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Erick
03-23-2010, 03:24 PM
The Official Spring Game Tailgate Announcement:

Join us for The Most Powerful Tailgate in the World!

The ground is thawing and Stillwater is blooming. April 17th, many will gather on campus to remember The Ten and enjoy a fine day of OSU athletics. No football game experience would be complete without the official tailgate, so let's kick off the new year in athletics by joining us in our proud display of parking lot debauchery!

We are proud to honor a very special lady on this beautiful Spring day. As many of you know our dear friend Michelle Folsom, “AnniePokely” lost her wonderful mother this December. Vicki or “Mimi” as she was lovingly known, was a true fixture at the early tailgates. She was a diehard OSU fan her entire life. She never missed a game, refusing to miss one. Her last tailgate was the last game she attended (Nov 14th Vs Texas Tech)) which was five weeks before she passed away. She loved her Pokes, and many people can tell the story about her falling in GIA parking lot, completely shattering her wrist and hand, and refusing to go to the emergency room until after the basketball game, because she had been receiving letters and cards from Eddie and the team while she was in the hospital, and even received many letters (and phone calls) from John Lucas. John was expecting to see her following the game that night, and she wasn't going anywhere until after she met him outside the locker room! OSU Storm (Darrin) made her a make shift splint out of a phone book he got from one of the concession stands, and she sat there, in what had to be horrible pain, and yelled and cheered on her Pokes that night! After meeting John,she was taken to the Stillwater Emergency room, when they found out her entire wrist was shattered. Now that’s cowboy spirit!

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb231/Stillh20brewer/ed1215101604_e-mail_4x5.jpg?t=1269191990

Vicki was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1994, caused by severe hypertension (high blood pressure) and by the time symptoms presented, one kidney was already non functioning. That kidney was removed, and she lived with one kidney until 2005. In 2005, her remaining kidney failed. That was when she was diagnosed with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) at which time she became a dialysis patient, attending dialysis 3 times a week for four hours a day. Dialysis is a method of removing toxic substances (impurities or wastes) from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so.

Vicki passed away December 23rd, 2009 while taking morning dialysis. She died from a ruptured aneurysm.

We hope to honor her memory this day with a benefit tailgate where 100% of the donations received by our guests will go straight to an organization that will aid others in hopes of benefiting their lives. You can read more about The Kidney Trust below.

When: Saturday April 17th Begins at 10:00- Ends after post-game celebration. Food will be served around 12:30 after the Remember the Ten award ceramony. Many of the roads around the stadium will be closed until 11:00 so if you want to park at the tailgate, you need to get there early or waint untill 11:00.

Where: Southwest of the stadium just West of the Architecture Building. (see map)

Who: Everyone is invited! Please RSVP at the Official OSU Spring Game Tailgate Facebook site.

How Much:
As always, there is no charge to participate in the fun! Food and drink will be provided by our sponsors, Apex Financial Solutions and Orangepower.com. In lieu of donations to offset the expenses, we ask that you instead donate to The Kidney Trust. Our sponsors have the cost covered in hopes that you will be generous to their cause.

Menu: We will try to accommodate around 250 fans so get there early!

BEEF!
Smoked Brisket
Onion Burgers!
Smoked Beef Sausages
Baked Beans
Corn Souffle
Desserts

Drinks:
Beer
Non-beer refreshments
The Famous PCW Mini Bar (listed below)

Entertainment:
Washers & Tailgate Golf Tournaments
Beer Pong If Someone Brings A Table

How to Participate:
*Bring drinks for yourself and/or the community
*Bring lawn chairs if you plan on sitting
*Bring a canopy if you have one to add to the community Tent City
* WEAR ORANGE

Most importantly, if you are new to The Tailgate and shy, find a volunteer and get introduced.
A big Thanks to our Sponsor:
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb231/Stillh20brewer/Apexlogo2-1.jpg?t=1251907404
Other Important Information:
* No consumption of alcohol is allowed by anyone under the age of 21.
* Be respectful of all guest, we pride ourselves in our hospitality.
* RSVP on Facebook to help spread the word: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208118276378

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The Kidney Trust: http://www.kidneytrust.org/learn/
The Kidney TRUST aims to benefit the 31 million American adults living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), as well as the 506,000 Americans with kidney failure that require dialysis or a kidney transplant. The TRUST was formed to increase awareness of kidney disease through public education and testing programs so that progression of CKD to kidney failure can be delayed or prevented. The Kidney TRUST is an independent, nonprofit organization that believes everyone should be empowered to take a proactive role in their health. Toward that end, the TRUST is seeking to reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) through free, rapid screening in non-medical settings and to provide financial assistance to people affected by CKD.

The goal of the TRUST’s free rapid-testing program, which was launched in October 2007, is to identify individuals who have signs of kidney impairment. The TRUST’s screening program is carried out in non-medical settings such as large employer workplaces and community health fairs. In 2009 screenings were held across the United States

The Kidney TRUST’s Financial Assistance Program had awarded over 500 grants totaling $1.2 million by the end of 2009. The FAP is designed for people on dialysis who are having trouble managing co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles for medical treatment, services, and prescription drugs that are covered under their private health insurance plan.

DPC: http://www.dialysispatients.org/

(some achievements included: http://www.dialysispatients.org/about-dpc/44

DPC provides a voice for dialysis patients. With more than 22,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis patients making up our membership. It is a nonprofit patient run organization dedicated to improving dialysis patients’ quality of life by developing awareness of dialysis issues, advocating for dialysis patients, improving the partnership between patients and caregivers, and promoting favorable public policy.

