On the Horizon

A few weeks back, we published a year-end review that highlighted the big moves that Yinz in Boston made over the past year. From new merchandise and a membership program to a Pirates outing and new Steelers bar, it was quite the year. Click here to check out that post.

We’re not stopping though - we’ve got big plans for 2024 and want to take a few minutes to share some of the items that are in the pipeline.

The Cassidy Cup Returns

It's time to dust off your mitts and start warming up those arms. That's right -- after a hiatus of a few years, we'll be putting our Cassidy Cup softball title on the line this summer against the local Ravens fan club. A number of Yinz have already expressed interest in playing and a couple even volunteered to help organize. Keep an eye out for an email with more details in the next week or so. And if you're interested in playing or helping, sign up here!

More New Merchandise

Building on the success of the Yinz in Boston t-shirt and sticker, we're planning to launch several new items in 2024.

First up is a brand spanking new koozie. A couple of different designs are in the later stages of development and will soon go out to official members for a vote. Once the design is finalized, we'll need to identify a new vendor (the last one is no longer in business). Bottom line though is that the new koozie will be ready for summer - peak koozieing season.

There's also a new shirt design in the works for the upcoming Steelers season. Last year's shirt was all about the brand. This year, we're going for something that pays homage to our adopted hometown.

Yinz in Boston Structure

As Yinz in Boston continues to grow and bring in more revenue, it’s becoming clear that our current structure (or lack thereof) might not be the most advantageous from a tax perspective. One potential option is to register the group as a nonprofit social club - what the IRS calls a 501(c)(7). Doing so would grant us an exemption from federal taxes, which could save us significant money in the long term.

There are tradeoffs though – namely in terms of the paperwork and processes required to obtain and maintain 501(c)(7) status. For example, we would need to draft group bylaws. Anyhow, if you have any amount of expertise in this domain and want to lend a hand, we would be very grateful. Which is a good segway into the final item…

HALLLLLP

We could really use some additional help. Yinz in Boston is an all-volunteer effort, so we rely entirely on the contributions of a handful of individuals to keep things moving forward. If you’ve gotten this far though, you may have noticed that we have big goals. A couple specific areas where we could use a hand are listed below. If you want to pitch in and none of these focus areas are in your wheelhouse, drop us a line. We will not turn anyone away.

• Writer / Social Media Manager - Do you have a passion for Pittsburgh sports AND writing? We're looking for one or more people to develop content for the new Yinz in Boston website and related outlets. We have a few ideas but ultimately, you'll have creative control and direct editing privileges.

• Fundraising Coordinator - We'd like to make charitable giving a regular part of Yinz in Boston events moving forward. How do we get there? That's where you come in. We're looking for someone to build this initiative from the ground up. You'll have the support of the entire YiB team and potentially a small budget eventually.

• Graphic Design / Website Help - If you’re reading this, it means you’ve visited our website. Let’s just say, it could be better. We’re barely scratching the surface of what Wix (our current website host) can do. If you have a background in web design or are looking for an opportunity to get some hands-on experience, this spot is for you.