American Football Association: American Football Association Newsletter June 02, 2012

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in American Football Association. Don't forget to add amerfoot@aol.com to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!

You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.

American Football Association Newsletter

June 2012 June 01, 2012 - Vol 6, Issue 1

Welcome to our revised newsletter; hope you like our new look!

In This Issue

Hall of Fame Weekend A Success

AFA News & Media Clips

Article Headline

American Football Association Announces Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame - Class of 2012

The American Football Association's Hall of Fame selection committee has completed its annual task of reviewing personal profiles of qualified individuals nominated for induction into the Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame as the "Class of 2012". Information submitted by HOF alumni and subsequent review by the selection committee resulted in the selection of 18 people for enshrinement this year.

This year's group of Hall of Famers will be enshrined as the "Class of 2012" during the AFA's 32nd Annual Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2121 George Halas Drive NW, Canton, Ohio 44708. The Induction Dinner will be part of a 2 day event for the AFA National Association, which will run from Thursday, June 28th thru Friday, June 29th. There will be a special acknowledgement this year of all inductees from the 1980s & 1990s as well.

This year we are especially honored to induct Derek Stingley and Tyronne Jones, both players from Arena Football who got their start at the semipro/minor league football level. Derek Stingley started his career with the semipro Louisiana Bayou Thunder and subsequently went on to the Arena Football Albany Firebirds. In 2008 he was named Arena Football 2 Head Coach of the Year. Derek still holds several semipro football records and is currently coaching with the Pittsburgh Power. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Stingley

Tyronne Jones started his career at the semipro level with the New Orleans Hustlers (AFA) and subsequently started his Arena Football career with the Nashville Kats, New Orleans VooDoo and then the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyronne_Jones

Events Scheduled:

-Sports & Celebrity Memorabilia Auction

-Annual AFA/HoF Legends - meet the new inductees "Alumni Huddle Cocktail Party - 7pm Thursday, June 28th (Special Guest - Don Jonas, Class of 1983)

-AFA Board of Directors Meeting (closed) - 10am Friday, June 29th

-Pro Football Hall of Fame Tours at your leisure

-32nd Annual AFA Semi Pro Hall of Fame Induction Dinner - (Cocktails 6pm) 7pm Dinner Friday, June 29th.

The American Football Association is proud to present the names of those who will be enshrined into the AFA Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame as the "Class of 2012" (names in parentheses indicate sponsors of the new inductees):

Players Category:

-Simeon Hendrickson - Lombard, IL - (Mal Yarke, Elmhurst Travelers, Don Busch, Larry Schmidt, Jim Bejna, Jerry Schropp, Neal Andersen, Andy Tranchita)

-Ralph Pina - Raynham, MA - (Peter O'Kane)

-Al Countryman - Theresa, NY - (George Ashcraft)

-Lawrence Pollic - Ballston Spa, NY - (Alvin Lollie)

-Dave Fleck - Schenectady, NY - (Tom Manny)

-Erik Taylor - Irving, TX - (Greg Skowronski)

-Derek Stingley - Baton Rouge, LA - (Dave Burch)

-Tyronne Jones - Marietta, GA - (Keith Ballard)

-Howard Hoy - Frederick, MD - (Stephen Oldt, Dave Bonsell)

-Gary Hughes - Glen Allen, VA - (Bob Yurachek)

-Don Kempf - Olmsted Twp, OH - (Paul Takach, John Companey)

-Leon Burch - Chicago, IL - (Thomas Robinson)

-Pat O'Toole - Weymouth, MA - (Larry DeVoe)

-Clayton "CC" Cowling - Indianapolis, IN - (Jim Stamper)

Executive Category:

-John P. Zafiris Jr - Billerica, MA - (Cheryl Kardas)

-Tom Hawkins - Burlington, WI - (Jordan Kopac)

-Chad Fauson - Chambersburg, PA - (Chazz Brown)

Coaches Category:

-"Duke" Collins - Canton, MA - (AFA Alumni)

The enshrinement of this year's class of 18 new hall of famers will see the 32-year total number of inductees expand from 653 members to 671 members. Since the inaugural enshrinement in 1981 (including the Class of 2010) the AFA has recognized 384 players; 101 coaches; 85 executives; 29 officials; 23 pioneers; 20 media/historians; 13 trainer/equipment men; 6 associated with youth football; 5 involved with international semi-pro; 4 from the women's level; and even 1 'super fan.'