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http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb231/Stillh20brewer/2010SpringGametailgatemap.jpg?t=1269277798

Verb
03-23-2010, 03:51 PM
What a wonderful way to honor the memory of a fabulous lady.

I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that this tailgate is one I DO NOT miss!

osutuba
03-23-2010, 04:55 PM
I would so love to be there for this, if anything to hug you (Verb) and Michelle around the neck for all you have done for us. Unfortunately, a 2-week old baby probably doesn't travel cross-country all that well.

AlwaysOrange
03-24-2010, 11:07 AM
Ok....that made me cry. What a wonderful lady Vicki was.

I look forward to seeing everyone that day. Something to get us through this long off season!! And...Erick correct me if I'm wrong....I think LandscapePoke is smokin' some meats for the tailgate. And believe me....you don't want to miss that!!! :cool2:

bleedorange
03-24-2010, 01:07 PM
Ok....that made me cry. What a wonderful lady Vicki was.

I look forward to seeing everyone that day. Something to get us through this long off season!! And...Erick correct me if I'm wrong....I think LandscapePoke is smokin' some meats for the tailgate. And believe me....you don't want to miss that!!! :cool2:

I'll have some of what HE'S been smokin'! :biggrin:

AnniePokely
03-25-2010, 12:59 PM
Made me cry as well Cherie, in fact, i'm sitting here bawling my head off. Knowing the announcement was coming, was one thing. Actually seeing it posted, and knowing that she'll never again attend another tailgate/game with me, hits like a brick in the face.

I've gone back and forth about attending this event. On one hand, what a lovely tribute to the finest woman I've ever known. Of course I'd want to be there, because there's no place else she would have rather been than in Stillwater on a sunny day with her family and Pokes.

On the other hand, attending my first game/tailgate ever, without her, is just hard to even fathom. It's just a smack of reality that I haven't been looking forward to.

I do want to thank everyone involved. Erick, along with the folks at OrangePower. Our entire family thanks all of you from the bottom of our heart. The two foundations listed do SO much to help raise awareness for Kidney disease through on site early detection screening, and also give support to exisiting dialysis patients. Thirty one million adults have kidney disease, and 90% don't even know it. These people need a voice. They need help. You don't hear alot about kidney disease. I hope to change that in the future.

I'm going to make it to this event...for my mom. With us will be friends, family, and the dialysis nurses and RN's that took care of my momma. A group of twenty people I adore attending with me for support. I want them to know the good side of her life. The side that didn't include being in the hospital, or being in a chair shackled to a machine. I want them to see what made her happy.

Verb
03-25-2010, 03:28 PM
It's going to be a special day, and I sure hope everyone digs deep to raise some serious funds for this great cause. I know I will.

Erick
03-25-2010, 03:37 PM
Ok....that made me cry. What a wonderful lady Vicki was.

I look forward to seeing everyone that day. Something to get us through this long off season!! And...Erick correct me if I'm wrong....I think LandscapePoke is smokin' some meats for the tailgate. And believe me....you don't want to miss that!!! :cool2:

That is right! Landscape is smoking the briskets and I can say first hand that his briskets are among the very best I've had. Absolutely amazing. Vetmed, is bringing the smoker and the corn soufflé/beans. Ryan, king of the onion burgers is setting up the griddle and working his magic. It's truly a first class tailgate. Some live music might be in the works too.

Obviously for many, it will be a day of remembering an I really hope that it can also be a day of fun and celebration.

Erick
04-12-2010, 10:01 AM
A couple of updates:

First, we are going to serve food a little later in the day so everyone can get a chance to eat. The line should start around 4:30. We will have some scrumptious onion burgers before hand to satisfy the early birds.

Also, it looks like we will have some live music for your listening pleasure!

See everyone there!

Erick
04-13-2010, 07:58 PM
Music Update!

We are proud and excited to bring you two great music acts during the day. Kicking off the day we'll have country singer Rusty Rierson. Rusty sang at the Homecoming parade last year and has a great song called Cowboy Fever. Check out his songs ad bio at his website http://www.rustyrierson.com/home.html

Around 12:30 we'll welcome Stillwater's own The Flatland Travelers. These guys have been touring all over the nation and we are thrilled to have them play at the tailgate. You can check the out at http://www.myspace.com/theflatlandtravelers

AnniePokely
04-18-2010, 10:47 AM
I would like to thank every single person who had a part in the tailgate yesterday. The weather may have kept a lot of people away, but the ones that were able to make it helped a great cause. The rain sure didn't dampen the spirits of anyone there. I know in my heart that my mom was smiling down the entire day. Every one that knew her, and that would be quite a few of you, know the passion she had for all things Oklahoma State. Rain or not, she would have been there with a smile on her face, visiting with everyone with a bloody mary in her hand.

I absolutely don't want to leave anyone out, so I'll throw out the names I know. If i don't mention you, please don't think your work was missed.

A big Thank You to:

Greg, Becky, and everyone at OP for coming up with the idea to help a cause important to my family, thank you so much.

Erick, you're one of the nicest people I know. I appreciate all your work on this. My mom thought you were a really good person.

Landscape Poke for the wonderful ribs!

To all the volunteers that cooked, helped set up, to the nice guy that carried around the donation bucket, to the bands, and anyone else that had a hand in this.

To the OSU fans that showed up to help this cause, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Your hard work helped us raise $671.00!

Okstatefan1205
04-18-2010, 04:41 PM
That was a great event, glad to have been apart of it. Good to finally meet you in person Annie!