Thank You!

With the 2009 BAM Jam completed and a day to reflect on the event, there is no doubt that this community is the best!

First, thanks to all the volunteers that made this happen. While there are too many to recognize individually, it took a huge effort from all of the BAM Jam operational units. The set up crew was amazing and their creative solutions to a wet set up were crucial. We know you are probably still soaked to the bone! The check in team at Piper Pub, Jacksons/Fast Eddy's Master Scoreboard, volunteer check in, BAM Jam Lounge in the 8th Street Mareketplace, court monitors and marshals, medical and hydration stations, the BAM Jam Store, Regence BlueShield Information booth, LeMaster Daniels contest courts, tear down and clean up crews and our booth set up teams were incredible. Your time, energy and passion were vital to the event's success!

Second, the BAM Jam sponsors were crucial to making this happen. To those that were on board from the start last year and the new sponsors that joined us this year, your support and assistance allowed this great event to take place.

And of course, thank you to all the participants that hung in there through the early rain and finished in the bright beautiful sunshine! You did amazing and, regardless of your final record, you are all champions just for finishing. We look forward to improving this event for you next year (August 6-7) and continuing to make BAM Jam an event you can be proud of!

Alive After Five Tomorrow

The BAM Jam crew will once again be down at Alive After Five this Wednesday, July 15. The basket will be up and you can take your shot at winning some cool prizes. Staff will be there to meet you and answer any questions that you may have. Facebook users, you can RSVP by clicking here.

Remember to get your team registered by July 31. After that, you are taking your chances!

The Gold Standard

As we continue to prepare for BAM Jam 2009, the staff took our traditional trip to Spokane, Washington this past weekend for Hoopfest.

Hoopfest once again did something that they have been doing over the last several years, breaking their own attendance record. This year, according to their event guide, Hoopfest had 6,700 participating teams, breaking last year's record and continuing to prove what community support for a great event can do.

With nearly 600 courts on 40 square blocks, Spokane proved that it is the current home court for 3 on 3 basketball.

There were a few things that stood out that are worth noting:

1. The Nike Center Court was again the spot to be for not only great hoops but also great entertainment. In addition to the games there were dance performances from the Sea Gals (the Seahawks dance team) and men's and women's dunk competitions. The crowds seemed bigger this year than last year.
2. Their staff continues to incredibly welcoming to our staff. Kathlene Sulivan (in charge of their registration, check in, player changes, etc.) may be one of the coolest people we've met. And Lori and Chad Smith were awesome with the Court Monitor trainings.
3. The food and booths continue to get better and better. In addition to all the food options, participants also got a chance to get autographs from current Gonzaga players.
4. The Court Monitors and Court Marshalls continue to be some of the nicest and hardest working volunteers around. They give their weekend and stand in the heat so that the tournament can go on and be successful. You really have to respect that.

So, as we return back to Boise to finish planing for this year's BAM Jam, we do so energized by what we just saw and with a goal of where we someday could be.

Alive After Five

Wednesday night on the Grove in Boise was great. The weather was beautiful and it was fun to get to meet so many of you and give away some prizes.

All in all, Alive After Five is one of the neat downtown Boise events. With live bands, food & drink and a fountain to accompany the hot weather, it provides a nice escape for downtown employees and fun for families from all over the Treasure Valley. The DBA has done a fantastic job with this event!

We are excited to announce that we will be back downtown on July 15, thanks to the Idaho Business Review. If you didn't get a chance to come down last night, we would love to meet you in July. And if you did come by and say hello, you are more than welcome to come back to the booth, shoot some hoops and win some more prizes!