Dinner tickets are $75 each for the 2012 AFA Semi Pro Hall of Fame Induction Dinner. Mail in registration:

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=wxx5mvcab&oeidk=a07e5y9u3mufe032237. The deadline for ticket orders is June 7th.

This year as part of our event fundraiser, we are soliciting sponsors and raffle items in advance. Sponsors and donors will be acknowledged during our live hall of fame internet broadcast, will be listed in our souvenir program and posted on our event banner. Just click the form below to make a donation/become a sponsor...http://www.americanfootballassn.com/forms/sponsorship-form.pdf or use our social media link http://fundly.com/s/e30t5f21.

AFA News & Media Clips

Don Jonas may have been the greatest all-around athlete to come out of the city of Scranton. Quarterback, running back, receiver, pitcher, catcher, shooting guard, kicker: Jonas played them all and played them all well. He was drafted in 32nd round by the New York Titans of the AFL and in the 14th round by the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1962, he played one games with the Eagles and was cut. He never got another chance to play in the NFL again.

Don then went to Harrisburg of the Atlantic Coast Professional Football League. There Don did it all: running back, receiver, quarterback and kicker. He started the year at Flanker and caught 20 passes and 5 touchdowns in his first five games. Then the Capitals starting QB and back-up were injured. Jonas filled in. Don just missed leading the ACFL in completions (trailing by five) and passing yards (by 64), finished 10th in the league in rushing, led the league in field goals and was first in total yards. Don won the league MVP for his efforts.

Don Jonas became University of Central Florida's first head football coach on a volunteer basis in 1979. UCF finished the season 6-2, and sets an NCAA Division III record for attendance with an average of 11,240 in what was then known as the Tangerine Bowl. It was a very successful first season. Don coached for 2 more years before retiring. His final record as a coach was 14-12-1.

Make sure you get a copy of "Outsiders II: Minor League and Independent Football 1951-1985"

and have our Hall of Famers autograph their page in this book at our hall of fame event.

This is an enquiry e-mail via http://www.americanfootballassn.com/ from:
Bruno Baltazar <brunobltzr@yahoo.com>
I am a minor league collector and soon i plan on doing a exposition regarding game used items from those leagues ,right now im looking for any game used jersey ,helmet or anything else from the Pottstown Firebirds ,minor league team affiliated with the eagles,let me know if theres any used items for sell or some alumni players i could talk to,thank you

Semi-pro football team holds first practice since death of a teammate

WANE - May 20, 2012

Coleman, 32, died back on May 12 during a charity football game near Toledo. Coleman was from Napoleon, Ohio. The Panthers are a semi-pro football team in the Crossroads Football League based in Indianapolis. According to the league's website...

1965-1969 Continental Football League
Dennis Kuno has created a website about the third league of major professional football of the 1960's, the 1965-1969 Continental Football League. There is even video from back in the day of Don Jonas #13, the highest scoring QB in pro football history, Claude Watts and, Leon Mavity of the Continental Football League; all AFA Hall of Famers. For video just click http://www.boosterclubcfl.com/media/cfl_highlights.wmv

American Football Association Hall of Fame Jackets - Now Available !!!....we are pleased to announce that AFA Hall of Fame jackets are now available for purchase directly from Chicago Knitting Mills.....and yes, they do have the plus sizes 2X -- 5X! Just send an email to amerfoot@aol.com to obtain an order form.

AFA Alumni Jackets are now available ............the only difference between this jacket and the Hall of Fame Jacket above is the AFA Alumni logo on the back vice HoF logo. If interested in placing an order, request an order form via email to amerfoot@aol.com.

AFA Hall of Fame Blazers....because of the positive feedback from last year's Hall of Fame banquet, we are now making Hall of Fame Blazers available to all current hall of fame members. Please email amerfoot@aol.com if you are interested. Blazer logo patches are also available upon request. Note: Hall of Fame Patches are available upon request for those who would like to update their favorite blazer with this memorable item @$15. Just send an email to amerfoot@aol.com........

