you I started to question my own sanity when our VERY first event was a virtual Housewarming Party for Kurt and wife Katey Sagal (aka Gemma), but I never wouldve done it without this crew. I assure you I havent completely lost it yet and would not have done that one on my own...but its been successful! We are currently rockin' 380+ members in our Facebook group...500+ on our Facebook page and 1700+ followers on Twitter...what more could a gal ask for?! I wish I had done this blog before Thanksgiving to let you ALL know how thankful I am to know each of you...to rock your birthdays...to share breakfast/lunch/snacks and holidays with...I am not just thankful I am blessed!
Now with that being said...what will happen to this crew when Sons of Anarchy has finally closed the curtain for good? Well let me ask you...what would you like to see happen?

What Its Like to Be: Drama Free

There is never a good title for a blog...nothing catchy that says it all but I really like the way that sounds What Its Like to Be: Drama Free...call it my poetic side...who knows?! Today we rocked another successful Link a Page/Group day where we share links from Facebook to let our crew members know that we as a crew support other Sons of Anarchy pages and groups. It gives our members a chance to check out those sites and see if they like what they have to offer...be it pictures or links or just plain info the point is we are not the only fan-based crew around and I think our job as a family as a crew is to show our support for others as often as possible. We do this once a month and it tends to drain me but today seemed quick and painless and for that I am grateful!
Cause as I have blogged about before there is always something happening behind the scenes you know in real life where I am mom and homemaker and many other things to the house I run as well as the crew! Have you ever stopped and wondered how these fan-based crews have come together...it is because of people like @jrtougas and @tuttles12 here on twitter as well many others (they run the SOAP Crew Massachusetts and SOAP Crew North Carolina on Facebook). The main credit goes to @sutterink ( Kurt Sutter ) because he created Sons of Anarchy for us to watch 13 weeks out of the year (14 this season)  and how would you define SOA? Is it an action? a drama? a sci-fi? or a real life story coming back to haunt you on your television...

No matter how you define it I can tell you that according to what I know its classified as a drama and most certainly adds its very own definition of that to our lives no matter what the genre is that it comes from...but that doesnt mean that its drama should leak out into what we are trying to create for the fans! A place to seek information on what is happening if they cant tune in... a place to seek refuge and feel at home because they know there will not be any spoilers and while we speak of home yes a place to call those other fans that are in those very same crews FAMILY! Its very important to have this because after all for those 13 weeks we watch the cast of SOA do the same...from Charlie Hunnam to Katey Sagal to Ron Perlman...they are similar to us in that light...they arent just actors they are a family! (and not just on TV in real life too)
Do they bicker like they grew up in the same house? I imagine that behind their scenes there is such drama but we dont get  to see it and I will speak for myself by saying I am glad that I dont...I wanna think of them only as HAPPY! The reality is that they have bad hair days and their own behind the scenes to deal with and we get to just live in the world Kurt created for us...where we scream at the TV throw Reese's pieces at the reaper and grow more gray hair with each season...and yes I am about to make my point...IF YOU DONT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY DONT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL! Spoken like a true mother dont you think?! LOL When you enter a new page/group do me a HUGE favor and play nice...be respectful and remember that there are REAL people with feelings behind the screen...devoting their time to bring you something special....
That is the coolest thing is seeing what the individuals mind can do with the information they receive...for me I am connected to the best sites but I dont have pics like other pages/groups so I fill the void by rocking virtual events. I am followed by some of the cast/crew but I dont have the inside scoop without following Kurt (@sutterink) and I fill that void by celebrating birthdays. And this is the crews first holiday together so I am even creating a Christmas Card List so that these family members can let others know they are thinking about them during one of the toughest times of the year...and on that note on the off chance I dont blog before the holidays let me take the time to wish ALL of you the very happiest of new years ahead...May the Reaper Guide You to the Happiest of Days! #HELLYEAH

*Raise Your Glass*

It is no secret that Kurt Sutter was aiming for 66,666 followers on twitter (@sutterink) and within the past couple days he achieved that....CONGRATULATIONS to a man deserving of those followers and hopefully MANY more to come! With that being said the realization that he gained 4,252 followers in less than 20 days like WOW its not only well deserved but thanks to his honesty to keep his followers/fans informed and real! The crew now hopes to aim for his original goal of 100,000 followers! But on top of that he has managed to take his plight with DirecTV to twitter about them dropping FX and give DirecTV a run for their money. I cannot begin to comprehend what kind of slack their customers are giving them...I mean have you met these Sons of Anarchy fans? We are die hard to the core DONT MESS WITH OUR FAMILIES fans...we are not crazy or addicted we are dedicated and true!
With that being said if you remember in our last blog we were talking about Helping Support Kurt Sutter and the measures we have taken to do so which included a twibbon called #HelpSupportKurtSutter (http://twibbon.com/join/HelpSupportKurtSutter-2). Well the crew is at it again thanks to Kurt's latest blog FOX VS. DIRECTV (http://sutterink.blogspot.com/2011/10/fox-vs-directv.html) the crew has created another twibbon called #NoFX #NoDirecTV (http://twibbon.com/join/NoFX-NoDirecTV) to help twitter and facebook fans alike spread the word that they are not happy with losing the ability to see the last 5 episodes of Season 4! I know I would be livid so much so I wouldnt care the cost to chuck those buttheads to the curb and pick up with a company that gave a damn about what I do everyday supporting my love for Sons of Anarchy!

Now on another note I took a personal blog that I told my crew about last night on Facebook that I would blog about today...I have Zero Tolerance for Spoilers (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOAPcrew/doc/228117820585840/) in our crew at the Sons of Anarchy Pennsylvania Chapter. We are NOT just PA-based and that means you HAVE to be respectful to those who are not...PERIOD. Now that being said if you happen to read that DOC I created you will note that on twitter (@theSOAPcrew) it is more than likely you will receive spoilers because we follow Kurt (@sutterink) and because we run the page previously blogged about Bring Kurt Sutter Back (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Kurt-Sutter-back/261226470560142) so lemme apologize if you are following the crew and we have spoiled something for you...but I do promise that we try NOT to...I know I would not appreciate someone spoiling the best show in the world for me!
I hope everyone is enjoying their Hump Day and now that  I have made time to blog today lets hope I have the time to do our Weekly SOAP Crew Update I know I have been slacking the last couple of weeks! OH and how could I forget to mention that the SOAP Crew officially now has two chapters SOAP Crew Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/pages/SOAP-Crew-Massachusetts/218646358167572) headed up by our very own @Jrtougas and SOAP Crew North Carolina  (https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapncc/) headed up by our very own @tuttles12! This is very exciting news for everyone that is part of the crew both on Facebook and on Twitter! Thank you ALL for your continuing support!
#HELLYEAH