Wilson NFL Footballs... New Wilson Footballs are now in stock. The price is $65/ball or $390 per case for new balls plus $20 shipping and handling for a total of $410 per case of six...

AFA Broadcast Channel Goes Live
The AFA's live broadcast channel capability for video webcasts is now available for PCs, iPads and, Smartphones. Checkout the current feature 115 Years of the Watertown Red & Black by clicking http://www.steveweedproductions.com/oldvideopage/vidpage/115yearsofRB.html

Other featured video includes weekly vintage and live video webcasts of events such as the Pottstown Firebirds Super Bowl Special, Kalamazoo Tornadoes AFA Championship, Past AFA Hall of Fame Inductions, AFA Member Game Broadcasts and special announcements. These weekly broadcast will accessible directly from our website and in additional to performances by some of our hall of famers, will also feature AFA sponsors. These broadcasts can also be accessed at http://www.steveweedproductions.com/AFA.html

AFA Membership Programs

2012 AFA Alumni Club Membership - Are You A Card Carrying Member?
AFA Membership is open to anyone and everyone that, at one time or another, had been (or still is) involved with a semi-pro team and/or league. Semi-Pro Football Alumni Club is co-sponsored by the AFA National Association and the Members of the AFA Hall of Fame Alumni. Membership packages are on their way to all active members loaded with fulfillment items!

2012 AFA Team & League Membership
Membership applications are now being accepted for the 2012 season. We are proud to have the Elite Football Association, Empire, National Public Safety, Mason Dixon and, Ironman Football Leagues as members.

The annual membership fee to join the AFA remains $100 "per team" which provides a benefit package that is easily 10x this fee. Team membership applications can be downloaded by clicking: http://www.americanfootballassn.com/resources/team-membership-application.html

AFA Advertising In NFL Yearbooks

As we continue to grow our visibility/presence and building upon our successful ad placements over the last two years in USA TODAY's Special Commemorative Super Bowl Previews and several NFL Yearbooks, we are expanding this opportunity for our member teams and sponsors. If you are interested in this opportunity for your organization or sponsors, please contact us at amerfoot@aol.com.

Also planned this season is an ad listing this year's AFA Hall of Fame Class of 2012 in the NFL Yearbooks associated with their hometown markets.

These NFL Yearbooks are available for purchase at NFL games and on news stands during the NFL season. Stay tuned for our NFL Game Ticket Raffle !!!!

American Football Association Benefits, Inc

The America Football Association recently established major partnerships with insurance companies to make comprehensive coverage products available for all AFA Alumni. AFA Alumni and where applicable their spouses and dependents, can now apply for insurance at competitive group rates.

It's now easy to join the AFA and apply for affordable insurance coverage with a special discount for being an AFA Alumni. For more info, please call 877-624-4485 or email AFABenefitsInc@americanfootballassn.com.

Join Us On The Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin)


AFA Fan Page AFA Hall of Fame Fan Page Join us on Twitter Join the AFA's Group on Linkedin

Refer Friend

Constant Contact is one of those things that's made my business better and my life easier. They have the best marketing tools out there for emails, events, and online surveys. Plus they've got this thing called KnowHow, which is all about helping folks like us to be smarter with our marketing-including free one-to-one coaching on the phone (who does that

anymore?).
This is a great tool for all AFA Member Teams....I thought you might want to try them FREE for 60 days

About the American Football Association: The American Football Association is a national 501(c) (3) non-profit, tax exempt corporation in its 32nd year of operation and is dedicated to the advancement of adult (semi-pro) football from coast-to-coast. Our slogan is Semi Pro & Proud®. We are not affiliated with any other national semi-pro/minor league organization (Minor League Football News, American Football News Today, American Football Hall of Fame, Minor Pro Hall of Fame, etc). The AFA, Hall of Fame, American Football News™ and AFA logo design are registered trademarks of the American Football Association. All other AFA-related trademarks are trademarks of the American Football Association.

Forward email